Yoder, Mildred Louise Clemens (1929-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Dec 17 p. 13

Birth date: 1929 Jan 7

text of obituary:

MIDRED L. YODER

Mildred Louise Clemens Yoder, 78, of Peoria, Ariz., died Nov. 9, 2007, of brain cancer. She was born Jan. 7, 1929, to Raymond and Esther Clemens in Souderton, Pa.

She grew up in Souderton, where she was baptized in Souderton Mennonite Church. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School, Harrisonburg, Va., in 1946.

She married Henry Yoder on May 12, 1951.

In 1954 they went to Cuba to do church planting after a year of language study in Costa Rica. When it was no longer possible to remain in Cuba, they lived in Miami, Fla., for five years to help Cuban refugees achieve a better life.

After returning to Pennsylvania, she went to college and then taught junior high English for 17 years. She was a member of Plains Mennonite Church in Lansdale, Pa.

In 1984, she and her husband went to Guatemala to serve as MCC country representatives for five years. After Guatemala they moved to Arizona and for six years lived in Tucson, where her husband was pastor of Shalom Mennonite Fellowship, and she taught in a program for troubled youth in the Juvenile Detention Center. Upon retirement they moved to Peoria, where she continued to be active and was a faithful member of Trinity Mennonite Church.

Ever since she received her college and graduate education she actively encouraged women to pursue their dreams and potential and go on in higher education. Throughout her life she looked for the best in people and worked for peace and reconciliation as a faithful follower of the Prince of Peace.

Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Henry; four grown children, Allan and his wife, Rebeca, of Stevens, Pa., Anita and her husband, Andy, of Albuquerque, N.M., Tina of Peoria and David of Glendale; a sister, Olive of Harrisonburg, Va.; and a brother, R. Wayne of Souderton, Pa.; six grandchildren and one great-grandson.

Memorial services were held at Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale and in Boyertown, Pa., where she and her husband had their first date and later served as pastor for several years.