Robert L. Griffith, of Niles
June 17, 1931 — June 24, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:34am Friday, June 26, 2015

Robert L. Griffith, 84, of Niles, died at 1:10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2015, at his home following an extended illness.

Robert L. Griffith

He was born on June 17, 1931, in Niles to Murrel A. and Ruth Kathryn (Asmus) Griffith. He was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived here all of his life. He was the general manager of the former Wonderland Discount Department Store in Niles for 27 years.

Bob was a member (with his wife) of the Restless Rovers Chapter 119 of the Michigan State Association of Family Campers & RVers. He enjoyed his backyard pond with its waterfall and fish, and listening to country music.

On Feb. 23, 1980, in Niles he married the former Elaine F. Foust with whom he celebrated this year the 35th anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Elaine Griffith; daughter Christine (& Dennis) Kuemin of Niles; son Timothy (& Cynthia) Griffith of South Bend, Indiana; grandchildren Brian (& Melody) Kuemin, Duane Kuemin, Tony Kuemin, Michael Kaiser, and Timothy Griffith; great-grandchildren Courtney, Alexandria, Devin, Brittany, and Mary; and Bob’s aunt, Kay Miller of Georgia.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Larry Griffith; and their parents, Murrel and Ruth Griffith.

The funeral service for Robert Griffith will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 29, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Michael Smith of Hope Community Church in Niles officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home, and on Monday beginning at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Bob Griffith may be made to Hospice at Home.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Ross Graham, of Niles
March 20, 1925 — Nov. 7, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:38am Monday, November 10, 2014

Ross W. Graham, 89, of Niles, Michigan died at 1:17 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

He was born on March 20, 1925, in Niles to John C. and Lola B. (Mount) Graham and was graduated from Niles High School.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo (Michigan) College, and earned a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He entered the United States Navy, served several tours on the USS Silversides — one of the Navy’s most successful submarines — and was a veteran of World War II.

Ross W. Graham

Ross was first employed by Radio Free Europe, broadcasting news to countries in Eastern Europe, and drawing death threats from Communist countries. He was then employed for several years by Bendix in South Bend before joining the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. At Goodyear, Ross was sent by the finance department to manage plants throughout Europe and India before returning to the home office in Akron, Ohio as the Finance Director. He retired in 1990, and returned to Niles in 1992.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles and had edited its newsletter for many years. He was the treasurer for the City of Niles Veterans Memorial Committee, and was an avid reader of history, biographies and mysteries.

He found great satisfaction in helping family and friends with their personal income tax preparation, and was compelled to always pay everything that was due — but not a penny more.

In 1953 he married the former Ann Margaret Knaur, who preceded him in death in 1991. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Marjorie Graham and Joyce Graham, and brothers, Bruce Graham and Malcolm Graham.

In 1994 he married Wanda L. (Woods) Witham, who survives. Also surviving are his children, Malcolm (Karen) Graham of Barlow, Kentucky, Megan Graham of Casper, Wyoming, and Vivian Graham of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; Wanda’s sons, Richard (Kris) Witham of Spring Lake, Michigan and David (Rhonda) Witham of Niles; grandchildren, Jessica Ann Graham, Kirstin (Patrick) Rowan, Emily (Yancey) Yaceczko, Amanda (Matthew) Morgan, and Morgan Witham; great-grandchildren, Evelyn Morgan and Graham Morgan; and several nieces and nephews.

The Episcopal Burial Rite for Ross W. Graham will be performed at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles by The Reverend James Slack, retired.

Committal Rites will be read later, privately at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Navy Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Mr. Graham may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church.

Katherine Globuschutz Fricker, of Granger, Indiana
March 8, 1927 — June 9, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:51am Thursday, June 11, 2015

Katherine Globuschutz Fricker, 88, of Granger, Indiana, and formerly of Niles, Michigan, died at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2015, at Wellbrooke of South Bend following a brief illness.

She was born on March 8, 1927, in Yugoslavia to Karl and Barbara (Armbruster) Haas. She survived the hardships of World War II in Yugoslavia, including four years of confinement in a Russian work camp.

Katherine Globuschutz Fricker

She came to the United States in 1957, taking residence in South Bend. In 1970 she came to Niles, returning to Indiana in 1989. She was employed for many years as a seamstress for the Sisters of the Holy Cross Convent at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana.

Katie was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles, and has been attending Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in South Bend.

