Richard B. Yoder

Richard Berry Yoder, 79, of West Chester, died on May 3rd, 2016

He was married to the love of his life, Jean Roney Yoder, of West Chester,  with whom he shared 55 years of marriage.

Born in West Chester, he was the son of the late Walter Reuben and Elizabeth Berry Yoder. He was the eighth of 13 children and is survived by sisters, Edna Mae Nelson of Glen Mills; Elaine, wife of John Leary of West Chester; Jane Morgan of Coatesville; Diane, wife of Michael Marcella of Florida; and brothers Clarence of Valrico, Florida; Donald of Whispering Pines, North Carolina, and Robert, of Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey. He was preceded in death by three sisters, Ruth Lang, Barbara Malin, Janet Venditti and brothers Paul and Eugene.

He is also survived by his four children, who were the light of his life: Susan Marie Schick (John) of West Chester; Richard “Rick” Berry Yoder II (ChungHi) of Alexandria, Virginia; Kathleen Anne Schlosser (Paul) of Lionville; and John “Jack” Bernard Yoder (Beth) of Downingtown, and was devoted to his five granddaughters (Stephanie, Katie, Elizabeth, Payton and Sydney) and four grandsons (Paul Thomas, Richard, Andrew and Jackson).             

Dick was elected to two terms as Mayor of the Borough of West Chester (2002-10). He was most proud of the safety, security and quality of life initiatives of the Police Department during his tenure as Mayor. He felt deeply honored and privileged to have served his hometown community as Mayor. He was especially pleased with the creation of the WCPD Community/Police Partnership Team initiatives and the development of a Police Department Long-Range Strategic plan. He particularly enjoyed working with the Officers of the West Chester Police Department.

After 38 years, Dick retired from West Chester University in January 2000. While at WCU, he was a Full-Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, served as a Football Coach, Track Coach and the University’s Director of Athletics. He developed, taught and coordinated the graduate program of Sport and Athletic Administration. He served as Chair of the Physical Education Department, Acting Associate Dean of the School of Health Sciences, and Coordinator of Safety Education. Professor Yoder was always proud of those Students and Athletes, who went on to distinguish themselves as exceptional teachers and coaches.

While Director of Athletics at WCU, he served on 11 different National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) committees and was elected to the prestigious NCAA Council and NCAA Football Committee. He was elected as President of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and served on 13 other ECAC committees.  As recently as April 15, 2016, he was inducted into the ECAC Hall of Fame.   In 1979, as Director of Athletics, he was responsible for relocating the Philadelphia Eagles to West Chester University for their summer football camp.  He also served on the Maxwell Football Club, executive council.

As an athlete, he played quarterback and defensive safety for both West Chester High School (Henderson High School) and West Chester State Teachers College football teams (‘55-‘59), where he played for the legendary Hall of Fame Coach Glenn Killinger. Dick also enjoyed playing baseball at West Chester High School and the West Chester Community Adult Baseball League.

He was a member of the West Chester Rotary Club for over 35 years and a charter member of the West Chester Sunrise Rotary Club; The Knights of Columbus of West Chester,  The Chester County Highway Safety Project advisory board; Congressman Joseph L. Pitts and Congressman Ryan Costello’s US Military Academy Nomination Advisory Boards; Charles S. Swope Memorial Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees; Russell Sturzebecker Foundation Board of Directors; W. Glenn Killinger Football Foundation Executive Committee; Board Emeritus on the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame,  and several other West Chester University Faculty and Professional committees.

He was especially proud and gratified with his six-year service in the United States Marine Corps and his involvement in military activities in both the community and at the University. He participated in the annual Marine Corps Sunday program in Oaklands Cemetery honoring US Marines Corps members, who served their county. As a local West Chester borough resident, who never lived more than 8 blocks from High Street or Gay Street in his whole life, Dick used to proudly state that, “if it wasn’t for the Marine Corps he would have never been out-of-town”.

He was a member of the West Chester University’s Killinger Football Hall of Fame and the WCU Sturzebecker Hall of Fame; was a recipient of the Greater Sunrise Rotary Club’s 2008 Leaders of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award; West Chester University Alumni Service Award; the Military Order of the Purple Heart National Citation; the Eastern College Athletic Conference Distinguished Achievement Award & ECAC Outstanding Service and Leadership Award; and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Recognition and Distinguished Service Award. In April ‘09, he was awarded the West Chester University Distinguished Alumni Award. In November ’09, Dick was inducted into the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame. The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce awarded Dick their Lifetime Achievement Award in October 2009. At the 2013 fall graduation ceremony, Dick was awarded both the Professor Emeritus Award and the President’s Medallion for Service, from West Chester University. In 2014, he was awarded the “Citizen of the Year” designation by the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce.  

With a teaching career of over 40 years, Mr.Yoder was a lifelong resident of the Borough of West Chester, a graduate of West Chester High School (‘55), West Chester State Teachers College (‘59) and received a Masters Degree in Administration from Villanova University (‘62). He also achieved Post-Graduate studies at Temple University. He began his education career as a teacher and coach in the West Chester Area School District, before returning to West Chester State College, in 1962 as an Assistant Professor of Physical Education, football and track coach. He coached Football for 17 years before being selected Director of Athletics in 1979, a position he served for nine years.

Funeral Mass:  Thurs. May 12th 11am, St. Agnes Church, 233 W. Gay St. West Chester, PA 19380

Visitation: Wed May 11th, from 6-9 pm at St. Agnes Church,  and again Thurs morning 9-10:30 am prior to mass at the church

Interment:  St. Agnes Cemetery, West Chester.

Memorial Contributions may be made to any of these organizations:West Chester University Foundation (memo field required to:  Killinger Football Foundation), PO Box 541, West Chester, PA  19381; St. Agnes Church, 233 W. Gay St. West Chester, PA 19380; Chester County Sports Hall of Fame. PO Box 30, West Chester, PA 19380 

Condolences:  LoganFuneralHomes.com

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