Dessie (Adkins) Yoh Elston

Dessie (Adkins) Yoh Elston, 84, of Grover Hill, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend, left this earth to join her Lord and Savior at 12:40 PM on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at Vancrest of Delphos, with family by her side.

She was born on December 17, 1940, at home in Jackson County, Ohio, to James Edward and Opal Marguerite (Crabtree) Adkins. On June 28, 1959, Dessie married Rev. Richard T. "Dick" Yoh. He preceded her in death in 1988.

Dessie is survived by her 5 daughters, Deanna (Timothy) Brewer, Janna (Jon) Greenwood, Lori (Scott) Grosenbaucher, Karen (Jeff) Hager and Jaclyn (fiance`: Chad) Lambert; grandchildren, Andy Brewer, Aaron (Holly) Brewer, Ethan (Sarah) Brewer, Jonathan (Kelsey) Greenwood, Joel (Madison) Greenwood, Joseph (Madelyn) Greenwood, Chris (Jeanette) Hager, Nick (Audrey) Hager, Nate (Amy) Hager, Cori (Nick) Fields and Emily Lambert; 11 great grandchildren; brothers, Loren Adkins and James (Linda) Adkins; sisters, Reba (Louis) Herman, Edna (Jerry) Stacey, Patty (Edwin) Cavinder and Pamela Adkins.

On January 28, 1995, Dessie married Don R. Elston and he survives in Grover Hill. When Dessie married Don, she joyfully inherited 4 more adult children, 7 additional grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Dessie was a Godly woman who loved the Lord and His word. She was a powerful believer who found strength from reading her Bible, joy in praying and peace in the promise of eternal life through the blood of Jesus Christ her Lord. Dessie enjoyed spreading joy and sharing the Gospel throughout her life.

Dick was drafted into the U.S. Army and while he was stationed in San Antonio, Texas and Fort Knox, Kentucky, Dessie worked as a beautician- a skill which served her well raising 5 daughters. She was always available to share her beauty tips and advice. She shared many stories about her time spent on those Army bases. she was also a bookkeeper at the Grover Hill Grain Company. Dessie was a small business owner- having owned a Gospel Gift Shop, a cake decorating business, she was a seamstress, doll maker and designed doll clothes. She was quite gifted finding projects and making homemade patterns from memory. She also served as a Postmaster, a foster mother, a farmer's wife, a Pastor's wife and was the Director of Ministry for a women's prison. Dessie was an avid crafter, a creative quilter, a crocheting master and was brilliantly creative in many ways.

Dick and Dessie were active in starting area Good News clubs, Bible Institutes for young pastors, youth groups and mission work. She would sew school uniforms for Haitian orphanages, all while working to translate the Holy Bible into the children's native language. At home, she housed many missionaries over the years and structured many of their weekly Bible studies.

Throughout her life, Dessie enjoyed traveling, visiting National Parks and museums, bird watching and gardening. She knew her flowers just as well as she could quote scripture! She could also be found attending women's Bible studies and church functions. Dessie enjoyed the love of her family most. she encouraged family time and cherished having all of her grandchildren visit 1 week out of the year- her annual "Kuzins Kamp". These "Kamps" would consist of field trips, daily chores with a "Kuzin" and learning about God's word through Bible based lessons and memorization.

In addition to her first husband, Dick, Dessie was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Harold Adkins (in infancy), Melvin Adkins, Clyde Adkins and Wayne Adkins; and a sister, Norma Hunt.

A celebration of Dessie's life will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Grover Hill Zion Community Church with Pastor Nathan Ferrell, officiating. Burial will immediately follow in Middle Creek Cemetery, Grover Hill.

Visitation will be from 11:00am-1:00pm on Saturday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to LifeWise Academy or to Zion Community Church Women's Group.

Dessie lived out her faith by showing compassion and kindness to others.

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago". (Ephesians 2:10)

Online condolences may be expressed at www.alspachgearhart.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Alspach-Gearhart Funeral Home and Crematory, 722 S. Washington St, Van Wert, Ohio.