William E. Yoder

William E. Yoder P.E., 93, of Kutztown died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, of natural causes in Penn Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia.

He was the husband of the late Jean (Frey) Yoder, who died in 2002.

Born in Kutztown, he was the son of the late Harry B. and Florence O. (Esser) Yoder.

William was the founder of W.E. Yoder, Inc., Kutztown, and the former Vice President of Yoder Concrete.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Kutztown, where he was a former President of Church Council, and was a graduate of Kutztown High School and Penn State University earning a B.S. in Sanitary Engineering. He later earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University. In 1989, William was honored as a Penn State University's Outstanding Engineering Alumnus.

William was past President of the Kutztown Lions Club; served 12 years as Kutztown Borough Council President; and was a member of the Topton Lutheran Home Board of Directors for 25 years. He also served on the Board of Directors for Farmers Bank of Kutztown and Wertz Engineering. William was Past President of the Reading Chapter of Professional Engineers; was a trustee for the Reading YMCA; and was a Member of Huguenot Lodge 377 F&AM, Kutztown, the Reading Consistory, and the Rajah Shrine.

Mr. Yoder's hobbies included raising Arabian horses, Bantam chickens, and Shropshire sheep, with which he won many awards. He also enjoyed bass and deep-sea fishing and was an avid gardener.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII and Korea and later served in the Naval Reserves for 27 years, having attained the rank of Captain in the Civil Engineering Corps.

He is survived by his children: William W., husband of Joanne Yoder, Kutztown, Thomas H., husband of Linda Yoder, Chevy Chase, MD, Sally J., wife of Charles G. Wilson, Centennial, CO, and Emma J. Yoder, Denver, CO; his siblings, Doris H. Gardner, Massachusetts, Richard E. Yoder, Florida; 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, Jan. 23, 2012, at 1 p.m. from Trinity Lutheran Church, 357 W. Main St., Kutztown, PA 19530. Burial will follow in Hope Cemetery, Kutztown. Friends may call Monday from 11 a.m. until time of service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the memorial fund Trinity Lutheran Church at the above address.

The Edward J. Hildenbrand Funeral Home, Inc., Kutztown is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, please visit hildenbrandfuneralhome.-com.