Fay S. Babbitt 
Feb. 9, 1895-July 1, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 2, 1968, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Fay S. Babbitt, 73, of 3116 N. 5th St., died in her home Monday.

A lifetime resident of this area, Mrs. Babbitt was born in Niles on Feb. 9, 1895. On Aug. 7, 1924, she married John Babbitt, who died Oct. 12, 1966.

She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Milo Reutz, a sister, Mrs. Dwight Benson, both of Niles; and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home with the Rev. Thomas O. Gore, pastor of the Curate Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.

Upon family request, all memorials may be give to charities of personal choice.

Mirto E. “Slim” Bigsby
March 15, 1883-Aug. 18, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 19, 1968, page 10, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mirto E. “Slim' Bigsby, 85, Salinas, Calif., died a 7 a.m. yesterday in Pawating Hospital where he had been a patient for the past 90 days.

Mr. Bigsby was born March 16, 1883 in St. Ignace, Mich. He moved from Niles to California 15 years ago. During his lifetime, he was a member of the Presbyterian Church, Salinas, Calif.; Niles Shrine, Saladin Temple, St. Joseph Lodge No. 4 F. & A.M., Madona White Shrine, O.E.S., Niles Lions, Niles Elks, F.O.P.  and the founder of the Bigsby Moving and Storage. He was married to Mrs. Ruth Bigsby who survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Floyd and George both of Niles; four brothers, Floyd of British Columbia, Charles of Shreveport,La., Claud of Ionia, and Clare of Sanford, Mich.; a sister, Mrs. Viola Stewart of St. Louis, Mich.; and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held in the Pifer Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Kenneth Carey, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Leona Mae Burkhead
June 3, 1923-March 4, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 6, 1991, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Leona Mae Burkhead, 67, of 1017 Edwards St., Niles, will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home by the Rev. Neil Hampton of Grace Baptist Church, South Bend, Ind.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Burkhead died at 7:10 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph Medical center, South Bend, Ind., following a long illness.

She was born June 3, 1923, in Goshen, Ind.  A homemaker, she moved to his area in 1962.

On Nov. 10, 1951, in Angola, Ind., she married Chauncey F. Burkhead, who preceded her in death on Nov. 7, 1982.

Survivors include five daughters, Janet Aronson  of Topeka, Ind., Ramona Burch of Union, Michele Burkhead and Helen Miller, both of Niles, and Sandra Mahler of Howe, Ind.; four sons, Walter Burkhead of Lagrange, Ind., Thomas Bowels of Howe, Ind., Larry LeCount of Goshen, Ind.; two brothers, Russell Penrose of Dunlap, Ind., and B. Melton Penrose of Elkhart, Ind.; 33 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. A son, David Burkhead preceded her in death in September 1990.

Visitation will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Mattie Bell Chapman
June 5, 1900-Aug. 18, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 19, 1968, page 10, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mattie Bell Chapman, 68, 2249 Reum Road, died at 2:15 a.m. Yesterday in Pawating Hospital after a two year illness.

Mrs. Chapman was born June 5, 1900, in Cass County. She married the late Mr. William Chapman and resided in this area all of her life.  Mr. Chapman died Oct. 16, 1961. Mrs. Chapman is survived by a daughter, Wilma Ruth Chapman who is at home.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home with Rev. Kenneth Carey, pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 tonight.

Ernest J. Densborn
Dec. 9, 1890-Aug. 9, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 10, 1968, page 10, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Ernest J. Densborn, 77, 1630 Cass St., died at 3:07 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital. He had been ill for several weeks.

Mr. Densborn was born Dec. 9, 1890, in Miami County, Ind., and came to Niles from Kokomo, Ind. In 1926.  He was a retired car inspector for the New York Central Railroad. He married Blanch Preble on Dec. 25, 1916, In Kokomo.  Mrs. Densborn died May 12, 1957.

He is survived by a son, Donald L. of Niles; four sisters, Mrs. Earl Moore of South Bend, Mrs. Steve Krecioch of Niles, Mrs. Leslie Enyeart of Detour and Mrs. Ruth Royer of Frankfort, Ind.; two brothers, Kenneth of Sycamore, Ill. and Thomas of Star City, Ind.; a step-brother, Harley Graff of Houston, Tex.; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m Tuesday in Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home with Rev. Vincent J. Anderson of the Trinity Episcopal Church officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Sunday.

Clara Gallagher
April 25, 1884-June 21, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 8, 1968, page 12, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Frank (Clara) Gallagher, formerly of Niles, died in Evanston, Ill. She was buried in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Note: DOB from Social Security Death Index.