Wesley Eugene Yoakam, 67 of Bluffton, died at 7:40 a.m. Sept. 29, 2014 at Bridge Hospice, Findlay. He was born March 26, 1947, in Bluffton to Doyt A. and Leah Pauline Clum Yoakam who preceded him in death.
Mr. Yoakam was a 1965 graduate of LaFayette-Jackson High School. He was the class valedictorian. He then attended Bluffton College and graduated in 1969 with a B.S. in English Education.
He attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore Kentucky and then United Theological Seminary in Dayton where he received a master of Divinity degree in 1975.
He served at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Madeira, Christ United Methodist in Kettering, Elm Street United Methodist in Saint Marys, Salem United Methodist in Wapakoneta and at First United Methodist in Greenville.
Later in life he had been an insurance agent for Nationwide and also worked for the Principal Financial Group. He was involved in many community projects in all the locations where he lived and more recently was active in the LaFayette-Jackson Historical Society.
He was master of ceremonies for the LaFayette Memorial Day Parade on several occasions. He had been a member of the LaFayette Community Chorus, the Lima Beane Chorus and numerous quartets.
Survivors include two sons, Chad (Melissa) Yoakam of Livingston Montana, Heather Balent of Bellbrook, Josh (Christie) Yoakam of Scottsdale Arizona, five grandchildren, Nicholas Balent, Ryan Balent, Jacob Yoakam-Cristiano, Samantha Yoakam, Jeremy Yoakam, a brother, Leland (Deborah) Yoakam of Harrod, three sisters, Marjorie (Lloyd) Harnishfeger of Pandora, Meredith Miller of Sidney and Patricia (Sam) Pleshar of Livingston, Montana, and six nieces and four nephews.
A memorial service will begin at 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church, LaFayette. Pastors Wayne Bradley and David Thompson will officiate.
The family will receive friends following the service at the church. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the LaFayette First United Methodist Church or Blanchard Valley Hospital. Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com
