The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Obituaries
PUBLISHED: February 22, 2007
Charles Henry Leatham of Jackson passed away peacefully Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, at Vista Grande Villa in Jackson, where he has lived with his wife, Martha, for the past 12 years. He was 93.
Charles' oldest son, John Leatham, a retired Northwest Airlines Pilot, and his wife, Linda, Chelsea Center for the Arts Gallery Manager, reside in the Chelsea/Dexter area. His grandson, Christopher Leatham, a 1994 graduate of Chelsea High School, is currently a manager at Showdown Ski Resort in Montana.
Martha still resides at Vista Grande Villa in Jackson. Mr. Leatham had three sons, three grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters. His middle son, James, lives in Marietta, Ohio with his wife, Mary. James's two daughters, Sandra and Margaret, and his two granddaughters also live in Marietta. The youngest son, Marcus, has recently relocated to Marietta, Ohio from Texas.
Mr. Leatham moved to Jackson in 1972 to be a project engineer for Commonwealth Engineering (later, Gilbert-Commonwealth). Prior to this he worked as an engineer in Pittsburgh and Fairmont, W.V. He was a registered, professional engineer in three states and helped design and build power plants, electrical distribution systems, steel mills, and sewage treatment plants. Mr. Leatham was born in Frostburg, Md., on Jan. 11, 1914, and grew up in Hagerstown. He graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1936 with Phi Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Pi honors. Mr. Leatham was drafted into the Army during WWII as a private, but quickly advanced to the rank of Captain as a Civil Affairs Officer. He participated in campaigns in Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. Before being sent overseas he married his sweetheart Martha Jane Moran in Fairmont, W.V.
After retirement in 1984, Charles and Martha traveled extensively to Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. He was active nearly all his life with the Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of The First United Methodist Church of Jackson and The Mount Lebanon Methodist Church of Pittsburgh. He was President of the Pittsburgh Lions Club and was an active Jackson Lions Club member. Mr. Leatham was a creative man with a sense of humor who loved to sail on Clark Lake. He was devoted to his family. In August, he and Martha celebrated 64 years of marriage.
Mr. Leatham was cremated. Family and friends are invited to a memorial service and luncheon that will be held in his honor at The First United Methodist Church of Jackson, 275 West Michigan Ave., at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 3.
Garnetta Olive Mansfield passed away on Feb. 18, 2007 in Chelsea at the age of 85.
Today I decided to write my own obituary. It is March 2001, I am 80 years old, and as far as I know I am in good health. My parents were Herman Culross Olive and Anna Lucile Olive (nee House). I was born in Paris, Tenn. on Feb. 27, 1921. We moved to Michigan before I started school. I have one sister, Oeda Geissler, of Novi and one brother James Olive of New Boston. Harry Mansfield and I were married in Pontiac on June 10, 1939. He survives along with our four wonderful children, Anita Louise Metzger, of Chelsea, Diane Marie Sauro (deceased), Alan Harry (Pam) Mansfield of Chelsea and Dawn Elaine (Kim) Kay of Howell, Ronald Dean (Julie) Swanson of Oshkosh, Wisc., who came to live with us when he was a teenager and is a son to us. We have six very caring grandchildren, Karl Metzger of Brighton, Karen (Bill) Zimmer, of Manchester, Angela (Paul) Pomerleau of Sterling Heights, Diane Kay, Andy Kay, and Robert Kay, of Howell; also Ron and Julie have four wonderful children, Jonathan, Erica, Jennifer, and Laura. One grandson (John Sauro Jr.) died with his mother (Diane) in a automobile accident in 1971. To add to our joy there are seven great-grandchildren, Michelle, Paul and Brandon Pomerleau, Kassidy, Cole, Nathan and Natalie Zimmer.
Now that I am an old lady, I will wear purple with a red hat that doesn't "go" and I really don't like hats. I spend my pension on candy, I sit down when I am tired and gobble up samples in shops that add more pounds. I tried to learn to whistle with no success. I hoard pictures of loved ones. I have had a wonderful life thanks to my warm and loving family. May you take joy and happiness in all the wonderful years and vacations we have had together.
Funeral services were held Feb. 21 at Cole Funeral Chapel, with Rev. Joy Barrett officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Chelsea Senior Citizens.
Aurora R. Trevino
Chelsea
Aurora R. Trevino of Chelsea passed away peacefully in her home on Feb. 13, 2007. She was 79.
