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Gladys I. Thomas
Gladys Ila (Halsey) Thomas, 89, of Hendersonville, N.C., formerly of Charlotte, died Dec. 24, 2000, at the home of her daughter.
Mrs. Thomas was a native of the Charlotte area and lived in Longwood, Fla., for 21 years before moving to Hendersonville five years ago. She was an active, longtime member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
She is survived by two daughters, Janet (Gordon) Weidemann of Hendersonville and Anita Ratliff of Charlottesville, Va.; two sons, James (Charlene) and Dennis Thomas, both of Tavares, Fla.; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; four sisters, Edith Hutchison, Vera Bracy, Ola Burnett and Ila Burnett; three brothers, Floyd “Bud” Halsey of Charlotte, Robert Halsey of Nashville and Harold “Dean” Halsey of Fort Pierce, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur in 1995; one daughter, Neida Greek; one grandson; three brothers; and seven sisters.
Memorial services are planned for a later date in Michigan.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Four Seasons Hospice, P.O. Box 2395, Hendersonville, NC 38793 or The Memory Assessment Clinic and Eldercare Resource Center, 2360 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803.
Elmer Van Buren
Elmer Glenn Van Buren, 77, of Irons and formerly of Bellevue, died Sunday June 18 at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall. He was born December 17, 1922, in Detroit to Glen A. Van Buren and Florence M. (Byer) Van Buren. He lived his childhood in Detroit. He started delivering The Detroit Free Press at the age of 10. He enlisted into the Naval Reserve at age of 16 as a Seaman, Feb. 26, 1938 by the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of the Marine Inspection and Navigation.
He graduated June 20, 1940 from Detroit Cooley High School and joined the U.S. Navy immediately after graduation. He was stationed at the San Diego, Calif. naval base. He attended and learned plumbing, pipe fitting and ship repair until 1942. He played on the U.S. Naval baseball team “Ryana,” playing second base and outfield until 1944.
He toured the South Pacific on the USS Salt Lake City, touring Alaska to Australia. He fought at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii during the December 7, 1941 bombing. He did not reenlist at the end of 1945 and was honorable discharged as First Class Ship Fitter, “Fresh Water King.”
He started his career as a Locomotive Engineer in 1945 with the Southern Pacific Railroad in Los Angeles-Yuma-Tuscon. In 1951, he worked on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad in Lincoln, Neb. On May 1, 1952 he started working for the Grand Trunk Western Railroad and living in Durand, Mich. He retired from railroading in 1982 after 36 years of railroading here in Battle Creek.
When laid off in his early years of railroading, he worked as a meat cutter, worked construction and delivered the U.S. Mail as a rural carrier, and worked at a Chevrolet auto plant in Flint, Mich.
He married Leora Catherine McAvoy on June 29, 1953, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Durand, and she survives him. Also surviving are daughters, Kathleen M. Van Buren of Nashville, Linda S. Van Buren-Millard of Battle Creek and son-in-law Rich S. Millard of Battle Creek, grandchildren Kristen M. Hampton and Jeffrey M. Brzycki of Nashville, Jeremy J. Brzycki of Vermontville, Jason A. Millard of Kalamazoo and Maranda C. Millard of Chicago, and great grandchildren Jessica Brzycki-Stambaugh and Donald Hampton III and a sister, Helen I. Bishop of DeFuniak Spring, Fla. He was preceded in death by his parents Glen and Florence Van Buren and brother Ernie H. Van Buren, WWII-U.S. Navy (killed in action).
He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, served as a past president of the railroad union in Durand, a member of the Durand Conservation Club, the Masonic Lodge #80 of Byron, Mich., the National Rifle Association and the Michigan Sheriff’s Association. He was also a member of the Bellevue Conservation Club and NARFE, the Disabled American Vet Commander’s Club, Fin and Feather Club of Mason County, AARP, SNIPES, VFW and the North American Fishing Club. He was a 50-year Pearl Harbor Military Survivor Club member.
He bowled and golfed for the Durand Railroaders. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and traveling to northern Michigan, the upper peninsula. He loved to read 5 to 8 newspapers each day and attended welding classes at Baldwin Schools.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21 at Shaw Funeral Home in Battle Creek with the Rev. James D. Hill officiating. Interment took place at Fort Custer National Cemetery with military honors. Memorial contributions can be made to The Nature Conservancy, Michigan Chapter, 2840 E. Grand River Ave., Suite # 5, East Lansing, MI 48823.
Irene VanLiew
Irene Rose VanLiew, 75, of Charlotte died Jan. 14, 2000.
Mrs. VanLiew was born Feb. 2, 1924 in Charlotte, the daughter of Frank and June (Glover) Aseltine. She was the oldest of nine children – two sisters and six brothers. She loved her family and enjoyed sewing and gardening.
