Robert S. Burke
Aug. 27, 1915-April 3, 1944
Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 10, 1944, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
SEPARATE RITES CONDUCTED FOR NILES VICTIMS
Funeral services for Robert S. Burke and Richard Ford, Niles men killed last Monday night when the plane they were riding in with Pilot Allen Dillon, Benton Harbor, crashed near Ann Arbor, were conducted this afternoon in Berrien Springs.
Meanwhile Earl Smith, civil aeronautics board investigator, delayed his report on the crash pending further information.
Smith said his report on the crash, which sent more than 300 civil air patrol, army and airline pilots into the air to comb three states until the wreckage was found Friday morning, would be delayed a week or 10 days. He indicated that Benton Harbor airport officials still must be questioned and the engine of the wrecked plane inspected.
Burke Rites in Church
Services for Burke, president of National Totalizator company, Niles, and two affiliated companies in Berrien Springs, were conducted int eh Berrien Springs Methodist church this afternoon by the rev. J. O. Hagans. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery here.
Pallbearers included Marion Hogue, Dale Graham, Cleon Stover, . .[illegible].. William E. Willson, and Dr. James Miller.
He was born Aug. 27, 1915, in St. Joseph. In 1932 he was graduated from Berrien Spring high school.
Survivors are his wife, Ruth, and a year-old daughter, Gay Anne, 525 Cedar street, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Burke, Berrien Springs, and a brother, Frank Burke, Jr., Berrien Springs.
In College Chapel
Ford, sales manager of the National Totalizator company, was buried in Rose Hill cemetery, Berrien Springs, this afternoon. Services were conducted in the chapel of Emmanuel Missionary college by Elder G.E. Vandeman. Pallbearers were Virgil Lewis, Jack Woolley, Dale Moon, Joseph Easterday, William Wolcott and Freedolph Root.
Born Sept. 3, 1918, he was graduated from Berrien Springs high school in 1936.
Surviving are his parents, Pearl D. Ford, Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Ruth Ford, 223 Sycamore street, and a brother, Lieut. Carl Ford, Camp McCain, Miss.
The body of Dillon was taken to Detroit for cremation.