Jean K. Pilditch

Jean died June 11, 2010 at the Carriage House in Bay City after several months' illness. The daughter of Claude E. and Daisy M. Kortlander, she was born October 24, l9l9, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and educated in the public schools there, until the family moved to Bay City in l936, where she graduated from Bay City Central High School in l938, with high honors. She was a youthful enthusiast of horseback riding and a lifelong animal lover. A skillful seamstress, she took much pleasure in making clothes for family members. She had great interest in and concern for others, and she was an avid follower of the news and loved to discuss politics. Nothing pleased her more than a good joke. Mrs. Pilditch enjoyed a career in interior decoration, establishing a business in that field, which was well known in this area. One of her more interesting commissions was decorating ships for the Australian Navy. She was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband, Robert Pilditch; by a son, Dr. Kort Pilditch of Fenton, MI; and by a close friend, Clem Kaye of Bay City. Surviving are a son, Kim Pilditch (Mary Jo) of Bay City; a brother, Dr. William Kortlander (Elizabeth) of Athens, Ohio; grandchildren, Kort Pilditch (Darcy) of Grand Blanc, MI, Nicole and Robert Pilditch of Bay City, Aisha Crawford (James) of Hartland, MI,u and Jason Siffert (Jina) of Berkley, MI; by a niece, Dr. Susan E. Kortlander (Dr. Bruce Harvey) of Hollywood, FL; a nephew, Professor John Kortlander (Dean Julie Taggart) of Westerville, OH; two great grandchildren, Erin and Draeden Pilditch of Grand Blanc; and four grand nephews, She is also survived by Kathy Pilditch, widow of Dr. Kort Pilditch, of Fenton; and by several exceptionally loyal and caring friends: Jan and Joe Roznowski, Gertrude Binder, Jennie and Jack Dinsmore, all of Essexville, MI, and Ann Trahan of Bay City. The family is very grateful to the staff of the Carriage House for the excellent care she received throughout the more than nine years she resided there. At the request of Mrs. Pilditch cremation has taken place and there will be no viewing or services at the Gephart Funeral Home, Inc. Those planning an expression of sympathy May wish to consider memorial to the Humane Society of Bay County.