Mary Louise Dillingham

Mary Louise Dillingham, 80, of Taft California, formerly of South Haven, died suddenly at her home on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.

She was born in South Haven, Michigan on August 12, 1930 to Richard and Mable (Hodge) Nelson. Mary and Slim owned and operated Slim’s Place Butcher Shop in South Haven. Mary was also a home beautician and worked for Bohn Aluminum Company in South Haven and the Donnelly Corporation in Holland, Michigan before retiring and moving to California in 2000. Mary and Slim enjoyed many summers at Swan Lake in Allegan County Michigan. Mary was an avid sports fan who enjoyed rooting for the Detroit Tigers, bowling, playing cards and following high school baseball and wrestling. Mary’s fun loving and humorous outlook on life kept her “young at heart” that’s one of the many things her family and friends will miss most.

Mary is preceded in death along with her parents by husband Wilton R. “Slim” Dillingham and her former husband – Leonard “Junior” Till Her son- Nicholas Till. Her brother – Robert Nelson and a great granddaughter.

She is survived by her daughter – Cyndee (Dave) Robertson of Taft, California. Four sons – Douglas (Dee) Till of Kalamazoo, Michigan, James (Charmaine) Till of South Haven, Michigan, Blane (Wendy) Dillingham of South Haven, Michigan and Richard Dillingham of Taft, California. Daughter-in-law – Sherry Till of Grand Junction, Michigan. Four step-children, thirteen grandchildren and twenty-two great grandchildren also survive.

A memorial service will take place in Taft, California in December and in South Haven later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Mary’s name to the charity of your choice. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the Family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.

The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven 637-0333.