Yoder, Gilbert Lee (1947-1949)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 May 26 P. 5

Birth date: 1947

text of obituary:

. . .

— As the Review is about to go to press, word comes that Gilbert Lee, 22 months old son of Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Yoder, who live along the Arkansas river southeast of Hutchinson, was drowned shortly after six o'clock on Tuesday evening. The lad had apparently slipped into the river, which is bank-full at this time. Eldon Bontrager and Glen Yoder, cousins of the child who had joined in the search, found the body caught on the limb of a tree in the river about a mile from the Yoder home.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1949 Jun 2 p. 1

text of obituary:

Services Held For Drowning Victim

22-MONTH-OLD BOY FELL IN RIVER NEAR YODER, KANSAS

Yoder, Kansas. — Funeral services were held at the Yoder Mennonite church on Friday forenoon, May 27, for Gilbert Lee Yoder, 22-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Yoder who lost his life by drowning in the Arkansas river.

Bishop Harry A. Diener officiated at the services, assisted by Andrew Bontrager.

The boy was playing with his older brother and sister, Harold, 6 and Karen Ann, 5, Tuesday evening when he tumbled into the rain-swollen river only about 100 yards from the Yoder home. His sister ran to the house and told her mother, who rushed to the river. The child was nowhere in sight, and Mrs. Yoder then drove two miles to the J. E. Yoder farm, where her husband was working.

A large group of neighbors and friends joined members of the Hutchinson fire department in the search for the body, which was finally located about a mile from the home, caught on the limb of a tree. Artificial respiration was applied for 90 minutes without avail.

In addition to the parents and brother and sister, the boy is survived by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Yoder of Haven and Mr. and Mrs. Ely Troyer of Canton, Ohio.