Obituary for Mary "Thelma" Yoder (Opel)
Mary “Thelma” (Opel) Yoder, 86, of Accident, MD, was born in Accident, the 6th of 14 children, to the late Herman & Melda (Schrock) Opel on Nov 16, 1935. She died Sunday, July 17, 2022, at Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, WV. She was married on May 28, 1954, to her husband of 68 years, Floyd “Shorty” Yoder.
Thelma was preceded in death by sisters, Bernice Baker, Erma Stephens, Nora Evans & Viola Yommer; brothers, Park Opel & Vernon Opel (infant); and sons-in-law Jim Yoder & Felix Gonzalez.
Along with her husband, she is also survived by her children, Mary Gonzalez, Nancy Yoder, Phyllis Yoder and Dean (RoseLee) Yoder, all of Grantsville, MD; Diane (Sheldon) Maust and Carol (Billy) Cooney, all of Accident, MD; Ronald (Tracey) Yoder , of Ormand Beach, FL; 24 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; one brother, Don Opel, Grantsville; six sisters, Eva Miller and Hazel Maust, both of Accident; Marie Eisentrout, Beaverdam, VA; Jean DeWitt, Oakland; Jody Bender, Kalona, IA; June McCann, Bruceton Mills, WV.
She donated 16+ gallons of blood, made hundreds of dolls to be sent to missions in Guatemala and donated numerous quilts to be auctioned at the MCC Relief Sale. Thelma had a work ethic like no other and loved gardening, yard work, birds, and up until the age of 84, used a chain saw to cut her own firewood. She attended Glade Mennonite Church, most recently Meadow Mountain Church and was still an active member of the chorus. She taught many years of Bible school and Sunday school, was a member of the sewing circle, donated shoe boxes to Operation Christmas Child and was a host home for the Fresh Air Fund for many years.
She had a great love for her family. Her greatest joy was her grandkids and will always be remembered for her homemade chocolate chip cookies, dill pickles and homemade ice cream. She loved watching Pittsburgh Pirate baseball.
Friends will be received at the Newman Funeral Homes, P.A., 179 Miller St., Grantsville, on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted in the Glade Mennonite Church on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Ron Beiler and Pastor Kevin Dodge officiating. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the services. Interment will be in the Glade Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy may be made toSamaritan's Purse or Operation Christmas Child , both can be sent to this address, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, Mennonite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500, Akron PA 17501 or donate blood.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.newmanfuneralhomes.com.
Thelma was preceded in death by sisters, Bernice Baker, Erma Stephens, Nora Evans & Viola Yommer; brothers, Park Opel & Vernon Opel (infant); and sons-in-law Jim Yoder & Felix Gonzalez.
Along with her husband, she is also survived by her children, Mary Gonzalez, Nancy Yoder, Phyllis Yoder and Dean (RoseLee) Yoder, all of Grantsville, MD; Diane (Sheldon) Maust and Carol (Billy) Cooney, all of Accident, MD; Ronald (Tracey) Yoder , of Ormand Beach, FL; 24 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; one brother, Don Opel, Grantsville; six sisters, Eva Miller and Hazel Maust, both of Accident; Marie Eisentrout, Beaverdam, VA; Jean DeWitt, Oakland; Jody Bender, Kalona, IA; June McCann, Bruceton Mills, WV.
She donated 16+ gallons of blood, made hundreds of dolls to be sent to missions in Guatemala and donated numerous quilts to be auctioned at the MCC Relief Sale. Thelma had a work ethic like no other and loved gardening, yard work, birds, and up until the age of 84, used a chain saw to cut her own firewood. She attended Glade Mennonite Church, most recently Meadow Mountain Church and was still an active member of the chorus. She taught many years of Bible school and Sunday school, was a member of the sewing circle, donated shoe boxes to Operation Christmas Child and was a host home for the Fresh Air Fund for many years.
She had a great love for her family. Her greatest joy was her grandkids and will always be remembered for her homemade chocolate chip cookies, dill pickles and homemade ice cream. She loved watching Pittsburgh Pirate baseball.
Friends will be received at the Newman Funeral Homes, P.A., 179 Miller St., Grantsville, on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted in the Glade Mennonite Church on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Ron Beiler and Pastor Kevin Dodge officiating. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the services. Interment will be in the Glade Cemetery.
Expressions of sympathy may be made toSamaritan's Purse or Operation Christmas Child , both can be sent to this address, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, Mennonite Central Committee, P.O. Box 500, Akron PA 17501 or donate blood.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.newmanfuneralhomes.com.