Her interest in sewing extended to her home, where she also enjoyed gardening. She was well-known for her pleasure in the fellowship of playing cards — and her zeal for winning — especially euchre.

On Nov. 15, 1952, in Germany she married Paul Globuschutz who preceded her in death on Jan. 12, 1982. Later, on Jan. 1, 1989, in Granger, Indiana, she married Frank Fricker who died in January of 2001. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Susanne Gutle and Christina Bender, and by Elizabeth Haas who died in World War II; sister-in-law Inga Haas and brother-in-law Martin Merkle.

Surviving family includes her daughter, Ingrid (and Bill) Maki of South Bend and her daughters, Amy (and Mark) Shively and Kristina (and Tony) Closson, and their children, Jillian Joseph, Hannah, and Olivia; Frank’s daughter, Helen (and Stephen) Housley of Reston, Virginia and her children, Meghan Housley and Mathew Housley; and Katie’s siblings, Franz (and Anna) Haas of Granger, Indiana, Karl Haas and Barbara Merkle, both of Germany; and many nieces and nephews in both Europe and the United States.

The funeral service for Katherine Globuschutz Fricker will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 12, 2015, at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in South Bend with the Rev. Gregory Fiechtner of the church officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, and on Friday beginning at 10 a.m. at the church.

Contributions in memory of Katie may be made to Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, South Bend, or to The Center for Hospice Care.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Janet Hayes Walker
June 11, 1925-Feb. 20, 1997

Janet Hayes Walker, York Theatre Founder, Dies at 72

Janet Hayes Walker, founder and producing director of York Theatre Company, died Feb. 20 after a long battle with cancer. She was 72.

Billed as Janet Hayes, Walker appeared on Broadway in a number of shows, including the original productions of Damn Yankees, Plain and Fancy, The Golden Apple, The Music Man, Camelot and Anyone Can Whistle. When the latter ended its abbreviated run in 1964, she retired from acting and, except for occasion appearances in regional theatres, devoted herself to taking care of her family.

That lasted five years. The "theatre bug" resurfaced, and she founded the York Theatre Company at the Church of the Heavenly Rest in NYC. It became a popular launching pad for several outstanding musical revivals, notably some composed by the songwriter of Anyone Can Whistle, Stephen Sondheim.

Her resurrections of his Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd (in an intimate chamber version affectionately nicknamed "Teeny Todd") went extra innings before their York liftoffs--into extended engagements at Off-Broadway's Promenade and Broadway's Circle in the Square, respectively. She also revived his Company, A Little Night Music, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and, more recently, the Lucille Lortel Award-winningMerrily We Roll Along.

In addition, the York Theatre Company produced under her aegis acclaimed productions of The Baker's Wife, Colette Collage, The Grass Harp, Lost in the Starsand the Outer Critics Circle Award-winning Carnival.

Walker is survived by her husband, Charles Dodsley Walker, and two children, Peter Hayes Walker and Susan Walker Wyss, and three grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport, CT at 1 PM Feb. 25 and at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Fifth Avenue at 90th St. in NY at 1 PM Feb. 27. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the York Theatre Company, Inc. 619 Lexington Ave., NYC 20022, where a memorial fund is being created in her honor.

-- By Harry Haun

Published in Playbill, 22 Feb 1997 

Charles Dodsley Walker
March 16,1920 - January 17, 2015

Charles Dodsley Walker's musical talent was clear early on: as a youngster in New York City, he sang in the boys choir at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine where he also studied organ. After his first performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion when he was ten, he decided to be a church musician. He never wavered from this decision. 

At age seventeen, when a freshman at Trinity College in Connecticut, he secured his first job as a choir director in a nearby church. After serving with distinction in the U. S. Navy in in 1947. Soon thereafter, Walker was made organist at the American Cathedral in Paris where he met and married American soprano Janet Hayes. Back in New York City by 1950, Walker became organist and choir master at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, remaining there until 1988. In 1952, Walker founded the Canterbury Choral Society, initially an offshoot of the Heavenly Rest music program; Canterbury's unprecedented purpose was to present sacred choral music as originally scored for orchestra with a full volunteer chorus, professional soloists and orchestra, and children's choruses. Over sixty-three years, Canterbury has performed major as well as less well known works by more than ninety composers from the fourteenth through the twentieth centuries; Canterbury established for New York audiences high standards of excellence in a new form of choral performance. 

