Submitted by: Dan Rich

Thurlow D. Witters

Dec. 14, 1916 - April 22, 1997

South Bend Tribune 4/24/1997

Thurlow D. Witters, 80, of Allen Street, South Bend, Ind., passed away following an extended illness at 3:35 a.m. on Tuesday morning, April 22, at Memorial Hospital. Mr. Witters was born on Dec. 14, 1916, and had lived as an area resident since 1952.

On Dec. 17, 1938, he married his loving wife, then Myrtle E. Schoof, who survives in South Bend. He is also survived by two daughters, Karen Lee (Gerald) Smith of South Bend, Mirra (Larry) Farris of Hume, Ill.; and by a son, Barry (Marsha) of Granger, Ind; nine grandchildren, Heidi, Troy, Aaron and Banning Gladura, Tawnia Hemmen, Clint Farris, Melissa Haddix, Daniel and Damon Witters; great-grandchildren, Kassondra Hemmen, Lindsay and Lauren Makowski; and by a sister, Mary Early of Lafayette, Ind.

Mr. Witters began his career in tool and die design, and for a time owned a special machine business with his father in Lucerne, Ind. He retired from Bendix in 1974 as chief source inspector. Mr. Witters was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, South Bend. He was also a 50-year member of Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge 294, and a 50-year member of South Bend Chapter 29, Royal Arch Masons. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and a friend to all who knew him.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in Welsheimer Funeral Home, 521 N. William Street, South Bend, where a Masonic service will be performed at 6 p.m. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Calvary Baptist Church Youth Fund.