Feb. 8, 1926 - July 3, 2009

ELKHART -- John Frederick Books, 83, of Elkhart, died at 11:30 a.m. Friday (July 3, 2009) in his home.

He was born Feb. 8, 1926, in Elkhart to Everett and Minnie (Gorsuch) Books. On Nov. 19, 1975, he married Jean Avery. She died in 1985 in Elkhart.

Mr. Books is survived by his longtime companion, Vivian J. Warner, at home; two sons, Timothy (Cynthia) Briley of California and Everett Books of Osceola; one daughter, Linda (Thomas) Golsch of Pittsburgh; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and one sister, Betty Stickel of Elkhart.

He was preceded in death by two siblings, Walter Books and Helen Seitz.

Mr. Books was an engineering foreman and a power maintenance worker at Miles Laboratories (later Bayer) for more than 37 years, retiring in the late 1980s. He was a member of Elkhart Moose Lodge 599, Bristol American Legion Chapter 143 and DAV Post 1097 in Fort Myers, Fla., where he and Vivian wintered for many years.

He was an avid golfer and a U.S. Navy Air Corps veteran of World War II. He served in aircraft mechanics while stationed in Hawaii.

There will be no visitation. Cremation will take place. Family and friends may gather at 10 a.m. Friday at the mausoleum chapel in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, for a memorial service and military graveside honors rendered by Elkhart DAV Chapter 19 and the U.S. Navy Funeral Honor Guard. Jack Shanholt of Methodist Church of Indiana will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hospice House of Elkhart, care of The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637. Visit www.billingsfuneralhome.com to send online condolences.