Florence E. C. Van Middlesworth

VAN MIDDLESWORTH, Florence
Of Battle Creek, formerly of Climax Florence Edna Clark Van Middlesworth, a life long Michigan resident, died on Friday, September 26, 2008. She was 93 years old. Florence was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on January 1, 1915. She attended the one room Beckley Elementary School and Battle Creek Central High School. In 1937 Florence completed a course of study in education from the County Normal Training School in Marshall, Michigan. She taught for the next few years in one room school houses in the Battle Creek area. On November 18, 1939 she married Frank Case Van Middlesworth who preceded her in death in 1988. Together they operated a dairy farm in Climax Township. During her lifetime she was a member of The Farm Bureau, Eastern Star, and Climax Women's Study Group. She was an active member of the Leroy Congregational Church. She volunteered as a leader in 4-H. Florence instilled in her children and grandchildren her love for birds. She was a great cook and enjoyed especially sharing her fruit pies, made from scratch, with the Climax Rotarians. She always had a large garden from which her family enjoyed the produce. In her free time she got great satisfaction from china painting, oil painting and playing her favorite hymns on her organ. She always enjoyed a good game of cards and for many years played regularly with her Climax friends who were lovingly known as "The Pitch Gang". Florence was the daughter of the late Victor and Elsie Clark; the sister of the late Thelma Clark, Lillie Johnson, Dorothy Stevens and Alice Baker; and the beloved wife of the Frank Case Van Middlesworth, to whom she was married for 48 years. She was preceded in death by her sister-in-laws Freda Elwell and Mary Van Middlesworth. Florence is survived by her children, Betty Jo Jim Mitchell of Ann Arbor, Michigan, Carol Van Wyk Carl of Tall Timbers, Maryland, and James Van Middlesworth Tamara of Fulton Michigan; nine grandchildren; James Mitchell Kathy, Janice Fidh Eric, Christin Greiman Christopher, Carrie Van Wyk Phong Trieu; Justin, Joshua, Janelle Van Middlesworth; and Crysta Kline and Melinda Bennett. She also had nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law, Richard Van Middlesworth, Leon Van Middlesworth Donna and sister-in-law Marilyn Scramblin Wendall as well as many nieces and nephews. Special thanks is given to her caregivers at Heritage Assisted Living, Claire Bridge of Brookdale and In House Hospice. Also appreciated were her visitors when she left Climax, especially Donna Budden, Sue Skidmore who picked her up weekly to do her hair, and niece Joyce Laing.
A celebration of Florence's life will be held 2:00 pm Monday September 29, 2008 at Leroy Congregational Church 1997 H Drive South, where the family will receive condolences from 12:30-1:45 PM Monday. Interment will follow services in Leroy Congregational Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to In-house Hospice of Kalamazoo, Alzheimer Association, Leroy Congregational Church or the Climax Methodist Church.