Colonel Harry David Yoder

Colonel Harry David Yoder
Colonel Harry David Yoder, 95 years from Boyertown, Berks County, Pennsylvania passed away on May 8, 2011 at Berks Heim Residence in Bernville, PA. Colonel Yoder is survived by his wife of 65 years Ardath Davidheiser Yoder. He was born in New Berlinville, PA to the late Paul and Gertrude (Landis) Yoder. Colonel Yoder was a career Air Force Officer having served our country from 1942 through 1969. His military services included World War II, the Korean Conflict as well as Vietnam. After his thirty-year military career he worked at Lockheed Martin in Georgia from 1969-1971. He went on to acquire the Presidency of the Boyertown Auto Body Works and later secured ownership from Paul Hafer during the years 1971-1988. Colonel Yoder also was a Military and Government Contractor for Thomas Body of Reading, PA and also served as a Development Consultant for the National Penn Bank of Boyertown. He was a 1934 graduate of Boyertown Area High School and a 1959 graduate of the University of Maryland. He was also a lifelong member of St. Johns Lutheran Church of Boyertown, PA.After serving in the then Army Air Corps as a B-24 Bomber Pilot in World War II, flying in the most fierce of circumstance-Raids on the Ploesti Oil fields of Europe and two missions on D-Day, Colonel Yoder serviced our country for 30 years. Piloting during the Berlin Airlift and flying the United States Secretary of War and also the Peace Team to Japan for the official treaty signing only after hostilities ceased in the Pacific. He served at our nations Pentagon in the District of Columbia serving on the joint Chiefs of Staff. His many awards included the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters. Upon retirement from the Air Force the Colonel worked for Lockheed Aircraft Corp in Marietta, GA as a staff manager and this time wrote a thesis titled, Logistics in Motion. This thesis was a battle supply plan using the newest C-5a Galaxy cargo plane to supply a mid-east war. Years later, General H. Norman Schwarzkopf used this plan for the first Iraq war against Saddam Hussein. While in Boyertown he spent his life serving on a multitude of boards and committees including the Berks County Community Foundation and at the Lutheran Home at Topton, Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles and was the originator and President of the General Carl A. Spatz Memorial Association. He was a longstanding member of the Boyertown Rotary Club serving at one point as Rotary District Governor, recognized as a 32nd Degree Mason, the Shriners and District Chairman of the Frontier District of the Boy Scouts of America as well as a member of the Hawk Mountain Endowment Council on the Boy Scouts. His dedication to service and organizations has been recognized in his being the recipient of the Good Scout Award (2002) and the Silver Beaver Award (2004). He was a generous and kind philanthropist to both local and national causes spanning across the United States and has received many additional awards, commendations and respect for all his effort. Colonel Yoder USAF Ret lived by the motto: DUTY, HONOR and COUNTRY. Survivors: In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Rev. Keith D. Yoder husband to Sandra Hitchings Yoder of Lower Alsace Twp. and his daughter, Natasha Barbara Icenhour of Boyertown, PA. There are three grandchildren, Hans P. Yoder, Gretta wife of Jeffrey Teets and Beth Yvonne Yoder. Services: Funeral Services will be held at St. Johns Lutheran Church, Boyertown, PA on Friday, May 13 at 12:45 p.m. Viewing will be held from 11:45-12:45 p.m. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery, Boyertown, PA immediately following the service. Contributions: Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 498 Bellevue Ave., Reading, PA 19605 or to the charity of your choice.