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Ruth A. Doolittle
Ruth A. Doolittle, age 83 of Eaton Rapids, died Wednesday, March 27, 2002 in Albion. Ruth was born June 21, 1918 in Holt, MI, the daughter of Wellington R. and Florence Katherine (Milligan) Leonard. She had previously worked at Horner Woolen Mills. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Donald in 1977.
Surviving are her daughter, Patricia (Dale) Brooks of Wakefield; granddaughter, Jessica (T.J.) Smith of Las Vegas; brother, John Leonard of Springport; niece, Norma Terry of Oroville, CA; and several grandnephews.
Graveside services were held on Monday, April 1, 2002 at Rosehill Cemetery with Ronald K. Brooks, Pastor, officiating. Arrangements were by the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids.
Gladys Marie Dowding
Gladys Marie Dowding, age 89 of Eaton Rapids, died Tuesday, September 3, 2002 at her son’s residence in Narragansett, Rhode Island. She was born February 18, 1913 in Eaton Rapids, the daughter of Eber and Lois (Ashley) Miller. Mrs. Dowding was a former Card Finisher for Davidson’s Woolen Mills in Eaton Rapids. She was also a former member of the Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene and a present member of the Calvary Bible Church in Narragansett. Preceding her in death were husband, Pat Dowding; brother, Robert Miller; 2 sisters, Ella Brininstool and Margaret Vincent.
Surviving are her son, Victor Alden (Beverly) Snow Sr.; 3 grandsons; 6 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter; 2 sisters, Jackie Harns of Eaton Rapids and Madeline Coffey of Allendale; sister-in-law, Dorothy Miller of Eaton Rapids; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 7, 2002 at the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids with nephews, Rev. Thomas Luttrell, officiating. Graveside services followed in the Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Community Hospice at 313 Lansing St., Charlotte, MI 48813, in memory of Gladys M. Dowding.
Larry A. Draper
Larry A. Draper, 65, of Charlotte, formerly of Springport, passed away Monday, May 27, 2002.
Mr. Draper was formerly employed at Spartan Motors, building engines for firetrucks and motorhomes. He also worked at Corning Glass in Albion for 21 years. He loved the outdoors, especially golfing, fishing and snowmobiling.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Shelia; four children, Larry Draper Jr., Janet Winter, Timothy Draper and Julia Draper; two stepchildren, Zachary Norris and Melissa Norris; five grandchildren and one step-grandchild; three brothers, one sister, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ollie and Julia Draper; and a son, Tommy.
Graveside services were held May 30 at Springport Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Arrangements were by Robertson Funeral Homes, Springport Chapel.
Mary Droscha
Mary Fanson Droscha, 101, passed away March 9, 2002.
Mrs. Droscha was born Jan. 11, 1901 in Aurelius Township, the second of five children born to Fred and Eva (Isham) Fanson. She graduated from Mason High School in 1918, attended and graduated from Ingham County Normal in 1919, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University in 1960. She married Harley Droscha on Dec. 24, 1920; they farmed in the Aurelius area for 43 years. Mrs. Droscha taught in several Mason area rural school districts and retired after 20 years of service while teaching second grade at North Aurelius Elementary School in Mason. She and her husband moved to Charlotte in 1968 after their retirement. Mary and Harley were married for 63 years. Mrs. Droscha remained in their home after Harley’s death in 1984 and lived on her own until December 2001. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening and corresponding with family and former students. She was a life-time member of Aurelius Baptist Church. Through the years she taught Sunday School, was Sunday School superintendent, and active in the Baptist Women’s Organization. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association and Mary Murray Circle of First Baptist Church in Charlotte. Mrs. Droscha was devoted to her family and was an integral part of their lives. She will be missed not only for who she was but also for her wisdom and steadfast faith.
She is survived by son, Robert (Phyllis) of Charlotte; daughter-in-law, Mary of Davison; two granddaughters, Dana (Lynn) Green and Lynda (Jerry) Calvert; six grandsons, Jim (Denise), David (Susan), Brian (Tina), Keith (Denise), Mike (fiancé Kim Stemen) and Steve (Val); 13 great-grandchildren, David and Dustin Green, Sarah and Ty Michael Calvert, and Jeremy, Andrew, Katie, Kaelyn, Aaron, Beth, Whitney, Jacob and Adam Droshca; a new great-grandchild due any day; step-great-grandchildren to-be, Haley and Brook; sister, Blanche Jennings of Peru, Ind.; sister-in-law, Glenna Droshca of Mason; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and former students. She was preceded in death by her husband Harley; son Carl in 1995; her parents, sisters Beatrice Smith and Ida Baker, and brother William Fanson.
