Evelyn E. Dillin

Evelyn Dillin, aged 96, passed away on November 10, 2024, in Battle Creek, Michigan leaving behind a legacy of dedication, kindness, and unwavering loyalty. Born on September 3, 1928, in Hamlin Twp, Eaton County, Michigan, Evelyn was a loved daughter, sister, aunt, and cousin. She was raised in Olivet and Charlotte, Michigan, and was instilled with the values of hard work and frugality from a young age. These principles guided her throughout her life, shaping her into the soft-spoken, dedicated, and extremely loyal woman her family and friends cherished. 

Evelyn graduated from Potterville High School and soon after began her career in June 1946 with Wolverine Insurance Co as a file clerk. Her journey with the company, which later became part of Transamerica Insurance Company, took her from Lansing to Battle Creek. Over the years, Evelyn advanced through various roles, including key punch operator, data control supervisor, business systems analyst, and eventually Midwestern Zone Data Processing Manager. Remarkably, in over 45 years of service, she took only one sick day, representing her philosophy: “I was not going to get any worse at work than at home. I would forget about not feeling well.” Her dedication earned her immense respect from her colleagues, who remembered her as “one of the nicest ladies ever met” and “very professional.”

A devoted member of the First Congregational Church in Battle Creek, Evelyn served as secretary and treasurer of the Betsy Williams Circle. She spent countless hours creating handmade items to be sold at bazaars, raising money for charity and volunteered at the Charitable Union in Battle Creek. Evelyn’s independence and self-sufficiency were hallmarks of her character; she never asked for help and could do it all.

Evelyn’s hobbies were as varied as they were impressive. She excelled in gardening, crocheting, knitting, sewing, needlepoint, baking, and ceramics. She loved teaching her nieces the arts of crocheting, sewing, and ceramic making, passing on her skills and passion. Her Christmas cookies were legendary, a tradition her nieces will continue in her honor.

Evelyn was like a second mother to her two nieces and nephew, always there with a gentle word and a helping hand. Her impact on their lives and the lives of all who knew her was profound. Evelyn Dillin was an amazing woman whose memory will be cherished forever and will never be forgotten.

She is survived by her nieces and a nephew, Cynthia Marie Banks (Duane) Wilkey of Hurricane, Utah, Gregory Alan (Jennifer) Banks of Newnan, Georgia, and Janice Renee Banks of Salt Lake City, Utah; cousins Karen Hicks of Muskegon, Michigan, and Timothy (Susan) White, of Silver Lake, Ohio. Preceded in death by her parents, Elton and Virgie White Dillin, sister Arlene A. Letters, and cousins Kenneth White and Garret William White.