Obituaries
Edward R. Lynch
Edward (Ted) R. Lynch — a fun-loving, caring and inspirational Cockney lad from South London — died peacefully on Sunday, April 5, 2020, at Sensations Memory Care with his wife, Nancy, by his side and his son, Tony, present on a video call. Ted fought a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Ted was born on January 31, 1946, in South London where he grew up. Ted was a lifelong supporter of Millwall Football Club (soccer to you Yanks). Life was not easy in South London after the war, and Ted learned what he called his “siege mentality.” While growing up, Ted loved getting into mischief with his brothers and cousins and had many stories to tell of those days. He cared deeply about people but didn’t tolerate wankers. He didn’t pretend to be anything else than what he was. Ted could talk (and did he ever love to talk!) to everyone and anyone. Everyone who met him felt comfortable.
After leaving school, Ted went to work in the London film industry with his dad as a scenic painter and grip. He worked on many films including “Star Wars,” “James Bond” and “Indiana Jones.” He had so many stories from those days; for example, the trees in Yoda’s swamp were full of beer cans. He met many big stars but treated them like any other people, and they liked coming to the carpentry shop on set to talk to him and the other guys.
After moving to the United States in 1987, Ted lived in East Lansing with his second wife and became a fixture in Mid-Michigan soccer during the 1990’s — coaching club, high school, ODP and even becoming the state director of coaching in 1996.
Most everyone loved being around Ted, and if they didn’t, they certainly remembered him! His naturally colorful language shocked and bemused, and his humor, smile, mischievous winks and positive spirit made players and friends feel invincible.
Ted went to work at the VFW National Home for Children in Eaton Rapids in 2002. While working there, he inspired innumerable kids and parents with his sunshine personality, wit and love of life. He never talked down to the kids, and they loved him for it. He always told them that you can’t control some situations, but you can control how you react to them. Ted became involved in the Eaton County 4-H program and came to love working with the swine program. He often said that, before he became a 4-H leader, the closest he came to a pig was a bacon sandwich. He was very impressed with 4-H and how everyone in the county came together at fair time to make everything run smoothly.
Ted loved the American people; always commenting on how nice they are. He became a United States citizen in 2004 and led activities at the National Home encouraging patriotism and community service. He loved taking the teens on trips to Washington, D.C. and to visit veterans at VA hospitals. He often said that America saved the world in WWII and that we gave Britain the baked bean.
Ted met his third wife, Nancy Bowers, at the National Home, and the two of them married in 2013. They purchased a home in Vermontville and a deciding factor in buying the house was that it was close to MOO-ville. The girls there knew when they saw Ted to make a chocolate-dipped waffle cone with Almond Joy ice cream.
Ted loved making people laugh, working, playing with children, traveling to London and Mexico, the Mexican people, Millwall Football and most of all his wife and family. His passing leaves a void in hundreds of people’s lives. He never lost his personality in spite of the dementia. Even though he was only at Sensations for two months, he made a giant impression on the staff and did his best to make them laugh. Ted would want us to remember to always have fun, have a laugh and always treat each other well. Always expect the ball and D.G.C.
Ted is survived by his wife, Nancy Bowers; sons: Tony (Naomi) Lynch, Danny Lynch; grandchildren: Harry, Billy, Alice, Lacey; his mother, Mary; four sisters; and loads of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Donations can be made in Ted’s name to Sensations Memory Care or Eaton County 4-H.
Sheila Accivatti
Sheila Terese Elizabeth Accivatti — beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend — passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2020, after a long illness. She was 71 years old.
Sheila was born Dec. 25, 1948, to Tosca Lidia Marie Barsi Sathoff and her husband. Sheila’s younger brother, Kirk, arrived several years later, and they grew up together in Sterling, Ill. Sheila attended Newman Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1967.
Sheila’s mother, Tosca, married Owen Hagen in December 1969, and he became a loving father to Sheila and Kirk in every meaningful way. Through Tosca and Owen’s union, Sheila gained three siblings: Michael, Nancy and Jodi.
After high school, she studied nursing at St. Anthony Hospital School of Nursing in Rockford, Ill. During that time, she met her first husband, David LaLumia, whom she married in November 1972. Together they had two daughters, Cara and Julia, and they divorced after 11 years of marriage. Sheila cared for her daughters as a single parent for a number of years and did so with aplomb. On Nov. 9, 1985, two families again became one when she married James Accivatti and became a mother figure to daughters Theresa and Kathryn.
Sheila and Jim had a love that was always sincere and usually playful, through both tough and easier times over more than 35 years. They showed by example how to nurture a relationship through life’s ups and downs with affection and good humor. Sheila loved her family near and far. She was known to make unannounced trips to Sterling to surprise her mother, at least once during a blizzard aided by brother-in-law Bud LeFevre. She made untold sacrifices for her children, and her grandchildren were her joy and her reward.
Sheila was a woman of words. She was a lifelong writer with a deep appreciation for the craft. She was the storyteller of her family, weaving together loose ends from lives left behind in Italy, a mid-century coming-of-age in Illinois, and growing a new life with permanent roots in Michigan. Each letter, birthday card and lunchbox note she wrote was a small piece of art — always thoughtfully and lovingly composed. She also was a gifted crocheter, who made many beautiful baby blankets and afghans that her family will treasure for years to come.
