Obituaries

We now have over 7,000 obituaries collected about the interred here at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The obituaries are transcribed by the volunteers of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery from various sources.  If you see an opportunity for an addition or a correction, please email our obituary editor at obits@friendsofsilverbrook.org.

Meredith, Aletha Alice

Aletha Alice Meredith
Aug. 31, 1869-Feb. 14, 1939


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 14, 1939, page 5, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Long Illness Fatal to Mrs. A. Meredith

 

Ill for the last year, Mrs. Aletha Alice Meredith, a resident of Niles for more than 30 years, died at 6:30 o'clock this morning in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Denver Johnson, 538 Michigan street.

Mrs. Meredith was born in Goshen, Ind., Aug. 21, 1869 She came to Niles from Bristol, Ind., in 1907.

Beside her daughter at whose home she died, Mrs. Meredith leaves two other daughters, Mrs. Tony Clingo, New York, N.Y., and Mrs. Charles Besenette, Niles; also three sons, Charles Bickel, Coldwater, and George and Lewis Bickel, Goshen.

Funeral services will be held in the Price and Kiger funeral home at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon,

Friends may call at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 15, 1939, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

MEREDITH RITES

Funeral services for Mrs. Aletha Alice Meredith, who died Tuesday morning in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Denver Johnson, 528 Michigan street, will be held at 2 Thursday afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home with Adjutant George Sager of the Salvation Army officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Beside the survivors announced Tuesday, Mrs. Meredith leaves 20 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.


Milner, Reed 1882-1939

Reed Milner
April 20, 1882*-Feb. 9, 1939

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 9, 1939, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library


REED MILNER, 56, BPW AIDE, IS DEAD

Employed Here 25 years, is Stricken Suddenly With Heart Attack

 

Stricken with a heart attack, Reed Milner, a foreman in the electrical department of the board of public works, died suddenly at 4:30 o'clock this morning in his home, 10 North Third street.  He was 56 years old.

Mr. Milner had been employed by the city since coming to Niles 25 years ago from Mishawaka. Apparently in good health he had carried out his usual duties on Wednesday. His death followed an illness of only a few minutes.

He is survived by his widow, Leola, who he married in St. Joseph June 4, 1916; a daughter, Mrs. John Schoff, Niles, and a son Robert, living at home; also three brothers: Clinton, Milwaukee, Wis; William; Osceola, Ind., and Irwin, South Bend.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 10, 1939, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


MILNER SERVICES

Funeral services for Reed Millner[sic], 56, will be held at 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home with the Rev. R.O. Lee officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  George Dayhuff, Alva Overmyer, Roy Cramer, Donald Stull, Howard Williams and Hollis Maple, employee of the board of public works with whom Mr. Milner worked, will serve as pallbearers. Mr. Milner died suddenly Thursday morning in his home following a heart attack.

Note:  Per Michigan Death Record, he was born April 20, 1882, in Mishawaka, IN.

Mulholland, Edna (Ribble)


Edna Mulholland
Oct. 24, 1854-Feb. 19, 1939

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 20, 1939, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Mulholland, Ex-Niles Teacher, Ill 3 Years, Dies

 

Mrs. Edna Mulholland, former Niles school teacher, died at 10 o'clock Sunday morning in a Kalamazoo hospital after a three years' illness.  She was 84 years old.

The daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Amos Ribble, Mrs. Mulholland and[sic] born in Calvin township, Cass county Oct. 24, 1854. She had spent her entire life in Cass and Berrien counties.

Prior to her marriage in 1918 Mrs. Mulholland taught Eagle street and North Primary schools for a number of years.

Surviving are the husband, John, Eau Claire, and two sisters, Mrs. [illegible], Niles, and Mrs. Ethel McLellan, Lowell, Ind. Mrs. N.H. Bacon, Niles, is Mrs. Mulholland's aunt.

The body will be brought to Niles today,and friends may call at the Turner and Pifer funeral home after 7 o'clock tonight.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the funeral home with the Rev. T.O. Lee officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

VanRiper, Edyth (Gage)

Edyth VanRiper
1879-Feb. 2, 1939


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 4, 1939, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. VanRiper, Native of Niles, Stricken Friday

 

Mrs. Edyth Van Riper, a native of Niles and wife of Dr. Paul Van Riper, died late Friday afternoon in her home in Champion, Marquette county. She was 60 years old.

Her death resulted from complications following a three weeks' illness of pneumonia.

The body will be brought to Niles for funeral services at 3 o'clock Monday afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. Guy W. Simon will officiate with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

Former Resident

Mrs. Van Riper was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Arza Gage.  Mr. gage operated a food shop here in the building now occupied by the Tynan and Walsh store. She was a cousin of Mrs. Gordon Bonine, of Cassopolis, whose father was a business associate of Arza Gage.

