Char Minger, 70

Charlene A. (Blanchard) Minger, age 70, passed peacefully into eternal life on April 1, 2014 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Char was born Nov. 12, 1943 in Mendon to Maxwell A. and Vada (Campbell) Blanchard. After graduating from Mendon High School, she married David H. Minger on Sep. 1, 1962.

As an adult, Char was called into pastoral ministry from Mendon United Methodist Church. She completed an associate degree from South Western and prepared for ministry as a local pastor in the United Methodist Church at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. Across the course of her ministry, Char served the following United Methodist Churches in the West Michigan Conference: Brookfield and Center Eaton, Galien and Olive Branch, Kingsley and Griffith.

Preceding her in death were her granddaughter, Olivia Ann Minger; sister, Sharon Johnson; her parents; and two infant brothers.

Char is survived by her husband of 51 years, David H. Minger; her three children, Stacy Minger of Nicholasville, KY, Catherine (James) Merrifield of Saranac, and David (Noel) Minger of Goodrich; four grandchildren, Caleb, Kelsey, and Jillian Merrifield, and Jacob Minger; and by her bothers, Ronald (Nancy) Blanchard of Three Rivers.

A memorial service was held on Saturday April 5, 2014 at Robbins United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids, and was conducted by the Skinner Funeral Home. (www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com)

Interment of her ashes will take place 11 a.m. Saturday June 28, 2014 in Mendon Cemetery followed by a gathering at the Mendon United Methodist Church. Memorial gifts may be directed to the Eaton Rapids Holiness Camp Meeting or to Griffith United Methodist Church. Local assistance was provided by the Eickhoff Funeral Home of Mendon. (www.eickhofffuneralhome.com)