Phillips Funeral Homes

Lyon Township, died at age 95.Erwin died Feb. 21 from pneumonia after being diagnosed with a blood cancer called myelodysplastic syndrome that affects the immune system, according to an obituary posted on Phillips Funeral Home's website.The Air Force veteran participated in a "fruit-growing partnership" with family that began Erwin Orchards, now a 200-acre operation still run by Erwin family members, according to the obituary. Erwin worked on fruit production for many years, the obituary said, and continued to consult after retirement, according to the company's website."Everything I know about the orchard business came from him," Bill Erwin, nephew of Edward, told Hometown Life. "He was like a father to me, he and I were buddies and talked about everything. When you were out in the orchard, he talked about the old days and his dreams for the farm."Erwin is survived by his second wife, Thelma Tesner; daughters, Kathy Erwin and Pat Zandstra; stepdaughter Diane Tesner; four great-grandchildren, and brother Robert Erwin. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Betty; son Richard Erwin; sisters Dorothy Jane Erwin, Norine Gilman and Marian Johnson; and brother J. W. Erwin.Visitation is scheduled for 2-8 p.m. Friday at Phillips Funeral Home at 122 W. Lake St. in South Lyon and 10:15-11 a.m. Saturday at New Hudson United Methodist Church at 56730 Grand River Ave. in New Hudson. The funeral ceremony is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at New Hudson United.In a proposal that would allow the Erwin Orchards cider mill and u-pick orchard to continue operating, developer Howard Fingeroot was expected to pitch a redevelopment of the orchard property to the Lyon Township Planning Commission in February, the Oakland Press reported. The project would be called Cider Mill Village and include housing, restaurants, recreation, a nature trail, retail and more.The project went before the township board of trustees Monday for a conceptual review that didn't result in action, said Katherine Des Rochers, Lyon Township planning department coordinator. The next step is a yet...