The C. Richard and Edith King Yoder Scholarship Endowment Fund

C. Richard Yoder was born in 1914 in rural Ohio and Edith King was born in 1918 in Chicago. They met at Goshen College in the late 1930s, but didn’t date until Richard was a pediatric resident at the University of Chicago, having graduated from Ohio State medical school in 1941. Edith was living in Chicago and enjoying her work at Illinois Bell Telephone in the customer service department. Richard and Edith were married in September 1946.

The Yoders moved three times before settling in Elkhart, Ind., where Richard established a medical practice. They raised three children, Tom, Bill and Susan, and enjoyed 54 years of marriage before Richard’s death in September 2000.

In addition to his work as a well-known and respected pediatrician, Richard was involved with many groups and served as an elder and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Elkhart, vice president of the Elkhart County Association of Crippled Children, president of the board of the Salvation Army, and a member of the board of directors of Oaklawn Psychiatric Center for 12 years. He inaugurated and directed the Poison Control Center at Elkhart Hospital and volunteered as pediatrician for the Bashor Children’s Home. In 1986 he was awarded the honor of Sagamore of the Wabash from the Governor of Indiana.

Richard was known for his hard work and integrity. He never forgot his roots growing up on a farm in Ohio. He loved his work with patients and their parents although this required long and irregular hours. He cherished the time he could spend with his wife and children. His friendships were many, often enjoyed while playing a round of golf.

Edith was an active community volunteer involved over the years with numerous groups, including the American Association of University Women, the Elkhart Hospital Auxiliary, Oakland Psychiatric Center, Riverside Club and Elkhart Public Schools. She was a co-founder of Planned Parenthood of Elkhart County. She served as a board member at the Elkhart YMCA and Greencroft Goshen and as an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Elkhart.

Edith was a bright, energetic and cheerful wife, mother, and friend who loved playing piano, attending musical and theater productions, traveling, playing bridge and dominoes, and the joys of friends and family. She had a wonderful and self-effacing sense of humor.

Both Richard and Edith very much appreciated the education and lifelong friendships that were formed during their years at Goshen College. For these reasons, Edith chose to establish this fund in 2004, hoping that it would assist Goshen College students in having the same kind of enriching experiences that she and Richard enjoyed.