Mary Alice Bessinger-Ditto

Mary Alice Bessinger-Ditto, 93, of San Juan, TX, formerly of Elkhart, passed away May 19, 2013 at Rio Grande Regional Hospital, McAllen, TX.
She was born March 20, 1920 in Tyner, IN to Earl S. and Beulah C. (Pence) Bennett.
On Aug. 18, 1944 she married Gerald M. Bessinger who preceded her in death on July 8, 1991. On June 20, 1998, in San Juan, TX, she married Clair Ditto who preceded her in death in Sept. 2009.
Surviving are 2 sons: Edward (Mary) Bessinger of Union, MI and Michael (Mary) Bessinger of Elkhart, grandchildren: Sherry Bessinger, Jodi Bessinger, Thad (Brandi) Bessinger, Jennifer (Shane) Burgess, Alexandria Williams and Michael Bessinger, 10 Great-grandchildren; 2 step-daughters Kay Kowalski of Ashboro, NC and Lorna Selvaggio of Greensboro, NC. She was preceded in death by a daughter Margaret Rose Bessinger and a step-daughter Dianne Thorpe.

Mary Alice graduated from Plymouth High School in 1937 and went into nurses training at St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend. She spent much of her career at Elkhart General Hospital. She was in charge of Central Supply in the early days and later in charge of I.C.U., C.C.U. unit, before becoming house supervisor. After her retirement she still worked part-time and filled in for vacations at the hospital. She was a lifelong nurse and even after retiring, she took care of some of the residents in her retirement village in San Juan, TX. Her hobbies were painting, square dancing and traveling the U.S. extensively. Being married to her husband “Bud” she also learned how to be a part-time carpenter and mechanic. She took vacations and cruises with her second husband of 11 years, Clair, and also enjoyed square dancing and wood carving with him.

Visitation will be 4 to 8pm Tuesday May 28 at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart, where services will be at 10am Wed. with Pastor Scott Tilley of River Oaks Church. Burial will follow at New Oak Hill Cemetery, Plymouth.
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