James E. Aldrich, 80, of Benton Harbor, passed away Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma. Burial with military honors will follow in Coloma Cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 1- 4 p.m. Memorial donations in Jim's memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, or Hospice at Home. Those wishing to leave a message or share a memory with the family online may do so at www.duffieldpastrick.com.

Jim was born April 17, 1937 in Miami, Arizona to James and Verna (Bernard) Aldrich. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the early Vietnam era but never made it overseas due to a plane crash returning from military training in Washington State. During his service, he married the former Sylvia Ruwe on March 11, 1961. Jim was employed with Michigan Bell Telephone Company for 30 years prior to retiring in 1985. He was a life member and past Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 17, a life member of the American Legion Post 362 and the Men's Auxillary  of VFW Post 1137. Jim enjoyed reading, working in his yard, playing cards with his friends and going to the casino.

Jim is survived by his wife Sylvia; two sons, James Teter of Jones, Michigan and Terry (Marsha) Aldrich of Elkhart, Indiana, grandchildren Bridget (Kyle) Russell, Shawn (Kayla) Teter, Riley and Travis Aldrich and great grandchildren Kylee Russell and Grayson and Asher Teter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Jeffery Aldrich, and brothers Harry "Skip" and Charles "Gene" Aldrich.