Funeral services were held March 13 at Aurelius Baptist Church, Mason, with Rev. Stephen Aikin officiating. Interment was at Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. Memorial contributions may be made to the Aurelius Baptist Church building fund or Hayes Green Beach Homecare Center. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte.
Carol (Elsworth) Dubay
Carol (Elsworth) Dubay, of Rives Junction, passed away Friday, May 17, 2002, at the age of 63.
Surviving are her husband of 40 years, Frank; two daughters, Candy Ann Dubay and Theresa Ann Dubay; two grandchildren, Ronald Tulley Arris and Connie Lynn Jody Arris.
Private graveside services will be held. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Richard B. Dull
Richard Bruce Dull, 59, of Sturgis, passed away Dec. 9, 2002 at University Hospital in Ann Arbor.
Mr. Dull was born Sept. 24, 1943 in Sturgis, a son of Thomas (Dick) and Dorthy (Brown) Dull and had been a lifelong resident. He was a graduate of Sturgis High School, class of 1962. Mr. Dull was a plant manager for Skyline Homes in Howe, Ind. For several years and most recently was a carpenter for the Church of the Nazarene. He was a part of the family of the church, loved working with students, driving bus for special outings, running the scoreboard for sporting events, like stock care races and loved spending time with his grandkids. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, and was a member of Sturgis Eagles Lodge #1314, a former member of Meridian Sun Eagle Lodge #49 F. & A.M. of Sturgis, Saladin Temple of Grand Rapids, and the Loyal Order of the Moose #574. He was proud that the Sturgis Christian School dedicated its yearbook to him in 2001-02. Mr. Dull also enjoyed driving a tractor and working on the farm of his son-in-law.
Surviving are one daughter, Kary (Gary) Parr of Charlotte; son, Craig Dull of Sturgis; three grandchildren, Nicholas and Emily Parr of Charlotte, and Erica Dull of Sturgis; parents, Dick and Dorthy Dull of Okeechobee, Fla.; one brother, Gene (Sandra) McCurry of Sturgis; aunt, Beverly Frohreip of Sturgis; and several cousins.
Cremation has taken place. Religious services were held Dec. 12 in the Sturgis Church of the Nazarene, with Rev. John Shoup officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sturgis Christian School. Arrangements were by Rosenberg-Schipper Funeral Home Ltd. in Sturgis.
Frances H. Eaton
Frances Helen (Welshon) Eaton, 78, of Charlotte and Venice, Fla., died Aug. 31, 2002 in New Jersey.
Mrs. Eaton was born Oct. 2, 1923 in Jackson. She lived in Michigan most of her life, wintering in Venice, Fla. before moving to New Jersey last year. She was in the real estate, insurance and home-building business with her husband for many years, building many houses throughout Eaton County. Mrs. Eaton was also an avid Michigan State football fan.
Surviving are daughters, Charla (Robert) Newland of Sewell, N.J., Holly Eaton of Attleboro, Mass., and Carol Patrick of Charlotte; son, Lloyd James Eaton III of Charlotte; five grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; and life-long friend, Clara Fast.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Lloyd J. Eaton, in 1999.
Funeral services were held Sept. 6 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Rev. Patricia Stirling officiating. Interment was private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Maple Valley Memorial Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 715, Nashville, MI 49073.
Dustin L. Ebert
Dustin L. Ebert, age 20, died Wednesday, July 31, 2002 in Lansing. Dustin was born August 14, 1981 in Lansing. He attended Meadowview School and his charming smile and winning personality will be missed by those who cared for him. Dustin was preceded in death by his grandparents Lester and Elizabeth Proffer.
Surviving are his parents Lanny & Diane Ebert of Eaton Rapids; 2 brother, Gary (Neo) Vannest, Benjamin Vannest; 2 sisters, Sara (Robert) Trew, Rhianon Mulholland; grandparents, Earl and Myrtle Ebert of Fowlerville; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 3, 2002 at the Shell-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids with Rev. Jeff Nunham officiating. Interment followed at Brickyard Cemetery. Those desiring may make contributions to Meadowview School in Memory of Dustin Ebert.
Cleo D. Edgecomb
Cleo D. Edgecomb, 65, of Haslett, died Sunday, May 19, 2002 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing.
Mr. Edgecomb was born Feb. 6, 1937 in Simonsville, the son of Henry and Lila (Simons) Edgecomb. He was raised in the Holt/Mason area and attended area schools, and was a custodian for the Lansing School District for over 12 years. Mr. Edgecomb enjoyed traveling from house to house, visiting friends; he was always on the road. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting.
He is survived by a daughter, Kelly Powell of Lansing; brother, Gerald (Joyce) of Nashville; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Services were held May 22 at Maple Valley Chapel in Nashville, with Rev. James Hynes officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
