Lazarus
Project
An expanded obituary project of
MennObits. Includes additional information of obituaries
appearing in
The Mennonite and other newspapers. Source of
individual obituaries given with each record. Project managed by
Thelma Martin.
1980
W to Z
Yoder, David A. (Bishop) ; . .
Yoder, David A. (Bishop) 96, believed to have served as a minister of the Mennonite Church more years than any other in the church's history, died last Friday at 8 p.m. in Greencroft Center at Goshen after being in failing health for 10 years.
After graduating from Wakarusa High School in 1904, he was ordained into the ministry at the age of 23 on July 14, 1907, at the Holdeman Mennonite Church west of Wakarusa, 72 1/2 years ago. Then, at the age of 26, he was ordained a bishop at the Yellow Creek Frame Mennonite Church on Sept. 1, 1910, and had served more than 69 years as a bishop at the time of his death.
Bishop Yoder served 59 years on the Mennonite Board of Education and for 20 years was president of that body.
Born Oct. 14, 1883, west of Nappanee to Peter B. and Mary Fretz Yoder, he married Frances Ferguson on March 17, 1906, and she died Oct. 14, 1958. He was a farmer, minister, evangelist and both a public school and Bible teacher during his long years of service to the church and his community.
Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Ivan (Lois) Weaver, Goshen; two sons, Dale F. Wakarusa, and Lowell R., near Goshen; 12 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted Monday morning at the Olive Mennonite Church with burial in Olive Cemetery.
Pastor Jason Martin was in charge of the service with parts of the service conducted by the Rev. John Mosemann, Mennonite Church; J. Lawrence Burkholder, president of Goshen College; Bishop J.C. Wenger, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, and Pastor Gerald Pasma, representing the Bible Baptist Church, Wakarusa, and the Olive Township community.
Arrangements were in charge of the Lienhart Funeral Home. Memorials amy be made to the Greencroft Foundation for the nursing center.
Source:The Wakarusa Tribune, Wakarusa, IN
January 30, 1980
Submitted by: Thelma Hoover Martin
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