David Michael Yoder, Jr.

SCPO David ‘Doc’ Michael Yoder, Jr., RET, US Navy, 86, of Greenwood, husband of Rachel Hall Yoder, died Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood, SC. Born on April 10, 1940 in Lancaster, PA, David was the son of the late David Michael Yoder Sr. and Louella Bleacher Tyson.

At the age of 17, with a 5th grade education, David joined the Navy as a Medical Corpsman. At the age of 19, while serving at Portsmouth Naval Base in Virginia, he met a sweet girl who he would marry a month later and set off on an adventure that would last his lifetime. He would rise to the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer during his 21-year career that took him and his family to many wonderful places like Trinidad, W.I., Yokohama, Japan, and Sardinia, Italy.

After retiring from the Navy in CT, David became a Nationwide agent then opened and ran Creative Marketing Inc. until his retirement in 2002.

David and his wife lived in his wife’s childhood home in Abbeville SC before designing and building his final home in Hunter’s Creek, Greenwood.

David loved people, singing, laughter and loved telling funny stories. He went toward people in need, was brave, generous, kind, and dependable.

Above all other accomplishments, David was most proud of the family he and his wife, Rachel, created and raised around the world while serving his country.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Jay, John and George Tyson.

David is survived by his wife of 66 years, Rachel, of the home; children, Dodie Yoder Mendal (Gary) of West Hartford CT, David M. Yoder III (Diane) of Greenwood, SC, and Daphne Dristy (Janice) of Manchester, CT; three brothers, Jim, Chuck, and Joe Tyson, two sisters, PeeWee and Sue; three grandchildren, Zoe Anna Mendal, Samuel James Mendal, and Miranda Stephens (Blake); and two great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Noah.

Inurnment, with full military honors, will be 10:00 AM, Friday, June 5, 2026, in M. J. ‘Dolly’ Cooper Veterans Cemetery Columbarium, 140 Inway Drive, Anderson, SC 29621.

The family expresses their sincere appreciation to David’s caregivers, Cynthia, Ms. White, Gwynn, Georgia, and Shameka for their love and care.

The family is at the home.

Memorial contributions, in memory of David, may be sent to:

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) https://help.dav.org.

A message of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting www.harrisfuneral.com.

Harris Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Abbeville is assisting the Yoder family.