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Woodrow “Woody” Scheidt
Woodrow “Woody” Scheidt, 80, of Eaton Rapids died April 28, 1997, after a lengthy battle with emphysema.
Mr. Scheidt was born Sept. 24, 1916, in Lake Odessa, the son of Glendon and Gertrude (Rubedeaux) Scheidt. He began his musical education at age five on soprano saxophone. He first played in public standing on a box to reach the microphone. Eventually, he joined his father’s orchestra, playing alto and tenor saxophones and clarinet. He learned his lifetime vacation in hardware, plumbing and heating at his grandfather’s business in Lake Odessa.
He graduated from Lake Odessa High School in 1935 where he participated in all sports and band. He was a salesman for Schaberg-Dietrich, owned and operated “Woody’s Hardware” on South Washington, was a manager at Builder’s Plumbing Supply and a manager at Hedlund Plumbing in Lansing prior to retirement. He was a charter member of Local 303 Musicians’ Union. He played in several prominent jazz bands in the Lansing area, Fort Custer during WWII and Lansing Country Clubs. He was a member of the First Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine; one son, James (Barbara) of Santa Paula, Calif.; two daughters, Sally (Dennis) Churchill of Lansing and Susan (Jack) Backofen of Eaton Rapids; grandchildren, Catherine, Christina and Jared (Melanie) Churchill, Lt. Jeffrey Scheidt and fiancée Carrie Turner, Jeanine (Michael) Hollebrands, and Jessica and Jason Backofen; great-grandchildren, Naser and Jordanne AbuDalboh and Alicia LePage; two brothers, Winston (Trudy) of Safety Harbor, Fla., and Wendell (Loraine) of Ionia; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Services were May 2 at the First United Methodist Church, Eaton Rapids, with the Rev. Thomas Evans officiating. Arrangements were made by the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Playground of Dreams, First United Methodist Day Care Center or Eaton Community Hospice.
Betty J. Schrum
Betty Jane Schrum, 70, of Charlotte died June 5, 1997.
Mrs. Schrum was born on May 20, 1927, in Oil City, Penn., the daughter of William and Pearl (Lockhart) Aaron. She was a foreman at Owens-Brockway for 27 years before retiring in 1992. She was a member of the West Carmel Congregational Church and its Ladies Circle.
She is survived by her husband, Howard; two sons, Daniel and Rick; two brothers, William and James; two sisters, Ellen and Dorothy; one sister-in-law, Dorothy; one step-sister, Jean; and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother, Richard.
Services were June 9 at the Pray Funeral Home with Rev. Darwin Kuhl officiating. Arrangements were made by the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ladies Circle of West Carmel Congregational Church or to the church.
Freda A. Sebastian
Freda Alice Sebastian, 76, of Vermontville died April 26, 1997, at Hayes Green Beach Hospital, Charlotte.
Mrs. Sebastian was born Oct. 20, 1920, in Boston Township, Ionia County, the daughter of Chris and Mabel (Heator) Fahrni Jr. She graduated from Clarksville High School and married Julius “Joe” Sebastian on Feb. 23, 1946 in Ionia. He died Aug. 18, 1995. She farmed with her husband in Charlotte and Vermontville. She belonged to the Vermontville Garden Club, the Club 50 Senior Citizens Group, the Michigan Bear Hunter’s Association and the Lake Odessa VFW Ladies Auxiliary #4461.
She is survived by one son, Roy (Linda) Sebastian of Nashville; two daughters, Suzanne (Randy) Martin of Perry and Lois (Marvin) Stewart of Lansing; two grandchildren, Jeffrey and Glen Sebastian; three great-grandchildren, Robbie, Justice and Hunter Sebastian; one sister, Beulah Blough; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; four brothers, Stanley, Gerald, Wayne and Chris; and one sister, Leatha.
Services were April 29 at the Maple Valley Chapel-Genther Funeral Home, Nashville, with the Rev. Jeff Bowman officiating. Interment was in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Vermontville.
Memorial contributions may be made to D.A.V. of Michigan, Club 50 Group, or Woodlawn Cemetery Association.
Donald Graham Sebolt
Donald Graham Sebolt, 81, died June 17 at Trillium Hospital in Albion.
He was born July 4, 1915, in Clarence Township, Mich., the son of Almon Marion and Pearl Belle (Graham) Sebolt.
He was employed for 40 years as a foreman at Albion Malleable Iron Co. He was the first man from Clarence Township and first married man from Albion to answer the call to arms for his country after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. A volunteer in the Navy, he served throughout World War II, beginning as a volunteer in motor torpedo boats. His battle honors include the battle of Midway Island, North African invasion, Sicilian invasion, Italian invasion, invasion of the Philippines, and the battle of Leyte Gulf. After the war, he married his present wife, Frances (Collier) Cooper.
