SEBRING, Fla. -- Jerry L. Yoder, 72, of Sebring, Fla., and formerly of Syracuse, Ind., died Monday (June 8, 2009) at Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring.
He was born Aug. 13, 1936, in Goshen to Walter and Virginia (Lee) Yoder.
He is survived by his loving and caring wife and partner in Christ, Diana (Veach) Yoder. They were married in July 2007. He is also survived by four sons, Jerry Dean Yoder of Firestone, Colo., Mike Yoder and Steve Yoder, both of Syracuse, and Bob (Etta) Yoder of Cromwell, Ind.; one daughter, Christina Nicole (Justin) Hamilton of Nashville, Tenn.; a former wife, Belinda Yoder of Nashville; one sister, Linda Yoder of New York City; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Marilyn Brown; and former wife Julie Yoder.
Mr. Yoder received a bachelor's degree in education from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., and a master's in education from St. Francis College in Fort Wayne. He went on to become a teacher and head coach in Indiana for many years, with his last tenure at West Noble High School in Ligonier. He was an executive at North American Van Lines in Fort Wayne and San Jose, Calif. In 1981 he relocated to Nashville to eventually become president and CEO of Comdata Network. He then retired from Fleetone in Nashville and relocated to Sebring.
He was an avid golfer and Notre Dame fan. He was a member of Southside Baptist Church in Sebring and Judson Baptist Church in Nashville.
He was in the U.S. Air Force from 1954 to 1963, serving in England and at the Pentagon in Washington.
Visitation will be Friday, June 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Mishler-Eastlund Funeral Home, Harris Chapel, 7458 E. 1000 N., Syracuse. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Pastor Harlan Steffen will officiate. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.
Military honors will be conducted by members of the Syracuse American Legion and VFW.
Memorials may be given to the American Lung Association. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.mishlerfuneralhomes.com.