Obituaries
Charles A. Gardner
Charles A. “Chuck” Gardner, age 75, of Battle Creek went to be with our Lord on Friday, July 14, 2023. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on January 10, 1948, the son of Elmer and Pansy (Gilger) Gardner and graduated from Bellevue High School with the Class of 1966.
Chuck served in the United States Army from August 1966 to August 1969. He was stationed at Fort Knox, Fort Campbell, Fort McClellan, and the DMZ in South Korea. Chuck worked for 18 years at Michigan Carton Co./St. Regis as a cutter man, and later a coater man and a boiler operator in the powerhouse. In 1984, he went to Ralston’s/Conagra as a stationary engineer for 31 ½ years until his retirement on August 1, 2015.
Chuck enjoyed fishing, boating, jet skiing, and traveling with his wife, Kris in their motorhome around the country. But most of all, he loved spending time and making omelets over the campfire with his two wonderful grandsons, Cooper and Carson.
On November 28, 1970, Chuck married the “Love of His Life,” Kristine D. “Kris” Bentley. They have lived at St. Mary’s Lake for more than 48 years and enjoyed raising their two sons there. Chuck is survived by his wife of nearly 53 years, Kristine; his sons, Trenten (Staci) and Douglas (Becky) Gardner; his grandsons, Cooper and Carson Gardner; sister, Judy (Vito) Ragusa; brothers, Brad (Emma), Ricky (Debbie) Gardner; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a nephew, Roger Alan Love; a great-nephew, Bryce Alan Balfour; and his best friend, George “Butch” Whitcomb.
The family will receive friends 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek. A memorial service to celebrate Chuck’s life will be held 11:30 a.m., Thursday, July 27, 2023 at the North Avenue Church of God, 1079 North Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49017. The service will be Live-streamed and may be viewed on the North Avenue Church of God Facebook page. Interment with full military honors will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the North Avenue Church of God Youth Group. Personal messages for the family and favorite memories of Chuck may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.
William Murray Horton
William “Bill” Murray Horton of Potterville, died on June 19, 2023, at UW Hospital in Madison, WI, just shy of his 86th birthday. He died of traumatic brain injury due to a fall plus aspiration pneumonia, all likely due to a previously undiagnosed brain condition. He was born to Lillian and Carroll Horton on June 27, 1937, in Hazelton, Pennsylvania.
In his youth, Bill was interested in baseball, animals, and the natural world, trapping muskrats, and fishing. He obtained his B.S. (while married to Diane) from the University of Maryland (UM). While at UM he served as a park ranger who provided animal-outreach programs to young people. He and Diane also nursed various wild animals back to health–he would want you to know about Gringo, a baby racoon. He then obtained his master’s degree (“Species composition and distribution of fish of the Red Cedar River system with detailed descriptions of collecting stations’’) from Michigan State University and dedicated his 30-year career at Lansing Community College (LCC) to teaching students Anatomy, Zoology, and Natural Sciences. In addition to his courses, he took great pride in planning field trips with his students (Sea of Cortez the west coast of Mexico and Upper Ontario Canada) and started LCC’s fishing club. Since the death of his wife, Lela, in 2018 he was lonely, and began to consider a move to Wisconsin, to be closer to family. In September 2022, he made the move to Mount Horeb and lived at IngleWood. His wonderful friend Bob helped him downsize and make the move. His co-residents at IngleWood provided him encouragement and overall, he became less isolated.
He had hope, upon his move, to share his life experiences with the people around him, including his grandkids. Unfortunately, he ran out of time. His hope to share is captured, however, in the items he moved with him: Pictures of birds and other animals, rocks, shells, microorganisms, and four generations of family; documents illustrating his work mentioned above, plus work as faculty senate President and National Education Association (NEA) delegate; fishing tackle, rods, and materials to tie flies; books and CDs he enjoyed and often shared with Lela; his father’s notebooks and art materials; cards from his fans of “Mr. Bill’s Adventureland”–he was a reviewer and writer of walk-throughs for non-violent adventure games; letters he received, opened, and stored, from nieces and grandkids and other family members. As he would have liked, these items will be shared with his extended family. There is peace in his hope.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Cindy (Owen) Doran; grandchildren, Liam (fiancée, Miranda Bakker) Doran, Maureen (Cameron Cole) Doran, Aidan Doran, Brigit Doran and Rowan Doran; and brother, Larry (Linda) Horton. He is also survived by his first wife Diane Hunt (mother of his daughter) and his second wife Patricia Withey (his daughter is grateful to Patty and her family). He was preceded in death by his third wife of 27 years, Lela, and his parents Carroll and Lillian Horton, and his 20-year-old cat and companion, Patrick (who made the move with him). Other pets who had gone before him are Gringo, Peanut, Duke, Bumper, Ginger, Buckwheat, Patches, Sweat Pea, Jersey, Jacque, and Sassy.
Bill and his daughter are particularly indebted to Bob and Janet of Charlotte, Mich., and Sarah in Mount Horeb and for his excellent care at the UW (nurses Mitchell and Rose, Dr. Talura, and the Palliative Care Team). In keeping with Bill’s wishes, no services will be held. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Dorothy Ann Cummings Foster
Dorothy Ann Cummings Foster, age 82 of Mesa, Arizona, died April 19, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on July 24, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church, 510 W. Ottawa St., Lansing, MI 48933.
Carol Louise Crampton
Carol Louise Crampton, 79, of Oregon, IL, passed away on June 7, 2023. She was born in Battle Creek, MI, on January 18, 1944, to the late Forrest and Gloria (Jones) Watson. Carol is loved and will be deeply missed by her son, David Crampton; daughter, Trisha Crampton; granddaughter, Candice Miles; three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Forrest and Gloria; beloved husband, Robert Crampton; son, Robert Crampton Jr. There will be a graveside service at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte, MI on Saturday, July 22, 2023, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Memorials can be made to the family in Carol’s name.
Charles Lynn Joseph
Charles “Chuck” Lynn Joseph, 70, passed away unexpectedly early Thursday, July 13, 2023 at his home in Decatur, NY. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, July 18 at the Heller & Skinner Funeral Home,155 Main St. Worcester, followed by a meal at the Worcester Fire Department.
Chuck was born to the late Charles and Rita Joseph of Potterville, MI on January 8, 1953. A passion for science led Chuck to a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University in 1977 and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of Colorado in 1985. He did his post-doc at Princeton University and became an associate scientist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. In 1996 he became an Associate Professor at Rutgers University who did research with NASA. As an advocate for sustainability, he was an early adopter of rooftop photovoltaic solar panels for his house.
Around Christmas, he dressed as Santa and handed out candy canes to children. His enthusiasm for science was contagious and he often volunteered to teach, spreading his love of science to others. He had a silly sense of humor and loved to joke and laugh. He enjoyed the natural world, poetry, and writing. In his retirement, he moved to Decatur, NY and spent time at the Worcester Inn, gardened, and was a fun, playful, and loving grandfather. He was a dedicated father who cared deeply for his children and wanted to make the world a better place.
Chuck is survived by his children, Mel and Sam and their wives, Michelle McGowan and Laurel Balog; grandkids, Jonathan and Aria; ex-wife, Kathryn Joseph; sisters, Kathy Joseph and Julie (husband Jim) Robertson; nephews, James, Jeremy, Jacob and their wives and children. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Worcester Fire Department, 36 Church St., Worcester, NY 12197; Worcester Emergency Squad, 36 Church St., Worcester, NY 12197; or the Cooperstown Food Pantry, 25 Church St., Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Condolences may be sent to the family at hellerskinnerfh.com.