Donald F. Erhardt

Sept. 18, 1918 - Aug. 20, 1998

VANDALIA - Donald F. Erhardt, 79, died following a brief illness on Thursday, Aug. 20, in the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Mich. He was born on I Sept. 18, 1918, in South Bend, Ind., the son of John J. and Maude (Burton) Erhardt. He graduated from South Bend Central High School and completed two years at Ball State Teacher's College.

His education was curtailed by his induction into the United States Army on April 23, 1941, where he served in the American Theater, Eastern Europe and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters. He was discharged from the service as a Master Sergeant on Dec. 18, 1945.

On May 29, 1943, he married Mary Alice Scott in South Bend. He was employed and retired in 1981 from the South Bend schools as a purchasing agent.

He had served on the South Bend City Council in the early 60's and had been an active member of the American Legion Post 303 of South Bend. He was a past commander of the post, past 3rd District commander, state of Indiana, and past Dept. of Indiana vice commander. After moving to Michigan in 1974, he became active and served 12 years on the Constantine School Board. His retirement years were filled with his love of golf, Birch Lake, and family. Many trips were made to Texas to see his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Alice of Vandalia, Mich.; daughters, Mrs. Tom (Cheryl) Wilcox and Mrs. Lynne Halstead, both of The Colony, Texas; two sons, Donald F. Erhardt, Jr., of New Carlisle, Ind., and John Erhardt of Vandalia; and by three grandchildren, Tracy, Kimberly and Ryan Wilcox, all of The Colony.

Relatives and friends will be received on Monday at the Eley Funeral Home in Constantine, Mich., where the family will be in attendance from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. (Mich. time). Services will be held at 11 a.m. (Mich. time) on Tuesday with Rev. Dr. Ernest E. Geist of the First Congregational Church of Michigan City officiating. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. (Mich. time) in the St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park on Grape Road in Granger, Ind., with the American Legion providing military honors. Memorials may be directed to the Diabetes Association or to the Porter-Newberg Twp. Rescue. Envelopes are available at the funeral home

Source: Newspapers.com

10/16/2024 EJS