Donald Linsley

Donald R. Linsley, 81, a resident of rural Churubusco, passed away at 4:18 a. m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2010, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.e He had been in declining health for some time, and had been taken to the hospital on Thursday evening from North Ridge Village Nursing Home in Albion. Mr. Linsley was born on March 21, 1928 in Calhoun County, Michigan, a son of L. Z. and Alta (Rice) Linsley.e He spent his formative years on the family farm near Battle Creek, and graduated from Bellevue High School in 1946. On May 21, 1950 he was married in Eaton County, Michigan to Gloria J. Smurr.e The couple lived all of their married lives in Michigan until moving from Battle Creek to Churubusco in 1993. As a young man he was employed by the Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, and later owned and operated Linsley Excavating for 20 years.e e He retired in 1986 as a semi driver for Clark Equipment in Battle Creek. Mr. Linsley was a member of the Merriam Christian Chapel. The surviving relatives include his wife Gloria, to whom he was married for over 59 years; four children Larry S. (Claudia) Linsley of Battle Creek, Duane (Dianne) Linsley of Greenville, Mich., and Sherrie (Sharon) Linsley and Karen (Rick) Bonar, both of Churubusco; two brothers Bernard (Barbara) Linsley of Nashville, Mich., and Gerald (Mary) Linsley of Battle Creek, Mich; nine grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. on Saturday, February 13, 2010, at the Merriam Christian Chapel with Pastor Dwayne Berna, officiating. The family will receive friends at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Friday from 2-4 and from 6-8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Merriam Christian Chapel Summer Missions Outreach, 3985e South U. S. 33, Albion, INe 46701 *************************************** To leave a condolence for the family in Mr. Linsley's memory, please click on "Condolences" below. . .