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The Reverend James A. Yoder of Lewistown, was born on Jan. 20, 1933; son of the late Luther J. Yoder and Ruth M. (Yoder) Yoder, in Pine Glen, Bratton Township, Mifflin County. After serving his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for many years, he was called by his Heavenly Father, to that house, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, to join those who have preceded him in death. "He has fought the good fight, he has won the race, and now he has been Coroneted with the Crown of Righteousness, that he has received for his faithful service to his Lord."
He is survived by his wife, the former Harriet E. McCall, of Lewistown, Pennsylvania whom he married in 1967. He is survived by one stepdaughter, Denise E. Price.
Rev. Yoder was the oldest of six children. He is survived by a sister Hazel E. Yoder Riley, of O.H., and brother Dennis E. Yoder (Sally), of Longfellow. He is also survived by many other family members. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, James Kent Yoder, and three brothers, Donald F. Yoder, Terry L. Yoder, and Thomas C. Yoder.
Rev. Yoder graduated from the Bratton McVeytown Oliver Joint High School in the Class of 1951, where he served as class president. He served in the United States Army in Germany as a dental assistant for eighteen months, and was honorably discharged. He graduated from Elizabethtown College, Class of 1955, and from Shippensburg State College with a Masters of Education in 1968; Wesley Theological Seminary, Conference Course Study in 1976, and was ordained a minister in the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1973.
Rev. Yoder served in the following charges of the Central Pennsylvania Conference: Church Hill-St. Mark's, Salem-Shrader, and Freedom Avenue-Walnut Street. He also served one year at the Bethel- A.M.E. Church in Mt. Union. At the time of his death, he had been pastor of the Congregational Church in Siglerville for over 25 years.
This past Nov. he was honored for his 70 years of service and active membership in the Masonic Fraternity, first as a member of McVeytown Lodge No. 376. He was Coroneted a 33rd Degree Mason of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America in 1997, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He had served for many years as Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Pa. He was a member and past officer of several other Masonic bodies. In addition, he served with Harriet as Royal Patron in Juniata Valley Court No. 121 Order of the Amaranth and was Worthy Patron from 2019-2021 in the Order of The Eastern Star, Lewistown Chapter No. 283.
Rev. Yoder had taught in the Mifflin County School District, retiring in 1986 with 32 years of service. He taught sixth grade and served as building principal for 16 of those years in the former Derry Elementary building in Yeagertown and later taught in the Remedial Math Program. He was a Life Member of the National Education Association, the Pennsylvania Education Association, the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees, and the Mifflin County Chapter of Pa. Association of School Retirees.
He will be missed by all who knew him.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024, at King-Barr Funeral Home, 120 Logan Street, Lewistown, with Pastor Steve Rynkewitz officiating. There will be a viewing held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, at King-Barr Funeral Home and an additional viewing held on the day of the service from 10 to 11 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
Masonic services will be conducted by the officers of McVeytown Lodge #376.
Burial will take place in Juniata Memorial Park.
Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.kingbarrfuneral home.com.