Glenn Richard “Dick” Yoder, a devoted husband, father, and community servant, passed away peacefully at home on Dec. 12, 2024 in Echo.
Born on Sept. 20, 1941 in Iowa City, Iowa, Richard was the first born of Glenn and Annie Yoder.
Richard moved with his family to Albany at the age of 5, graduating from Albany Union High School in 1959. He attended Hesston Junior College in Kansas, receiving his associates degree in math and education. At his first job, his boss (also named Richard) told him that he would be called “Dick” to avoid confusion. So began over 60 years of being known as Richard or Dick. If you knew him by either name, you were very fortunate.
Richard married Marjorie Waters in 1964. He spoke often of his first memories of the Umpqua National Forest quarrying rock with his father-in-law, Dutch Waters. In 1966 Richard and his family moved to Steamboat Ranger Station, beginning his 37-year career with the U.S. Forest Service as a civil engineer. Working in the Umpqua and Mt. Hood national forests, he was responsible for road reconnaissance, survey and design programs, receiving several national awards. Richard spent each summer on U.S. Forest Service wildfire teams, bringing home stories of people he met and forests he got to know. Throughout his life, Richard considered the Oregon woods and mountaintops his favorite places to be and where he loved to spend time with family.
Richard married Gayle Wilkerson Barton in 1998 after the passing of his first wife. He was a member of Stanfield Baptist Church where he actively participated in church leadership and community events. Richard enjoyed singing in choirs and barbershop quartets and loved attending southern gospel concerts. With his wife Gayle, Richard traveled abroad on mission trips and extensively throughout the U.S. He was an avid game player with friends and family. Richard was also known for his carpentry skills, including the construction of his home. These skills were used throughout his volunteer work in retirement, including service on command teams for Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief for 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and Paradise Fire.
Richard is survived by his loving wife, Gayle; his daughters, Sally (Jeff) Willis of Myrtle Creek and Katie (Marc) Mason of Eugene; step-daughters, Jennifer (Noel) Kyser of Milwaukie and Carrie Barton of Silverton; grandchildren, Nikolai (Amal) Petrov, Stephen Walker, Colin Walker, Clarice Walker, Sterling Kyser and Jewel Kyser; and great-grandson, Aleksandr Petrov. He is also survived by brothers, Doug Yoder of Albany and Don (Kelly) Yoder of Canby; and sister, Deanne (Craig) Smith of Salem.
Richard Yoder’s legacy endures through the lives he touched and the impact he made in his professional and personal endeavors.
A memorial service celebrating Richard Yoder’s life is being scheduled for a later date to be announced.
For complete obituary and details, go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
