Ruth (Yoder) Helmuth

Ruth (Yoder) Helmuth, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, was born September 14, 1941, in Dover, Delaware, to Alvin and Ida (Byler) Yoder. She departed this life Sunday evening, July 13, 2014, at the age of 72 years, 9 months, and 29 days in Manteca, California.

Services of Remembrance for Mrs. Helmuth were conducted at 10 A.M. Saturday, July 19th at the First Baptist Church in Bolivar. Interment followed in the Whiteville Mennonite Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center – Main Chapel of Somerville.

In 1945, when Ruth was 4 years of age, her parents moved the family to Stuarts Draft, Virginia. Here, she met and married Roger Helmuth, on October 25, 1962. They shared the joys and sorrows of life in matrimony for 51 years, 8 months, and 18 days.

To this union were born four sons and one daughter: Roger Glenn, married to Cynthia (Yoder) Helmuth, Tryon, North Carolina; Allen Lavern, married to Melody (Yoder) Helmuth, presently serving in Cambodia; Rosetta Jane, (Mrs. Wade Stoll), Wheatland, Wyoming; Vernon Jay, married to Jean (Hofer Byler) Helmuth, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; and Arlyn Eugene, married to Stephanie (Collins) Helmuth, Greenwood, South Carolina; 26 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren are left to miss their devoted grandma.

Ruth was sixth in a family of nine children; Simon Yoder, Paris, Tennessee, whose wife, Arlene, is deceased; Martha, (Mrs. Sanford Yoder) LaMerced, Costa Rica; Elmer Yoder, deceased, whose wife, Ellen, resides at Camp Point, Illinois; Mary Jane, (Mrs. Elmer Mast) both of whom are deceased; Norman, married to Verna (Miller) Yoder, Olney, Illinois; Earl, married to Mary (Miller) Yoder, Whiteville; Esther, (Mrs. Lloyd Troyer) Sterling, Alaska; and Paul, married to Mary (Byler) Yoder, Belvidere, Tennessee.

In her youth,  Ruth received Jesus Christ as her Savior, and remained true to her faith throughout her lifetime. She was a member of the Cross Hill Mennonite Church, Cross Hill, South Carolina, where she and Roger resided. The past weeks they were in Manteca, California, where Roger was helping their son, Vernon, on a temporary job, and where Ruth died peacefully in a hospital, after experiencing kidney failure, then a cardiac arrest, and a blood clot.

Several years after their marriage, Roger and Ruth moved from Virginia to Leon, Iowa, where they lived until 1978, when they moved to Whiteville. Some years later, they served at Faith Mission Home in Virginia, then moved to Cross Hill, South Carolina, their current residence.

The last few years, Ruth increasingly expressed her desire to go to her heavenly home, and made plans for that time. We will sadly miss our loved one, but we sorrow not as those that have no hope, but we look forward to that heavenly reunion, where there will be no more partings, and we will praise our Lord throughout eternity.

The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the many prayers and expressions of sympathy during this time. We pray God will bless you for your kindness.