Virginia Ernestine (Yoder) Ditmer

Virginia Ernestine (Yoder) Ditmer, 96, widely known as the “Hat Lady” died February 25, 2012 at Miller’s Merry Manor in Syracuse.
She was born September 6, 1915 on a farm near Topeka, Indiana to Ernest and Edith (Lantz) Yoder. On July 10, 1955 she married Richard E. Ditmer who preceded her in death on December 22, 2003.
In 1937 she graduated from Manchester College with distinction and later did graduate work at Northwestern University.
Named for famed opera singer Madam Ernestine Schumann-Heink, her life long love of music was expressed when she joined the much loved Middesingers and continued as she taught music to hundreds of elementary school students in Northern Indiana. Among them were, Honeyville, Brighton, Stroh, Middlebury, Wabash, and Syracuse. She retired from Wawasee Community School Corporation in 1981.
She was a member of Ligonier United Methodist Church, founder and Director for many years of the Wesley Choir at St Andrew’s United Methodist Church, Syracuse.
An avid Clubwoman, she was a member of Gamma Lambda Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, Retired Teachers’ Association, Syracuse Ladies of the Round Table, Topeka Area Historical Society, & Life member of Bashor Home Auxiliary and Classy Ladies Red Hatters, Syracuse. She remained active in many of these organizations even after a near fatal automobile accident on Mother’s Day 2005. She was an enthusiastic supporter of many different sports, especially Indiana University basketball.
Surviving are a niece, Mrs. Rodney (Jill) Scott, Fort Wayne, a nephew Jerry (Teresa) Yoder, great niece Tonya Yoder, great nephew Matthew Yoder all of Coldwater Michigan, and a cousin Ruth Ann Richards Ligonier. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Don Wayne Yoder and little Lamar Yoder and a step son Edward P. Ditmer.
Services will be held at 11:30 AM on Tuesday February 28, 2012 at Ligonier United Methodist Church with Rev Jean Ness officiating. Visitation will be held from 9 to-10:30 AM Tuesday morning at Yeager Funeral Home, Ligonier. Burial will be in Eden Cemetery, Topeka prior to the funeral service. Memorials to The Ligonier United Methodist Church or Macular Degeneration Foundation P.O. Box 531313 Henderson, Nevada 89053.