JACK W. COLVIN: 1921 - 2004

A LIFE OF SERVICE TO HIS
COUNTRY & COMMUNITY.

Jack W. Colvin, 82, of Berrien Springs,
dedicated Mason and World War II
pilot who flew 41 missions for his
country, died Friday, January 2, 2004,
at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital,
Dowagiac, following an illness.

Mr. Colvin was born April 17, 1921,
in Berrien Springs to Samuel B. and
Marguerite (Eppley) Colvin. He was
a 1940 graduate of Berrien Springs
High School. Mr. Colvin served his
country in the United States Army
Air Corps and later in the United
States Air Force during WWII.
His military career lasted over 21
years before his discharge in 1964.
He went on 41 missions as a pilot
of a B-25 North American bomber.
He was the recipient of five Air
Melals, the American Campaign Medal,
the European Theatre Medal, the
WWII Victory Medal and an Air Force
Reserve Medal. His bomb wing also
received two Presidental Citations
from President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Following his military career, Mr.
Colvin worked for a short time at
both the West Branch and Niles State
of Michigan Unemployment Offices
before going to work at Bendix in
South Bend. He worked in later years
as a quility assurance supervisor
before retiring in 1984 after 35
years of service. Following a brief
retirement, he was hired by the
McDonnell-Douglas Corporation as
a consultant and worked at National
Water Lift in Kalamazoo for a number
of years before he again retired.
Mr. Colvin enjoyed camping, golfing,
vegetable and flower gardening, and
painting.
He was a longtime member of the
Berrien Springs United Methodist
Church. He was a very active member
in a number of area clubs including
the Stover-Wagner American Legion
Post #85, past Master and life member
of the F&AM Western Star Lodge #39
Berrien Springs, a life member and
past patron of the Order of the
Eastern Star #296: a life member
of the Niles Commandry #12 Knights
Templer, St. Joe Valley Chapter #2
Royal Arch Masons, Niles: a life
member of the Saladin Temple of
Grand Rapids, past president and
driver for the Niles Shrine Club,
Berrien County Low 12 Club, the
Berrien County Stamp Collectors
Club, Bendix Retirees Club, and
he was a member of the Berrien
County Historical Association.

Mr. Colvin married Patricia C. Crose
on April 1, 1944, in Greenville,
South Carolina, and she preceded
him in death on September 21, 2003.
The couple enjoyed over 59 years
of marriage together.

Survivors include a daughter,
Kande (James) Hawks of Berrien Springs:
three sons,
Arthur (Gloria) Colvin of Edwardsburg,
Jack (Agnes) Colvin of
Cheyenne, Wyoming: and
Pepper (Linda) Colvin of Edwardsburg.

12 grandchildren: Todd Hawks, Jeff
Hawks, Ann McDonough, Stephanie Kaminski,
Sean Dorstewitz, Jeffrey Colvin, Stacy
Colvin, Martanne VanDyke, Matthew Colvin,
Jeffifer Zampogna, Pam Reny, and
Jacquelyn McCabe:

eight great-grandchildren:
Caleb Hawks, Presley Lamberson,
Ryan, Kaitlin, and Grace Reny,
Nicole and Dominic Zampogna,
and James Henry VanDyke:

and two sisters, Nancy (Herb) Mills
of Plainwell, MI, and Betty (David)
Sulfridge of Punta Gorda, Florida.
SERVICES
A funeral service celebrating his life
was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday,
January 7, 2004, at Legacy Funeral
Services - Matthew R. Purchase Chapel,
Berrien Springs.
Friends visited with the family from
5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home where
a Masonic Service was held at 7:30 p.m.
Those wishing to sign the guest book
or leave a message of encouragement
for the family may do so at
www.legacyfuneral.com
Memorials in his memory may be
made to the Parkinson's Foundation.
_____________________________

Note:
Jack Colvin went on 41 missions as
the pilot of a B-25 North American
bomber, which was used for bombing
and stafing attacks during WWII.
His target was often bridges. His
plane was hit by anti-aircraft flack
27 times but he was never injured.
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