With his wife Janet, who founded the York Theatre Company in 1969, Walker was at the center of overlapping circles of American musical and cultural life. For thirty-five years, Walker was musical director of the Blue Hill Troupe, conducting all thirteen Gilbert and Sullivan operettas many times over. In addition, in 1982, Walker co-founded the Berkshire Choral Festival and remained associated with it for eighteen years. 

An influential educator, Walker chaired the Music Department at The Chapin School for twenty-four years and served as Organist at the Lake Delaware Boys' Camp from 1940 to 1990. He taught organ and choral conducting at New York University, Manhattan College of Music, S.U.N.Y.-Queens College and Union Theological Seminary. In many leadership roles, including the presidency, in the American Guild of Organists, Walker significantly expanded the organization's national influence and effectiveness; he had been a member since 1937.

After Janet Walker's death in 1997, Walker married Elizabeth Phillips in 2001. Throughout, he continued his demanding work as a church musician, at Trinity Church in Southport, Connecticut and then at St. Luke's Parish in Darien, as well as his vigorous leadership of the Canterbury Choral Society.

Survived by his wife Lise Phillips Walker, daughter Susan Starr Walker, son Peter Hayes Walker and three grandchildren, Charles Dodsley Walker is remembered not just for his wide-ranging professional accomplishments but for his elegant energy, gracious optimism and generous intellect, his convivial, quick wit, and his capacity to enable us all to find the best within ourselves.

Paul Odell Asmus
Jan. 16, 1925-May  25, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:35am Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Paul Odell Asmus, 90, passed away peacefully at home on Monday following a brief illness. He was surrounded by his loving wife, and children. His new journey takes him to a wonderful place where he will be laughing, socializing, singing and watching sports events to his heart’s content. He has been notified that he has successfully completed his mission here; climbed every mountain, fearlessly faced and conquered every battle, and created a legacy in 90 years that most still strive to accomplish. Paul is now promoted into a new, highly honored position of which he will not return. In the meantime, he prepares a place for us to reunite one day.

Paul Odell Asmus

Paul was born on Jan. 16, 1925, in Niles, Michigan to Alfred and Frieda (Exner) Asmus. He graduated from Niles High School. After graduating, Paul went to work at Simplicity Pattern Company. He then went to work at Electro-Voice in Buchanan, Michigan and retired from there after 35 years of employment.

Paul served his community on the Niles City Council for 12 years a first ward Alderman, and six years as third ward Alderman. He was a veteran of World War II having flown forty-two Combat Missions in the 13th Air Force; missions flown in the Southwest Pacific and Philippines. He flew as an aerial engineer gunner aboard a B-24 liberator. He left the Air Force with Military Honors.

On Aug. 21, 1948, Paul married his loving wife of 67 years, Virginia R. Kline, who survives. He and Virginia had three children; Paul W. (Tina) Asmus of Niles, Michigan; Karen S. (Roger) Lovitt of Granger, Indiana; Kevin O. (Debbie) Asmus of Niles. He celebrated his life, and always had smiles and hugs for his 14 grandchildren; Jason (Michelle) Asmus, Joshua (Becky) Asmus, Neil (Heidi) Huff, Ashley (David) Lindley, Andrew (Heather) Osos, D’acia (Brett Parks) Asmus, and Kayla (Dan Lawecki) Asmus; and more hugs for his 17 great-grandchildren Dane, Vaughn, Chloe, Ella, Lily, Emmalee, Lydia, Caden, Adalyn, Owen, Dylan, Clay, Connor, Carter, Arleigh, and Emmitt. Paul is survived by his sisters Charlene Fein and Patricia Cloutier, both of Niles.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Frieda Asmus, a sister Edith Frucci, and a brother Richard Asmus.

He was a 75-year member of Saint John’s United Church of Christ, where he served his church in many capacities.

Paul was a devoted husband and father who would (and did) everything for his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His face always came alive with smiles when his family was present. He spent his time enjoying air shows. There was not a sports event in Niles or out of town that Paul wasn’t sitting in the bleachers rooting his favorite team or family member. He was a true, blue and gold Viking fan.

Funeral Services for Paul Asmus will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2015, at Saint John’s United Church of Christ in Niles with the Rev. Raymond Fulbright of the church, officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Paul may be made to Saint John’s United Church of Christ, the Niles High School Athletic Department, or to the donor’s choice.

www.halbritterfunerals.com