Doris Edwards
1925-May 6, 2002

Doris Mabel Edwards, 77, of 251 Cass St., died Thursday in her home of natural causes. Survivors include a daughter, Deborah Jenkins of Niles; a son, Robert of Baroda; five sisters, Mary Wikstorm, Dollie Richmond and Ruth Bedell, all of Niles, Shirley McKinley of Lafayette, Ind., and Anna M. Greichen of Dowagiac, and two brothers, Ralph Hendershott of Niles and Clyde Hendershott of St. Petersburg, Fla. Services will be at 10 am. Monday in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, where friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Charles C. Eden
March 22, 1929-November 15, 1996

Charles Clifford Eden, 67, of Pencross Drive, Granger, Ind., passed away at 3:20 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, 1996, in his residence after a year-long illness.

Mr. Eden was born March 22, 1929, in Niles, Mich. and graduated from Niles High School (1947) before achieving his bachelor and masters (MBA) degrees from the University of Michigan in 1951. He was a member and president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.

After graduation, he was given a direct commission to the U.S. Air Force for two years, then was employed by the Kawneer Company from 1953-1976, working in various locations. His accomplishments included retiring as the chief financial officer of Kawneer (1976), Amax Coal (1979) and Mastic-Alcoa in 1993.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth and father, Clifford, who was the city engineer in Niles with the Broadway Bridge being named in his honor.

On Dec. 26, 1951, he married Dorothy Jane McCormick. She survives along with two sons, Donald of Niles and Bryan of Granger; three grandchildren, Derek, Kady and Brea, all of Niles. His sister, Rosemary Campbell lives in Strongsville, Ohio.

Mr. Eden was active with the United Way and Junior Achievement and also served as president of both the Niles School Board and YMCA in Niles. He enjoyed life and practically all sports, but actively participated in golf, skiing, dancing and fishing.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, Niles. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Leukemia Society of America or First Presbyterian Church Foundation.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Albert J. East
Dec. 19, 1915-Nov. 2, 1999

Albert J. East, 83, of 1649 LaSalle Ave, Niles, died Tuesday Nov. 2, 1999, in Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, of natural causes.  He was born, Dec. 19, 1915. Survivors include his wife, Betty A. (Replogle); three daughters, Dorothy A. East, Becky J. East and Peggy L. Van Kirk, all of Niles; a son, James A. of Plymouth; and a sister, Anna Morse of Cassopolis. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. today.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Dorothy N. Dykema
May 17, 1931-Feb. 12, 1996

Memorial services were Friday for Dorothy Natalie Dykema, 64, of LaSalle Avenue, who died Feb. 12, 1996, in St. Joseph Community Hospital, Mishawaka, after an illness. Burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery. McGann Funeral Home, South Bend, handled arrangements.

Mrs. Dykema was born May 17, 1931, in Boston. On Dec. 30, 1954, as Dorothy Natalie McBride, she married James E. Dykema. He survives with two daughters, Donna L. Richardson and Jeri L. Strebinger, both of South Bend; two sons, James D. and John J., both of Niles; and nine grandchildren.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Betty J. Dunifin
1928-1999

Betty Jean Dunifin, 71, passed from this world on Wednesday, July 14, 1999, after an extended illness.

Left to carry on her memory is her husband, Robert Dunifin; her sons, Terry and Ronnie and Richie; and her daughters, Connie, Bev (Mike Lewis) Patti (Nick Sukich), Sharon (Graham) and Char (Ron Wilson). She also leaves to mourn her 18 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Mary Morrison and Donna Foster; her brother, John Gowland.

Her beloved sons, Bobby and Jody, preceded her in death.

Friends may visit form 10 a.m. to noon (Mich. Time) with services following on Monday, July 19 in the Church of God, 1013 Cass Street, Niles, MI. she will be remembered by many for her strength, compassion and selflessness.

We love you Mom.

Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan is handling arrangements.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Gladys Drudy 
Aug. 11, 1895-Oct. 13, 1957

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 14, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Gladys Drudy, 62, of Dowagiac, former Niles Resident, died at 11:30a.m. Sunday, in Billings Hospital, Chicago, following an illness of two months.

Mrs. Drudy was born August. 11, 1895 in Muncie, Ind., and for a number of years had lived in Niles before moving to Dowagiac, in the late 1930’s.

Surviving are: her husband, James S. Drudy; a son, Keith Metzger of Oaklawn, Ill; a daughter, Mrs. Carl Ellison, of Niles; two grandchildren whom she raised, Vernon Metzger, of Ishpeming, Mich., and Richard Metzger, stationed with the Air Force at Great Falls, Mont; seven other grandchildren; three brothers, Walter Reese, of Buchanan, Virgil Reese, of Galien, and Herschel Reese, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; three sisters, Mrs. Vera Geminder, Galien, Mrs. Victor Metzger, Buchanan, and Mrs. Ruby Nelson, Michigan City, Ind.; two step-sisters, Mrs. Willie Pence, of Daleville, Ind., and Mrs. Mary Peckinpaugh of Muncie and a step-brother, Carl Reese, of Youngston, O.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. Chester Wetzel, assistant pastor of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.