Yoder, Paton (1912-2008)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Aug 11 p. 9

Birth date: 1912 Mar 9

text of obituary:

PATON YODER<h3></center>

Paton Yoder, 96, of Goshen, Ind., formerly of Hesston, Kan., died Aug. 3, 2008. He was born March 9, 1912, to Silvanus and Susanna (Troyer) Yoder on a farm between Goshen and Middlebury, Ind.

In 1936 he married Hazel Smucker, his sweetheart from early childhood. They were married for more than 72 years.

He graduated from Goshen College in 1935, and in 1941 he received his doctorate in history from Indiana University. He taught American history for 40 years: three years at Northwestern Junior College in Iowa; 10 years at Westmont College in California, where he is now honored as a founder; 11 years at Taylor University in Indiana; 10 years at Hesston College and six years at Malone College in Ohio. At Hesston from 1961 to 1970, he served as academic dean. During his tenure the college achieved its first North Central accreditation, built a new library and initiated the two-year nursing program. In 1970-71, he and Hazel supervised three Study-Service Term units of students in Haiti and Guadalupe for Goshen College. Retirement in 1977 brought them back to Goshen.

He accepted Christ as his Savior at 12 years of age. He grew up in the Clinton Frame congregation in Goshen and later was a member at Calvary Mennonite in California, Howard-Miami Mennonite in Indiana, North Canton in Ohio and College Mennonite in Goshen.

In 1967-68 he served as visiting professor of history on the Indiana University campus, resulting in the publication of his book, Taverns and Travelers; Inns of the Early Midwest. In his retirement years, his published books and articles included Tradition and Transition; Amish Mennonites and Old Order Amish, 1800-1900; Proceedings of the Amish Ministers’ Meetings, 1862-1878 (along with Steven R. Estes); two volumes on his great grandfather, “Tennessee John” Stoltzfus, an Amish Mennonite leader; and most recently (2007) an article on Bishop John K. Yoder in the Mennonite Historical Bulletin.

Survivors include his wife, Hazel; five children, Devon and his wife, Marcia, of Goshen, James and his wife, Phyllis, of Hesston, Susan and her husband, Reid, of Goshen, Ken and his wife, Ferne, of Elkhart, Ind., and Kathy and her husband, Ed, of Akron, Pa.; 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

Memorial services were held at College Mennonite Church in Goshen.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Sep 1 p. 16