Elkhart ’61 Blog
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       Class of 1961 member Richard A. Pedler passed away on June 23, 2010.   Richard attended Purdue University and graduated from Bethel College with a degree in social work in 2006.  He served with the First Infantry Division in Lai Khe, South Vietnam from 1968-1969.  Rich was president and co-founder of Recovery Journey, an addictions treatment center in Elkhart.  He was president of the board for the Elkhart Country Drug Free Partnership.  He also was chairman of the board of Tobacco Control of Elkhart County.  Dick also mentored children through Dreams Work and CARES,

      Dick is survied by his children, Stephaney ( Mike )  Nay, Elizabeth ( Brent ) Kattau , and Jeffrey ( Julie ) Miller;   six grandchildren and a sister Rosemary Dinse of Roseville, California.

     Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.chapel-hillmemorial.com   Our condolences to the family. 

     Class of  EHS 1961 class member Cinnann Freel Taylor passed away on June 16th, 2010 at Elkhart General Hospital.  Cinnann is survived by her husband Terry, also a 1961 class member; of Elkhart;   her mother, Bettie Freel of Elkhart:; a daughter , Kim ( Don ) Hilligoss of Elkhart;, a son , Mark ( Susan ) Taylor of Chicago; a sister, Scherrie Walters of Elkhart and five grandchildren.

      Cinnann owned and operated a daycare center in Elkhart for 35 years.  She was a homemaker who loved spending time with her family.

      Our sincere condolences to the family.

      EHS 1961 Classmate James Pettit passed away Monday, June 14, 2010.  Jim was also a graduate of Tri State College, and was employed beginning in 1965 at First National Bank in Elkhart, serving as senior vice president until 1990.  In 1991, Jim founded J.P. Industries, Inc. with divisions of J.P. Engraving, Keline Manufacturing, A-One Corporate Apparel and A-One Signs and Graphics and served as president until his death.

     Jim was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Elcona Country Club, served on the board of directors of Horizons West Association, Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce, formerly served on the board of directors of the Humane Society of Elkhart County, Elkhart General Hospital, Elkhart County Fight Crime Fund, Board of Aviation, Chairman of the Elkhart Sesquicentennial and St. Joseph River Flotilla Committee.  He served in the National Guard, and as an Elkhart City councilman and as the council’s finance chairman and president.

     Jim is survived by his wife, Sue: son, Jeff ( wife Ginger) of Dublin, Ohio: daughter, Jill ( husband Marc ) Barfell of Elkhart, grandchildren Brad and Ben Barfell and Natalie and Molly Pettit, a sister Phyllis ( husband Charles ) Gordon of Elkhart and a sister-in-law Judy ( husband Robert ) Sassaman of Elkhart.

    Jim was an intregal member of our reunion committee and will be greatly missed.  Our sincere condolences to the family.