She was born the daughter of Doroteo and Aurora Rendon on April 6, 1927 in San Benito, Texas. She married Edmundo G. Trevino on Jan. 22, 1950 in Brownsville, Texas and he survives. She was known to be a great cook with a welcoming home. She was a resident of Chelsea for 51 years. She enjoyed reading, euchre, scrabble, watching Spanish language movies and especially playing card games with her grandchildren. Most of all she enjoyed her family and her faith.
She is survived by her children Ray Trevino of Chelsea, Armando "Mundy" Trevino of Chelsea, George (Alison) Trevino of Chelsea, Mario Trevino of Chelsea, Janie Trevino of Saline, Linda (Brian) Martin of Ann Arbor, Sandy (John) Hetzel of Chelsea and Bob (Karen) Trevino of Saline. Also surviving are daughters-in-law Julie Trevino of Saline and Debbie Allen of Oregon, Ohio, her brother Joaquin Rendon of California with nieces and nephews as well as 14 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren . She was preceded in death by her parents and her son Gilbert Trevino.
Funeral services were held at the Staffan-Mitchell funeral home on Saturday with Rev. Dr. William J. Turner officiating, burial followed at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family.
Charles R. Eder of Chelsea passed away at his home on Feb. 15, 2007. He was 72.
He was born the son of George J. and Elsie (Casterline) Eder on Nov. 8, 1934 in Chelsea. He served his country in the U.S. Marine Corp during the Korean War. On Sept. 3, 1955 he was married to Mary Ann Wheeler who preceded him in death in 1996. On April 15, 1998, he married Dorothy J. Wright and she survives.
Mr. Eder retired from Chrysler Corp. after 30 years of service. He enjoyed woodworking and making cradles for friends and family. In his younger years he enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping turtles. He enjoyed traveling up north to his cabin. Most of all he enjoyed being with his family, especially around the holidays. In addition to his wife, he is survived by Dorothy's children: Diane Meyer of Plainwell, Donna (Jeff) Clifton of Tenn., Dawn (John) Bush of Allegan, David Meyer of Grand Rapids, Debra (James) Treece of Grand Rapids and Dennis (Cathy) Meyer of Grand Rapids, and 10 grandchildren. Also surviving are his brothers and sisters: Jim (Donna) Eder of Chelsea, Tom (Terri) Eder of Chelsea, Kay (Jim) Schook of Manchester, Rosie Eder of Chelsea; and brother-in-law, Jerry Kenney of Chelsea; as well as many nieces and nephews and special friends Gordon (Ermie) Wilkinson of Sun City, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Pat Schantz; brother Bill Eder; and sister Teenie Kenney.
Funeral Mass was celebrated on Feb. 19, 2007 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Chelsea, with Rev. Dr. William J. Turner officiating. Burial followed at Mt. Olivet cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Arbor Hospice or St. Jude Children's Hospital.
Lynn Andrew Bensinger of Dexter and Falmouth, Mass., died tragically in a freak train accident on Feb. 8, 2007 near Bangkok, Thailand. He was 25.
He was born on Oct 17, 1981 in Ann Arbor, cherished son of Lynn Edward and Jennifer H. Bensinger, loving brother of Nicholas, grandson of Betty and the late Robert Bensinger of Dexter and Lorena and the late Perry Haines of Falmouth. He is also survived by aunts Diane Ruland, Jacqueline (David) Rider, Stephanie Haines, great aunts Virginia (Emmett) Widmayer, Dorothy Bryant, and an uncle Christopher (Sari) Haines as well as cousins Phillip and Marcus Rider, Alex and Michael Haines, Kealey, Jennifer, James and Jonathan Ruland and many special and loyal friends far and near.
Mr. Bensinger was a 2000 graduate of Dexter High School and will receive his Bachelor of Science degree in biology and environmental science posthumous from the University of Michigan in April.
He was an intelligent and enthusiastic young man whose passions included music, learning, travel, cooking, friends and family. He had a zany sense of humor and could make almost anyone laugh at any time. As a member of the "America Reads" work-study program, he formed a special attachment to "his kids" at Harding Elementary School in Detroit.
Pure joy in the out-of-doors, years of fishing, boating and camping with family and friends, summer school at the Woods Hole Children's School of Science, summer at the University of Michigan Bio-station in Pellston led to his trip to pursue his environmental studies in Thailand.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24 at St. Andrew's United Church of Christ, 7610 Ann Arbor Street, Dexter. A brief visitation will take place from 10-11 a.m. The family has asked those who wish may contribute to the L. Andrew Bensinger Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of St. Andrews United Church of Christ.
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
Expanded
Web
Coverage
TOP JOBS
