Nov. 18, 1941 — Oct. 8, 2018

Darlene J. Wood, 76, of Dowagiac, passed away on Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St., Dowagiac. Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday from 5 until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Darlene’s name may be made to the St. Joe Mercy Hospital – Select Specialties or Cass County Historical Library. Those wishing to sign the guest book online may do so at clarkch.com.

Darlene was born on Nov. 18, 1941, in Dowagiac to John Edward and Garnett (Sink) Watson. She graduated from Dowagiac High School in 1959 and earned an associate’s degree in 2001. Darlene worked as a Clerk Supervisor for Woolworths in Dowagiac for over 15 years, then went on to work as an Office Assistant for Southwestern Michigan College until retirement. In her spare time, she loved reading, especially Westerns and Stephen King novels. Darlene also enjoyed playing computer games. Most of all she loved her family and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Darlene is survived by her children, Kevin Barnhart of Dowagiac and Michelle (Stan) Zebell of Buchanan; grandchildren, Nicholas (Madison) Gruzalski of Santa Clarita, California and Ashley Damouth of Buchanan; great-granddaughter on the way, Raya Gruzalski who will be born in December and sister Rosemary (Helmut) McClure of Bristol, Indiana.

She was preceded in death by her parents and daughter Karin Gruzalski.