Obituaries

Apr 11, 2019

Mrs. Michelle R. Schelle, 63, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully following a brief but courageous battle with cancer at the Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart on Thursday, April 11, 2019. She was also a 17 year MS survivor as well.

She was born in Elkhart on Aug. 23, 1955, and is survived by her birth parents,...

Apr 10, 2019

Tiffany R. Thompson, 44, of Elkhart, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at her home. Tiffany was born on December 12, 1974 in Bradenton, Florida to Robert David Thompson and Teri (Johnson} Thompson. She is survived by two sons, William Adrian Ballard, Lucas John Ballard; 3 grandchildren; a sister JenniferThompson; her life partner of 9 plus years, Robert Bradshaw;...

Apr 10, 2019

Winifred J. "Winnie" Dorrier , 94, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully of natural causes at the Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart on Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2019 at 8:20 pm.

She was born in Elkhart on Aug. 10, 1924 to the late Edwin Forrest and Bessie (Pippenger) Forrest Dobbyn, and later married Verlin C. Dorrier in Elkhart...

Apr 10, 2019

Florence A. "Flo" Helbling, 76, of Elkhart, passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on August 26, 1942 in Elkhart, IN to the late Curtis J. and Leona B. (Daly) Weaver.

She married Calvin E. Helbling on July 31, 1971 in Elkhart, who survives her at...

Apr 7, 2019

Mr. John A. Zemlicka, 91, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully while visiting his son at Woodland Manor Nursing Facility on Sunday, Apr. 7, 2019 at 12:30 pm.

He was born in Ft. Madison, IA on Feb. 12, 1928 to the late John and Agatha Zemlicka and is also preceded in death by his spouses Lee (Stouder) and...

Apr 7, 2019

Eddy Dean Davidson, 69, of Elkhart, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2019, at his home. He was born on June 7, 1949 in Niles, MI to the late Melvin Clyde and Uldine Jaunita (Miton) Davidson.

Eddy is survived by his loving life partner of over 20 years, Gabriel Martin Ybarra, and they have been together since...

Apr 7, 2019

Margaret Sue "Peggy" Peterka, 85, of Elkhart, passed away Sunday afternoon at Elkhart General Hospital. She was born on June 12, 1933 in Red Wing, MN, to Hiram and Dolores (Gustafson) Fleming. She married Frederick E. Peterka on July 1, 1955; who preceded her in death, as well as her sister Dolores "Punky" Eyrich.

Surviving are sons,...

Apr 5, 2019

Lewis F. Chadwick, 81, of Elkhart, passed away Friday, April 5, 20-19 at his home. He was born on January 28, 1938 in Muncie, Indiana to the late Lewis P. and Elizabeth (Ellis) Chadwick. He married the former Bobbie S. McGill on October 16, 1964 in Muncie. Bobbie survives, as well as their two sons, Lewis (Jamie) Chadwick II,...

Apr 3, 2019

Mrs. Marilyn Mae Doland, 94, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully of natural causes at her home on Wednesday, Apr. 3, 2019 at 6:50 am.

She was born in Elkhart on July 30, 1924 to the late Owen and Wilma (Leicester) Davis and is also preceded in death by her spouses Roland "Pork" Dickerhoff and George Doland.

Apr 3, 2019

Thomas W. "Tom" Stewart, 61, of Elkhart, passed away after a brief illness at Elkhart General Hospital on Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Tom was born on May 12, 1957 in Charleston, West Virginia, a son of the late Thomas A. and Georgia L. (Daniels) Stewart.

He is survived by two sisters, Lynn A. Gonzalez, Michelle D. Coggain...

Apr 1, 2019

Mrs. Ruth G. Ellsworth, 79, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully at her home following a brief illness on Monday, Apr. 1, 2019 at 4:15 pm.

She was born in Jasper, AL on Aug. 27, 1939 to the late Marlin and Gladys (Harris) Lay and later married John J. Ellsworth in 1959. He passed in Elkhart in 2000....

Apr 1, 2019

Marjorie L. Thompson, 76, of Elkhart, passed away Monday, April 1, at Elkhart General Hospital following an extended illness. She was born November 20, 1942 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to the late Robert and Amy (Perry) Spear Sr.

She married John "Jack" W. Thompson Sr. on June 23, 1962 in Irwin, Penn.; He died August 17, 2013. Surviving...

Mar 31, 2019

Emilia Anne and Sawyer John Robert Herberger, infant twins of Justin and Erin Herberger of Sturgis, MI, were born and had peacefully passed away of natural causes at the Arthur J. Decio Pavilion at Elkhart General Hospital throughout the evening of Saturday, Mar. 30, 2019 and the morning of Sunday, Mar. 31, 2019.

In accordance with the...

Mar 30, 2019

Gladys F. Akin, 84, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully of natural causes on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at her home. She was born on January 16, 1935 in Elkhart to the late Otis and Ethel (Cook) Hibshman. In addition to her parents, husband Paul A. Akin, daughter Teri L. Akin, and her precious cocker spaniel fur baby Chelsea Lynn,...

Mar 29, 2019

Sylvester Williams, 67, of Elkhart, passed away unexpectedly at the Emergency Department of Elkhart General Hospital from complications of Agent Orange exposure during his military service in Vietnam on Friday, Mar. 29, 2019 at 8:33 am.

He was born in Dell, AR on May 30, 1951 to the late Matthew Williams Sr. and Ruth (Jackson) Childress, who...

Mar 29, 2019

Clacy E. Eads, 95, of Elkhart, passed away on Friday, March 29, 2019, at the Golden Living Center. He was born on August 26, 1923 in Wayne County, MO to the late John and Effie (Borders) Eads.

He is survived by his loving daughter, Shelly (Pete) Watts of Elkhart; two grandchildren, Starr and Nichole Watts; 9 great...

Mar 28, 2019

Benjamin "Ben" Hugh Dorsey III, 59, of Elkhart, passed away on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at the Center for Hospice in Elkhart. He was born on March 30, 1959 in Frostburg, Maryland to the late Benjamin Hugh Dorsey Jr. and Donna Jean (Carr) Dorsey of Patterson Creek, WV.

Ben is survived by his loving wife, Kim Relyea,...

Mar 27, 2019

John D. Smith, of Elkhart, passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at Valley View Health Center. Arrangements are pending at Billings Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 812 Baldwin Street, Elkhart.

Mar 26, 2019

Erik G. Schmidt, 42, of Elkhart, passed away of natural causes at Elkhart General Hospital on Tuesday, Mar. 26, 2019.

He was born in Coldwater, MI on Nov. 22, 1976 to Robert and Kathleen (Schneider) Schmidt, who survive along with his spouse Mandie M. (Cavalcante) Schmidt.

Also surviving are children Lewis, Ethel and Madison Schmidt,...

Mar 26, 2019

Sherman H. Betts, 78, of Elkhart, passed away peacefully at Eastlake Nursing and Rehabilitation in Elkhart on Tuesday, Mar. 26, 2019. He had been in ill health.

He was born in Meadeville, PA on Nov. 18, 1940 to the late Arden and Cora Betts.

Surviving are children Diana (William Christie, Sr.) Betts, Tina Marie Buckley...