Obit: Beatrice Mae Stibitz Dornbos, 89, Ludington

Beatrice Mae Stibitz Dornbos, aged 89 of Ludington, passed away on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at her home.  Bea was born on June 18, 1924 in Fremont, the daughter of Henry and Anna (Bowman) Hinken, and graduated from Fremont High School with the class of 1942.  On April 26, 1946, she married Gerald A. Stibitz. They made their home in Muskegon and celebrated the birth of two sons Craig and Jack, before moving to Scottville, where Bea worked for the US Postal Service.  Bea and Gerald enjoyed 24 years together before Gerald preceded her in death in May of 1970.  She later married Willard A. Dornbos in September 1977, and they celebrated 30 years together until he preceded her in death in July 2007.

Bea served as the Postmaster for Custer and Scottville until her retirement in January of 1986.  She was a charter member of the Mason County Reformed Church, and was very active with the church quilt ministry.  She enjoyed making beautiful quilts for her family and friends, and loved to knit.  Her gift of knitting was shared with her granddaughter Cheri’s 1^st grade class by providing mittens for many of the children over the years.  She was affectionately known as the “Mitten Lady.”

Along with her husbands, Bea was also preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Grace Hitts, Kay Fairchild, Merna Beerman, and Angeline Roby, and by her brother George Hinken. Bea will be lovingly remembered by her sons Craig (Jean) Stibitz of Corunna, Jack (Cathy) Stibitz of Ludington, her grandchildren Kara (Dean) Schmier of Corunna, Eric Stibitz of Owosso, Christopher (Brenna) Stibitz of Ada, and Cheri Stibitz of Ludington, her great-grandchildren Timothy and Kayle Schmier, and Mia and Jenna Stibitz, her brother Darwin (Sue) Hinken of Whitehall, her stepchildren Bill (Sherine) Dornbos, Susan (Gordon) Davidson, Dr. Robert (Debra) Dornbos, Sally (Denis) Grimm, and Cathy (Michael) Forrest, along with many additional grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the Dornbos family, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held for Bea at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 23 at the Mason County Reformed Church, with her former pastor and friend, Rev. Harvey Heneveld officiating.  Burial will take place at Sunrise Memory Gardens in Muskegon.  Friends may meet with Bea’s family for a time of visitation on Saturday morning from 10:00 – 11:00 AM at the church.  Those who wish to make memorial contributions are asked to consider Hospice of Michigan – Mason County, or the Building Fund at Mason County Reformed Church.  Please visit Bea’s personal memory page atwww.stephensfuneralhome.net to sign her guestbook, or to leave a memory of Bea for her family.  Funeral arrangements are being cared for by Wyman Funeral & Cremation Services – Stephens Funeral Home.