Yoder, Fred J. (1916-2002)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2002 Aug 12 p. 8

Birth date: 1916 Dec 16

text of obituary:

FRED J. YODER

Fred J. Yoder Sr., 85, of Wooster, Ohio, died June 7, 2002, at Brenn-Field Nursing Home in Orrville after a long illness. He was born Dec. 16, 1916, to Frederick and Martha (Noble) Yordi in Lancaster, Pa., and grew up in the home of Dave and Sadie Yoder in the Bellville, Pa., area.

He moved to Wayne County, Ohio, in the 1930s and later made his home in Wooster. During World War II he served in Civilian Public Service for four years.

He married Anna M. Shirey in 1946.

After a year of school at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., and a year at Hesston (Kan.) College, he established a paint contract business, as well as some college work, including choral and quartet singing and directing.

He returned to Wooster and established Yoder Painting business and during summers hired many college students and teachers. In 1969, he became owner/operator of Fred Yoder Home Decorating.

He was an active member of Wooster Mennonite Church, helping in its formation by serving on various committees, including the building committee. He was a summer Bible school and Sunday school teacher, taught music classes and led church singing for many years. He later led singing and was a Sunday school teacher at Orrville Mennonite Church. He served on committees in Wooster and at Central Christian School in Kidron.

He sang in many church choirs and quartets, including at EMU, Hesston College, the College of Wooster, and CPS.

Survivors include his wife, Anna; two children, Frederick and his wife, June, of Goshen, Ind., and Rachel Gingerich and her husband, Melbern, of Smithville; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, two half-sisters, two half-brothers, and a grandchild.

Memorial services were held at Orrville Mennonite Church. Burial was in Oak Grove Mennonite Church Cemetery.