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In Memoriam
If you have a loved one who has recently passed and would like to submit a memorial story in the next issue of the Wallooner, please let us know.
JEAN BUDDEN November 24, 1933 - November 27, 2021
Jean Jackson Budden passed away peacefully on November 27, 2021. She was born on November 24, 1933 to John Alfred Jackson and Margaret Pratt Jackson in Rochester, NY. Beloved wife of the late Melvin Arthur Budden, they were married for 65 years. She is survived by two children, Laura Budden Fenton (Patrick) and Douglas Arthur Budden (Joan). A second daughter, Emily Budden Pennington, preceded her in death. Surviving are seven grandchildren: Gregory Arthur, Reed Patrick (Nicole), Adam Thomas (Kaitlyn) Fenton, Sarah Margaret, Andrew Dallas Pennington, Mitchell Arthur, and Megan Antaya Budden. Her one sibling, Mary Jackson Fulreader, and family reside in Victor, NY.
Jean graduated from Albion (NY) High School in 1951. She graduated from Syracuse University, with honors, in 1955 with a BS in Applied Arts. She and Arthur were married in 1956 after his junior year of medical school. Jean taught grade school during his following years of training. They lived in Buffalo, NY and Dearborn, MI during those years after which they moved to Ozark, AL where he completed his military obligation. In 1963, they moved to Lansing, MI where Arthur joined Ingham Radiology and their home remained there for thirty years.
Her Christian faith and the Presbyterian Church have been a central part of Jean’s life. She has served as both and Elder and a Deacon. The study of the Bible was an activity that was both inspiring and rewarding. She was a member of the Junior League of Lansing, served on the Boards of the Red Cross, Lansing Symphony Association, the Ingham County Medical Auxiliary and was a docent at Kresge Art Gallery at Michigan State University. She was a creative person who loved working with her hands. Jean was an avid reader and a member of several book clubs. The Buddens enjoyed family camping when their children were young and traveled extensively in later years. They had a home on Walloon Lake which was the site of many happy family gatherings. They lived in Vero Beach for 24 years before moving back to Birmingham, MI, to be closer to family.
Jean was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother and will be missed by family and friends.
ALLENE (LENA) CARLILE June 27, 1943 - December 6, 2021
Allene (aka Lena, Leapin’ Lena, or Neenee) Turpin Carlile, 78, of Grosse Pointe Park (formerly of Newtown,VA), passed away peacefully on Monday, December 6, 2021. Though the cause is unknown, it was likely due to too much dancing, smiling, singing, and carrying-on.
Leapin’ Lena entered this world by storm on June 27, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia to the late William G. Turpin and the late Lucille Andrews Turpin. The world hasn’t been the same since. Many years after graduating from Marriott High School in Virginia, Lena raised two fine young men with her former husband, Robert Carlile. A few years later, she went on to earn her Master of Education Degree from the University of Toledo. At the age of 60, she re-invented herself and earned a Master of Science in Finance from Walsh College in Troy, MI. She was the consummate student and conveyed the importance of which to her children and grandchildren. She took great pride in knowing that she successfully met her goal in preparing for all her grandchildren’s higher education requirements.
Neenee had such a creative mind, dabbling in landscape design, interior design, architectural design, woodworking, and even jewelry design. She had this enormous tank full of relentless drive and creativity that just constantly overflowed.
She began her professional career as an Art Teacher in Toledo, OH at the junior high level. A few years later she became the curator at the Toledo Museum of Art and later a curator for the Detroit Institute of Arts. A person of many talents, Lena was also a financial planner for Axa Advisors and Securian Financial during her later years. There is no doubt she loved a good challenge; yet she possessed a softness and grace that drew in others.
Lena was a member of the Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, Rotary Club, and the Walloon Lake Country Club—just to name a few. She loved to give back to the community and that she did, touching so many lives along the way. She also enjoyed gardening, dancing, entertaining her friends with a luncheon on her patio, and of course a good nap. She did everything one hundred percent, including napping.
Neenee loved to travel and experience new things too. She lived in several different places, including six different states and Seoul, Korea. She visited most of the United States, and even Spain, Italy, Russia, Germany, England, Mexico, and Canada.
Leapin’ Lena is survived by her two sons, Hunter (Tara) and Foster (Jennifer), and five grandchildren (Tucker—19, Carter—17, Macy—16, Everett—15, and William—10).
FRED KOEHLER March 8, 1928 - January 12, 2022
Frederick G Koehler age 93, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his residence at The Kenwood. Born March 8, 1928 to the late George and Marie Koehler. His wife Joyce preceded him in death as did his brother Bill Koehler. Freddy (as Joyce called him) and Joyce were married for 69 years.
