Paton W Yoder

Paton Yoder

Paton Yoder, 96, former resident of Hesston, passed away Sunday afternoon (Aug. 3, 2008).

He was born March 9, 1912, on a farm between Goshen and Middlebury, Ind., the youngest child of Silvanus and Susanna (Troyer) Yoder. His older siblings were Rhea Yoder, Ruth Yoder Kortemeier, Dr. Jonathan Yoder and Dr. Samuel (S.A) Yoder.

In 1936, he married Hazel Smucker, his sweetheart from early childhood - he had the tremendous fortune to be married to her for more than 72 years. She survives. To this union were born five children: Devon (Marcia Schrock) of Goshen, James (Phyllis King) of Hesston, Susan (Reid Stempel) of Goshen, Ken (Ferne Kilmer) of Elkhart, Ind., and Kathy (Ed Martin) of Akron, Pa. He also leaves 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

He graduated from Goshen College in 1935, and in 1941 he received his Ph.D. in history from Indiana University.

He taught American history for the next 40 years - three years at Northwestern Junior College (Iowa); 10 years at Westmont College (California), where he is now honored as a founder; 11 years at Taylor University (Indiana); 10 years at Hesston College (Kansas); and six years at Malone College (Ohio).

While at Hesston College, he served as academic dean and, during his tenure there, the college achieved its first North Central accreditation, built a new library and initiated the two-year nursing program.

In 1970 and 1971, he and Hazel supervised three study-service term units of students in Haiti and Guadalupe for Goshen College. Retirement in 1977 brought them back to their 'home grounds' in Goshen.

Paton accepted Christ as his Savior at 12 years of age and remained a member of the Mennonite Church and follower of Jesus Christ after the pattern of his committed parents. He grew up in the local Clinton Frame (Indiana) congregation. Following affiliation there, they were members successively at Calvary Mennonite (California); Howard-Miami (Indiana); North Canton (Ohio); and, finally, College Mennonite in Goshen.

From 1967 to 1968, he served as visiting professor of history on the Indiana University campus, resulting in the publication of his book, 'Taverns and Travelers: Inns of the Early Midwest.'

In his retirement years, his published books and articles included 'Tradition and Transition;' 'Amish Mennonites and Old Order Amish 1800-1900;' 'Proceedings of the Amish Ministers' Meetings, 1862-1878' (along with Steven R. Estes); two volumes on his great grandfather, 'Tennessee John' Stoltzfus, an Amish Mennonite leader; and most recently, a 2007 article on 'Bishop John K. Yoder,' of the Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Wayne County, Ohio, published in the Mennonite Historical Bulletin.

Memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at College Mennonite Church in Goshen.