Yoder, Ruth Elizabeth (1923-2006)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Jun 26 p. 7

Birth date: 1923 Oct 16

text of obituary:

RUTH E. YODER

Ruth Elizabeth Yoder, 82, of Glendale, Ariz., died June 9, 2006. She was born Oct. 16, 1923, to John M. Yoder and Nancy Guengerich Yoder in Iowa County, Iowa.

At age 21, she began her post-grade school education at Hesston (Kan.) High School, where she completed the four-year program in three years. She received her teaching certificate from Cedar Falls, Iowa, in 1948, then went on to graduate from Goshen (Ind.) College in 1953 and from Iowa State University with a master’s in special education in 1959.

After moving to Arizona in 1959, she became a teacher in the Phoenix elementary school system, where she taught special education for 28 years.

She was a lifelong member of the Mennonite church. She was baptized at age 12 at West Union Mennonite Church near Parnell, Iowa. She transfered her membership to Sunnyslope Mennonite Church upon moving to Arizona.

She loved to read, travel and take pictures. She stayed active in the church as librarian, Sunday school and Bible school teacher. We will miss her calm demeanor, quiet sense of humor, cheerful optimism and spirit of generosity.

Survivors include two sisters, Hazel C. Yoder and Doris Spicher; a brother, Edward J. Yoder; and a sister-in-law, Ellen Yoder.

She was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Samuel Spicher.