March 9, 1926 - April 10, 2009

ELKHART -- John Fredrick Tony Jr., 83, of Elkhart, died at 7:20 a.m. Friday (April 10, 2009) in the Hospice House of Elkhart.

He was born March 9, 1926, in Fort Wayne to John Fredrick Sr. and Irene (Koby) Tony. On Jan. 1, 1949, he married Wilma Louise Keller in Fort Wayne.

She survives, along with two daughters, Vickie (Mike) Grathen of Elkhart and Kathy Smith of Oceanside, Calif.; two sons, Steven (Kathy) Tony and Randy (Linda) Tony, both of Goshen; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

One sister, Virginia "Betty" Hall, preceded her in death.

Mr. Tony, an original employee at Coachmen Industries, was plant superintendent in Middlebury for 22 years, retiring in the late 1980s. He was a staff sergeant in the Army Air Corps during World War II, where he served as a ball turret gunner on a B-24 bomber in the European theater of operations.

He was an accomplished woodworker and enjoyed making things in his woodworking shop. He was an avid golfer, playing in many leagues, and enjoyed spending time with his family, country music and the Grand Ole Opry, and his dog, Ben.

Friends may call one hour prior to the 1 p.m. funeral Tuesday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. Pastor Rob Meckley of Adamsville Road Church of God will officiate. Burial will be at Prairie Street Cemetery, Elkhart, where military graveside honors will be conducted by Elkhart DAV 19 and the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard.

Memorials may be given to the Humane Society of Elkhart County.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.