Ruth Marie Yoder, 95, of West Liberty, Ohio, passed away at Ohio Health – Riverside Hospital on July 10, 2021.
Ruth was born May 20, 1926, in Brentwood, MD, to the late Newton and Nellie Burkholder Weber. She was predeceased by her husband, Jack; sisters, Naomi and Rhonda; and brother, John. Ruth is survived by her three sons, Ed (Jan) of Toronto, Keith (Mary Claire) of Atlanta and Karl of Las Vegas; 7 grandchildren: Bill (Pam), Shawn (Meg), Elisha, Lindsey (Isaac), Luke, Rebecca (Allan), Benjamin; 10 great grandchildren: Jacob, Claire, Braydon, Isaiah, Paxton, Sammy, Prudence, Henry, Daisy and Silas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Ruth lived in Waterloo, Ontario, and Fort Wayne, IN, during her early childhood years. As a teenager she attended Eastern Mennonite School in Harrisonburg, Va., graduating in 1943. She then moved to Washington, D.C., with her sister Naomi where they worked for a Navy Admiral’s family assisting in management of the household and children.
In 1946, her family moved to West Liberty where her father served as Pastor of Bethel Mennonite Church where she became a member and has remained a faithful member for more than 75 years. In January 1948, she married Jay Warren (Jack) Yoder at Bethel Church by her father, Rev. Newton Weber and Jack’s grandfather Bishop S.E. Allgyer.
Jack and Ruth moved to the farm purchased by his great grandfather in 1876. Living on the farm was a new adventure for Ruth, but Jack and his family were very welcoming and helpful. They enjoyed 52 years on the farm with their family. The Toronto grandchildren also enjoyed many summers on the farm with their grandparents.
The doors to the old farmhouse were always open over the years for family and friends whenever they visited. The home also served as a home away from home for a number of folks over the years, whether it was just for a short time or for an extended period. Each person brought experiences and personalities that impacted Ruth’s family life.
Volunteering was also important, and Ruth participated in volunteer projects through her Sunday School class and Women’s MCC group. She also gave her time at the local Thrift Shop, the Adriel Auxiliary and over 3,000 hours at Mercy Hospital in Urbana.
A celebration of Ruth’s life is planned for Saturday, Aug. 28, 11 a.m. at Bethel Church in West Liberty. We are hopeful to provide an online access to the service, if that is of interest please let [email protected] know.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Heifer International, 1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202 or Bethel Church, 416 Washington Street, West Liberty, Ohio 43357.
Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, West Liberty, is honored to serve the Yoder family and encourages anyone to share a fond memory or message of condolence at www.edsfh.com.