Paton W. Yoder

Paton W. Yoder, 96, of Goshen, died Sunday afternoon, August 3, 2008, at his home. He was born in Goshen on March 9, 1912, to Silvanus and Susan (Troyer) Yoder.  He married Hazel Marie Smucker on June 14, 1936 in Goshen.  She survives. A graduate of Goshen College and Indiana University, Mr. Yoder taught American History for 40 years at Northwestern Junior College in Iowa, Westmont College in California, Taylor University in Indiana, Hesston College in Kansas, and Malone College in Ohio, retiring in 1977.  He also authored and published Taverns and Travelers; Inns for the Early Midwest and Tradition and Transition; Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish, 1800-1900.  He co-authored Proceedings of the Amish Ministers’ Meetings, 1862-1878 and published articles in Mennonite Quarterly Review, Pennsylvania Mennonite Heritage and Mennonite Historical Bulletin. Mr. Yoder was a member of the College Mennonite Church, Goshen. He is survived by his wife, Hazel; two daughters, Susan (Reid) Stempel of Goshen, and Kathy (Ed) Martin of Akron, Pennsylvania; three sons, Devon (Marcia) Yoder of Goshen, James E. (Phyllis) Yoder of Hesston, Kansas, and Ken (Ferne) Yoder of Elkhart; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Rhea Yoder and Ruth Kortemier; and two brothers, Jonathan and Samuel A. Yoder. Friends may call 6 to 9 p.m., Friday, August 8 and 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, August 9 in the Gathering Room at College Mennonite Church, Goshen. A 4:00 p.m., Saturday, August 9, 2008, funeral service will be held at the College Mennonite Church with Pastor Rosemary Widmer officiating. Burial of cremains will be at a later date in Elkhart Prairie Cemetery, Goshen. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.