Richard C. Varner

Richard Dutch Varner, 86, of Barryton passed away Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, at his home. His funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant. A luncheon will follow at the funeral home immediately after the service. Burial will be in Homer Township Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until the service begins. Memorial contributions may be made to Hopewell Ranch in Weidman or Hospice of Michigan. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. Dutch was born Nov. 10, 1927, in Bellevue, son of the late Charles and Ilda (Hockmeyer) Varner. He was married to Gertrude Tracy until her death on Dec. 4, 1978. He then married Betty Cunningham on April 10, 1990. A graduate of Midland High School in 1948, he was employed by Dow Chemical for about 8 years before taking a job as a lineman for Consumers Energy. He retired from Consumers Energy in 1990 after 30 years. Dutch is survived by his wife, Betty of Barryton; four children from his first marriage, Kevin (Laura) Varner and Jeffrey (Carol) Varner, both of Midland, Lori (Jeffrey) Wells of Mattawan, and Libby Varner of Midland; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; three brothers, Leonard (Erna) Varner of Midland, Lester (Reva) Varner of Midland, and Charles (Joanne) Varner of Beaverton; one sister, Arlene Washburn of Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Gertrude; and siblings, Leo and Lawrence Varner, Dorothy Woodruff, Lorene Allbee, Gertrude Tolly, and Marie Jenkins.