Gary D. Tidball

Gary Duane Tidball, age 89, passed away Sunday, January 25, 2026 in Muskegon, Michigan. He was born on January 8, 1937, in Flint, Michigan, to Clyde Tidball and Elleen (Young) Tidball. Gary lived his early years in the village of Genesee, Michigan, outside of Flint, attending the Genesee School system and graduating from neighboring Kearsley High School. He graduated from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in 1959 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. In July 1957, he married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Owen of Davison, Michigan. They had two children, Martin (Elaine) Tidball of Rockford, Michigan and Cara Bailey of Holland, Michigan. Following graduation from GMI, he was employed at Buick Motor Division of General Motors until 1967, when he, along with his family, moved to Muskegon, Michigan, where he was employed at Continental Motors Corporation, later to become Teledyne Continental Motors, General Dynamics, L3 Harris, and RENK America. He held various senior management positions at both the downtown and Getty St facilities, retiring in 1998 from General Dynamics as Plant Manager. He was a long-time member of Forest Park Covenant Church, where he sang in the choir and served on numerous boards and ministry positions. In 2003, he helped start the "Manage Your Money" program of Love INC, where he served many years as a teacher, mentor, and trainer. Active as a volunteer in his retirement years, he did considerable mentoring, teaching, and training, including mentoring and reading at Moon School in Muskegon and the Prison Ministry of Forest Park Covenant Church. Gary was also a charter member of the Muskegon County Chapter of Pheasants Forever, where he served as treasurer and long-time habitat chairman. Survivors, in addition to his children, include his seven grandchildren, Amanda (Tim) DeVries, Andrew (Samantha) Tidball, Angela (Peter) Sturrus, Augusta (Andrew) Schmidt, Marshall Bailey, Francie (Michael) Akpabey, and Schafer Bailey; and seven great-grandchildren, Owen and Reed DeVries, Desmond and Briley Tidball, Oliver and Waverly Sturrus, and Halden Schmidt; sister-in-law, Judy Tidball; and one niece, Chris (Scott) Niblock. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Margaret; son-in-law, Hal Bailey; and brother and sister-in-law, Reginald and Marion Tidball. A Memorial Service for Gary will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Forest Park Covenant Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Love INC. of Muskegon (1051 Peck St., Muskegon, MI 49440). Share memories with the family at their online Guest Book at www.sytsemafh.com Arrangements by The Walburn Chapel of Sytsema Funeral and Cremation Services, 1547 W. Sherman Blvd., Muskegon, MI 49441 (231) 759-8565