Mary E. Putnam

Mary E. Putnam passed away unexpectedly in the early morning of July 28, 2015.
She was born June 22, 1928 to Allen and Erlestine (Corp) Trumbull in Swanton, Ohio. In 1934 she moved to Grosse Pointe, Michigan where she spent all her early school years. Later she was an alumna of Beloit College and University of Michigan. While at Ann Arbor she met her future husband, Douglas J. Putnam, a returned US Army Air Force veteran of WW2. They married December 1949 in Grosse Pointe.

She is survived by her husband, two sons, Dr. Matthew Putnam (Lt.Col. US Army) and his wife Ann in Minneapolis, MN and Joel J. Putnam and his wife Jean in Noblesville, IN. and 4 grandchildren; Dr. Morgan Putnam, Napa, CA; D. Reed Putnam, San Francisco, CA; Merril Putnam, Oakland, CA; and Audrey Putnam, Chicago, IL. A sister, Dr. Deborah Trumbull survives in Lansing, N.Y. She was predeceased by her son, Todd C. Putnam, 2 brothers – Allan and Howard, and a sister Ruth.

She moved to Elkhart in 1961 when her husband established a business here. When younger she was active as a volunteer or board member for several civic organizations in Elkhart. She also enjoyed her membership in Book Guild #1, her bridge club, Trinity United Methodist Church, and Crystal Downs Country Club. Also she was a Paul Harris Fellow and member of Couer de Cerf.

Her family held her closest affection as well as her friends. She kept in touch all her life with her early school friends and had been able to arrange a few reunions in Tucson and Northern Michigan.

She had grown up in the midst of the Great Depression and WW2. Despite these hardships she communicated and demonstrated to her children and others her strong beliefs that success was achieved not with money but thru service to others and that life’s clouds were likely to have a silver lining, if you looked.

She will be cremated and buried next to her son Todd at a family plot in a historic cemetery in Frankfort, MI, near the family’s summer vacation home. A memorial service will be held 11 AM Saturday, August 1st, 2015 at Trinity United Methodist 2715 E Jackson Blvd, Elkhart. A later interment service will held at Crystal Lake Township Cemetery in Frankfort, Michigan.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that any remembrances be made to the Central HS & Memorial HS – Todd C. Putnam Scholarship managed by the Elkhart County Community Foundation (https://www.elkhartccf.org/giveonline), or to ADEC (http://adecinc.com/) or to a charity of ones choosing.

Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com