Both Mrs. Van Riper and her husband were graduates of Niles high school. They were married on Christmas day, 1900, after Dr. Van Riper's graduation from college.  They moved to Champion in northern Michigan where they have resided for nearly 40 years. They have returned to Niles to visit friends here many times since their departure.

Active Socially

Mrs. Van Riper was active in Niles clubs and musical circles and was a member of the Presbyterian church.

Dr. Van Riper is chairman of the Marquette county board of supervisors. Their son, Dr. Charles Van Riper, is head of the speech department of Western State Teachers college in Kalamazoo.  Another son and daughter also survive--Joseph, who is working on his doctor's degree in the University of Michigan, and Mrs. Samuel Dibble, Detroit.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 6, 1939, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

SERVE AS PALLBEARERS

Addison VanRiper, L. Stanley Storms, Jerome Wood, Roger Wood, Arthur Stone and Elwood Bonine, Cassopolis, served as pallbearers today for the funeral services of Mrs. Edyth VanRiper, who died Friday in her home in Champion. Rites were conducted in the Rutherford funeral home by the Rev. Guy W. Simon. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.


Wagner, William

William Wagner
Sept. 26, 1864-Feb. 25, 1939


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 25, 1939, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

William Wagner, Ill 3 Months, Taken by Death

 

Ill for three months, William Wagner, a retired farmer and a resident of Niles for the last 12 years, died this morning in the Berrien county hospital.  He was 74 years old.

Mr. Wagner was born in Armstrong county, Pa., Sept 26, 1864. He came to Niles from Ohio, and prior to entering the hospital had made his home at 1107 Oak street.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Roy Lamoneca, Niles; two sons, Carl, Niles, and Jake, Guthrie, Okla.; a brother, Jacob, Niles, and eight grandchildren. Mrs. Wagner died 15 years ago.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home with the Rev. Theodore Laesch of St. Paul's Lutheran church, of which Mr. Wagner was a member, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.



Barron, Walter S.

Walter S. Barron
Sept. 29, 1878-Feb. 22, 1939


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 22, 1939, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Walter Barron, Freight Agent 20 years, Dies

Sudden Heart Attack Claims Veteran NYC Employe

 

Walter S. Barron, who had served as freight agent for the New York Central railroad here since 1919, died suddenly at 3 o'clock this morning in his home 109 North Tenth street.  He was 60 years old.

Apparently in good health Mr. Barron had carried out his duties as usual on Tuesday. He was stricken with a heart attack a few minutes prior to his death.

Prominent Railman

Widely known in railroad circles, Mr. Barron had been employed by the New York Central system for 45 years. He came to Niles from Albion where he had held a similar position with the company.

Active in Masonic circles he was a member of St. Joseph Valley lodge No. 4, F. and A.M., St. Joseph Valley chapter No. 2, R.A.M., and the Eastern Star. He also belonged to the Trinity Episcopal church.

Mr. Barron was born in San Francisco Sept. 29, 1878, the son of the late Mr.and Mrs. M.V. Barron. He started his railroad career at the age of 15.

Service Friday

Surviving are the widow, Verna; three sons, Kennneth, Lansing; Rex, Niles; and Frank, Cheboygan; also a daughter, Mrs. Robert Long, Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon in the Trinity Episcopal church with the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, Officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 23, 1939, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Services Friday for Walter Barron, Veteran Rail Man

 

The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will conduct funeral services for Walter S. Barron, veteran Niles Railroad employe, at 2 o'clock Friday afernoon in Trinity Episcopal church.

Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Mayor William H. Corbett, E.A. Wolford, Edward Hunter, Milo Loomis, Harry Coles and Charles Dine, Decatur, will serve as pallbearers.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until noon Friday. The body will then be taken to the church where it will lie in state from 12:30 o'clock until the hour of the funeral.

 

Fay, Fred W.

Fred W. Fay
Aug. 27, 1858-Feb. 18, 1939


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 20, 1939, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Fred W. Fay, 80, Resident of Niles 30 Years, Stricken

 

Funeral services for Fred W. Fay, who died Saturday night in the home of his son, Clifton, 623 Sycamore street, will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home with the Rev. T.O. Lee of the first Methodist church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Fay was born in Elmira, N.Y., Aug. 27, 1858. He had lived in Niles for 30 years, and had worked as a monument maker.  His wife, the former Ida Knott, who he married in Cromwell, Iowa, died several years ago.

Bronchial pneumonia was the cause of his death. He had been ill since Thanksgiving day.

He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Bessie Otteson, Niles; four sons, William, Clifton and Claude, Niles, and Lloyd, Mansfield, O.; one sister, Mrs. Nettie Latterman, Addison,N.Y.; also 17 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 21, 1939, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


FAY SERVICES HELD

The Rev. T.O. Lee conducted funeral services for Fred W. Fay at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.  Mr. Fay died Saturday night in the home of his son, Clifton, 623 Sycamore street.  Mrs. Lottie Gardner, Addison, N.Y., is a half-sister of Mr. Fay.