Former Bluffton resident Joanne Buhler Voth, 91, a resident of Rockingham, Virginia, died on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at her home.

Joanne was born on Dec. 6, 1929, to Gerhard Buhler from Mt Lake, Minnesota, and Leucile (Steiner) Buhler, from Bluffton.         

She graduated from Bluffton College in 1951 with a degree in elementary education.

On Sept. 2, 1950, she married Leland Willis Voth, son of Rev. William C. and Matilda (Kliewer) Voth in the First Mennonite Church, Bluffton.

Joanne grew up in Bluffton. She was an exchange student from Bluffton College to Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, where she met Leland.

She taught school in Columbus, Ohio, and in Freeman, South Dakota, while Leland taught at Freeman Junior College. After four years there, they went overseas to work at the Mennonite Vocational School for Orphan Boys, Kyungsan, Korea. They served 9 1/2 years there under the Mennonite Central Committee.

When Leland joined the Agency for International Development in 1967, they remained in Korea until being transferred to Laos. Joanne worked in Laos under the Lao church and also with UNICEF in producing a manual for teachers of preschool children. 

After their transfer to Zaire (DR Congo), she was active in leadership of the International Protestant Church and continued working in pre-school education with the government until she began working for the U.S. Embassy as the Community Liaison Officer.

While living back in the U.S. for five years, Joanne and Leland helped develop small groups in a large growing church where they both served as lay pastors.

In 1985 they moved to Jamaica where Joanne worked for the U.S. Embassy in visiting American prisoners. After four years the Voths returned to the U.S. where Joanne became a volunteer spiritual counselor for women prisoners in the Fairfax County Jail, Fairfax, Virginia. 

She and Leland retired in 1993 to Bluffton. In 2000, they moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia. They joined the Harrisonburg Mennonite Church, Praise Fellowship.

Surviving are four children, Nancy (Jerry) Suter, Pandora, David (Laura) Voth, Bluffton, Pamela (Merlin) Shank, Harrisonburg, Virginia,  Kevin (Sandra) Voth, Atlanta, Georgia; sister, Ruth (Kenneth) Graber, Sierra Vista, Arkansas; seven grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; seven nieces and nephews.

In addition to her in parents, Joanne was preceded in death by a brother, Sam Buhler; sister-in-law, Inez Buhler; sister, Genevieve Fast, brother-in-law, Peter Fast, and a grandson Timothy Suter.  

Those wishing to view and sign the register book may do so on Monday, April 12, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. at the funeral home.

A private memorial service will be held. Persons may watch the service by visiting her obituary online at www.mcmullenfh.com after 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 13.        

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to www.cfk.org.

Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.mcmullenfh.com.        

McMullen Funeral Home, Harrisonburg, Virginia, is in charge of arrangements.