Alma Elkins
November 17, 1909 — March 18, 2005
Alma Elkins
Age 95, longtime resident of Corunna, Michigan, died Friday, March 18, 2005 at Grand Traverse Pavilions in Traverse City.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 23 at 11:00 A.M. at Salem Lutheran Church in Owosso with Pastor James Bare officiating. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, Owosso, Michigan. Visitation will be Tuesday 5-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Corunna Chapel.
Alma was born in Owosso on November 17, 1909, the daughter of Gustav Herman Ferdinand Schultz and Bertha Rose (Brenner) Schultz, the oldest of three sisters. On Roosevelta�(TM)s Thanksgiving Day, November 21, 1940, she married Asa Marvin Elkins of Corunna, her beloved husband of 60 years who died in 2001.
I n 1928 she graduated as Salutatorian from Owosso High School and received the Womana�(TM)s Club Scholarship. She graduated from Central State Teachers College, Mount Pleasant, and received a Life Certificate to teach in 1931 and a Bachelor of Science in 1937. She taught in the Battle Creek, Owosso, Pomona (California), and Corunna school systems in early elementary grades as well as high school English and Latin and retired after 25 years, still substitute teaching in her 70s. An accomplished musician, she incorporated the piano into her daily teaching. Former students still remark today about the positive influence she had on their lives.
She was an active member of Salem Lutheran Church in Owosso where she was baptized, confirmed, and married. Alma was a breast cancer survivor of 48 years and wrote a collection of poems entitled Just Hospital Verse which documented her nine week stay in University Hospital, Ann Arbor. An artist who enjoyed both oil and watercolor, she exhibited her paintings at art shows, and continued her education at age 73 as a graduate student in painting at Michigan State University. She was a member of the Palette and Brush Club, Owosso Musicale, Corunna Womena�(TM)s Club, Book Club, Ladies Aid Society of Salem Lutheran Church, and Michigan Retired School Personnel. She traveled to Europe with a group of fellow artists in 1975, and also attended Elderhostel at the University of Michigan.
She instilled a love of learning in her own children and dreamed they would all graduate from the University of Michigan, a dream that came true. She loved the natural beauty of the outdoors, and she and Asa passed on to their children and grandchildren that same love of nature, as well as love for all living creatures. She loved to tend her garden and took great enjoyment in watching things emerge and grow. It was this same love that helped her nurture the many students who passed through her classes and learned to read and appreciate literature and the natural world.
An excellent baker, she always shared the results of her efforts with others - sometimes beautifully decorated Christmas cookies, or German coffee cake made from her family recipe that had been passed down through generations.
She will be remembered for her warm, beautiful smile, her twinkling blue eyes, and her compassion and sincere desire to help others. This wish to help others was what meant the most to her, and inspired and brought happiness to all a�" even during the last week of her life.
Survivors include children Paula Elkins Clark of Key West, Florida, James Elkins (Christine Ameel) of Traverse City, Michigan, Mary Elkins of Ware, Massachusetts, and exchange-student daughter Gabrielle Schmidt Topitsch of Darmstadt, Germany; grandchildren Andrew Clark of Key West, Florida, Elizabeth Clark Harden (Scott) of Tucson, Arizona, Benjamin Elkins (Kimberly Carter) of Traverse City, Michigan, Nathan Elkins of Traverse City, great grandsons Nicholas, Charles, Henry and Walter Harden of Tucson, Arizona and Jonah Elkins of Traverse City. She was predeceased by her parents, and sisters Marguerite (Mrs. Ward Youry) and Jean (Mrs. Steve Horvath).
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to a special memorial fund in Almaa�(TM)s name to be established at the Corunna-Caledonia Branch of the Community District Library. This fund will be for programs to enhance appreciation of art, literature, and nature, and to encourage a love reading in young children.
Online condolences can be sent to: smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Corunna Chapel.
Read Alma Elkins's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, March 23 at 11:00 A.M. at Salem Lutheran Church in Owosso with Pastor James Bare officiating. Burial will take place at Oak Hill Cemetery, Owosso, Michigan. Visitation will be Tuesday 5-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Corunna Chapel.
Alma was born in Owosso on November 17, 1909, the daughter of Gustav Herman Ferdinand Schultz and Bertha Rose (Brenner) Schultz, the oldest of three sisters. On Roosevelta�(TM)s Thanksgiving Day, November 21, 1940, she married Asa Marvin Elkins of Corunna, her beloved husband of 60 years who died in 2001.
I n 1928 she graduated as Salutatorian from Owosso High School and received the Womana�(TM)s Club Scholarship. She graduated from Central State Teachers College, Mount Pleasant, and received a Life Certificate to teach in 1931 and a Bachelor of Science in 1937. She taught in the Battle Creek, Owosso, Pomona (California), and Corunna school systems in early elementary grades as well as high school English and Latin and retired after 25 years, still substitute teaching in her 70s. An accomplished musician, she incorporated the piano into her daily teaching. Former students still remark today about the positive influence she had on their lives.
She was an active member of Salem Lutheran Church in Owosso where she was baptized, confirmed, and married. Alma was a breast cancer survivor of 48 years and wrote a collection of poems entitled Just Hospital Verse which documented her nine week stay in University Hospital, Ann Arbor. An artist who enjoyed both oil and watercolor, she exhibited her paintings at art shows, and continued her education at age 73 as a graduate student in painting at Michigan State University. She was a member of the Palette and Brush Club, Owosso Musicale, Corunna Womena�(TM)s Club, Book Club, Ladies Aid Society of Salem Lutheran Church, and Michigan Retired School Personnel. She traveled to Europe with a group of fellow artists in 1975, and also attended Elderhostel at the University of Michigan.
She instilled a love of learning in her own children and dreamed they would all graduate from the University of Michigan, a dream that came true. She loved the natural beauty of the outdoors, and she and Asa passed on to their children and grandchildren that same love of nature, as well as love for all living creatures. She loved to tend her garden and took great enjoyment in watching things emerge and grow. It was this same love that helped her nurture the many students who passed through her classes and learned to read and appreciate literature and the natural world.
An excellent baker, she always shared the results of her efforts with others - sometimes beautifully decorated Christmas cookies, or German coffee cake made from her family recipe that had been passed down through generations.
She will be remembered for her warm, beautiful smile, her twinkling blue eyes, and her compassion and sincere desire to help others. This wish to help others was what meant the most to her, and inspired and brought happiness to all a�" even during the last week of her life.
Survivors include children Paula Elkins Clark of Key West, Florida, James Elkins (Christine Ameel) of Traverse City, Michigan, Mary Elkins of Ware, Massachusetts, and exchange-student daughter Gabrielle Schmidt Topitsch of Darmstadt, Germany; grandchildren Andrew Clark of Key West, Florida, Elizabeth Clark Harden (Scott) of Tucson, Arizona, Benjamin Elkins (Kimberly Carter) of Traverse City, Michigan, Nathan Elkins of Traverse City, great grandsons Nicholas, Charles, Henry and Walter Harden of Tucson, Arizona and Jonah Elkins of Traverse City. She was predeceased by her parents, and sisters Marguerite (Mrs. Ward Youry) and Jean (Mrs. Steve Horvath).
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to a special memorial fund in Almaa�(TM)s name to be established at the Corunna-Caledonia Branch of the Community District Library. This fund will be for programs to enhance appreciation of art, literature, and nature, and to encourage a love reading in young children.
Online condolences can be sent to: smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Corunna Chapel.
Read Alma Elkins's Obituary and Guestbook on smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alma Elkins, please visit our flower store.
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