Mary S. Yoder

Mary S. Yoder, age 99, of Topeka, IN passed away on July 17, 2017 at 4:25 PM at Avalon Village in Ligonier, IN.

Mrs. Yoder was born on February 14, 1918 to John & Mary (Smith) Gibson in Scotland. She graduated from Summerville High School in 1935, received her degree in 1941 as a Registered Nurse from the Massachusetts Memorial Hospital and went on to serve her country honorably in the United States Army in the medical corps.  During her service she spent four years in North Africa, Italy and France. She was discharged in 1946 as a First Lieutenant.

On February 9, 1946 she married Robert L. Yoder in Medford, MA.  He has preceded her in death on June 8, 2011.  She was a lifetime area resident, an avid reader of all things, a Bridge Player with a tight knit group of couples and was a member of the Topeka United Methodist Church.  Outside her nursing career with the LaGrange Hospital and the Westview School System, Mary loved being a stay at home mother to her children.  She created many memories in her travels with her family from the east coast to the west coast as well as overseas to visit in the many countries that she and her husband were stationed in.  She will be missed by so many.

She is survived by her two sons, Dennis A. Yoder of Wolcottville, IN and Robert L. Yoder of Topeka, IN; six grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.   She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Yoder; sisters, Elizabeth Bennet, Janet Chalmers, Margaret LaBella and her brother George Gibson.

A funeral service will be held in Mrs. Yoder’s honor on Friday, July 21, 2017 at 10AM at Topeka United Methodist Church with Pastor Kevin DeKoninck officiating. Burial will be in Maple Grove Cemetery in Topeka, Indiana where military honors will be conducted.

There will be a time of visitation on both Thursday, July 20, 2017 from 6PM-8PM as well as from 9AM-10AM prior to the funeral service on Friday at Topeka United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions are to Topeka United Methodist Church – 124 West Pine Street Topeka, IN 46571.