Edna Dellinger, 88, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday evening, Jan. 4, 2011, at her home.
She was born May 19, 1922, in Perry County, Ky., a daughter of the late Lawrence and Lillie (Caldwell) Melton.
Edna had resided in Sturgis since the early 1960s, coming from Hazard, Ky.
On March 3, 1969, she married Oran Conn Dellinger in Wise, Va. He died Jan. 30, 2003.
She retired from A&P Grocery following more than 20 years of employment. While in Kentucky, she served as a postmaster for several years.
Edna was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sturgis. She was also a 42-year member of the Eagles Lodge #1314 and a longtime member of Captain John J. Kelley Post #1355 VFW Auxiliary. She enjoyed cooking, baking and crocheting.
Edna loved socializing and walking at Doyle Community Center in Sturgis, where she had walked more than 1,000 miles.
She is survived by a daughter, Betty Mullins of Sturgis; six grandchildren, Teresa (Jim) Gorthy, Danny Mullins, Donna (Chris) Perrault, Sandy (Dave) McFarland, James (Lynette) Taulbee and Thomas (Robin) Taulbee; 17 great-grandchildren; a sister, Rancie Ellenberger of Bluffton, Ind.; two brothers, Vernon Melton and Joe Melton both of Bluffton, Ind.; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Phyllis Stevens; a sister, Loretta Stauffer; and a brother, Alive Melton
The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel,
114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Edna Dellinger will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Sturgis. The Rev. James Bender will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Dellinger’s memory consider the Doyle Community Center, 310 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.