Fred is survived by his three children, Rick (Sandy) Koehler, Jill (Steve) Smith and Joddy (Matt) Perry, as well as 11 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. His family meant everything to him. He was known as Pop by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren who adored him.
He was a graduate of Howe Military Academy and the University of Cincinnati. Upon completion of the ROTC training at U.C., he served as a Captain in the Air Force for nine years. During that time he did a tour of duty in Nagoya, Japan during the Korean conflict.
Fred and Joyce were huge supporters of the basketball and football programs at the University of Cincinnati. He was a Life Member of the Herman Schneider Society, the U.C. Alumni Association, the George Smith Society and the UCATS. He was also awarded the Black Blazer and inducted into the Legion of Excellence. While attending school, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta and Alpha Psi fraternities. He and Joyce met while attending school there.
He was also a life member of the Torii Masonic Lodge #6 in Nagoya, Japan, a 32nd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite in Tokyo, Japan and the Syrian Temple Shrine in Cincinnati. Fred and Joyce were both members of Armstrong United Methodist Church. Fred was also a long- time member of the City Club of Cincinnati, formerly known as Gyro.
In his professional life, he co-founded Koehler-Borden and Associates, a manufacturers representative firm for commercial food service equipment. He served for many years on the Northern Michigan Regional Hospital Foundation Board in Petoskey, Michigan, and was the President of the Walloon Lake Association.
After retirement, he and Joyce traveled extensively around the world. However, his fondest times were at their cottage on Walloon Lake. Their family would descend upon them every summer and most winters, for water skiing, snow skiing and all things ‘Michigan’. He loved his old wood Chris Craft boats and his pontoon boat, and was always taking people for rides. Fred was a true gentleman and a good-natured father figure to his large family. His word was his bond and he only asked for your handshake to close a deal.
His friends, both new and old, as well as the staff at The Kenwood made the last few years of his life both comfortable and enjoyable. The family will remember you forever for your kindness.
Bruce Monarch “Rusty” Smith January 10, 1944 - January 10, 2022. Our beloved Rusty departed this life on his birthday, January 10, 2022, surrounded by love and freed from an eight year battle with dementia. Rusty was born January 10, 1944, to Bruce Monarch and Freddie Marie Smith. He was raised in Houston and Harlingen, Texas - both places providing him with many, many happy memories. He attended Harlingen High School where he was captain of the football team, captain of the baseball team, and president of just about everything else. After graduating in 1962, he attended the University of Texas in Austin where he pledged Delta Tau Delta, rarely missed a Longhorn football game, and partied with the best of them. Never one to let the grass grow under his feet, on June 3, 1967, Rusty graduated from UT, joined the Marine Corps, and married his college sweetheart and wife of 54 years, Jinny Chappell. They started married life in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in a training program with Armstrong Cork. In1968, Rusty moved on to the Marine Corps where he proudly served as a lieutenant in Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Division and was honorably discharged as a captain in 1971. Following the Marine Corps, Rusty began a career in computer software sales and consulting, eventually founding and running Lear Data until he retired in 2001. Among the many pleasures in his life were his family, friends, boating, the Texas Longhorns, and spending summers at his beloved Walloon Lake in northern Michigan. An avid sports fan and an athlete, he enthusiastically coached his son’s soccer, baseball, and football teams. At the age of 50, he took up golf playing with gusto and making great friends at the Northwood and Walloon Lake Country Clubs. Rusty adored his dogs and time spent walking them. His dogs loved him, too, but will not miss the six miles of walks a day. He loved making runny scrambled eggs with red onion while dancing a jig in the kitchen. Rusty was a long time, devoted member of St. Michael and All Angels church where he served as an usher, acolyte, verger, treasurer, and senior warden. Rusty presented himself as a no-nonsense kind of guy. This, along with his great sense of humor and million dollar smile, led him to succeed both professionally and personally. Those who knew him best saw him as a man of purpose, dignity, loyalty, and deep faith. He was admired and loved by all who knew him. So, we must say goodbye to our “Pops”, “Big Rus”, “Coach”, Boss”, “Uncle Rus”, “Señor Rusty.” He is preceded in death by his parents Bruce and Freddie Marie Smith, as well as his sister Shannon Milton and brother Chris. He is survived by his wife, Jinny; daughter, Christen Leeson and her husband Todd; son Trey and his wife, Sarah; four grandchildren, Noah, Beckett, Isabelle and Dodge; sister Erin Martin, her husband Doug; sisters-in-law Connie Morris and Debbee Smith; brother-in-law Mike Milton; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at a later date when we are able to gather safely and celebrate Rusty’s life.
