22 Thursday, August 22, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
Ellen Jo
Riggins
passed away
peacefully
on Monday,
August 12,
2024, at
Bronson Battle
Creek, with
her family sur-
rounding her
with love. She was born November
10, 1949, in Battle Creek, Mich.,
to the union of Darrow William
Thompson and Betty Lou Griffin.
She grew up in a house filled with
love, laughter and joy.
Ellen Jo graduated from Battle
Creek Central High School. From
there she took some business col-
lege courses at KCC.
Ellen Jo loved knitting, music, gar-
dening, crosswords, playing games
on her computer, watching murder
mysteries, hosting parties, and tak-
ing care of her family and friends.
Ellen Jo held several jobs through-
out her lifetime. She was employed
with Goodwill Industries, Interbake
Cookie Factory, CAA, serving
lunches to the seniors at Springview
Tower until she was hired at Ralston
until she retired. Not wanting to sit
at home, she went back to work
part-time at Lear Corp in Marshall.
Then at the Laurels of Bedford car-
ing for the elderly, as well as Valley
View School and Lamora Park
School, fostering kids.
Ellen Jo was preceded in death by
her parents, William and Betty Lou
Thompson; grandmother Elizabeth
Maupins; her sister Robin Dean
Patton.
Ellen Jo is survived by her chil-
dren, Todd Bolden, Mark Bolden
and Tammy Bolden of Battle Creek;
grandchildren Christopher James
Stone, Stacia Renee Bolden,
Alaysia Bolden-Banks, Todd Edward
Bolden II; great-grandchildren
Landen Lawyver, Naomi Stone,
Toriano Steele, Todd Edward
Bolden III, JayOnna Bolden; sis-
ters Paula (Leonard) Thomas and
Vicki Lou Williams; brother David
Thompson, all of Battle Creek; Aunt
Karen (Dennis) Mickins of Ypsilanti;
a host of nieces, nephews and
cousins; and special friend George
Arnold.
Visitation will be held at
Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service
on Saturday, August 24, from noon
to 1 p.m., with the celebration of life
at 1 p.m.
Arrangements by Baxter Funeral &
Cremation Service. 269-788-9800/
http://www.baxterfuneral.comRobert E.
Williamson,- of Battle
Creek, passed
away Monday,
August 5,
2024, sur-
rounded by
family.
Robert was
born October
12, 1953, in Battle Creek. After
high school, he served his country
honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps.
In his younger years, he enjoyed
working on cars, bowling and doing
yardwork. Most of all, he loved
being a grandpa and spending time
with his grandchildren.
Robert is survived by his wife,
Lorraine; daughter Darlinda (Cory);
grandchildren Daniel, Jennifer
(Jerry), Cody (Bri); great-grandchil-
dren Suzie, Jerry, Lailah and Miilah;
mother-in-law Donna; and in-laws
Linda and Jerry.
He was preceded in death by his
father, Holland Williamson.
A service to celebrate Robert’s
life was held Tuesday, August 13,
2024, at 12:30 p.m. at Farley Estes
Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation
Care. Interment with full military
honors followed at Fort Custer
National Cemetery.
Personal messages for Robert’s
family may be shared at http://www.far-
leyestesdowdle.com.Wesley Duane
Robinson
passed away
August 18,- He
was born
to Maxwell
Robinson
and Dorothy
Sprowl
Robinson on
December 27, 1937, in Battle Creek,
Michigan, at Nichols Hospital.
He attended schools in Battle
Creek, graduating from Battle Creek
Central High School in 1956.
He spent many years at Fine Lake
where he was an excellent water
skier. That and his love of lake living
brought the family to Bristol Lake in
Wes married Georgia Hayes
on January 21, 1961. They met in
1960 at an Automotive Engineering
Club in Battle Creek that had a
race car and their first date was at
a race. They were introduced by
a mutual friend in 1960. Wes and
Georgia have two children, Susan
Robinson of St. Joseph and Charles
Robinson (Lori) of Bay City. They
also have three grandchildren, Colin
Robinson, Lily Florian and Sydney
Robinson.
Everyone who knew Wes knew of
his sense of humor. Wes was a very
social man who loved to entertain
children as well as adults. He had
an amazing gift for remembering
and telling jokes. He was a huge
fan of comedians, and especially
enjoyed watching “The Tonight
Show,” starring Johnny Carson.
He was a lover of any kind of
dog, especially the family’s beloved
Archie, Heidi, Chelsea and Molly Jo.
He was a gifted artist and enjoyed
carving pumpkins and woodworking
and wood carving.
Wes served his country for six
years as a member of the Air
National Guard. He was an active
member of American Legion Post
45 and served in their Honor Guard.
During the course of his work-
ing life, he was employed at Eaton
Manufacturing, Ingersoll-Rand, D
& W Services, Clark Equipment
and J-Ad Graphics. He co-owned
Thornapple Printing before retiring.
Wes was always busy volunteer-
ing and over the years, he lent
his time and talents to the Clark
Management Club and served
as emcee of the annual Clark
Equipment Christmas Party for
Children. He was a member of the
Lions Club, Park Village & Museum
Foundation Board, Charlton Park
education programs, Emmanuel
Episcopal Church Sunday School
teacher, and served as a vestry
member at the Episcopal Church
of the Resurrection in Battle Creek
and Emmanuel Episcopal Church in
Hastings. He was a member of the
Johnstown Township Board and the
Committee of 33 for the Hastings
Area Schools.
Wes was preceded in death by his
parents, and his brothers, Ned and
Jerry.
The family would like to express
their love and thanks to the staff
and residents of The Cottages at
Thornapple Manor for welcoming
Dad into their family and making
him feel loved, appreciated and
respected every single day. He truly
cared about each of you and you
each made a lasting impact on our
family.
Services will be held Saturday,
August 31, 2024, at Emmanuel
Episcopal Church in Hastings.
Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., with
funeral service beginning at 11
a.m., immediately followed by lunch.
Mother Alicia Hager will be the offi-
ciant.
A private graveside service with
honors will be begin at 2 p.m. at
Banfield Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be
made to Emmanuel Episcopal
Church, Charlton Park Foundation
and American Legion Post 45.
Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral
Home. To leave an online condo-
lence, visit http://www.girrbachfuneral-
home.net.