Edna Vite

Edna Mary Vite, 99, of Redbud Trail, Niles, died at 4:55 a.m., Thursday, March 4, 2010 at Westwoods of Niles of natural causes. She was born September 21, 1910 in Berrien Township to the late William H. and Julia A. (White) Walker, of a Niles area pioneer family since 1828 and was a lifetime resident. Her mother was from a pioneer family of Kenosha, Wisconsin and Charles City, Iowa and a lineal descendant of Resolved White, who came to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 on the Mayflower. On September 21, 1927, in Berrien Township, she married Glenn O. Vite, who died on April 15, 1974. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Roberta Wesner of Buchanan, Mrs. Beverly (Richard) Wilcox of Niles, Mrs. Donna (Harold) Riehm of Lawrence, Kansas; three sons, G. Richard (Ruth Anne) & Jay of Niles, Jerry (Christine) of Statesville, North Carolina/Bonita Springs, Florida; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Irene Walker of Niles; thirteen grandchildren, Brad Wesner, Buchanan, Janice Leonard and Wayne Wilcox of Niles, Joanne Walters of South Bend, Jodi Meyer of Willmar, Minnesota, Jami Riehm of Kansas City, Missouri, Mike Riehm of Lawrence, Kansas, Juli Roedel of Centennial, Colorado, Sarah Foster of Kalamazoo, Susan Fritz of Mattawan, Jennifer Passig of Niles, Lori Wagner of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and Andrea Vernier of Niles; numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren and a host of other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, three sisters, Florence Walker in 1996, Maxine Wlaker in 2007 and Ruth Greene in 2009; a brother Merle Walker in 1999 and a son-in-law, Robert Wesner in 2006. Edna was a loving wife, daughter, sister, mother and grandmother and a friend to everyone. She loved flowers, her family, her church and her Heavenly Father. She was generous and kind and always willing to help others. She loved life. In her youth, she attended Pucker Street School, Niles High School and Morris Chapel Methodist Church. Edna was the oldest living stockholder of the South Bend Farmer’s Market. In about 1915 – 1917, Edna began accompanying her father to sell farm produce on the South Bend Colfax bridge, the beginnings of the Market, later located briefly on Fellows Street and then at its current location at 1105 North Side Boulevard. Her father was a charter member of the market, incorporated in 1924. It was at the market she met Glenn Vite, whom she would marry and in 1928 they co-founded the Glenn Vite Farm and greenhouse, now owned and operated by their son, G. Richard. They also operated a vegetable stand at the farm for many years and owned and operated a cider mill during the 1930’s and 1940’s. Glenn was treasurer of the market for over 35 years and charter member of Buchanan Co-ops and Credit Union. Together, they belonged to the Portage Prairie Orchestra in the 1930’s in which she played violin and he the clarinet and were members of the Portage Prairie United Methodist Church. They enjoyed many winters at their winter home in Orlando, Florida throughout their marriage and later she wintered in Clearwater and Largo, Florida with her sister Ruth. Memorial contributions may be made to Portage Prairie United Methodist Church, 2450 Orange Road, Niles. Friends may call at Swem Chapel, Buchanan, Sunday, March 7, 2010 from 4-7 pm. The service will be at the Portage Prairie United Methodist Church on Monday, March 8 at 11 am with an additional visitation one hour prior, from 10-11 am. Rev. O’Ryan Rickard will officiate. Burial will follow at Portage Prairie Cemetery.