Lee Yoder

Lee Yoder, age 92, of Penney Farms, Florida passed away peacefully on May 17, 2023, after a brief illness. He is predeceased by his wife, Patricia Jean. He is survived by three daughters, Jill Kaminski, Paige Yoder Celestin, and Robin Martin, and four grandchildren, Amelia Martin, Ansley Martin, Louise Celestin, and Conrad Celestin, and his brother, Conrad Yoder.

Lee grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and attended Mercersburg Academy, The University of Arkansas, Louisiana State University, and received his Masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964.

Lee attended the University of Arkansas on a track scholarship. In 1952 representing the University of Arkansas, he placed second in the Olympic try-outs in Los Angeles. He set a national intercollegiate record of 51.3 in the 400-meter hurdles which earned him a place on the U.S. Olympic team. Lee did well during the trial heats in Helsinki, Finland, but it was Charlie Moore who was the medal winner of the 400-meter hurdles.

At the University of Arkansas, Lee met his wife, Patricia, at a Westminster Fellowship meeting and got to know her better after they volunteered to cook supper for the next meeting. After Patricia graduated, in 1953, they got married in Fort Smith Arkansas, where Patricia grew up.

When Lee’s coach left the University of Arkansas, he decided to transfer to Louisiana State University.  A full athletic scholarship was offered, and he majored in industrial education. Lee was always skilled in woodworking and construction and had honed his skills during the depression years.

After graduation from LSU, Pat and Lee moved to the suburbs of Philadelphia. They both began teaching careers.

A nice benefit for Lee and Pat was that summer vacations allowed them to travel extensively around the U.S. In order to afford these summer travels, Lee coached track and cross country, painted houses, taught behind-the-wheel driver’s Ed, and officiated track meets, both at local schools and at the University of Pennsylvania at the prestigious Penn Relays.

During the early 60’s Lee began to play field hockey with the Merion Cricket Club in Haverford, PA.  He had enjoyed field hockey casually, but had been so focused on track and field that he was not able to play much. Now as he looked around for a new sporting interest, he realized that he excelled at hockey and he became a valuable team member on the U.S. Field Hockey Team which competed at the 1967 Pan-American Games.  His involvement in field hockey enabled him to later manage the 1984 men’s Olympic field hockey team in Los Angeles.

With all of this going on you may wonder how Lee also found time to travel the world with Patricia, but he did!  During the 1970’s Lee became fascinated with bird watching, also known as birding. Pat and Lee incorporated birding into their world travels which would include the continents or countries of: Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Antarctica, the Netherlands, the Baltic States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Myanmar, India, Africa, France, England, and nearer to home, Hawaii and Alaska.  Lee also adventured out to bird, solo, to Cuba, Homer, Alaska, Panama, Ecuador, Gambell, Alaska, and Attu at the end of the remote Aleutian Islands. No destination was too far if a “Life Bird” waited at the end of the journey.

After retiring from their teaching careers, Pat and Lee moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. They were members of the Outer Banks Presbyterian Church and participated in many church-related and social activities. For many years Lee also performed the maintenance, painting and various repairs at the church. Lee worked as a bird walk volunteer at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge from 1995 – 2013 guiding visitors to the different ponds and impoundments in search of birds for photographing or adding to their own Life Lists.

After a devastating hurricane, and at the encouragement of their daughters, Pat and Lee relocated to the Penney Retirement Community in 2013, where they could relax and enjoy their lives without worrying about home maintenance.

After Pat’s death in 2019, Lee continued to participate in many activities at PRC. He was a member of Penney Birders, worked with VIPs Community safety patrol, maintained the Penney Farms Cemetery, filled the campus bird feeders, did interior painting in Penney Memorial Church and PET and worked on the Bluebird Trail. A firm believer in mind and body fitness, Lee attended classes on various subjects that PRC offers and worked out regularly at the campus gym. While living at Penmor Place he discovered a new passion: jigsaw puzzles.

A celebration of life service will be held for Lee on August 16, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at Penney Memorial Church, Penney Farms, Florida. We ask that you remember Lee with a contribution to an organization he supported, The National Audubon Society.