She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Robert VanLiew; two daughters, Bonnie (Jon) Hoyt and Debbie (Dave) Letts, both of Charlotte; two sons, Jerry (Vickie) of Dimondale and Robert (Jackie) of Pennsylvania; two sisters, Ann (Ray) Dickinson of Vermontville and Ella (Paul) Evart of Charlotte; and five brothers, Elmer (Grace) Aseltine of Missouri, and Lynn Aseltine, John (Phyllis) Aseltine, Allen (Annie) Aseltine and Donald (Debbie) Aseltine, all of Charlotte.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Cecil Aseltine.
Services were Jan. 17 at the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with the Rev. John Toth officiating. Interment was in the Maple Hill Cemetery, Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to Kiwanis Manor.
Ralph A. VanVleck
Ralph A. VanVleck, 82, of Potterville died Dec. 22, 2000.
Mr. VanVleck was born in Benton Township, the son of Fred L. and Sarah (Lord) VanVleck. He was a lifelong Benton Township resident and a lifelong farmer. He was a 1936 graduate of Charlotte High School, a member of the Potterville Lodge #367 F&AM, Potterville Order of Eastern Star #413, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Fiddler’s Association and American Association of Retired Persons. He enjoyed square dancing and had volunteered to deliver Meals on Wheels.
He is survived by one daughter, Dorothy Ann VanVleck of Orlando, Fla.; one sister, Mildred Gidner of Charlotte; one sister-in-law, Julietta VanVleck of Charlotte; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services were Dec. 27 at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Chapel, Charlotte, with Rev. Paul Bailey and Potterville Lodge #367 officiating. Interment was in the Benton Township Cemetery, Potterville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Potterville UMC.
Walter VaVerka
Walter Joseph VaVerka, 82, of Charlotte died Feb. 18, 2000.
Mr. VaVerka was born Sept. 15, 1917 in Detroit, the son of Joseph and Katherine (Havranek) VaVerka. He had been a resident of Detroit and retired tool engineer, moving to Charlotte in 1996. He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II and was an avid fisherman and boater in northern Michigan.
He is survived by his wife, Katherine; one daughter, Katherine Lowman of Dallas, Texas; one son, Robert of Charlotte; three granddaughters; and one great-granddaughter.
Services will be held at a later date, with arrangements by the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to Eaton County Community Hospice.
Guillermo Velasquez
Guillermo Velasquez, 81, of Charlotte died June 11, 2000.
Mr. Velasquez was born June 25, 1918 in Laredo, Texas, the son of Crispin and Otila (Valdez) Velasquez.
He is survived by his wife, Maria; two daughters, Mary Lou Solis of Charlotte and Margarita (Rodolfo) Soto of Fort Wayne, Ind.; three sons, Guillermo Jr. of Charlotte and Santiago (Linda) and Crispin (Maria), both of Lansing; 18 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Juan of Texas and Simon of New Mexico.
Services were June 14 at the Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Elaine Shegitz officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Dumitru Vess
Dumitru “Danny” Vess, 58, of Hasting, died Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000.
Surviving are his wife, Deanna Vess; children, Deanna Vess of Sparta, Sue (Bud) Confer of Belding, Jason (Kelly) Vess of Calva, Megan Vess and Dumitru Vess, both of Hastings; grandchild, Chad; mother, Pearl (Jimmy) Cloutier of Pontiac; siblings, Sharon Irwin of Grosse Pointe Woods, Jacqueline (EC) Green of Auburn Hills, Jeffrey (Denise) Cloutier of Clarkston, Robert (Colleen) Cloutier and Michael (Karen) Cloutier, both of Waterford, and Jimmy (Christina) Cloutier of Pontiac.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Vess, and sister, Donna Vess.
Funeral services were held Feb. 25, at Oakland Avenue Chapel, Huntoon Funeral Home, Pontiac. Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Pontiac.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Danny Vess Memorial Fund, Main St. Saving Bank-Hastings, 629 West State St., Hasting, MI 49058.
Leah L. Walkinshaw
Leah L. Walkinshaw, 90, of Bellevue, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2000 at Tendercare Manor, Marshall.
Mrs. Walkinshaw was born Nov. 28, 1909 in Tekonsha, the daughter of Leo and Katie (Eddy) Knight. She graduated from Tekonsha High School and attended Teachers College. She married Smith Russell “Gus” Brott; he died in 1959. She later married Robert Walkinshaw; he died in 1989. Mrs. Walkinshaw was employed for many years as a teacher and at the Gates Grocery store in Bellevue.
Surviving are a daughter, Peggy (John) Beach of Clarkston; son, Jack (Carolyn) Brott of Marshall; stepdaughters, Wilda (Charles) Beeby of Huntington, Ind. And Phyllis (Eugene) Moyes of Florida; stepson, Duane (Emma) Walkinshaw of Floral City, Fla.; six grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
Services were held Nov. 18 at Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue, with Rev. Bill Brown officiating. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery, Bellevue.
Memorial contributions may be made to Tendercare of Marshall, or the American Cancer Society.
