Ruth Marie "Bear" Yoder-Taylor

Ruth M. Yoder-Taylor, 88, of Harleysville, formerly of Zionsville, passed away on August 21, 2025. She was the widow of Glenn F. Yoder, and married Merrill F. Taylor in 2011. Born in Allentown on September 11, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Russell and Lillian (Wagner) Bear. Ruth graduated from Allentown High School in 1955. She enjoyed traveling with Glenn to many places, especially on their 25th anniversary to Hawaii. They celebrated 44 and ½ happy years together before Glenn passed away in 2002. Ruth and Merrill traveled to Paris and Africa for their honeymoon and enjoyed many other travel experiences. Ruth also enjoyed traveling with friends. Her family was very important to her, and she saw her children grow up to be wonderful people and parents. Her children and five grandchildren were her crowning joy and delight. Seeing them graduate and enter college to continue their future and careers. Ruth enjoyed a variety of hobbies, including painting, singing, gardening and photography. As a teenager she sang with the Municipal Opera in Allentown and later on in life enjoyed acting and singing with the Pumpernickel Players, Janus Players and Dutch Country Players. She was a 25-year member of the Valley Choral Society. In 1976, she played and sang the part of Abigale Adams in "1776". She was secretary of the Upper Perkiomen Library in Red Hill for 10 years as the library was being established and getting on its feet. She was a Past Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star in Red Hill and was on the Friends Board of the Schwenkfelder Library. Ruth was a long-time member of Pennsburg United Church of Christ where she had served on the Consistory as an officer, and early on had taught Sunday School, plus planned and directed some Children's Christmas Programs. She sang in the choir and served on different committees during her many years there. She had sung a Sermon in Song three different times in church and has sung at weddings, including all three of her children's weddings. Ruth was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in March of 2005 but continued looking ahead. She kept busy by enjoying her family and friends. Surviving with her husband Merrill, are her children: Pamela Koeshartanto and her husband Bambang of Zionsville, Paul Yoder and his wife Robin of Emmaus, and Kathryn Robinson of Bethlehem; five grandchildren: Jaclyn Bissell, Nicole Robinson, Michael Koeshartanto, Nathan and Austin Yoder; two great grandchildren: Teddy and Ellie Bissell; a sister: Marilyn Fritz, nephew: Bert Fritz of Bethlehem; and many cousins. Family and friends are welcome to gather at Pennsburg United Church of Christ on Friday August 29th at 10am. A celebration of her life will follow at 11am. She will be laid to rest privately in Old Zionsville Lutheran Cemetery in Zionsville with her first husband Glenn. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ruth's memory to: The American Cancer Society, ATTN Memorial and Honor Gifts, 1818 Market Street, Philadelphia 19103 and Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network, 850 S. Fifth St, Allentown PA 18103.