NEW_Shopper_7_18_24_

18 Thursday, July 18, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com

Our beloved

Husband and

Father, Deacon

John Drain,

Jr., entered God’s

Kingdom on Friday,

July 5, 2024, after

a short illness.

John was born

to Oscar and Mary

Alice (Blackmon)

on October 21,

1928, in Milner,

Georgia. When

John was younger, his favorite activities were

playing ball or riding in a wagon with his

brothers and friends. John grew up in a large

family, being the eighth born of 11 children

that enjoyed family gatherings, singing in the

church and enjoying their time together.

In 1952, John met and married Fannie Lou

(Mahone), a match truly made in heaven. John

and Fannie Lou went on to have four children,

Shirley, Stanley, another son (miscarried),

and Timothy. John worked for Post Cereals

Corporation for 34 years. During his employ-

ment there, he was never absent, didn’t ever

call in sick, nor was he ever tardy. At his

retirement celebration, the manager from White

Plains, New York, was in attendance to present

John with a special plaque to congratulate him

for his exemplary job attendance record of 34

years.

John was a loyal servant to God, first and

foremost. He loved the church and loved shar-

ing the love and warmth of our Savior, Jesus

Christ, with as many people as possible.

He loved gardening and would share many

of the fruits and vegetables he produced with

many friends and family alike. He also was

very active with the Food Bank program,

always loving to distribute and deliver food to

the needy and elderly.

John now joins his parents; several brothers

and sisters; as well as son Elder Stanley Drain

(and infant son), who are already in Heaven.

He is survived by his loving wife, Fannie

Lou, to whom he was married for 71 years.

He is also survived by his daughter, Shirley

Montgomery (Quillian) of Ypsilanti, MI;

son Elder Timothy Drain (Wanda) of Battle

Creek, MI; a brother, Leon Drain (Mattie) of

Kalamazoo, MI; a sister, Mary Ann Ferrell of

Detroit, MI; a daughter-in law, Beverly Milon;

eight grandkids; numerous great-grandkids;

and four great-great-grandkids. He is also

survived by a host of loving nieces, nephews,

spiritual sons and daughters and many friends.

Services will be held Saturday, July 20, 2024,

at First Pentecostal Family Worship Center,

4720 Beckley Road, Battle Creek, MI 49015.

Family hour is at 10 a.m., with the homegoing

service at 11 a.m.

Kathryn Marie

Van Houten, 82,

of East Leroy,

Michigan, passed

away Saturday,

June 29, 2024, at

her home. She

was born October

13, 1941, the

daughter of

Albert Wood and

Pauline Helen

(Cross) Wood.

Kaye was a

Harper Creek High School graduate and

then was employed at Dare Products until

retiring in 2005. She enjoyed shopping,

crafting, craft shows, flower gardening and

she loved her dog, Kia. She loved spend-

ing time with her family, especially her

grandchildren.

Kaye is survived by her husband,

Kenneth Van Houten; daughter Tori

(David) Reese Elliott; grandchildren,

Andrew King and Brent (Samantha) King;

great-grandson, Jayce King; brother Jerry

(Karen) Wood; and numerous nieces,

nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in

death by her parents; for-

mer spouse, James Reese;

daughter Lynnette King; and

brother Kenneth Wood.

A private family service will

be held.

Memorials may be made to:

American Cancer Society.

Arrangements by Baxter

Funeral & Cremation Service.

269-788-9800/www.baxterfu-

neral.com

George
Edward Howard,
93, of Battle
Creek, MI,
passed away
Wednesday, July
10, 2024, at his
home, surround-
ed by his fam-
ily. He was born
June 16, 1931, in
Jasonville, IN, the
son of Thomas
W. and Marion P.
(McFerrin) Howard.
George served in the U.S. Army during
the Korean Conflict. He married Geraldine
Wagner on March 7, 1953, in Hinesville,
Georgia. Geraldine preceded George in
death in 2012.
George was a machinist at Union Pump
for 37 years, retiring in 1996. After retiring
he went to work for Frito Lay part time and
volunteered at the South Michigan Food
Bank in Battle Creek for 20-plus years.
George crocheted over 800 baby blankets,
gifting every single one. He was an active

member of Woodland Church and was a

greeter for 50 years there. George always

had a smile and had a heart of gold. He

will truly be missed by all who knew and

loved him.

He is survived by his children, Linda

Howard, Susan (Matthew) Dilling and

Michael Howard; sister Elizabeth Hogle;

grandchildren Eric (Hisako) Dilling and

Angela Dilling; great-grandson Caleb

Walters; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his par-

ents; wife; and brothers Charles Howard,

Donald Howard and James Robert

Howard.

