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Dorris Eschtruth
Dorris M. Eschtruth, of Eaton Rapids, formerly of Grand Ledge, passed away March 2 at her home.
She was born Oct. 24, 1923 in St. Johns to Edward and Pearl Greenwood.
She was a graduate of Rodney B. Wilson High School, St. Johns. Dorris married Walter Eugene Eschtruth June 21, 1941. In 1947 they moved to Grand Ledge, once there they joined the Grand Ledge First United Methodist Church, where Dorris began teaching Sunday School and taught for many years; an active member of the Methodist Women's Fellowship and served as an educational assistant.
She was a former Cub Scout Den Mother and active in the Brownie and Girl Scout program. She was a long time member of the Grand Ledge Camera Club and a member of the Michigan State Holiness Assoc.. in Eaton Rapids; enjoyed and spent countless hours doing genealogy, painting and crafts, traveling to their home in Arizona and summer place in Eaton Rapids.
She was predeceased by her parents and two infant brothers.
Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Walter; daughter, Lucille Saling of Eaton Rapids; sons, Douglas (Lynne) of Haslett and Eugene (Ricci) of Grand Ledge; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.
Services were held March 5 at the First United Methodist Church, Grand Ledge, with Rev. Molly Turner and Tom Evans officiating. Interment was at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Bath. Arrangements were handled by the Peters & Murray Funeral Home, Grand Ledge.
Contributions may be made to the First Untied Methodist Church, Michigan State Holiness Assoc. or Great Lakes Hospice.
Calvin Etson
Calvin J. Etson, age 81, of Olivet, MI, died April 12, 2007. Calvin was born June 1, 1925 in Walton Township, Eaton County, Mich., the son of Frank and Alta Louise (Turner) Etson and was a life resident of Walton Township. He was a retired General Motors employee retiring in 1985 after 31 years of service and was also a lifelong farmer. He attended the Ainger Bible Church, Olivet.
He was preceded in death by, his parents; four brothers, Frank Wesley, Albert, Quintin and Elmer Etson; and sister, Mildred Etson.
Surviving are, his wife of 53 years, Norma (Gregg) Etson; five children, Sandra (Peter) Rice of Johnson City, TN, Stephen Etson of Bellevue, Stephanie (Dave) Halliwill of Charlotte, Robin (Brian) Wells of Garland, TX and Gregory (Debra) Etson of Olivet; 12 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held on April 16, 2007 at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte with Pastor Scott Brood officiating. Interment was in the Maple Hill Cemetery, Charlotte. Memorial contributions may go to the Ainger Bible Church or to Youth Haven Ranch. Envelopes available at the Funeral Home.
Stanley W. Ewing
Stanley W. Ewing, 81, of Dimondale, passed away Sunday, March 4, 2007 at the Eaton Community Hospice House in Charlotte. He was born in DeWitt June 6, 1925 to Webster and Mildred Ewing.
He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U. S. Navy in the Pacific. He joined the U. S. Post Office in 1948 where he started as a mail carrier and later held Postmaster positions in Okemos and retired as Postmaster in Charlotte. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, square and round dancing and watching the many deer and turkeys in the back yard of his home.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Betty (Van Patten) Ewing; two children, Ginger (Tom) Hills and Todd (Erin) Ewing; grandchildren, Greg, Travis and Derek Hills, James and Kayla Ewing; sister, Elaine (George) Krause of Williamston; brother, David Ewing of Arizona and sister-in-law, Marilyn Doerr of Holt.
In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to the Kidney Foundation, Eaton Community Hospice of Charlotte or the Potterville United Methodist Church in memory of Stan Ewing. Funeral services were held at noon March 8 at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor Rebecca Morrison officiating. Interment was in the Dimondale Cemetery.
Oscar Face
Oscar Philo "Ozz" Face, 78, of Charlotte, died Saturday, March 17, 2007 at the Eaton Community Hospice House, with his family by his side. Mr. Face was born June 10, 1928, the son of Philo Glenn and Fern (Mast) Face.
