Obituaries
Ruth M. Umbarger
Ruth Marion Umbarger of Eaton Rapids passed away March 18, 2019 at the age of 92. Ruth was born in Springport on August 7, 1926, the daughter of George and Mary (Price) Mock. She was a graduate of Eaton Rapids High School Class of 1944 and was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary 80thDivision WWII Veterans Association. Ruth worked at Horner Woolen Mills for four years and later retired from Owens-Illinois in Charlotte after 24 years of service. She enjoyed watching baseball, quilting, traveling and listening to music. She particularly liked this poem, “God saw the road was getting rough. The hills were hard to climb. He gently closed your weary eyes and whispered, ‘Peace be Thine.’”
Ruth is survived by her daughters, Sue Ellen Thurston of Traverse City, Sally (Douglas) Knorr of Traverse City; sons, Keith (Carol) Umbarger of Holt, Kerry Umbarger of Eaton Rapids; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; half-sisters, Bonnie (LeRoy) Beagle of Eagle, Celia (Raymond) Ainslie of Empire, Sharlene (Dan) Winslow of Eaton Rapids, Becky Mock of Grand Ledge; half-brother, George (Geneva) Mock of Eaton Rapids; sister-in-law, Louise Mock of Eaton Rapids; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard Umbarger; sisters, Fern Caldwell, Grace Firebaugh; brothers, Kenneth and Neil Mock; and half-sister, Patricia Trumble.
Funeral services were held Friday, March 22, 2019 at Mills Funeral Home, located at 518 S. Main Street in Eaton Rapids. Interment followed in Oakwood Cemetery.
Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Eaton Rapids Historical Society.
Please visit millsfuneral.com to place online condolences.
Caroline R. Nelson
Caroline R. Nelson, born on August 12, 1930, died on March 13, 2019 with her family by her side. She married Oliver Nelson on September 1, 1948. They are from the Rudyard and Pickford areas of the Upper Peninsula and moved to lower Michigan, where they raised their family. Together they had purchased the Chance School House in Vermontville, and lived there until their deaths. She was a member of the Nashville Baptist Church and had volunteered at Pennock Hospital for 18 years.
She is survived by her children, Earl, Karen (Earlyn) Huff, Robert (Louise); twins, Christine (Henry) Bouthiette and Christian (Lisa), James (Toni), and Helen (Jim) Misner; as well as many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; her brothers, Charley (Margaret) Izzard, Verne (Margene) Izzard and Duane; and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Oliver Earl Nelson; her parents, Nelson and Fannie (Vincent) Izzard; her brothers, and sisters-in-law, Wesley (Irene) Izzard, Carl, Claude (Eleanor) Izzard, and Russell (Bernice) Izzard.
Funeral services were held at The Nashville Baptist Church on Monday, March 18, 2019, with pastors Lester DeGroot, and Deano Lamphere officiating. Interment took place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Vermontville.
Memorial contributions can be made to The Nashville Baptist Church.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville. For further details, please visit danielsfuneralhome.net.
Lawrence J. Munro
Lawrence J. Munro, 87, of Olivet, passed away on the family farm March 16, 2019 in Olivet. He was born on June 27, 1931 in Lansing to A. Hugh and Margaret (Fassbender) Munro. Larry attended Charlotte High School, graduating in 1948. After high school Larry pursued a career in the newspaper business. A short time later, however, he returned to the family farm. Larry joined the Navy where he served his country from 1956 to 1960 between the Korean and Vietnam wars. He served as a Radioman on the USS Toledo. That service led to Larry being stationed at the Naval Communications Station in Adak, Alaska. He finished his Naval career at the Naval facility at Pacific Beach Washington. Larry returned home again to the family farm south of Charlotte to raise cattle. At that time he also went to work for the United States Postal Service, starting as a clerk, moving up to postal carrier, and then serving as Postmaster at several post offices, including Olivet, until his retirement in 1987. In 1974 Larry married Clarinda “Cindy” Thompson.
Many people will remember Larry as a quiet gentleman with a warm smile. He was a devout member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte. He was one of the regular workers on church projects, most often alongside his wife, Cindy as they prepared the many lunches and dinners that followed funerals and other events at the church. Above all, Larry was proud of his family and his farm. Larry died in the house that he and Cindy had built on the back side of the family farm where he had resided since the 1940s.
Lawrence is survived by his wife, Cindy; their two daughters, Paula Randall, and Sandra (Timothy) McCarn; three grandsons; two granddaughters; one great-grandson; and his brother, Alan (Carol) Munro.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Margie Metz.
A funeral Mass for Larry was celebrated Thursday, March 21 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte, with Rev. Father Dwight Ezop officiating. Burial took place in Dowling Cemetery in Dowling, Mich.
Family and friends are encouraged to share remembrances and condolences online in Lawrence’s tribute page at PrayFuneral.com.
Tracey L. Moreno
Tracey Lee Moreno, of Lansing, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the age of 52. Tracey was born March 12, 1966 in Lansing, and was the eldest of four children and the daughter of Juan Moreno and Connie Hampton.
Tracey is survived by her mother; father; her sons, Dustin Rice and Corey Rice; grandchildren, Trenton Rice and Corey Rice Jr.; and her sisters, Brandy Moreno of Eaton Rapids, Darla Moreno of Lansing; and her brother, John Moreno of Eaton Rapids. She also has many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Tracey was preceded in death by her sister, Angela Moreno; her grandparents, Pablo and Martina Moreno, and Lewis and Cornelia Horton.
A celebration of life/memorial service will be held and announced at a later date. The family is grateful for the condolences, but asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to help cover costs of the cremation and the memorial service; via a gofundme account.
Barry D. Hensel
Barry Dale Hensel, 56, of Charlotte, passed away Sunday, March 17, 2019. He was born July 19, 1962, in Connellsville, Penn., the son of Edgar and Maxine (Soisson) Hensel. Barry lived the majority of his life in Michigan, but never forgot where he came from and never stopped rooting for his favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. To say that he will be greatly missed does not begin to describe the loss felt by his friends and family. Barry’s personality was larger than life and he always made those around him laugh with one-liners, comebacks, and running gags. But he was much more than a jokester. Barry cared deeply for those around him. He always had questions for you because he truly wanted to know how you were doing and if he could help. If he could help, he would do anything, from lending a hand to lending his truck. Barry would even give you the shirt off his back, just as long, of course, as it was not his Steelers shirt.
Barry is survived by his siblings: Cheryl (James) Margeson of Charlotte, Deborah A. Hensel of Charlotte, Kevin (Betty Horner) Hensel of Connellsville, Todd (Maryann) Hensel of Connellsville; nieces and nephews: Mary Margeson, Jennifer (Brad) Stanke, Wesley (Kristin) Margeson, Steven (Angel) Hensel, Nicholas (Kaitlin) Hensel, Timothy (fiancée Lauren Urie) Hensel; special friends: Julie Horner and Kenadie Horner; several great nieces and nephews; aunt, Virginia “Jeannie” Northrup.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2019, from 10 A.M. to 12 P.M. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home, Charlotte. Graveside services will take place at the Greenridge Memorial Park in Connellsville, PA.
Those desiring, may make contributions in Barry’s honor to the American Cancer Society or the American Diabetes Association.
To view Barry’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com.