Gladys I. Batey
June 18, 1899-Nov. 10, 1995

Obituaries

Gladys I. Batey

1899-1995

retired insurance agent

Graveside services for Gladys I. Batey, 96, 1555 Ferndale, Niles are planned for 11 a.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Burial will follow, with arrangements to be handled by Pifer-Smith Funeral HOme, Niles.

Miss Batey died at 11 :40 a.m. Friday at home of natural causes.

She was born June 18, 1899 in Cass County, and was a longtime area resident.

Miss Batey retired from the John Hancock Insurance Co., in 1964, for whom she worked as an insurance agent.

She is survived by seven nieces and two nephews.

There is no visitation.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 11, 1995, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Carrie M. Vose
Oct. 28, 1879-Feb. 27, 1955

Mrs. Carrie M. Vose, 75, 0f 1715 North Fifth Street, died at 3:20 a.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital where she was admitted Saturday. She had been ill for about one year.

Mrs. Vose was born Oct. 28, 1879, in Monterey,Mich., and came here from Michigan City, Ind., in 1920. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, the Order of Railway Conductors of America, the United Spanish War Veterans' Auxiliary of the E.L. Hamilton Post and the Best Friends Club.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Lawrence Abbott and Mrs. Marjorie Hill, both of Niles; four grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Harrison Kibby, of Grand Rapids. Her husband preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. Theodore Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 28, 1955, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Paul E. Villwock
March 28, 1916-Nov. 27, 1995

Paul E. Villwock

1916-1995

retired lifetime farmer

Funeral services for Paul E. Villwock, 79, of 1734 Howard St., Niles, will be Wednesday at 2 p.m., at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. Al Bastin of St. John's United Church of Christ.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mr. Villwock died at 12:20 p.m. Monday, at Lakeland Medical Center-Niles, following a brief illness.

He was born March 28, 1916, in Niles, and was a lifetime resident here.

Mr. Villwock was a retired lifetime farmer who owned a farm on M-140 north of Niles.

He was a member of the American Guernesey Association.

Survivors include a sister, Lydia M. Freeman of Goodlettsville, Tenn.; eight nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, Amethyst Villwock of Niles. He was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence H. Villwock.

Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday, one hour prior to services.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 28, 1995, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Louise L. Rader
Jan. 13, 1865-Sept. 3, 1953

Mrs. Louise Leach Rader, 88, of 221 North Lincoln avenue, died at 3 p.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital.  She had been ill several months.

Mrs. Rader was a life-long resident of Niles. She was born here on Jan. 13, 1865. She was married to Eli Leach who died Nov. 19, 1923, and then she married Christian Rader who died Aug. 8, 1946. Several nephews and a niece survive. She was a member of the First EUB Church.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Rev. Herbert Meussling will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, September 4, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Freeman K. Bunch
Dec. 6, 1880-Sept. 1, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 2, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Freeman K. Bunch, 2914 North Fifth street, died Tuesday in Pawating Hospital after three year's illness.

Surviving are his wife, Louise; four daughters, Mrs. Dorothea Zielinski, and Mrs. Martha Graham, of Niles, Mrs. Mildred Morey of South Bend, and Mrs. Adalove Mayhausen, Elkhart, Ind.; one son Harley F. Bunch, Niles; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. George Shearer, of South Whitley, Ind.

Bunch was born on Dec. 6, 1880, in South Whitley, and came to Niles from there about 45 years ago. He was a fireman at the National-Standard Company.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.  Burial at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, September 3, 1953, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

SET BUNCH RITES

Funeral services for Freeman K. Bunch, who died Tuesday in Pawating Hospital, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. John G. Carlton, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Martha Shockley
August 27, 1888-Feb. 25, 1911

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, February 27, 1911, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

YOUNG WOMAN DROPS DEAD

Mrs. George Shockley Died Without Warning Saturday Night

Mrs. Martha Shockley, age 23 years, the young wife of George Shockley, dropped dead at her home on east Main street Saturday evening about 9:30 o'clock as she [was]preparing to retire for the night.

Mrs. Shockley has been in ill-health since the birth of her daughter, eight weeks ago but has been able to be about the house.

Mrs. Shockley, demise came without warning and was most unexpected.

The physician who was summoned pronounced the cause as heart disease.

Mrs. Shockley was formerly Miss Martha Fowler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fowler who formerly resided south of Niles. Mr. Fowler died a few years ago and his son, a brother of Mrs. Shockley, was drowned in St. Joseph river above the paper mills, shortly before Mr. Fowler's death.

Mrs. Shockley was born in Milton township, Cass county, in August, 1887.

Mrs. Shockley is survived by her husband and infant daughter and by her mother, who resided with her.

The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from the residence.  Rev. H.C. Trabert of the Baptist church will officiate.

Mr. and Mrs. Shockley expected to move shortly to H.E. Price's farm east of Niles and had their household goods packed in readiness.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 27, 1911, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

OBITUARY

Mrs. Martha Shockley, wife of Geo. Shockley, 1208 east Main street, died Saturday evening at 9:30 o'clock after an illness of seven weeks with heart trouble. She leaves a seven weeks' old baby.

Mrs. Shockley was born in Milton township, Cass county, August 27, 1888. She secured an education in the country schools and came to Niles three years ago with her parents. Two years ago Saturday night her father, Fred Fowler died.  The following June she was married to George Shockley and they took up their residence with Mrs. Shockley's mother.

A husband and mother and child are the only relatives.

The funeral will be held from the house tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock.  Rev. Trabert will officiate and burial will be in Silver Brook Cemetery.