Samuel R. Covarrubias

Samuel R. Covarrubias, age 29, formerly of Ithaca, died Thursday, January 28, 2010, at Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Sam was born May 5, 1980, in Carson City, the son of Isaias and Linda (Reyes) Covarrubias, Sr. He had worked for Alma Products. 

Sam loved singing , and also played the cello and the trombone. He was a big U of M and Detroit Tigers fan, and also enjoyed playing Uno, Monopoly, doing mathematical problems, going to church, and his favorite activity, bowling.

Sam is survived by his parents, Isaias and Linda Covarubias, Sr. of West Bloomfield; his brother and sisters, Yolanda Loomis of Ithaca, Isaias (Rachel Eplin) Covarrubias, Jr., of West Bloomfield, and Ruth Covarrubias of Weidman; three nieces, Keely, Kerry, and Elicia; two nephews, Zachery and Alejandro; his grandfather, Santos H. (Beatrice) Reyes of North Dakota; his grandmother, Elisa Lopez of Guadalajara, Mexico; his soul mate, Franny Evans; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; four caretakers who were like brothers, Carlos, Jose, Marcos, and Miguel; and his dog, Brutus. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Manuela Reyes.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, February 1, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Interment will follow in Ithaca Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Saturday and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday.

Ruth Jane Horton

Ruth J. Horton, age 76, of Ithaca, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, August 12, 2010, at her home.

Ruth was born in St. Johns on December 5, 1933, the daughter of Max and Roberta ( Willis ) LeBaron. She married Ronald Bertram Horton in St. Johns on August 14, 1960. Ron preceded her in death on June 28, 2002.

Through the years, Ruth loved doing things as a family, such as going to the cottage in Lake City every weekend through the summer, taking trips down south to visit family, or just having tea and pie and ice cream every night with Ron before they went to bed.

Recently she enjoyed going to her day care and the care she was given as they took her to the grocery store and the farmer’s market or doing karaoke. She enjoyed having the neighbors over for coffee and having garage sales with them. She especially enjoyed getting flowers from her son, Doug, and sitting with her cat, Sunshine.

Ruth is survived by her son, Doug, of Washington, Michigan; her sister, Mary (Steve) Thimmig of DeWitt; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded by her parents; and her daughters, Sharon and Suzanne.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, August 16, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca with Pastor Cindy Greene officiating. Interment will follow in Ithaca Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 Sunday. Memorial contributions may be made to Gratiot County Commission on Aging.

Robert E. Riedel

A life spanning decades has ended, with the death of Robert E. Riedel, 98, of Ithaca. 

Robert was born December 11, 1911, in Hagerstown Maryland, the only child of Lulu Irene (Wilhelm) and Earl S. Riedel. After graduating from Business College in 1930, Robert found employment with the Central News Agency as a Teletype operator, also announcing the horse races for the board operator to post. By the end of 1932, book making was declared illegal and Bob moved on to bigger and better things. 

Moving to Michigan in 1935, he became the projectionist and future owner of the Ideal Theatre in Ithaca. Bob drove an Ithaca school bus from 1947, (when the buses were actually red, white and blue) until his retirement in 1982. He enjoyed driving three generations of some families to school. Bob served in the navy during WWII aboard the USS Hector as an electronics technician. After the war was over he owned and operated a part time radio/TV repair business for 33 years. He was also custodian of the United Methodist Church. His hobbies included flying a small plane he co-owned, raising and racing harness horses, and becoming an amateur radio operator, WB8LBJ. Robert is a past master of the Masonic Lodge, Shriner, and enjoyed working with the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team, and on their blood drives. Robert’s favorite occupation was being a fireman. He joined the Western Enterprise Fire Department in Hagerstown, MD when he was 16 years old and continued as a member of the Ithaca Fire Department, accumulating a total of 50 years service. He was named “fireman of the year” in 1982.

Robert married Dora Arlene Gibbs in 1937, and to this marriage came 3 children. Arlene passed away in 1954.

Robert married Margaret Whitaker in 1954, and three more children were added to his family. Margaret passed in 1996.

Robert is survived by his children: Arthur (Kay) Riedel of Lafayette LA, Ellen Keeler of Ithaca, Judy (Dennis) Tugen of Williamston MI, Helen Bongard of Lexington KY, Susan (Scott) Bates of Ithaca MI, and Robin (Bill) Rogers of St Louis MI. Robert enjoyed 17 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, April 1, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, with Mark Monroe officiating. Interment will follow in Ithaca Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday.

Memorials may be made to the Ithaca Fire Department and the American Red Cross.

Robert Clarence Smith

Robert C. Smith, age 72, of Perrinton, died Sunday, May 16, 2010 at Ingham Regional Medical Center in Lansing.

Robert was born April 30, 1938 to Harold L. and Velma L. (Dailey) Smith in St. Louis, Michigan. He served in the United States Army and worked as a truck driver for Brenner Oil. He was a member of the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge #123 in Ithaca. He was an avid MSU football fan, loved to bowl, and spending time with family and friends.

Robert is survived by his fiancee, Kay Conner of Perrinton; children Connie Sue Smith of Ferndale, MI, Mary A. (Kevin) Deitert of Melvindale, MI, Robert C. Smith of Fresno, CA, Paul M. (Karen) Smith of East Ridge, TN; stepchildren Lisa M. Johnston of Perrinton, Leanne R. Toman of Flint, MI, Lori R. Atkinson of St. Johns; 13 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; brother William (Karen) Smith of St. Louis; and sisters Patricia Tope of Lansing and Dianne Merrill of Lansing.

He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Velma Smith, and brother John L. Smith.

Per Robert’s wishes he has been cremated and a private family will take place in the future. There will be a small gathering of family and friends to celebrate his life at the Fulton Township Hall on Saturday, May 22 at 12:30pm. The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca.

Ralph D. Wood

Ralph D. Wood age 86, of Ithaca, passed away Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at Laurels of Fulton with his family by his side.

Ralph was born August 23, 1923 to Keith and Ethel (Peabody) Martin in Sheridan. Ralph’s mother passed away when he was 23 days old. He was adopted by his Aunt and Uncle Ira and Esther Wood. He was raised in the farmhouse where he currently lived. Ralph married Phyllis I. Duflo August 23, 1947. He was a farmer and worked winters for Beebe Furniture Company for Bob Brown, Ron Gruesbeck, and Ted Rayburn.

Ralph was in the Army from 1943 to 1945. He was wounded in combat in Normandy. He was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a life member of the VFW Post #7805.

Ralph and Phyllis enjoyed going to Drummond Island to stay at Humm’s cabins to fish.

Ralph is survived by his children Kathryn (Thomas) McDonald and Kendall (Diane Davis) Wood of Ithaca. Grandchildren Kenton (Angie Betchler) Wood of Ithaca, Eric (Kathryn) Wood of Brighton, Jillane (Christopher) Sandro of Alma, Adam (Heather) Wood of Ithaca, Matthew McDonald of Ithaca. Great grandchildren Korbin and Avery Wood, Alysa Betchler and Brendan Timmer of Ithaca, Carter and Allison Sandro of Alma. Also survived by several nieces and nephews.

His wife Phyllis, parents, and siblings Dorothy Allen, Donna Kolar, JB Martin, LeRoy Martin, Willamina Smith, and Elizabeth Martin preceded Ralph in death.

Memorial contributions may be made to VFW Post #7805 Ithaca, Michigan.