John B. Yoder, the former president of the Butler County Mushroom Farm (Moonlight Mushrooms), died Sunday at Butler County Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Yoder of 471 Dutchtown Road was born April 21, 1919, in Philadelphia to Joseph and Lessie Blosser Yoder.

As a child, he was active in the Boy Scouts, where he learned to identify birds and bird songs, a hobby he enjoyed throughout his life.

He graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering in 1941 and worked for two years at Union Carbide before serving with the Marine Corps in the South Pacific theater during World War II.

During Mr. Yoder's tenure as president, Moonlight Mushrooms became the largest supplier of fresh mushrooms in the world. He pioneered research efforts that led to the development of the efficient large batch production of mushroom spawn (seeds). He also initiated the adoption of a vacuum cooling process, which helped keep mushrooms fresh for supermarket sales.

Another area of leadership was his support of innovative compost making techniques that are used throughout the mushroom industry today.

Mr. Yoder was president of the Irene Stacy Mental Health Clinic board and a member of the Advisory Board of the Butler Branch of the Mellon Bank. He was a supporter of the Butler County Community College, the Butler and Saxonburg libraries, the University of Michigan and the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY.

He is survived by a sister, Mary Louise Hicks of Williamsburg, Va., and her husband, Harry. He also is survived by his children, Margo Yoder of Denver, Colo., Heidi McClain and her husband, Paul, of Littleton, Colo., Cindy Yoder, of Polk, John I. Yoder and his wife, Wendy, of Davis, Calif., Tracy Yoder of Littleton and their mother, Virginia Dignan Yoder of Denver. His grandchildren are Ned and Bradley McClain of Boulder and Jack and Sam Yoder of Davis. He also is survived by his companion of 12 years, Abigail Farnum McGuire of Allison Park.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Yoder of Tequesta, Fla., and his wife, Quinn.

<B>YODER </B>— A memorial service for John B. Yoder, who died Sunday, July 30, 2006, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 218 E. Jefferson St.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Saxonburg Library, 240 W. Main St., P.O. Box 454, Saxonburg, PA 16056.Arrangements are being handled by the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B>, and information also is available at www.thompson-miller.com.