Visitation was held at Bachman Hebble

Funeral Service on Tuesday, July 16,

2024, from 4-8 p.m. Funeral services were

held Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 10:

a.m. at Woodland Church. Burial was at

Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens in Emmett

Township, MI.

Memorial tributes may be made to

Woodland Church.

Arrangements by Bachman Hebble

Funeral Service. (269) 965-5145/www.

bachmanhebble.com

James “Jim”

Raymond Weller,

89, passed away

July 7, 2024,

at his home

in Springfield,

Michigan.

Born on July 8,

1934, to Glenn

and Margaret

(Smith) Weller

in Kalamazoo,

Michigan, he was

raised there. Jim

attended Kalamazoo Central. While there

he joined boxing and proudly represented

the feather weight division. After graduat-

ing, Jim was drafted in the United States

Army and spent time in Korea after the

war. He enjoyed his time overseas and

was proud to have served. After an honor-

able discharge, Jim began working as a

machinist, first for Humphrey Products,

then later for Kraft Foods in the Post divi-

sion. It was at work he met Linda (née

Mullins) Southerland, whom he married in

Bardstown, Kentucky, and had 33 wonder-

ful years of marriage with.

In his younger days, Jim was a stock

car racer and competed at tracks in

Grand Rapids, Hartford and Galesburg.

He also loved to watch sprint car racing,

and always cheered for his beloved Red

Wings. Jim’s love of adventurous hobbies

never left him, as he went skydiving twice!

Jim celebrated his 75th birthday by jump-

ing out of a plane. Summers were spent

on Matteson Lake at Jim and Linda’s lake

house in Bronson, Michigan.

A parishioner of Faith Baptist Church,

Jim also served as a Deacon. Jim enjoyed

going to church and seeing his community.

He was always social and never met a

stranger.

Most of all, Jim loved being a grandpa.

He was known to most of his grandchil-

dren’s friends and even their parents as

“Grandpa Weller.” They were always up

to something fun with grandpa, whether

it was building a tree house, playing bas-

ketball or hockey, building forts or running

through obstacle courses he set up for

them. Jim was a “big kid” at heart and

loved to have fun.

James is survived by his wife, Linda;

son Jeff Weller of Battle Creek, Michigan;

stepdaughter Tracy Miller of Battle Creek,

Michigan; grandchildren Amanda (Grace)

Kruszka, Sheena (Chris) Myers, Jessica

Piper, Logan (Hakeem) Manning, Emerson

(Reiley) Brown, Connor Miller and Caitlyn

Miller; four great-grandchildren; sister

Beverly Mason of Brooklyn, Michigan; as

well as many other family members and

friends.

He was preceded in death by his

daughter, Julie Kruszka; stepson Troy

Southerland; and his parents.

Memorial visitation will take place

Monday, July 22, from 11:30 a.m. until

12:30 p.m. at Kempf Family Funeral and

Cremation Services, 2838 Capital Ave.

SW, Battle Creek, MI. A memorial service

will follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Roy Henry

officiating. Interment will take place at Ft.

Custer National Cemetery at 3 p.m.

Memorials

are suggested

to the Wounded

Warriors Project

or Faith Baptist

Church.

— ELDER LAW —

• Legal advice & counseling regarding long term care.


• Protecting your home and assets.


• Advice for your financial and/or medical condition.


• Benefits available to you including Medicaid & veterans.
  — PROBATE & ESTATE PLANNING —


• Wills and trusts


• Powers of Attorney for Health Care and Finances


• Pre and post nuptial agreements
  Stacey Lott • Planning for blended and non-traditional families
  Attorney at Law
  269-963-8222 • http://www.staceylottlaw.com
  130 East Columbia Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49015

It is God’s
will to take his
son Edwin Dee
Wellington
home on June
15, 2024. Edwin
was born July 7,
1951, in Battle
Creek, MI. He
was the son of
John William
Wellington
and Arletta
Rose (Leslie)
Wellington.

He enjoyed his family and friends. He

was a hunter, fisherman, enjoyed his dogs

and reading the Bible.

Surviving are his daughter, Tonie Rae

Quinn of Battle Creek; granddaughter

Caitlin Alexandria Quinn of Battle Creek;

sister Joan (Wellington) Lancaster and

William Lancaster of Battle Creek; sister

Marion Cox of Pine Bluff, Arkansas; many

nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his par-

ents; four brothers; and five sisters.

Family will be gathering at the Asian

Buffet after the funeral service.