He served during World War II in the U.S. Air Force and was a homicide detective specializing in handwriting analysis for the Lansing Police Department until his retirement in 1979. In that same year on April 14 he and Donna (Barrett) were married. Following that, he was the police chief in Olivet for six years. He also worked as a bondsman for 17 years for the Great Lakes Bond Company. He was a member of the Free Methodist Church in Charlotte, past president of the Olivet Rotary and Olivet Chamber of Commerce, past commander of the American Legion Post #42 and was a charter member of the Lansing F.O.P.
His passion was golf and he was most proud of his hole-in-one at the Olivet Country Club. Ozz and Donna played Santa and Mrs. Claus for many of the local venues for many years. He was most proud of being an American, and an honest and fair police officer.
He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Donna (Barrett) Face; children, Jeffrey (Sheila) Bisel, Debora Bisel, Stephanie (Thomas Rhines) Williams, all of Charlotte, William (Ann) Face of Lansing, Louann Davids of Georgia; grandchildren, Jeffrey Bisel Jr., Amy (Shanon) Brown, Tricia (Jason) Somers, Kristen VanDorpe, Alan (Heidi) Emerson, Chad Emerson, Deb (Bill) Lawrence, David (Kris) Williams, Art (Carrie) Williams, Garrick Williams, Sarah Face, Lonna Face and Clayton, Cheyanne and Dalton Shadduck; sister, Geraldine (Don) Sherburne of Kalamazoo; 22 great-grandchildren; and his beloved dogs, Fancy and Muffy.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. March 19 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Darold Hill officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Hospice House or the Free Methodist Church.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Margaret Fast
Mrs. Margaret Edith Fast, age 88, of Charlotte, died Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007. She was born May 11, 1919 in Grand Ledge, the daughter of the late John and Cleo (Miner) Kelley.
Mrs. Fast was a retired secretary of Southridge School in the Charlotte Public School District and a member of Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church. She enjoyed going to the lake, flea markets and Bingo. Mrs. Fast was a “sassy” woman who loved taking care of her household. Her parents owned the Needmore Store and she like dancing, playing cards, antiques and jewelry.
She was preceded in death by her late husband Wilbur of 47 years and son Rodney Allen Fast in 2006.
She is survived by her two sisters; Mrs. Hilda (Robert) Sparks of Holland, MI, Mrs. Pauline (Donald) Bottomly of Alma; granddaughters, Deborah (Jason) Terzis of Rockford, Kellene Fast of Potterville and Elizabeth Hale of Allegan; great-grandchildren, Madison and Jillian Terzis.
Funeral services were held Sept. 14, 2007 at Pray Funeral Home with Reverend Karen Wheat officiating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte.
Joseph M. Ferrell
Joseph Michael Ferrell, Jr., 84, of Deland, Fla. died Tuesday evening, Nov. 27 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Joseph was born on January 21, 1923 in Detroit. He was the son of Joseph and Buenos (Pack) Ferrell, Sr.
Joseph graduated in 1941 from North Muskegon High School in North Muskegon as valedictorian of his class. During World War II, he was a member of the United States Army serving in the 69th Infantry Division. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart Award. Following his discharge he graduated from Michigan Technological University with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering.
Prior to his retirement Joseph was employed by the Brunswick Corporation where he worked as a metallurgical engineer. His involvement with the development of metal fibers brought him to Deland with the Technetics Division of the company. During his career he was a member of the American Society of Metals. In 1964-65 while chairman of the West Michigan Chapter he accepted the "First Place Operations Award."
Joseph was a talented jazz musician and lifetime member of the American Federation of Musicians. He played clarinet and saxophone in several dance bands throughout the Muskegon, Chicago and Central Florida areas. He was most recently a member of the Deltonans. He also attended the Lake Helen United Methodist Church where he was an active parishioner and member of the choir.
