Walter Lee McElvain, Jr., age 75, of Colon, died Sep. 14, 2013 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Kalamazoo, MI on June 21, 1938 the only son and oldest of five children born to Walter Sr. and Margaret (Meyers) McElvain. He graduated from Vicksburg Schools and served in the U.S. Army. Walt was married to Mary Ann Hughes on May 11, 1963 in St. Edward Catholic Church in Mendon and they renewed their vows in 2013 celebrating God’s grace in their 50 year marriage.
Walt was a mechanic , farmer, and handyman known for repairing almost anything. He was a truck driver for Alvan Motor Freight , retiring in 2003. Recently he was a driver for Hemel’s Chevrolet in Colon.
Walt is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; five children, Debra Ann Babb of Sturgis, Dawn Marie (Robert) Weinberg of Colon, Richard (Katherine) McElvain of Milwaukee, Walter Lee McElvain III of Sturgis, and Dane (Seann) Lahey of Greenville, SC; ten grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents; and by two sisters.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon and where the Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The funeral mass will be 11 a.m. Wednesday Sep. 18, 2013 at St. Edward Catholic Church in Mendon with Rev. Jim Vinh Le officiating. Burial will follow in St. Edward Cemetery. Condolences may be left for the family at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com