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In Memory

Paul Emmanuel Dilts - Class Of 1973

Paul Emmanuel Dilts

Paul E. Dilts

September 14, 1955 ~ February 13, 2024 (age 68)

Paul E. Dilts, 68, of South Bend, IN passed away into the loving arms of the Lord on Tuesday February 13, 2024 following a lengthy battle with heart failure. Paul was born in South Bend to Russell LeRoy and Eleanor Louise (Kelsey) Dilts who preceded him in death. He was also preceded by a sister, Teresa Dilts-Parker and a nephew, Michael Gushwa.

Paul is survived by his sisters; Edna (Bill) Blackburn of Colorado Springs, Louella and Angela Dilts both of South Bend, along with a nephew Dennis Parker of Jacksonville FL, a niece Keila with 3 great-nephews (Zackary, Matthew, Hunter) and a great-niece (Kristina) of Las Vegas NV, A niece Kathy (Dan) Landers and a great-niece (Faith) of Colorado Springs CO, niece; Tina (Chuck) McGrath and great nephew (Kellan) of Colorado Springs CO, nephew; Chris Blackburn of Colorado Springs CO, nephew; Tim Blackburn (Melanie) of Rochester IN along with 3 great-nieces (Amber, Kaitlan, Emily), a great niece Brittany (Jon) and 2 great-great-nieces (Aybrie, Savannah), and a great-great-nephew (Kash) of Colorado Springs CO, by two Aunts Violet Dilts and Betty Kelsey and many cousins.

Paul was a 1973 graduate of John Adams High School in South Bend and a 1980 graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. He worked as an Accountant-Manager for Gilbert’s Men’s Store, Simplicity Patterns, Wheelabrator, and Wells Electronics.

Paul’s greatest joy was his family, friends, church and missions. He loved living at Lake of the Woods, Bremen for over 35 years. He enjoyed gardening and tending to his flowers, traveling, and board games. He was a huge IU and ND fan and also enjoyed the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and the Colts. He loved to help neighbors and friends landscape and garden, either helping himself or just supervising.

Paul was a member for 55 years of Calvary Baptist Church of South Bend, later becoming a member of Calvary Baptist Church-LaPaz.

The family would like to thank his personal doctor; Douglas David of Memorial Hospital, Doctor Sachin Patel & Doctor Fei Lu; his cardiologists at St. Joseph Medical Center, heart transplant Doctors Jacqueline O’Donnell, Diana Reed and Jeffery Breall of Methodist Hospital for 22 years of heart care. We would also like to thank the staff at St. Joseph Hospital and Memorial Hospital for 4 months of care during his many recent cardiac episodes.

Visitation for Paul will be held from 2pm-5pm on Sunday February 18, 2024 at the Palmer Funeral Homes-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan St. South Bend. Visitation will also be held on Monday, February 19, 2024 from 10am-11 am with a funeral service beginning at 11am at Calvary Baptist Church, 3001 W. Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN 46628. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, South Bend.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Heart Association or to the Calvary Baptist Church of LaPaz Missions Fund.

Online condolences to the family may be sent via the Palmer Funeral Homes website at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com

02/16/2024 EJS