Sylvia J. Yoder

Sylvia J. Yoder, 90, formerly of Milllersburg, died Monday morning, December 12, 2005, at Americare Living Center where she had been a resident the past four and a half years.   She was born December 21, 1914, in Charm, Ohio, to Jacob and Martha (Hershberger) Schlabach.  On October 27, 1940, in LaGrange, Indiana, she married Bishop William J. Yoder.  He died February 2, 1977.   Mrs. Yoder was a member of the Fairhaven Amish Mennonite Church.  She moved to this area in 1988, coming from Etna Green, Indiana.  She was a homemaker.   She is survived by a daughter, Mary Ellen (William G.) Bontrager of Millersburg, Indiana; four sons, Raymond W. Yoder of Etna Green, Indiana, Marvin W. (Mary Ellen) Yoder of Shipshewana, Indiana, Jerry W. (Dorothy) Yoder of Notawa, Michigan and William J. (Charolette) Yoder, Jr., of Millersburg, Indiana; 19 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by three half-sisters, Mary Ellen (John) Gingrich of Milford, Indiana, Martha Schlabach and Katie Kuhns, both of Topeka; step-sister, Lovina Yoder of  LaGrange, Indiana; two half brothers, Clarence Schlabach of  Wisconsin and Melvin Schlabach of LaGrange, Indiana; and a step-brother, John Helmuth of Topeka, Indiana.   She was preceded in death by her husband; a sister, Elizabeth Bowers; two brothers, Eli and Jonas Schlabach; four step-sisters, Anna and Viola Miller, Lydia Fry and Ida Mae Bontrager; two half-brothers, Walter and  Alvin Schlabach; a stepbrother, Joe Helmuth; and a great-grandson, John Ward.   Friends will be received 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, December 13 and 14, at the Fairhaven Amish Mennonite Church.   A 9:30 a.m., funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, December 15, 2005 at the church.  Bishop Wilbur Yoder and Reverands Harvey Miller,  Dale Hochstetler, Dan Miller and Neal Beachy will officiate.   Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery, Nappanee.   Memorial contributions may be made to the Fairhaven Amish Mennonite Church Building Fund.