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Toby Coder
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Toby Coder Obituary
LIMA -- Toby A. Coder, age 83, was called to her Heavenly Home at 5:09 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025, while at home surrounded by her loving family.
Toby was born June 6, 1942, in Lima, OH, to the late Ova and Kathryn (Beeler) Whetstone. On March 10, 1962, she married the love of her life, Alan L. Coder, who survives.
Toby was a 1960 graduate of Waynesfield-Goshen High School. She attended The Ohio State University and graduated from Ohio Northern University with her degree in Music Education. Toby taught music in the Waynesfield-Goshen and Allen East School Districts for many years, finishing her teaching career at Temple Christian Schools after 32 years of teaching music. Toby had a passion for playing and teaching music, having directed many musicals, taught show choirs, and played for hundreds of weddings and holiday cantatas. She enjoyed having her show choirs entertain churches and patients in the nursing homes around Lima. Music was her greatest treasure, and she spread her love of music wherever she went. Toby was a former member of Waynesfield Baptist Church and a longtime member of Lima Baptist Temple, where she also directed the choirs. Most of all, Toby had a great love for the Lord and had accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior as a young girl.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Alan L. Coder of Lima; son, Michael A Coder of Lima; daughter, Terri R. (Clifton D.) Roberts of Waynesfield; grandchildren, Heather (BJ) McPheron, and Zachary (Morgan) Roberts; great-grandchildren, Harper McPheron, Brecken McPheron, Brooks McPheron, Coast Roberts, Jaxx Brigman, and Roman Brigman; sisters, Jo Ann (Skip) Roberts, and Mary Ann (Ray) Schaublin; brother, Doug Whetstone; brother-in-law, Wayne (Barbara) Coder; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her in-laws, Walter and Ruth (Crone) Coder; sisters-in-Law, Kay Thompson and Sandra Whetstone; brother-in-law, Clyde Ross; and grandson, Justin Roberts.
Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Lima Baptist Temple, 982 Brower Rd, Lima, OH 45801. Pastors Gary Hohman and Lynn Mohler will officiate. A burial will follow in Walnut Hill Cemetery, New Hampshire, Ohio.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 22, 2025, at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Eastside Chapel, and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 23rd, before the service at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Temple Christian School, 982 Brower Rd, Lima, OH 45801.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Toby Coder
13 Entries
Belinda
Yesterday
What a precious, gifted lady!! Praying for you in your time of grief.
Belinda Sandy
Tim Foley
Yesterday
To the family of Mrs. Coder,
My name is Tim Foley and I graduated from Allen East in 1980. Up until my freshman year in high school my grades were very poor and I was constantly in danger of failing.
One day during the beginning of my freshman year I was in the band room cleaning instruments in order to get out of study hall. That´s when Mrs. Coder noticed me. She came out of her office and introduced herself to me and in the conversation asked if I could sing. I laughed and said that I couldn´t. About a week later she convinced me to sing for her. I remember that I walked into the choir room for the first time and as she sat down to play the piano, she had me sing "America The Beautiful".
After singing for her, she convinced me that I really could sing and that I needed to join Boy´s Chorus. At my first concert I found myself singing a solo in one of the songs. Soon, my grades raised from failing to "tolerable" and I began enjoying school for the first time. I went on to sing several solo´s during my high school years and Mrs. Coder put me in the Jr, Sr. Corral at the beginning of my sophomore year. By the time I graduated I had earned the top award for the choir dept.
Since that time, music has played a vital role in my life. After high school I began my career in pastoral ministry that ran from 1985 through 2022. Throughout those years everything seemed to evolve around singing and leading people in worship to The Lord.
I´ve now retired from pastoring and I work for Roever Evangelistic Association where I manage Eagles Summit Ranch. Here we minister to Veterans, Active Military and First Responders on a 200 acre ranch in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
And remember those grades? In 2022 my wife Tish and I graduated from Texas University of Theology. Tish with her doctorate in Christian Counseling and myself with a doctorate in Theology. We´re both professors for TXUT and through online classes we teach people from around the world.
I really love the life that The Father has given me and I often tell people, "I wouldn´t trade jobs with anyone".
Looking back, I find myself contemplating what my life might have been had I not been in the music hallway that day. Meeting Mrs. Coder changed the trajectory of my life and placed it right in line with God´s will for me and for my family.
To the family of Mrs. Coder, thank you for sharing her with me and all the students of Allen East high school. You will never know in this life the profound difference she made in our lives.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have made for you says The Lord. Plans for your benefit and not for calamity. Plans for a future with hope.
Kim Foley
August 22, 2025
So sorry for your loss. Mrs. Coder was a great director, teacher and lady. She made music special and loved what she did. I loved seeing her smile and how her eyes twinkled when she smiled. She will always be a special choir director that I will remember with fond memories.
Kevin Stotts
August 22, 2025
My deepest condolences to Toby´s family. She and Ed Nihiser were responsible for starting musicals at WGHS. I don´t think I ever thanked Toby, but she brought great joy to me and my peers.
Vi Bradley Bricker
August 21, 2025
" Precious in the sight of the Lord is the desth of His saints. Psalm 116:15
Tana (Eckenwiler) Crossley
August 21, 2025
She was a great teacher, made choir so much fun! She loved her family, students and included us on what was going on in her life.
Connie Sidener Pierce
August 21, 2025
Alan and family, so sorry for your loss. She was such a beautiful soul. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Harold
August 21, 2025
Mrs Coder helped foster my love for singing. Always will to help. She was one of the greatest teachers Allen East ever had. I'll always remember kindness, her perpetually peppy spirit. Sing high with the angels , Mrs acoder. You deserve it.
John Venturella
August 20, 2025
Sorry for your loss, condolences to Alan and family
Judy Brown
August 20, 2025
Alan, Michael, Terri and Zach, So sorry to learn of Toby´s passing. She was a great lady and a precious member of our family. Thinking of you all and hoping you will find comfort in your memories and your faith.
Todd & Jill Coston
August 20, 2025
What a wonderful person Toby was! She was such a great choir director, and very musical. But I remember her most for her sweet spirit, love for people, and most importantly - her love for the Lord. She will be missed!!
Chad Jacobs
August 20, 2025
Sorry for your loss . Great teacher, great person.
Christina (Bloomfield) Bowden
August 20, 2025
Some of my fondest memories from Allen East High School from 1991-1995 was centered around Mrs. Coder. I was actively involved in the choir, musicals, and show choir and I will always cherish the dedication that she had to make our performances great. She was a wonderful teacher. Every time I hear The Hallelujah Chorus or O' Come All Ye Faithful, I always think of her. She will be missed.
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