Donald Putnam. Strong    a resident of Farmington Hills, died at Huron Valley Hospital on Monday, May 12, 2008. He was 92 years old. Born on January 16, 1916 in Ozark, Arkansas, the son of Carl & Daisy (Milton) Strong, Don came to Detroit when he was sixteen years old. After his graduation from Cass Tech High School, he briefly worked with Jam Handy Advertising before beginning his forty-five year career as a newspaper photographer with the Detroit Times and later the Detroit News, until his retirement in 1981.

On October 26, 1945 he wed Donna Vetter, and they made their home in Detroit, where they were blessed with the births of four children. Throughout the years they enjoyed their growing family and traveling, and Don’s spare time was filled with golf, on-going projects around the home, and various odd jobs and family functions where he was best at documenting the occasion with his trained eye for photography. In 1975 they moved to Farmington Hills, where Mr. & Mrs. Strong lived together until his wife’s passing in 1990.

In addition to his daughters, Barbara Militello, Gayle (Larry) Lizzet and sons, Michael (Marcia) Strong and Gary Strong, Don is survived by his grandchildren, Lisa, Michael, Sam, Jenny, Susie, Brian, Bailey, Mackenzie, Jessica and Nathan; numerous great grandchildren; sister, Virginia McPhail; cousin, E.B. Milton; several dear friends and former colleagues.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Milford Presbyterian Church, 238 N. Main Street, Milford on Saturday, May 17 at 11AM. The Rev. Dr. R. John Harris will officiate. Memorials may be made in his name to The Huron Valley Special Olympics or to the Huron Valley Education Foundation. For further information please phone Lynch & Sons Funeral Home in Milford at 248-684-6645.

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Gerald G. Labatzky    age 64 of Livonia died on May 10, 2008.

He is survived by his beloved companion, Norma Speier; brother, David (Sally) Labatzky; nephews, Jeffrey (Lisa) Liggett, Scott (Kelly) Liggett and numerous great nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held at Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church, 13667 W. Highland Rd. (M-59), Hartland on Thursday, May 15 at 11AM with Pastor Christopher Thoma officiating. Burial Glen Eden Cemetery, Livonia. Friends may visit at the church one hour prior to service. For more information please phone Lynch & Sons Funeral Home in Milford at 248-684-6645.

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Marion 'Betty' Brock    age 68 of Highland, died May 7, 2008.
Loving mother of Brenda Sue (Mike Lubig) Brock, David (Gayle Roman) Brock, Kathy (Warren Mattson) Brock. Dear grandmother of David Brock, Amber Darrin, Joshua Mattson and great-grandmother of Derek, Jacob, Riley Joel and baby Darrin. Former wife of Jack Brock.

Funeral from Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors, 404 E. Liberty, Milford, Saturday 4 PM. Pastor Bryan Kulczycki to officiate. Friends may visit Saturday 2 o’clock until time of service. For further information please call 248-684- 6645.

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Marcia V. Hobbs    of Hamburg Twp., formerly of Garden City, Livonia and South Lyon died Wednesday, May 7, 2008.
Beloved wife of David C. Hobbs. Dear mother of Dianna (Gene) Hornsby of Milford and Theodore C. (Brenda) Hobbs II of Shelby, MI; dear grandmother of Jamie Hornsby. Sister of Ben Domroese, Aunt of Denise Domroese, Albert Domroese III and several other nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Funeral from Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 404 E. Liberty, Milford, Monday 11AM. Rev. John Harris officiating. Burial to follow in Milford Memorial Cemetery. Friends may visit on Sunday from 2-9PM. For further information phone 248.684.6645.

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Evelyn D. Crawford    a long time resident of Milford and Gladwin, died on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Huron Valley Hospital. She was 87 years old.
Born on November 7, 1920 in Clinton Twp., she was the daughter of William R. and Johanna (Ebert) Rinklin. When she was 19, she moved to Brighton to live with her sister, Margie. She met George Crawford at a roller rink in Brighton. They were married on November 15, 1941. Weeks later, after Pearl Harbor was bombed, they both went to work at the Bomber Plant at Willow Run.

