Chesterton resident Roscoe Conklin Justus Jr., age 87 of Chesterton passed away Friday, April 2, 2010 at the Whispering Pines Health Care Center in Valparaiso. He was 87.

Born Nov. 19, 1922 in Etowah, Tenn., he was the son of Roscoe Conklin Justus and Ellen Amanda Boyd Justus, both of whom preceded him in death. On March 21, 1948 in Gary, he married Juanita Mary Harless, who survives.

Also surviving are children Douglas (wife Cheryl) Justus of Valparaiso, Duane (Jodie) Justus of Westville, Diane (husband Dennis) Kilkenny of Michigan City and Deanne McClendon of Michigan City; seven grandchildren Joshua Justus, Rhiannan Justus, Jeffery Justus, Christina McClendon, Jonathan (Holly) Kilkenny, David (Edith) Kilkenny and Michael Kilkenny; two great grandchildren, Grace and Abigail Kilkenny; three brothers Robert (Mary Jane) Justus of LaPorte, George (Carolyn) Justus of Loudon, Tenn., Paul (Nancy) Justus of Fort Wayne; and one sister Elsie Dutkiewicz of Fort Wayne.

Roscoe was a member and Past-Master of the Calumet Masonic Lodge #379 F.&A.M., Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite-Valley of South Bend, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2511 of Porter. He had served in the United States Navy as a Boilermaker aboard the U.S.S. Wasp that saw action in the Pacific during WWII. Roscoe owned and operated a body and paint shop for more than 40 years in Chesterton.

Calumet Masonic Lodge #379 F.&A.M. will hold a memorial service Thursday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the White-Love Funeral Home, 525 South Second Street, Chesterton. The family will receive friends Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the White-Love Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held Friday, April 9 at the Pines Village in Valparaiso with Pastor Dean Christianson officiating. For more information, call 219-926-1309.

Posted 4/6/2010