Kenneth Grubbs, of Niles
April 7, 1936 — Dec. 11, 2016
Niles Daily Star, Published 11:18 am Thursday, December 15, 2016
Kenneth Grubbs, 80, of Niles, died peacefully at 2:52 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, following an extended illness.
He was born April 7, 1936, in South Bend, to Kenneth and Irene M. (Barts) Grubbs. He graduated from Niles High School in 1954 and earned a business certificate from Southwestern Michigan College.
He served a required tour of duty in the U.S. Army during peacetime, mostly in Missouri and Wisconsin. He returned to Niles, and was first employed in the offices of the former Buchanan plant of the Clark Equipment Company, and later retired from the former Tyler Refrigeration Corporation in Niles.
- Kenneth Grubbs
Ken was a member of Church of Christ in Niles where he was pleased to serve as the song leader. He also sang in the former men’s chorus, the “Tyler Blue Notes.” He formerly served on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and volunteered with the FOP and Babe Ruth Baseball Leagues when his son was an active player. He enjoyed boating, water skiing and hunting, and has more recently been an avid fisherman, answering every invitation to go fishing on area rivers and lakes.
On April 13, 1963, at Church of Christ he married the former Linda Gail McAbee, with whom he celebrated last April the 53rd anniversary of their wedding.
Surviving family includes his wife, Linda Grubbs, and their children, Scott Grubbs of Alvaton, Kentucky, and Lisa Hemphill of Sumter, South Carolina; grandchildren Courtney (Tim) Stueber, Ashley (Matt) Knight, Jacob Hemphill and Alexandria Grubbs; and great-grandchildren Tahlon Stueber, Tate Stueber, Ella Knight, Gabrielle Knight, Sawyer Knight and Faith Stueber.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Grubbs, and stepfather Kenneth Grubbs.
The funeral service for Kenneth Grubbs will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, at Church of Christ in Niles, with Mr. David Thompson of the church officiating. Committal will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, and will conclude with the veteran’s flag presentation and playing of taps by the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Ken may be made to Church of Christ. halbritterfunerals.com