Yoder, Edwin J. (1889-1972)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1973 Jan 4 p. 2

Birth date: 1889

text of obituary:

Retired Minister And Bishop Called By Death at Goshen

Goshen, Ind. — Funeral services for Rev. Edwin J. Yoder, 83, longtime minister and bishop at Topeka, Ind., were held Dec. 20 at the College Mennonite Church. Officiating were Rev. John Mosemann, Rev. Robert Detweiler and Rev. Levi Hartzler.

Rev. Yoder died Dec. 17 at Goshen General Hospital. He had resided here since his retirement from the ministry.

A native of the Topeka community, Rev. Yoder was a dairy farmer and minister, having been ordained to the ministry in 1925 at the Maple Grove Mennonite Church. He continued to serve that congregation until his retirement in 1960. He was ordained a bishop in 1935.

Rev. Yoder held a number of leadership positions in the Mennonite Church. He was vice-president of the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities for some years, endowment treasurer of the Mennonite Board of Education, and a member of the Mennonite Publication Board, 1931-43. He was president of the Indiana-Michigan Mission Board, 1930-41, and business manager of Goshen College, 1931-33.

Rev. Yoder married Mollie Mae Stoltzfus in 1913, and she died in 1932. In 1934 he married Mary E. Shumaker, who survives.