IN MEMORIAM

from The Bulletin Spring/Summer 2023

Alumni Connections

Gordon Yoder

(1925-2023)

Associate Director Emeritus of College Relations

Gordon Yoder, associate director emeritus of college relations for Goshen College, died January 30, 2023. He was 97 years old.

Yoder began working at Goshen College in the Office of College Development in 1972 and retired in 2004 after 32 years of service. He was part of the team that began the college’s endowment program and dedicated decades of his life to furthering the college’s mission through fundraising. In his role, Yoder developed relationships with alumni and friends interested in giving financially to Goshen College.

Yoder was born on September 29, 1925, in Columbiana, Ohio, to Noah B. and Florence Yoder. Upon graduating high school in 1943, Yoder served in the U.S. Navy from 1943-46 as a signalman. Following his military service he attended Goshen College from 1947-48 but left to work at St. Joe Valley Bank for 18 years. He married Esther A. Detwiler ’48 on October 1, 1948.

Yoder is survived by three children, Diane (Bob) Hershberger, and Sanford (Julie) Yoder, both of Elkhart, and Thomas (Margaret Delaney) Yoder ’82 of Grand Junction, Colorado; six grandchildren, Jason Hershberger, Jaime Hershberger, Jordan (Destiny Behny) Hershberger, Jennifer (Jordan Shaw) Hershberger, Katy (Ben) Holdread and Kelly (Josh) Hooley; and five greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; a son, Michael Yoder; and a brother, William Yoder ’43