Yoder, Alva (1916-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2004 Nov 1 p. 12

Birth date: 1916 Apr 21

text of obituary:

ALVA YODER

Alva Yoder, 88, of Hydro, Okla., died Oct. 15, 2004, at his home in the same room he was born in. He was born April 11, 1916, to Joni and Susan (Miller) Yoder 13 miles west of Hydro.

He was raised northwest of Hydro, where he attended Mulberry School. As a young man he accepted Christ and became a member of Pleasant View Mennonite Church.

He worked on the farm alongside his father. In 1942, he served in Civilian Public Service in Fort Collins, Colo., and Terry, Mont., as a surveyor for four years. He returned to the Hydro area and on April 21, 1946, married Ellen Marie Slagell in Pleasant View Mennonite Church. He continued to farm until he retired in 1994.

He was a volunteer for Choice Books for 10 years and in later years was a volunteer at the Et Cetera Shop. He was active in his church, serving as elder, participant in Bible school, Sunday school and other offices.

He enjoyed traveling as a family in the United States, Bangladesh, India and Lebanon. He enjoyed his cattle and his grandchildren. He also wrote in a diary for more than 35 years until he couldn't see any longer, writing about his memories and stories for children. Reading his Bible and listening to Bible tapes was a favorite pastime.

Survivors include his wife, Ellen; a son, Bob Yoder and his wife, Becky, of Hydro; two daughters, Phyllis Miller and her husband, Ralph, of Chouteau and Karen Kendall and her husband, Terry, of Greentown, Ind.; three sisters, Fannie Stutzman of Topeka, Ind., Barbara Ann Thomas of Hydro and Lizzie Chupp of Adair; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Amos; and three sisters, Mary, Delilah and Susan.

Funeral services were held at Pleasant View Mennonite Church. Burial was in Pleasant View Mennonite Cemetery.