William Luther Skaggs

William Luther Skaggs, 86 years old, passed away on Friday morning, June 5, 2015 at Memorial Hospital, South Bend.  Luther Skaggs was born on March 29, 1929 in Terryville, KY to the late Isaac C. and Louisa Jane (Ferguson) Skaggs.  He has lived in Plymouth, IN for the past three years, and lived most of his life in Eastern Kentucky and Northwest Indiana.  Luther was united in marriage to Phyllis Clotine Fraley on March 17, 1954 in Skaggs, KY.   

Luther Skaggs is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Phyllis Clotine Skaggs; daughter, Pamela (Chuck) Whitaker of Lakeville; son, Ronald (Marge) Skaggs of Lakeville; two grandchildren, Molly (Christian) Lauletta of Brownsburg, IN and Justin Whitaker of Lakeville; five step-grandchildren, Chuck Whitaker of Richmond, IN, Alisa Caldwell of McCordsville, IN, Scotty (Jenn) Merrill of Lakeville, Robbie (Janessa) Newton of Lyons, KS, and Neil Koontz of Lakeville; several great grandchildren; sister, Esta Kelley of Martha, KY; brother, Herman (Phyllis) Skaggs of Flat Gap, KY; sisters-in-law, Willadean Skaggs of Lexington, KY and Peggy Skaggs of Dublin, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.  Luther Skaggs is also survived by his and his wife’s best friends, Arlie and Betty Sparks of Schererville, IN.  Three brothers, Henry Ford Skaggs, Foster Skaggs and Furl Skaggs; one sister, Ivory Wallin; and a nephew, Fred Skaggs, all preceded him in death. 

Luther Skaggs retired in 1988 from Inland Steel in East Chicago, IN where he worked for 39 years.  As a young man he found and asked Christ into his heart and therefore continued to live a humble and happy life in which he constantly demonstrated the love of a Christian man to not only his family, but others around him.  Luther served his country proudly with the United States Army during the Korean War.  After retirement , with the love and support of his wife, Luther began to travel the country as well as the providences of Canada in a motorhome, gathering invaluable memories and stories that were shared with many other family members and friends.  Luther made it a point in life to try to live his life in a way of living by the golden rule of "treat others how you would like to be treated".  He was well known and loved for his smile and his ability to brighten anyone's day through a positive thought, saying, or a joke.  He was a very loved man who will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at the Newton Center, 801 N. Michigan Street, Lakeville, IN.  Rev. Jeff Little, pastor of Southside General Baptist Church in Mishawaka, will officiate.  Military graveside services and burial will follow at Bremen Cemetery, Bremen, IN.  Friends may visit with the family from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, June 12th, and one hour prior to services on Saturday at the Newton Center.  Palmer Funeral Home, Lakeville, is assisting with funeral arrangements. 

Contributions in memory of William Luther Skaggs may be donated to Heartland Hospice, 826 W. Edison Road, Mishawaka, IN  46545.  Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

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