Sept. 29, 1916-Jan. 22, 2016

 

Ruth Irene Bidwell, 99, of Edwardsburg (the oldest living person in the Village of Edwardsburg), passed to her rest Jan. 22, 2016, at the home of her son Terry and Pam Bidwell, where she lived for the past three years.

Ruth was born Sept. 29, 1916, in Decatur, Indiana, the daughter of Earl and Jessie (Berry) Bowman and has lived in the Edwardsburg area since about 1941.

Ruth was a ‘stay-at-home Mom’ with three boys to take care of, in her earlier years. Later she worked for the S.S. Kresge Dime Store in the Town and Country Shopping Center in Mishawaka, and retired in 1974. She enjoyed playing cards, and the Bridge Club that she was a member of and having her friends at her home. She loved to be involved watching and attending the sports and athletic activities of her children and later her grandchildren.

She was a member of the Edwardsburg American Legion Auxiliary, Post 365. She graduated from Sturgis High School.

Ruth is survived by three sons, Dean (Carol) Bidwell of Ft. Myers, Florida, Larry (Kathie) Bidwell of The Villages, Florida and Terry (Pam) Bidwell of Edwardsburg. There are seven grandchildren; Mark Bidwell, Jason Bidwell, Steven Bidwell, Brian Bidwell, Juleen Becker, Christine Sindin and Debbie Coveney. There are 11 great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Ruth Bowman of Athens, Michigan.

Family who have passed, are her parents, her two sisters, Lucille Shroeder and Alice Carr, her two brothers, Amerson Bowman and Albert Bowman and her grandson, Brad Bidwell.

Family and friends gathered on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, 26863 W. Main St. (US-12), Edwardsburg. The Service of Remembrance was Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016, at the funeral home where all gathered for one hour before the service time. Officiating was the Rev. Scott Scheel, Pastor of the Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church. Interment followed the service in the Edwardsburg Cemetery in the family grave site.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 150 N. Michigan Ave. #1550, Chicago, IL 60601.
Arrangements are by the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg.