Catherine J. Poundstone

Catherine J. Poundstone, 96 of Grand Ridge passed away Monday morning (September 5^th) at the Ottawa Pavilion.

A visitation will be held on Saturday from 3 – 6 PM at the Grand Ridge Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be held on Sunday at 1 PM at the Grand Ridge United Methodist Church with Rev. Lon Alderman officiating.

Burial will be in the Grand Ridge Cemetery.  Serving as Pallbearers will be grandsons, Rob Poundstone, Tim Poundstone, Darren Poundstone, Mike Poundstone, Jeff Poundstone, Chad Poundstone,  Jason Allen, David Purcell and Derek Beckman.

Catherine was born at home on November 18, 1919 in Farm Ridge Township to Clement and Effie (Mitchell) Black.  Sandy Ford bridge was her playground to swim and fish.  Catherine’s  brothers and sisters all worked very hard on the farm and played cards and games with each other.

She married Berkley Poundstone on November 7, 1937.  They lived on the Poundstone Farm just outside of Grand Ridge for 63 years.  Mother shared all the chores with her her husband, Berkley,  as well as being an avid gardener of both flowers, vegetables and fruit trees.  She enjoyed being outdoors and canning all the fruits and vegetables all summer long for her family to enjoy all winter long.

Berkley passed away March 21, 2001 and Catherine moved into town on Clover Court in September 2001.

The year she moved to Grand Ridge, she began to take care of Monica and Mitch Soulsby before they went to school until they were old enough to stay by themselves.  This made her day and move to Grand Ridge a happy transition. 

Surviving are children, Kent (Donna) Poundstone of Morris, Dale Poundstone of Newark, Ohio, Gary Poundstone of Peoria, Judy Purcell of Marseilles, Bob (Diane) Poundstone of Ottawa and Nancy Allen of Big Canoe, Georgia, 15 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren, brother, Robert (Delores) Black and sister, Vera Rowe both of Grand Ridge.

Catherine was preceded in death by her daughter, Debra Beckman, 1 great grandson, brothers, Roger, Glenn and Richard Black, sisters, Marie Lehr, Dorothy Connolly, Irene Arkels, Mabel Cole and Maxine Bennett.

Catherine attended the Macomb Country grade school which was down the road from their house.  She graduated from Grand Ridge High school.  She had to walk 4.5 miles to High School. She was a cheerleader and loved doing gymnastics.

Catherine was a member of the Grand Ridge United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Grand Rapids Home Extension for over 50 years, and was an Election Judge for over 10 years in Grand Rapids.  She was also member of the Everyready Club, Goodwill, and Ottawa Women’s Club.  She was an avid bowler for many years and won many trophies to prove her love of the game.  Catherine enjoyed playing many card games; canasta, pinochle, double pinochle, euchre, 500 , and bridge,  but especially cribbage with her family and friends.

When she turned 65, much to her surprise, she discovered her first name actually started with a “K” instead of a “C’ and was born on the 18 of  November instead of the 17th because she was born at midnight.

Memorials may be directed to the Grand Ridge Methodist Church or the Grand Ridge Fire Department.