Claude E. Yoder was born on Nov. 22, 1934, at Norfolk, Virginia, to Enos W. and Mary (Miller) Yoder. He passed on peacefully at home with his family on April 22, 2017, from congestive heart failure at the age of 82 years and five months.

He received Christ as his Savior in his youth and was a member of the Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Hartselle, at the time of his death.

On Aug. 15, 1971, he was united in marriage to Arlene (Overholt) Troyer, daughter of Joe and Mary Ann (Hershberger) Overholt, who preceded him in death on April 6, 2014. To this union was born one son and two daughters. Noah, married to Verna, Rutherford, Tennessee; Rachel, Safford; and Rebecca, married to Micah Weaver, Owenton, Kentucky.

He was previously married on March 10, 1955, to Martha Marie Troyer, daughter of Ezra and Amanda (Kramer) Troyer, who preceded him in death on July 24, 1970. To this union was born five sons and three daughters: David, married to Rhoda, Hickory, Kentucky; Wayne, married to Emma, Cynthiana, Kentucky; Glenda, who died as an infant; Edith, married to Herb Miller, Safford; Calvin, married to Naomi, Moulton; Samuel, married to Ruby, Belleville, Arkansas; Joseph, married to Sara, Rutherford, Tennessee; Nioma, married to Stephen Wagler, Kenton, Tennessee.

Arlene was previously married on Oct. 6, 1959, to Robert Lee Troyer, son of Ezra and Amanda (Kramer) Troyer, who preceded her in death on October 16, 1965. To this union was born three daughters and one son, who survive: Lilly, married to Eli Ray Weaver, Safford; Faith, married to David Yoder, Oskaloosa, Kansas; Mary Ann, married to Freeman Weaver, Cullman; Robert, married to Nora, Aroda, Virginia.

Also surviving are two brothers, Edwin and Floyd; four sisters, Sadie, Vernie, Alta and Mary, 115 grandchildren, and 93 great-grandchildren.

Also preceding him in death are his parents; three brothers, Allen, Melvin and Norman; one daughter-in-law, Edith; one grandson, Matthias; and two great-grandsons, Alex and Joshua.