A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at the Pioneer Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church on the campus of Andrews University.

Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, Berrien Springs. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Legacy Family Funeral Services -- Matthew R. Purchase Chapel, Berrien Springs and leave family messages at www.legacyfuneral.com.

 The family graciously requests that memorials in his memory be made to Hospice at Home, Berrien County Cancer Service or Three Angels Broadcasting Network, P.O. Box 220, W. Frankfort, IL 62896.

 Chalmers was born Dec. 21, 1914, in Minford, Ohio, to Jonathan Dodge and Gertrude Mahala (Dever) Poole.

He was a graduate of Minford High School and earned his degree in education from Ohio State. Following graduation, his teaching career began at Minford High Schoolbefore entering the U.S. Army in 1942 to assist in the war effort.

 He served as an X-ray technician in 242nd General Hospital Division, stationed in France. In addition to his normal duties, he was often called upon to drive Army generals and other military dignitaries during the war.

 Following his military service, he served as principal of the Clear Lake, Wis., Junior Academy, then as business manager at Wisconsin Academy before coming to work as a math teacher for the Benton Harbor School System in 1961. Chalmers also served as school principal at Boynton Elementary School for one year. After teaching a total of 19 years in Benton Harbor, he retired in 1980.

 On Sept. 26, 1941, in Columbus, Ohio, he married Alice Evelyn Snyder, who survives. The couple celebrated 60 years of marriage last September.

 In addition to teaching, Chalmers was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother. He was a long-time dedicated member of Pioneer Memorial Church and diligently served as one of the head deacons for 35 years.

 Until quite recently, he was never to be found without the church master key in his pocket. Always willing to serve, he was often the first to arrive at church each week to unlock the doors, turn on the lights and welcome people as they arrived.

 Additional survivors include: two sons -- Merlin C. (Wanda Wightman) Poole and Glenn G. (Margaret Conard) Poole, both of Berrien Springs; five grandchildren -- Glenn G. (Lisa Eisele) Poole II of Peoria, Ill., Donald C. (Sheila Soler) Poole of St. Joseph, Tonya A. Poole (Chad E.) Turner of Reston, Va., Shanna L. Leak and Jodi L. Poole, both of Berrien Springs; three great-grandchildren --Michael Leak of Berrien Springs, Johanna L. Poole and Isaac G. Poole, both of Peoria, Ill.; a sister, Adrian Poole Thurber; a brother, Joseph Poole; six sisters-in-law -- Clariena Poole, Frances Poole, Doris Poole-Craig, Thelma Poole, Dorothy Lewis and Minnie McKinney; a brother-in-law, Jennings Coburn; and many nieces and nephews.

 He was preceded in death by two sisters -- Theora Poole Morgan and Dorothea Poole Shoemaker, and four brothers -- Wendell, Claton, Loren and Paul Poole.