OBIT: Paul Ervin YODER, 2002, Meyersdale, Somerset County, PA

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YODER

Paul Ervin Yoder, son of Ervin J. and Mabel Miller Yoder, was born Oct. 9, 1925, 
near Meyersdale. He died peacefully, surrounded by family and music at his home 
near Meyersdale, on Nov. 6, 2002, at the age of 77 years and 28 days, following 
a stroke. On Nov. 27, 1946, Paul married the love of his life, Naomi Ruth 
Bender, daughter of Floyd and Anna Maust Bender. They would have celebrated 
their 56th wedding anniversary later this month. In addition to his wife Naomi, 
Paul is survived by seven children: John Aldus, married to Carol Martin, 
Meyersdale; Ruth Naomi, married to David Wenger, New, York City; Joyce 
Elizabeth, married to Jay Sauder, Meyersdale; Wendell Paul, married to Darlene 
Unzicker, Meyersdale; Delbert Lynn Johnstown; Darrel Keith, married to Candace 
Bender, Elkhart, Ind.; and Douglas Eugene, married to Roza Kostrzewska, Los 
Angeles. An infant daughter, Joan Ardith, a twin to John, died several hours 
after her birth. Paul is also survived by 14 grandchildren and one great 
grandchild, as well as one sister, Vera, married to Clark Yoder, Salisbury, and 
three brothers: Robert Creed married to Miriam Bender Greencastle; Lee 
Markleysburg, and David, married to Mary Jane Van Sickle Broadwater, Cumberland, 
Md. He was preceded in death by his sister Nona, married to Prentice Hartsburg, 
Chambersburg. At the age of 14, Paul was baptized and became a member of the Oak 
Dale Mennonite Church. He was a devoted follower of Jesus, a student of the 
Scriptures, and a seeker of truth. He loved the church and served for most of 
his life in various roles as song leader, Sunday school teacher, secretary, and 
treasurer. For some years he served also as a minister in the church. He reached 
out to many people through cottage meetings and visitation singing in homes, 
prisons, hospitals, and nursing homes. Paul valued education. While his formal 
education took him only through the eighth grade, he attended classes at Eastern 
Mennonite College and Berlin Bible School. For ten years he was on the Salisbury 
School Board and the regional board. He also taught for two years at Crossroads 
School. A life-long interest in his cultural heritage sustained years of work 
with the Casselman River Area Amish and Mennonite Historians, the Springs 
Historical Society and the Springs Folk Festival, and the Somerset Genealogical 
and Historical Society. For a time he served on the board of the Brook Lane 
Psychiatric Center Paul served in and represented numerous farm organizations 
including Farm Credit Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. Agway, Somerset County Planning 
and Zoning Commission, Holstein Association, Dairy Herd Improvement Association. 
Somerset County Cooperative Extension Board and 4-H. Paul was perhaps most 
widely appreciated for his music. A gifted singer and song leader, Paul's voice 
blessed innumerable musical groups over the years. He taught singing school, 
organized and directed choruses, and inspired quartets and octets and sextets 
and almost any other combination of singers with his devotion to excellence in 
praising God through the ministry of song, For 30 years, he was guest conductor 
of an inter-church choir drawn together annually for the Christmas Eve service 
at the Zion Lutheran Church in Meyersdale. He especially enjoyed singing in the 
Casselman Valley Choral Society founded by his son John. The high standards 
which Paul brought to his music were reflected also in a life-long commitment to 
justice and fairness in the organizations he served. He was a man of principle, 
who worked tirelessly for the causes close to his heart. His intention was to 
sing with the Spirit, and with the understanding also. The family received 
friends at the M. Ray Leckemby Funeral Home in Leckemby on Friday and will 
receive friends at the Oak Dale Mennonite Church, Salisbury, on Saturday, from 
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., when the funeral service will begin. In lieu of flowers, 
contributions may be sent to MELODIOUS ACCORD, P.O. Box 20801, Park West Station 
New York, N.Y. 10025 (www.Melodious Accord.org), which supports the work of 
Alice Parker in developing congregational and choral singing, GOSPEL FOR ASIA, 
1800 Golden Trail Court, Carrollton, Texas 75010 (www.gfa.org). 
Daily American, November 9, 2002