John Y. Yoder Jr.

John Y. Yoder, Jr.

- - John Y. Yoder, Jr., amateur radio operator, photographer, videographer, woodworker, teacher, singer, card shark, and organizer of all things died July 27, 2018 at the age of 87. He spent his childhood in Hickory, N.C. and his college years on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne College chasing Theresa Norris, who he caught and married in 1954. He said that marrying her was the smartest thing he ever did. After graduating from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina, John pastored several Lutheran churches in North Carolina including Friedan's Lutheran Church in Burlington and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Kannapolis. In addition, he was Mission Developer and later Pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Winston Salem. As a Mission Developer, John also helped organize a Lutheran church in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Later, John served as Chaplain at John Umstead Hospital in Butner, NC. While at John Umstead, he began working with vocational rehabilitation and retired as the Western Regional Director of Vocational Rehabilitation for the state of North Carolina Never one to waste time, John and Theresa had four children in the first five years of their marriage: Dr. Susan Annette Earwood (Mike), Sandra Carolyn Woodall (Wayne), John Yates Yoder, III., and Sharon Theresa Curley (Phil). He dearly loved all his children, making each one feel special, and we all thought we were his favorite...until the grandchildren came. He spoke with pride about all his grandchildren: Heather Davis (Michael), Leah Spurlock (Rick, MD), Sharon Epp (Scott), Jason Earwood, Philip Curley (Elly, DDS), John Yoder, IV, Alex Curley, Taylor Curley, and 1st Lt. Caitlin Curley, US Army. He was an advocate for a good education, serving many years as a Lenoir- Rhyne College board member and an officer. He provided every grandchild with a computer before college and taught us how to eat an elephant one bite at a time. He felt all nine of his great-grandchildren were a blessing: Tyla Davidson, Landon Davis, Brayden Epp, Luke Davidson, Ryder Earwood, Greyson Davis, Maelee Epp, Asa Spurlock, and Sawyer Earwood. He is preceded in death by his mother, Leah Blanche Miller Yoder; father, John Yates Yoder, Sr.; and a sister, Betty Yoder Mckinnis. He is survived by his wife, Theresa Norris Yoder; his baby sister, Nancy Yoder Anderson; and all the great and grandchildren who attribute at least one good thing about themselves to John Yoder. Lastly, John would always end his letters to the family with the reminder that "God is good." Always a child of God, John's life was well lived. A Memorial service will be held 1:30 pm August 5, 2018 at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Asheville, N.C. An interment of ashes service will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hickory, N.C. at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mark's.