Mennonite
Weekly Review - August 11, 2008 - 86th Year, No. 30 - p. 9
Yoder, Paton
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 - August 18, 2008 - 86th Year, No. 31 - p. 13
Frey, Adelia Klassen
Adelia Frey, 87, of North
Newton, Kan., died Aug. 4, 2008, at Kidron Bethel Village. She was born
March 14, 1921, to Frank H. and Katherine (Krause) Klassen in Hillsboro.
She married Edward H. Frey on Jan. 14, 1972, at First Mennonite Church
of Newton. He preceded her in death on Jan. 21, 1989.
She spent her childhood in Lehigh and Elbing, Kan., as well as in
Texas. When she was 7, the family moved to Newton. In 1936, she was
baptized and became a member of First Mennonite Church in Newton. A
devoted student of the Bible, she served as church librarian, taught
Sunday school and vacation Bible school. Friendships formed through the
Dorcas Sunday School Class added much joy to her life.
As a young woman, she worked in a variety of jobs, including a short
term of voluntary service in Hamilton, N.Y., among migrant workers. In
1952 she began a 33-year career as secretary/receptionist at Mennonite
Weekly Review. She was a member of the National Secretaries
Association.
After retirement, she did extensive volunteer work at the Etcetera Shop
and Mennonite Central Committee.
Survivors include a sister, Myrta Bartel of Hillsboro; a stepson,
Marlin Frey and his wife, Deane, of Newton; two stepdaughters, Earla
Critchfield of Hesston and Nyla Chambers and her husband, Duane, of
Wichita; a stepdaughter-in-law, Luetta Frey of Goessel; four nephews,
Ronald Bartel and his wife, Brenda, Marlin Bartel and his wife, Cheryl,
Douglas Bartel and his wife, Pam, and Bradley Bartel and his wife,
Rita, all of Hillsboro; a niece, Kathleen Zimmerman and her husband,
Joe, of Harper; and numerous step-grandchildren,
step-great-grandchildren, great nieces and great nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward; and a stepson,
Raymond Frey.
Funeral services were held at First Mennonite Church of Newton. Burial
was in Greenwood Cemetery.