Annabelle Bush-Tibbitts

Annabelle “Ann” Bush-Tibbitts, 90, of Benton Harbor, passed away on November 5, 2011 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center of St. Joseph, MI. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Rev. Melanie Lawrence of Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ will be officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 11, 2011 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Condolences may be left at www.starks-menchinger.com. Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service or the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan. Ann was born on November 22, 1920 in Benton Harbor to Walter and Mable Newhouse. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1938 and attended Western Michigan University and Michigan State University. In December of 1940 she married Harold D. Bush. Together they had two children, a son, Crag (Carolyn) Bush of Grand Rapids and a daughter, Michelle (Bob) Robinson of Texas who survive. Harold preceded Ann in death in 1987. They were married for 46 years. Ann was a member of The First Congregational Church in Benton Harbor. She sang in the church choir and was a member of Monday Musical. She enjoyed decorating the church for seasonal events and for the Monday Musical Christmas Programs. Ann was an avid bridge player, enjoyed golf, fly fishing and gardening. She married her high school sweetheart, Robert L. Tibbitts in 1995. He preceded her in death in 2007. Ann loved her family and her yorkie, “Honey Girl;” the name her husband, Bob, affectionately called Ann. Ann is survived by her grandchildren Robert (Roxanne) Robinson, Scott (Liette) Robinson, Brock (Victoria) Robinson, Michelle Robinson, Cindy (Brian) Stauffer, Chad and Curt Bush and friend Aaron. And great-grandchildren, Jordan, Madison, Bailey, Zachary, Ashton, Blake, Courtney, Meagan, Logan and Grae. She is also survived by a niece, Diane Kleis and nephews, Steve and Rick Newhouse, great-niece Deborah (Fabien) Ardila, Great great-nieces and nephew Gabrielle, Becca and Grant. She will be dearly missed by her family, but her spirit will forever be an inspiration to us all. Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Ethel Washburn, her brother, Harold Newhouse, brother-in-law Rueben Washburn, sister-in-law Mary Lou Newhouse and great-nephew David Russell Kleis.