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Woodroe F. Smith
Woodroe “Woodie” F. Smith, 87, passed away Aug. 20, 2004 after a lingering illness.
Woodie was an Army veteran, serving in World War II. He retired from Ingham Regional Center in 1986, and was also an auctioneer in Eaton County. He enjoyed working in his yard and spending time with his friends at Miller’s Restaurant.
Surviving are his wife, Ethel; on e daughter and two grandsons; two stepdaughters and three stepsons; many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was lovingly cared for by his wife, stepdaughter Dorothy Reeser, stepson Nick Reeser and stepson Brian (Vicki) Chaney, who remained by his side until the very end. Woodie also leaves behind two very special friends, Brian Niznak and Steve Rose; wonderful and caring neighbors, Pete and Lisa Wilson, Chuck and Maxine Robertson, and Bill and Marilyn Sweet. Thank you to his doctors, Bill Jordon and John Morlock, and heartfelt thanks for the tender loving care provided at Eaton Community Hospice Home in Charlotte, and Great Lakes Home Health Care for the loving care and assistance.
Memorial services will be held Sunday, Sept. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at 5754 W. Toles Road., Eaton Rapids. Chaplain Craig Britton of Great Lakes Hospice will officiate the service at 1 p.m.
For those desiring, memorial gifts may be made to Eaton Community Hospice, 2765 S. Cochran, Charlotte, MI 48813, in memory of Woodie Smith. Arrangements were by Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids.
Russell L. Sparks
Russell Lisle Sparks, 86, of Frankfort, Ind., died March 25, 2004 at Dove Health Care Center in Lake Wales, Fla.
He was born April 11, 1917 in Lansing, the son of William Harrison and Ilza Elnora (McArthur) Sparks. He married Myrtle Irene Laverty on Nov. 6, 1937; she passed away July 5, 1999. Mr. Sparks was the owner of Sparks TV & Appliance, worked at Lewis Ford in sales from 1964 to 1982, and also manager Morris 5 & 10. He was a Center Township trustee from 1952 to 1960. He helped with the formation of the VFW and was club manager for two and a half years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army from 1945 to 1946 and attended Woodside Christian and First Christian Church. Mr. Sparks was a member of Frankfort Lions, where he was president in 1978, and a member of the Moose Lodge since 1957, Delphos Ohio Masonic Lodge #214, American Legion and VFW.
He is survived by three daughter, Janice (James) Reno of Frostproof, Fla., Suzanne Sparks of Frankfort, Ind., and Laurel Sparks of Lafayette, Ind.; three brothers, Robert (Hilda) Sparks of Holland, Gordon (Joann) Sparks of Frostproof, Fla., and Kenneth (Joyce) Sparks of Charlotte; one sister, Betty (Cecil) Sutfin of Frostproof, Fla.; four grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Donald Sparks.
Services were held March 31 at Goodwin Funeral Home in Frankfort, Ind., with Rev. Chuck Burgen officiating. Burial was at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Virginia L. Spicer
Virginia Ida Spicer, 86, of Hastings, formerly of Vermontville, passed away Dec. 29, 2004 at Thornapple Manor Nursing Home, with her family by her side.
She was born in Fort Collins, Colo., on Dec. 14, 1918, the daughter of Herman and Edith (Merrifield) Huffman. The family moved from Colorado to Grand Ledge when Virginia was 7 years old. She attended Oneida Center School and Grand Ledge Public Schools and was formerly employed by the furniture factory in Grand Ledge.
Virginia married Albert D. Spicer on Feb. 2, 1940. Together they operated the family farm until his death in December of 1978. She had a passion for gardening, quilting and playing the piano, but her greatest passion was her family.
She was predeceased by her husband, Albert, on Dec. 18, 1978; infant daughter, Josephine, in August of 1943; granddaughter, Virginia E. Spicer, in February of 1969; her parents; and a sister, Florence Koos, in February of 1994.
Surviving are her sons, Lawrence of Charlotte, Carrol of Bellevue, Jim (Cathy) of Mason and Harold of Nashville; daughter, Beverly (Dieter) Kortman of Grand Rapids, Mary (Larry) Gattner of Charlotte, Delores (Alvah) Holmes of Eaton Rapids and Judy (Rick) Williams of Vermontville; 18 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Frances Spicer of Grand Ledge and Lavern Spicer of Lansing; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Bill and Joyce Verhoeven of Eagle; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Dorothy J. Spring
Dorothy J. Spring, 74, of Jackson, formerly of Springport, passed away Monday, Sept. 20, 2004 at Arbor Manor in Spring Arbor.
She was born March 12, 1930 in Eaton Rapids, to R.C. and Helen (Crandall) Ackley. She married Leonard Spring; he preceded her in death in 1993. Dorothy was a homemaker and also a bookbinder for Hoag & Sons Book Binders in Springport for 10 years. She was a member of North Parma Women’s Club, North Parma Methodist Church and enjoyed gardening, flower arranging, reading, history, crafts, fishing and especially her grandchildren.