Sheila was preceded in death by her brother, Kirk Sathoff, and her parents, Owen and Tosca Hagen. She is survived by her husband, Jim Accivatti, of Charlotte; daughters Cara (Jason) Barnes of Richland, Mich.; Julia LaLumia of Lansing; Theresa Accivatti of West Bloomfield; and Kate (Jeff) Schamanek of Rochester; former husband David (Julie, Luke, Nathan, Zachary) LaLumia of Eagle; grandchildren Zachary, Melissa, Jessica, Allisyn, Jackson, Theodore, Ava and Eleanora; and siblings Mike Hagen of Southport, NC, and Nancy (Ron) Jensen, Jodi LeFevre, and Bud (Lisa) LeFevre, all of Sterling, as well as many loved nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held later this year to celebrate Sheila’s life. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829, Arlington VA 22215. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Sheila on her tribute page at prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Sandra L. Eldred
Sandra Lee Eldred, age 80, of Charlotte passed away on Friday, April 3, 2020. Sandy was born on March 3, 1940 in Lansing, the daughter of Harold and Olga Porter. She attended Sexton High School, where she was a cheerleader, and graduated class of 1957. Sandy worked as a secretary for several companies but most recently for the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge. She was very active at Hayes Green Beach Hospital, where she volunteered for 13 years in the pulmonary and heart rehab unit. Sandy was adventurous, outgoing and had a huge heart to help others. She loved spending time with her family — especially camping, fishing and golfing with her best friend and husband of 36 years, Daryl.
Sandy is survived by her husband, Daryl Eldred; son, Kurt (Linda) Surato; daughters, Vonda Johnson, Kristie (David) Buehler, Karole (Mark) Schutte; grandchildren, Brooke (Kyle) Stephenson, Noah Johnson, Dale (Stephanie) Arnold, Andrea Arnold, Kaleb Schutte; great-grandchildren, Emma, Hailey, Astrid, Alistair; brothers, Hal (Betty) Porter, Chuck Porter; sisters, Thelma Hadden, Betty Porter and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son, Bradley Eldred; sister, Gwen Boyd; brother, Ronald Porter; brother-in-law, Don Hadden and sister-in-law, Sally Porter.
A private burial and funeral has already been held. A public memorial service will be held at a later date. Follow the funeral home website, at skinnerfuneralhomes.com, or call for service details. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the COPD Foundation. The family would like to extended a special thanks to the staff and caregivers from McLaren Home Hospice for their compassionate care over the past five months.
Deborah S. Lownsbery
Deborah Sue Woodard, Lownsbery, age 53, of Eaton Rapids passed away April 1, 2020. Deborah was born in Albion, October 22, 1966. She was a 1984 graduate of Eaton Rapids High School. Deborah had been hairstylist since 1987, most recently working at Holt Hair and Nails. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, enjoyed working out at Healthworks at the ERMC, boating, walking, being outdoors and sitting by the fire pit.
Deborah is survived by her parents, Eddie and Sue (Chapman) Woodard; husband, David Lownsbery; sons, Eric (Audrey) Lownsbery of Paris, Mich., Evan (Kaylyn McGuire) Lownsbery of Eaton Rapids; grandson, Levi Lownsbery; sisters, Stacie (Pattrick) Yockey of Eaton Rapids, Nichole (Andy) Zasucha of Marshall; brother, Eddie (Kimberly) Moss of McKenzie, Tenn.; several nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles; loving step-mother, Patricia Zasucha; her beloved dogs, Bella and Bernice and her beloved clients who were like family to her. She was preceded in death by her biological father, Thomas Zasucha; mother and father-in-law, Gail and Barbara Lownsbery and her grandparents.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the First United Methodist Church, 600 S. Main St. in Eaton Rapids, or New Hope Pet Rescue, PO Box 745, Charlotte MI 48813. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. Visit the website to place online condolences or to sign the guest book, millsfuneral.com.
Deborah M. Lehman
Deborah “Deb” M. Lehman, age 70, of Battle Creek passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at Glenn Arbor Hospice Residence in Battle Creek with her loving husband at her side.
She was born November 7, 1949 in Battle Creek to George and Harriet “Betty” (Pike) Tidd. Deborah was a graduate of Bellevue High School where she met and then married Brian Lehman on June 7, 1969 at Bellevue United Methodist Church. She started her working career with Transamerica in Battle Creek and then onto The Ole Bakery Haus in Battle Creek as a clerk. Deborah worked at the Base Exchange, Air National Guard Base, Battle Creek as a sales clerk before starting at JC Penney in Battle Creek, where she worked in sales and then as a stock room manager for over 20 years.
Deborah was an Avon representative for over 50 years. She loved going to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, especially St. Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie. She enjoyed going on the Toonerville Trolley in Newberry. Reading, crossword puzzles, Tuesday morning breakfast at Firekeepers Casino, going to the county park, visiting lighthouses and crocheting Christmas stockings were some of her favorite things to do.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Brian; her son, Shawn Adam Lehman of New Hampshire, her sister, Barb Katts of Battle Creek; and her brother, Steve (Beth) Tidd of Delton. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Per Deborah’s request, cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services in Bellevue. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. Visit kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, sign the online guest book or to leave the family condolences.