Survivors include his wife, Frances; sons, Donald (Polly) Sebolt of Hart, Mich., and Winston (Edith) Sebolt of Burton, Mich.; half-brothers, Almon Marion and Earl Eldon Sebolt of Charlotte; half-sister, Alma Baker of Olivet; step-brother, Robert Richardson; and several grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Darrel Cooper, and great-grandson, Stephen Cooper.
Funeral services were June 20 at Albion Chapel with the Rev. Stanley Fenner officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Francis Senko
Francis (Frank) Senko, 73, of Lansing died Oct. 29, 1997.
Mr. Senko was born July 11, 1924, in Indianapolis, Ind., the son of Joseph and Rose (Dumbrovon) Senko. He married Betty J. on July 24, 1943. He worked for Monumental Life for many years and retired on Jan. 1, 1987, from Lansing Board of Water and Light. He was a member of Elks #196 of Lansing, and VFW Dads Post #286 of Charlotte. He enjoyed traveling to Europe and the Mediterranean for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; one daughter, Carolyn F. (Tommy) Mahon of Charlotte; three sons, Gary (Yvonne) of Eaton Rapids, Lon of Charlotte, and Robert (Denise) of Boulder City, Nev.; 11 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Donald (Judee) of Plymouth.
Services were Nov. 1 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with the Rev. Noel Hall Nieman officiating. There will also be a service by the VFW Dads Post #286 Oct. 31. Arrangements were made by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Lansing Hospice.
Carl L. Shafer
Carl L. Shafer, 72, of Charlotte died April 29, 1997.
Mr. Shafer was born Dec. 5, 1924, in Morgantown, W. Va., the son of Thomas and Maude (Howell) Shafer. He was a resident of La Junta, Colo., until 1971, and El Paso, Texas, until 1990 before moving to Charlotte with his wife, Audrey. He co-owned a lumber company and had worked as manager of three other lumber companies, (most of those years at Taylor Lumber Company in La Junta, Colo.) until 1971. Being a talented artist, he designed and drew plans for many homes and businesses in La Junta. He was instrumental in starting the Colorado Boy’s Ranch as well as a member of the board of directors. He was extremely active in civic affairs such as the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, president of the Gold Club, Exalted Ruler and District Deputy of Elks Lodge #701.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Audrey (Butcher); two daughters, Sandra Ballas of Albuquerque, N.M. and Pamela Buffenbarger of Charlotte; one son, Gerald Shafer of El Paso, Texas; one brother, Thomas Shafer; two sisters, Jean Adams and Maude Turner all of West Virginia; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were May 3 at the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with the Rev. Arthur Salisbury officiating.
Gloria G. Shafer
Gloria G. Shafer, 64, of Battle Creek died July 1, 1997, at her home.
Mrs. Shafer was born Jan. 28, 1933, in Charlotte, the daughter of Charles and Hattie (Briskie) Sealock. She attended the Pennfield and Battle Creek schools. She joined the Battle Creek Inquirer staff in 1950 and retired in 1987 after 37 years with the paper. She started in customer service, then moved to the photo department, and former Women’s Department. She contacted over 30 area funeral directors prior to 9 a.m. for information about deaths, and wrote engagements, weddings, and anniversaries. Mrs. Shafer also wrote “Kitchen Corner” for 30 years. Her special sections included “Gloria’s Choice” and “Gloria’s Holiday Cookbook” for the Inquirer.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Ralph; her parents, Hattie and Clarence Freeburn of Battle Creek; brothers, Robert (Louann) Sealock of Battle Creek and Daniel Sealock of Florida; and sisters, Barbara (Jack) Rouse and Pamela (Eddie) Jones, both of Bellevue, Betty (Ed) Granfors of Battle Creek, Judy Crane of Battle Creek, Doris (Bob) Lichty of Battle Creek, and Carol Cheslog of Eagan, Minn.; step-brothers, James (Darlene) Freeburn of Battle Creek, Robert Freeburn of Battle Creek, and Ronald (Terri) Freeburn of Texas.
Services were July 5 at the Richard Henry Funeral Home, Battle Creek, with the Rev. Dr. David Young officiating. Arrangements were made by the Richard Henry Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Hospice Care.
Gregg A. Sharp
Gregg A. Sharp, 23, of Mulliken died July 1, 1997, in Dimondale as a result of a traffic accident.
Mr. Sharp was born January 27, 1974, in Lansing, the son of Jerry and Verle Sharp. She was a 1992 graduate of Lakewood High School and was employed by C&N Supply Company.
Surviving are his parents, Jerry and Verle Sharp; brother, Brian (Cammy) Sharp, all of Mulliken; grandparents, Allen Sharp of Mulliken, and Ernest and Ima Vosberg of Ada; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Services were held on July 7 at Barker-Leik Funeral Home, Mulliken, with the Pastor Don Woolum officiating. Interment was in Meadowbrook Cemetery.
