Arthur Fellows

Arthur (Art) Gray Fellows, 88, of St. Joseph, MI, with family by his side, went to be with his Lord on May, 23, 2010 after a courageous and dignified battle with a long illness. A funeral service in his honor and officiated by his niece, Carolyn Strzyzykowski, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 27, 2010 at Starks and Menchinger Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, St. Joseph. The visitation for family and friends will be from 4:00 pm until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26th. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to Hospice at Home or the Berrien County Animal Shelter. Art will be remembered by his family and friends as a genuine, loving, caring, larger than life father, grandfather and friend. He had a special way of making you feel like he had known you for years even if it was for the first time. Art touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity, and maintained his trademark sense of humor all the way to the end. He loved listening to Jazz music, playing golf, laughing and having fun with family and friends. Art was born on October 15, 1921 in Schoolcraft, MI to Ollie and Gertrude (Gray) Fellows. He was a graduate of Benton Harbor High School and Michigan State University. He served in the United States Army, S.H.A.E.F. Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force under the Joint Command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Winston Churchill during WWII. He was a member of Berrien Hills Country Club and St. Joseph Elks Club. He began his career at Vail Rubber, St. Joseph in 1950 and worked there for 37 years when he retired as Vice President of Manufacturing in 1987. Art is survived by his longtime special friend, Norma Stephen of St. Joseph; three daughters — Liddy (Jim) Riccioni of Benton Harbor; Melissa (Doug) Bartalone of Tuscon, AZ; and Sara (Lee) Gast of Charlotte, NC; two sons — Pete (Linda) Fellows and Joe (Kim) Fellows both of St. Joseph; 14 grandchildren, Andy Riccioni, Atlanta, GA, Shelby Riccioni, St. Joseph, MI, Tonya Fellows, Houston, TX, Jenna Fellows, San Diego, CA, Kyle Fellows, St. Joseph, MI, Lance Cpl.Steven Fellows, Camp Lejune, NC, Casey and Ethan Fellows, St. Joseph, MI, Ryan Murdock and Patrick Mathis, of St. Joseph, MI, Zachary Price, Chicago, IL, and Kelsi, Erin and Cameron Gast, Charlotte, NC. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary (Hanley) Fellows, to whom he met on a blind date in 1946 and was married to for 51 years; his parents, two sisters, Margaret Gilmore and Marion Doster and by a son Steven Andrew Fellows. The family would like to thank everyone who assisted with Art's care and dignity. It was a community effort and included the wonderful employees and friends of his favorite restaurants, Schu's, Stooges, Clementine's and Cafe Tosi’s and his special morning coffee group. Friends wishing to sign the family guestbook or to leave a message of condolence, may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com