Edwin Thomas Stiles

Edwin Thomas Stiles of Richland, MI








Edwin, age 95, died Tuesday morning, September 23, 2014, at his residence and surrounded by his loving family.

Edwin, the son of Thomas and Dell (Rogers) Stiles, was born on May 7, 1919 in Franklin, NC and moved to this area in 1950. He served his country honorably and nobly during World War II in the United States Army as a Tech 4th Grade. Edwin was captured at the Battle of the Bulge; held in a Stalag for over six months towards the end of the War and was a recipient of the Purple Heart among many other medals. He assisted in building barracks at Fort Custer area immediately after the War which led to his own companies, Stiles Construction and Central Michigan Heating and Cooling. He finally retired in 1985 after over 35 years of faithful service to the area. He was an avid Detroit Tigers Fan, a member of the Augusta Custer VFW Post # 7956 and the Springfield Lions Club.


Edwin was united in marriage to the love of his life, the former Willa Mae Sanders on July 26, 1942 in Clayton, GA and she sadly preceded him in death on October 1, 2010. Surviving are three daughters, Judy (Dan) Mervar, Nancy (Mike) Allen and Diane (Craig) Leatherman; two sons, Hugh E. (Sue) Stiles and Dennis (Kim) Stiles; nineteen grandchildren; twenty-six great grandchildren and was preceded in death by a daughter, Patti Sue Veazey on August 31, 2007


The Graveside Service will be held on Monday, September 29th at 2:30 p.m. at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI with the United States Army Honor Guard and the Fort Custer Honor Guard bestowing full, military honors. The Stiles family will receive friends on Monday from Noon until 2:00 p.m. at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Richland Chapel, 9170 East D Avenue (M-89) with the procession to Fort Custer leaving at 2:05 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Edwin's honor may be directed to Fort Custer Silver Star Village for Homeless Veterans, 44 Clark Road, Battle Creek, MI 49015 or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.