Earnest A. Mumford, 88, Silver Lake, passed away at 8:25 a.m. May 14, 2015, at his residence. He was born April 16, 1927, in Brookville, Pa., to Lewis and Rachel L. Reed Mumford. On Aug. 18, 1946, in Silver Lake, he married Ruby D. Nelson, who died March 7, 2003. He served in U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS Norton Sound in the South Pacific. Coxswain Earnest Alexander Mumford was honorably discharged June 4, 1946. He lived in Kosciusko County since 1947. He was owner and operator of Mumford Plumbing and Heating of Silver Lake and Claypool for 47 years. His first love was his wife, Ruby, and his second was fishing. He enjoyed the plumbing business and gardening. He was past commander and life member of Silver Lake American Legion Post #141, and he liked using his chainsaw. Surviving are two sons, Ernest Alan “Skip” Mumford, Silver Lake, and Edward Dean Mumford, Claypool; a daughter, Connie Long, Warsaw; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He also was preceded in death by two brothers, Grant Mumford, who died May 15, 2012, and Wayne Mumford; and a sister, Helen Rhoades. Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Lakeview Cemetery, Silver Lake, with Pastor Butch Troke, Beaver Dam United Methodist Church, officiating. Military honors will be conducted by Warsaw’s American Legion Post #49 and VFW Post #1126. ***** Memorials to American Legion Post #49 Building Fund, 301 N. Buffalo St., Warsaw, IN 46580. Condolences may be sent via www.titusfuneralhome.com