Joseph is survived by his loving wife, Iris Cargo Ferrell, to whom he was married on August 6, 1949 in Houghton; two daughters, Patti Ferrell Carlson of Chesapeake and Virginia and Pam Ferrell Lutter of Mundelein, Ill.; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild; sisters, Sally Ferrell Moxon of Hollywood, Fla., Lynette Ferrell Baker of Georgetown, Texas; four nieces and one nephew; 11 grand nieces and nephews; two cousins, Jean Lorenson and Ferrell Bower, both of Whitehall and one uncle, Glen Ferrero of Detroit.
Services took place Dec. 3 at Lake Helen United Methodist Church in Lake Helen, Fla. Graveside services with military honors will took place Saturday, Dec. 8 at Riverside Cemetery, Bellevue.
Memorial donations may go to Lake Helen United Methodist Church, 121 West Delaware, Lake Helen, Fla. Local arrangements by Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue.
Isabelle Field
Isabelle N. (Paquette) Field, 93, of Petoskey went to be with the Lord March 9, 2007 from Bortz health Care of Petoskey. Mrs. Field was born Dec. 20, 1913 the daughter of Archille and Blanche (Fortin) Paquette in Manteno, Ill.
She attended school in Eaton Rapids. In 1938 she married Harold Field. For several years they resided in Eaton Rapids. During WWII, they briefly lived in West Palm Beach Fla., where both were employed by the U.S. Air Transport Command at Morrison Air Field.
They returned to the Eaton Rapids area where they owned and operated a grocery business until their retirement in 1968.
They then moved to Wolverine, where they made their home. After the death of her husband Harold, Isabelle moved to Petoskey and lived with relatives for many years and later to Bortz Health Care in Petoskey.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Field; parents, Archille and Blanche Paquette; five brothers, Raymond, Melvin, Orville, Edwin, Jerome; four sisters, Genevieve, Bernadette, Anne and Rita.
Survivors include her sister, Neola Paquette; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial services and interment will be held in Eaton County and announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army in Cheboygan.
Arrangements were handled by Charles G. Parks Funeral Home in Petoskey.
Robert Finch
Robert “Rob” Jay Finch, 45, of Eaton Rapids passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2007 in Eaton Rapids.
Robert was born May 22, 1962, the son of Richard and Patricia Finch. He graduated from DeWitt High School and owned and operated the R & K Small Engine in Eaton Rapids.
Preceded in death by his brother, Rick Finch, Robert is survived by his wife of 14 years, Kendra L. (Anderson) Finch of Eaton Rapids; children, Kent Planck (serving in Iraq), Betsy Planck, Casandra Planck and Lyndsey Finch, all of Eaton Rapids; step-father, Pete (Bev) Pascalenos of Holt; mother and father-in-law, Sandra and Ken Anderson of Wyoming; sister, Shelee (Ash) Padhiar of Pennsylvania; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held June 19 at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids with Rev. Kenneth Anderson officiating. Those desiring may make contributions to either the American Cancer Society or the VFW National Home for Children in memory of Rob.
Violetta “Vi” Finley
Violetta “Vi” Finley of Eaton Rapids, age 72, passed away Monday, April 16, 2007 in Lansing. Vi was born July 25, 1934 in Topeka, KS. Vi was chosen as plant #3’s Employee of the Month in December 1988 at Eaton Stamping. She worked for 2 years in the late 70’s and then again in 1982 until she retired in 1999 after 212 years of service. Vi always went in early, stayed late and wore a smile as she worked as a dipper in the paint and machining area and loved her work. Vi always helped new employees and cared for others around her. She will be missed deeply and the families love and thoughts will be with her forever, God bless. Preceded in death by her grandson, Anthony Dumas in 2000.
She is survived by two daughters, Shirley “Gerb” Finley of Hollywood, FL, Margaret “Maggie” Owens of Fefuniak Springs, FL; two sons, Rick Cady of TX and Mark Finley of FL; 11 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; and two sisters, Mary Gonzels of KS, and Betty Messina of MO. There will be no services at this time.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sparrow Hospice in memory of Vi Finley.