They raised three sons, Robert, Gerald, and Charles, in Milford where they lived on Hickory Street. Evelyn was active in Boy Scouts and Little League and logged over 500 hours flying with her husband and son. She was a charter member of the Suburban League, a life member of the Eastern Star, and an active member of Christ Lutheran Church. A great cook, Evelyn helped with church dinners, funeral luncheons, and catered weddings and other events. Along with the late Alma Price, she cooked weekly dinners for Milford Rotary Club for years. After George’s retirement from General Motors Proving Grounds in 1978, the couple moved to their Secord Lake home in Gladwin. Evelyn kept close ties with the Milford community. She sang in the choir and was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Gladwin. Her husband George preceded her in death in 1986.

She returned to Milford three years ago as her health became more challenged to be near family. She is survived by her sons, Robert C. (Betty Ann) of Davisburg, Gerald A. (Marlynn) of Luzerne, MI and Charles S. (Linda) Crawford of Highland. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Trevor C. Crawford of Oakdale, MN and Justin C. Crawford of Highland and two sisters, Margaret Sargent of Bay City and Marian Ling of Ypsilanti. Her brother, Alfred Rinklin died in 1938.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 11 AM at Christ Lutheran Church in Milford. Pastor Richard Pape will officiate. Burial will follow in Milford Memorial Cemetery. Friends may visit at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 404 E. Liberty, Milford, Tuesday from 5-9 and Wednesday 2-9. Memorials to Christ Lutheran Church of Milford and/or Our Savior Lutheran Church of Gladwin would be appreciated. For more info call 248-684-6645.

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Elizabeth M. Walter (nee Hoeppner)    of Waterford and formerly of Brightmore, died on Monday, May 5, 2008 at Lourdes Nursing Home in Waterford. She was 91 years old. Born in Detroit on July 24, 1916, the daughter of Edward & Elizabeth (nee Hugger) Hoeppner, Elizabeth grew up in Brightmore in the Redford area and attended Redford High School. Shortly after her schooling, she met and fell in love with Louis Walter and was married in 1936. Mr. & Mrs. Walter made their home in Redford Township and enjoyed neighboring Grace Lutheran Church—the family’s longtime congregation. They were soon blessed with the births of two children, their son, Donald and daughter, Beverly and while Louis worked as a General Contractor with Barton Mallow Construction Company, Elizabeth maintained the household. After their retirement in 1979, the Walter’s began wintering in Ellignton, Florida, enjoying the weather and community so much they soon decided to make it their year-round residence. In 1993 Mrs. Walter would be widowed. Under the loving care of her son and daughter, she would begin a new life and many friendships while a resident on Lourdes Campus in Waterford Township.

Elizabeth loved seeing things grow. She was an especially gifted gardener, fond for all things in bloom and was creative with much of her leisurely endeavors; enjoying crochet and cross- stitch as well as ornate porcelain and ceramic work. Above all creations, she was forever grateful for God’s gift of family. She made her life’s greatest accomplishments as a devoted wife, loving mother and doting grand and great grandmother.

In addition to her late husband, Louis, Mrs. Walter was preceded in death by her son-in-law, John Verkerke (d.2001). She is survived by her children, Don (Sandy) Walter, Beverly Verkerke (Bob Kehoe); grandchildren, Brenda (Rick) Gordon, Kandis (Tony) Pappadakis, Tim (Shayla) Verkerke, Carrie (Dan) Eiden, Jeff (Reneé) Walter; 12 great-grandchildren and many dear friends.

A Funeral Service will be held at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 404 E. Liberty, Milford, Thursday, May 8th at 9:30AM with Dr. Victor F. Halboth officiating. Burial Highland Cemetery. Friends may visit Wednesday 6-9PM. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association. For more information please call 248- 684-6645.

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