THELMA MILLIE PETTIGREW

Thelma Millie Pettigrew, age 97, of Columbia City, passed away at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at her home. Born January 24, 1915 in New Haven, IN, she was the daughter of Harry J. and Bessie Artola (Bauserman) Smith.

She attended New Haven Elementary, Arcola High School and completed her education at Cass Tech in Detroit. She also attended night school at Dency & Warren Community College. She lived in New Haven through grade school and for a short time in Michigan. Her family moved to Arcola and in 1935 she moved to Detroit. From 1960-1965, she owned and operated Thelma's Restaurant in Detroit. She also managed several offices in the Detroit area before she moved to Columbia City in 1977.

Survivors include her brother, Jerry Smith of Cedarville; sister, Willodean Mason of Butler. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Pettigrew who died in 1980; son, Larry Pettigrew; brothers, Stanley and Arnold Smith; sisters, Luella Hile, Goldie Kiser and Wilma Keister.

Visitation will be held Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 11-1:00 pm at DeMoney-Grimes Countryside Park Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Thorn Cemetery, Ormas. Memorial gifts may be given in Mrs. Pettigrew's memory to Headquarters for Retinitis Pigmentosa, Maryland or Seeing Eye Dogs. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Please visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences or sign the guest register book.