Life Stories

ELKHART — Virginia Lee (Carney) Warner, 86, of Elkhart, passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at Eastlake Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Arrangements are pending at Billings Funeral Home, Elkhart.

ELKHART — Brenda L. Hilson, 73, of Elkhart, passed away early on the morning of Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Arrangements for Brenda are pending at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart.

ELKHART — Selina R. Leon, 56, of Elkhart, passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at home. Arrangements are pending at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart.

ELKHART — Robert B. “Bob” Bisbey, 85, of Elkhart, passed away Monday morning, April 16, 2018. at Greenleaf Health Campus.  Bob was born July 20, 1932, in Elkhart, to Russell and Bernice (Reasaur) Bisbey.  He married Betty Lee Becht on Dec. 9, 1984, at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Elkhart. Betty survives, as well as a daughter, Karen (Steve) Sienicki of Mishawaka; stepdaughter Sheryl (David) Torok of Elkhart; six...

ELKHART — Audrey M. Hale, 83, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 14, 2018, at the Milton Home in South Bend following an extended illness. She was born April 12, 1935, in South Bend, to the late Harry and Zelma (Blondele) Janowiak, and later married Larry E. Hale in South Bend on Jan. 30, 1954. He survives in South Bend after 64 wonderful years together. Also surviving are sons Mark (Beth) and Robert Hale; grandchildren Nicole (Andy) Bailey, Rebecca...

ELKHART – Jean P. Waldref Kimes, 88, passed away the morning of Friday, April 13, 2018 at Greenleaf Health Campus in Elkhart. Jean was born in Chicago, Illinois to Arthur T. Wright, and Mable M. (Anderson) Wright. Jean graduated from Elkhart High School in 1947.   She married Norval G. Waldref in November of 1947.  He passed away in September of 1997. In August of 1998, she married Robert L. Kimes Sr. He passed away in March of 2016. Jean is...

ELKHART — Christopher H. “Chris” Gonzalez, 41, of Elkhart, passed away Friday, April 13, 2018. He was born Dec. 23, 1976, to Hector and Marilyn (Perez) Gonzalez, who survive him.  He married Christy L. Mead. She survives as well. Also surviving are his daughters, Alexis and Ashley Gonzalez; siblings Craig, Carl, Cynthia, Caitlin and Tyler Gonzalez; and grandmothers Rafaela Perez and Anna Gonzalez. Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart has...

Eldon M. Herrli, 92, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully of natural causes at the Greenleaf Healthcare Campus in Elkhart on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 6:42 p.m. He was born April 23, 1925 in Elkhart to the late George and Ruth (BeMiller) Herrli. On Nov. 24, 1948, he married Katherine I. Gerber in Elkhart, where she passed away in February of 2017 after nearly 70 wonderful years together. Also surviving are children Tim (Susan) and Tod (Renee) Herrli and Julia...

ELKHART — Robert E. Meyers, 91, passed to his rest Thursday, April 12, 2018, at his home, surrounded by love and family. A native of Elkhart, he was born on May 31, 1926, to the late Frederick and Dorothy Meyers. He graduated from Elkhart High School, and served in the U.S. Army, near the end of WWII from 1944 to 1945 in the Germany Campaign with the 379th. Infantry Regiment of the 95th. Infantry Division. On March 4, 1946, he married the former...

ELKHART – Virginia G. Sylvia, 89, died Tuesday April 10, 2018. She was born April 24, 1928 in Montgomery, AL. She lived primarily in Vero Beach, FL and Raleigh, NC before moving to Elkhart in 1994. She retired to Wilmington, NC in 2004, returning to Elkhart in 2012. For the past year, she lived at the Brentwood Retirement Community. Virginia loved the beach and traveling. A highlight of her life was working in Israel for three years. In Elkhart, she worked as a...