Survivors include her daughter, Connie (Steve Katz) Jusick of Jackson, Cindy (Jim) Heisler of Springport; sons, Jeff (Becky) Hughey of West Branch, Mike Hughey of Springport; sister, Joyce Miller of Olivet; seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her parents, and two brothers, Carson Ackley and Mike Ackley.
Funeral services were held Sept. 23 at J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home, Albion, with Rev. Bob Doner officiating. Interment followed at Campbell Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation.
David Springs
David Bruce Springs, 68 of Charlotte, died Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at his residence. Mr. Springs was born March 13, 1936 in Corunna, the son of Hubert and Iscah (Swihart) Springs.
He was a machinist at Aluminum Extrusions for 30 years and then retired from Franchino Mold and Engineering of Lansing in 1999. Among the great joys of his life were hunting, fishing gardening and playing euchre.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Bonnie (Bodell) Springs, children, Julee (William) Emenhiser of Sunfield, David (Brenda) Springs of Brooklyn, Michigan, Cliff Root of Charlotte, and Lisa (Gary) Hamilton of Olivet, 11 grandchildren, two great grandchildren and brother, Roy (Maxine) Springs of Corunna.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Horton Springs, who died in 1984.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday, May 17 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Tim Olson officiating. Interment will be in West Carmel Cemetery in Charlotte. Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Hospice or Hayes Green Beach Hospital.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
C. Donald Squires
C. Donald Squires, 87, formerly of Bellevue, died Thursday, May 6, 2004 in Hartford.
Don was born June 23, 1916 in Eaton Rapids, to Claude E. and Anna (Houseman) Squires. He married Virginia M. Day on Dec. 25, 1935 in LaGrange, Ind.; she survives. Don worked for Oliver Corp. in Battle Creek for 30 years and then moved on to John Bean Company in Lansing for 12 years. He loved fishing, hunting and outdoor sports and was affiliated with Odd Fellows Encampment.
Don is survived by his wife, Virginia; son, Larry (Jeanne) Squires of Hartford; daughter, Bonnie Lee Hodges of Anderson, Ind.; eight grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren; half-brother, Richard Sylvester of Mendon; and half-sister, Wilhelmina “Billie” (Paul) Oly of Alma.
Preceding him in death were brothers, Robert, Wayne and Kenneth Squires; half-sister’s, Dorothy Boatman and Bonnie Campbell, and half-brother, Peter Sylvester.
Services were held May 10 at Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue, with Pastor Don Francis of First Baptist Church of Bellevue officiating. Interment as at Riverside Cemetery in Bellevue.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Arrangements were by Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue.
Thelma I. Stadel
Thelma Irene Stadel, 86, of Bellevue, died Tuesday, April 13, 2004.
Mrs. Stadel was born Feb. 21, 1918 in Charlotte, the daughter of Everett and Zoa (Swift) Barlond. She worked in quality control for Recordio and as a cook for Eaton County Farm in Charlotte. She enjoyed crocheting, sewing, hardening and an active life.
She is survived by son, Norman (Mary) Stadel of Bellevue; daughters, Ruth (Floyde) Walker of Charlotte and Linda (Dean) Clarke of Bellevue; 12 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren; brothers, Raymond Barlond of Vermontville; sister, Genevieve Treadwell of Eaton Rapids; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband DeVere in 1978.
Funeral services were held April 16 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Lester DeGroot officiating. Interment was at Hillside Cemetery in Kalamo.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Alzheimer’s Association.
Reta Stahl
Reta Stahl, 76, of Albion passed away Wednesday, June 2, 2004 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born Oct. 18, 1927 in Charlotte to Frank L. and Beverly (Hedges) Bracy.
She married Richard T. Stahl on Sept. 15, 1959. For 30 years, Reta worked for Dr. Spencer and for several years she was the owner and broker for John Sharp Real Estate. She was a member of Albion Rotary, E.L.T. Club, Chamber of Commerce, a former school board president, chairman of the Calhoun County Jury Board for 25 years, and a member of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed antiques and her family.
She is survived by her husband, Richard, daughter Janine (Lynn) Stahl Brown of Albion, sons Tom (Kathryn Brautigan-Shedd) Stahl of Owendale, Eric (Denise) Stahl of Albion, and Jim (Betty) Stahl of Albion, sister, Bonnie Lofgren of Elk Rapids, and brothers, Robert Payne of Florida and Frank Bracey, Jr. of Three Rivers, as well as seven grandchildren.
Funeral services were held June 5 at the J. Kevin Tidd Funeral Home in Albion with the Rev. Bill Steere officiating. Interment was in Riverside Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the E.L.T. Club.
Tiffaney Chavez, Ashley (Keith) Ross, L’lainah (Chris) Smith, Amanda (James Thompson) Fast, Christopher Eggleston, Daniel Fast, Nathan and Bethanny Bristol; one great grandchild, Bryce Ross; two brothers, Herman (Yvonne) Koos of Grand Ledge and Charles (Nikki) Koos of Charlotte, and two sisters, Betty Lou Zeigler and Melba Kohler, both of Charlotte.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services were held June 5 at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home in Charlotte Pastor Robert Crouch officiating. Interment was in Center Eaton Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church or Eaton Community Hospice.
