Esther Louise Yoder
Esther Louise (Eash) Yoder, 89, of Goshen, died Tuesday morning, March 1, 2016, at IU Health Goshen Hospital.
She was born Feb. 20, 1927, in Hollsopple, Pa., the fifth daughter of Sem K. and Suie (Blough) Eash.
On April 14, 1949, she married Henry Edward Yoder in Hollsopple and enjoyed 55 years together until his death June 16, 2004.
To this marriage were born three children: Rachel (Duane) Yoder of Fort Wayne, Kathleen (Jim) Holsopple of New Paris and Roger (Rhonda) Yoder of Goshen; nine grandchildren: Christina (Justin) Weber, Tim, Andrew (Glenda) and Kev Yoder, Rebekah (Andrew)Tucker, Darin (Darcy) and Eric (Liz) Holsopple, Matt (Chelsey) and Amanda Yoder; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Along with her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her four sisters: Ruth Yoder, Elsie Sutter, Mable Lehman and Florence Blough, and a son-in-law, Jim Holsopple.
At age 11 Esther was received by water baptism at Thomas Mennonite Church, Hollsopple, Pa., where she remained a member until her marriage and move to Grantsville, Md., where both she and Henry became members and served in Oak Grove Mennonite Church for 45 years. She became a member at East Goshen Mennonite Church following her move to Goshen in 1995.
Mrs. Yoder was a teacher and principal for 35 years most of which were at Yoder School, a public school in Garrett County, Md.
In addition to her employment she served on Mennonite Board of Education, was president of the Allegheny Conference WMSC, Penn Alps Board of Directors, Western Maryland Health Care Corporation and other church and community services.
After retirement, Esther and Henry served in voluntary service for a year in Crooked River Ranch, Oregon. Following this she managed Penn Alps Restaurant and Craft Shop and Spruce Forest Artisan Village in Grantsville, Md., for a number of years.
She and her husband enjoyed travel at home and abroad, even after their move to Greencroft Retirement Village. In her later years quilting for church school benefit auctions and making comforters for Mennonite Central Committee became favorite pastimes.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 5, at East Goshen Mennonite Church. Pastor Merle Hostetler will officiate.
According to Esther’s wishes cremation and burial will take place at a later date.
Memorials may be directed to Mennonite Central Committee or Greencroft Foundation.
Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, was in charge of arrangements.