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Harry Skaggs / 1944-2009
Published 12:10am Saturday, September 12, 2009Harry Skaggs, 65, of Pine Street, Niles, died at 2:55 a.m. Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, at his home, of an illness.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Church of Christ, Niles, with David Thompson officiating.
Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
The family will receive friends and relatives today, Monday, Sept. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.
He was born on June 27, 1944, in Benton Harbor, to Clarence and Elsie (Selvidge) Skaggs.
He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1962. He also graduated from Freed-Hardeman University and had attended Michigan Christian College and Harding University. He lived in this area all of his life.
A man of faith, he loved God, family and country. He was a veteran of the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Knox, Ky., Fort Sam Houston, Texas and the 97th General Hospital in Frankfort ,Germany.
A life-long member of the Church of Christ, he served as a minister of the Gospel for 25 years.
He was a messenger for Baker & Daniels law firm in South Bend, Ind.
On Sept 16, 1972, in Benton Harbor, he married his wife of 37 years, Linda (Peck) Skaggs, who survives.
He is also survived by their daughters, Amy Skaggs of Niles and Liana (John) Legus of Grand Ledge; grandson, Wiley Allen Legus; his mother, Elsie Skaggs of Benton Harbor; brother, Wayne (Dorothy) Skaggs of Stevensville; sisters, Alma Wheeler of Benton Harbor, Clara (James) Button, Melinda (David) Sayle and sister-in-law, Gracie Skaggs all of Tucson, Ariz. and many nieces, nephews and loving friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence and his brother, Robert.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.
I would like to convey my condolences to Harry’s wife and family. None of you know me. Harry was one of my roommates when he was stationed at the 97th General Hospital. I was going through some old papers and pictures and found a letter he had written just before he left Germany. I was searching the internet to see if I could find him and found this page. He was too young to be leaving us. I am very saddened to learn of his death. He was always happy and full of life. Always smiling. Did he keep the pyramid shape paper weight he got as a leaving Germany gift? I have some pictures of Harry from that time if the family would like to have copies.