Cliff Earl Sears
Cliff Earl Sears, 86, Silver Lake, died at 5:10 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at Wellbrooke of Wabash.
He was born on July 17, 1928, in Bedford, to Earl and Mary (Jerils) Sears.
Sears married Annice Pauline Black on Dec. 14, 1951, in Solsberry. She preceded him in death on Jan. 13, 2008. On June 6, 2009, he married Arizona “Zonie” Dotson, in Silver lake. She survives.
He attended school in Oolitic and entered the U.S. Air Force on June 24, 1947, in Fort Knox, Ky., serving during World War II. Cpl. Sears was honorably discharged on June 23, 1950, through Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio.
He has resided in Silver Lake since 1978 and was raised and logged timber on the Springville (Bedford) family farm until going into the Air Force. He was self employed and owner of Anvil Pest Control for 20 years retiring in 1992. He worked in civil engineering at Grissom Air Force Base in pest control for eight years.
He was a member of Full Gospel Pentecostal Church, Silver Lake; was involved in the planning and building of Sweetwater Assembly of God in North Manchester; raised and traded horses; enjoyed praising his Lord through singing and playing his harmonica. He taught Sunday School and was a deacon, served on several boards and was a worship leader within the churches he attended. His faith and his family were of greatest importance to him.
Additional survivors include a son, Joe (Melisa) Sears, Akron; a daughter, Melody Smith, Indianapolis; two grandsons, Nick (Erin Woods) Smith, Akron and Jordan (Ashley Zent) Smith, Beaver Dam; two granddaughters, Kristy (Mark) Sears-Curtis, Granger and Amanda (Andy Bowers) Sears, Walkerton; one step-daughter, Krystal Gail (Harold) Napier, Wabash; one step-grandson, Robert Tofson, Crawfordsvilla, Fla.; two step-granddaughters, Faith Napier, Wabash and Tasha (Zeb Short) Dean, Silver Lake; several great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Ed Prater, Silver Lake; two sisters-in-law, Lona Hughes, Silver Lake and Lizzy Whitaker, Marion.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, Roy Lee “Red” Sears, Clayton Eugene Sears and Everett Francis Sears; and one sister, Amelia Jane Deal.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 17, at Titus Funeral Home, 2000 E. Sheridan St., Warsaw.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at Gospel Pentecostal Church, Silver Lake. Pastor Carl Hughes will officiate. Burial will be in South Pleasant Cemetery, North Manchester, with military graveside honors conducted by Warsaw American Legion Post No. 49 and VFW Post No. 1126.
Memorials may be directed to Alzheimer’s Association, 922, E. Colfax Ave., South Bend, IN 46617.
To sign on the online guestbook or leave condolences visit the Titus Funeral Home website.