Carroll D. Yoder, 86, died July 17, 2025, at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, Va., after living with Parkinson’s disease, followed by a stroke. He was born April 17, 1939, in Wellman, Iowa, to Lester and Carrie Yoder. He graduated from Iowa Mennonite School and Eastern Mennonite College, then spent a year in Brussels, Belgium, learning French and immersing himself in a family’s life.
He spent two years teaching in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Teachers Abroad Program, volunteering with Mennonite Central Committee. He returned to Iowa to obtain a Ph.D. in French African literature from the University of Iowa. Experience in another culture encouraged him to promote Eastern Mennonite University’s cross-cultural program. He taught and chaired the language and literature department at EMU for 34 years, teaching French, writing and literature.
Highlights were leading, with his wife, Nancy, five semester-long cross-cultural student groups to France and Ivory Coast, with a total of 121 students. During sabbaticals, he served as MCC country representative in Congo and as a Fulbright professor in Congo, Brazzaville. He started a Writers Read program for students, staff and community at EMU. His love for travel was surpassed only by his love for people. He formed lasting relationships in the classroom, his community and around the world.
The first in his family to go to college, he influenced family members and friends to follow his example. He read widely and made a logical decision to become an academic. In spite of not becoming a farmer, he was a serious gardener.
A founding and current member of Shalom Mennonite Congregation, he served in various roles and took his church involvement seriously. He participated in hosting Congolese refugees to Harrisonburg. He enjoyed traveling to five continents, meeting and relating to people and eating a wide variety of cuisine.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Nancy; two sons Eric (Karina) and Joel (Chia Chi/Judy); six grandchildren; and brothers Wilbur, Milford and Galen. He was preceded in death by his par-ents and a brother, Marcus.
