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.

Wigent, Phillip A. 1906-1987

Phillip A. Wigent
Feb. 11, 1906-Feb. 23, 1987

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Tuesday, February 24, 1987, page 2

Phillip A. Wigent, 81, 1345 Broadway, died at 10 a.m. Monday at Dana-Farber hospital, Boston, following a brief illness.

Wigent was a member of the Westley United Methodist Church where he was a former treasurer, the Niles Elks Lodge where he was past exalted ruler, the St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4 F&AM, former member of the Niles Planning Commission and an Army veteran of World [War] II. He was the retired owner of Garden City Cleaners.

He was born Feb. 11, 1906 in Columbia City, Ind., and lived in Niles since 1927, coming from Indiana.

On Aug. 25, 1925 in Coldwater, he married Mary L. Taylor, who survives.

Also surviving are: two daughters, Linda Burr of Boston and Martha Martin of Omaha, Neb.; a sister, Virginia Forrester of Columbia City; and seven grandchildren.

Services are 11 a.m. Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church with Rev. Lloyd Phillips officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or Berrien County Cancer Service.

Wood, Alta E. (Rice) 1880-1981

Alta E. Wood
Oct. 28, 1880-Aug. 16, 1981

 

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Ind.), Tuesday, August 18, 1981

Alta Wood, 100, dies following illness

NILES—Mrs. Alta E. Wood, 100, formerly of Niles, died Sunday in the Presbyterian Home, Evanston, Ill., following an extended illness.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, in the Mausoleum, Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Rev. William J. Fuerstenau, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, will officiate. There will be no visitation and the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, is in charge of local arrangements. Memorial contributions may be given to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.

She was born on Oct. 28, 1880, in Niles and lived in this area her lifetime. Her husband, J. Walter Wood, died on March 18, 1955. Surviving area son, L. Reynold Wood of Niles; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She attended the University of Michigan in 1898 and she was the oldest member of the Niles Garden Club and the Niles Ladies Reading Club. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

 

Wood, Margaret C. 1900-1985

Margaret C. Wood
Nov. 22, 1900-June 5, 1985

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Tuesday, June 18, 1985, page 2

Margaret C. Wood, 84, 1029 Topinabee, died June 5 at Queen's Hospital in Honolulu following an extended illness.

She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, the St. Catherine Guild of that church, the Ladies Historical Society and the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary. She also was a founding member of the Niles Service League.

Born Nov. 22, 1900 in Fall River, Mass., she lived here since 1922, coming from New Bedford, Mass.

In 1922 in Niles she married L. Reynald Wood, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, J.C. Wood of Niles; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Services are 10 :30 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Episcopal Church with Rev. William C. Hamm, rector of that church, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or the Niles Community Library.

Arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Wood, Roxanne Leigh (Woods) 1956-1987

Roxanne Leigh Wood
April 15, 1956-Feb. 20, 1987

 

The Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Michigan), Monday, February 23, 1987, page 16, col. 5

Niles—The funeral for Mrs. Terry (Roxanne) Wood, 30 of 1524 Tam-O-Shanter, Niles, who was found slain in her home Friday will be held Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 20 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles. Memorials may be made to the Special Olympics, South Bend, Ind.

The death is being investigated as a homicide, according to state police at the Niles post. Mrs. Wood reportedly was stabbed to death.

She was born April 15, 1956, in Niles, and was employed in the customer service department of Automated Molded Plastics Co., South Bend.

She was a member of Niles Junior Achievement. Survivors include: her husband; her father, Dale Woods of Niles; her mother, Patricia Chadwell of South Bend; one sister, Janet Woods of Niles; three brothers—Jerry, Bruce and Rick Woods, all of Niles; two half brothers—Brian Avery of South Bend and Brad Woods of Niles; and grandparents—Mr. and Mrs. Werner (Hilda) Airney of Niles and Lou Woods of Niles.

 

Woodbridge, Robert W. 1912-1997

Robert W. Woodbridge
Dec. 18, 1912-Feb. 22, 1997

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, February 22, 1997, page 2

Robert W. Woodbridge
1912-1997
Former Old Kent Bank official

Robert W. Woodbridge, 84, of 2920 Crystal Lane, Kalamazoo, formerly of Niles, died on Saturday, Feb. 22, 1997, at 3 a.m. At Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo, the result of natural causes.

He retired in 1975 from his post as assistant vice president for Old Kent Bank, Niles.

He was born on Dec. 18, 1912, in Niles. He was married to Miriam M. Grabill on Nov. 26, 1936. She preceded him in Death on Jan. 17, 1995.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Charlene and Dean Holub of Portage, and two grandchildren, Michael and Christine Holub, both of Portage.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles and also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #1322, Niles.

No services will be held. Cremation will take place and cremains will be buried at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church.

Woods, Grace 1880-1983

Grace Woods
July 19 1880-Aug. 5, 1983

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, August 6, 1983, page 2

Mrs. Grace R. Woods, 103, of 1223 Airport Road, Niles, died at 12:55 p.m. Friday at Riveridge Manor after an extended illness.

In Mrs. Woods younger years, from 1892 to 1930, she was a musician in local minstrel shows and also performed for private parties in the area. She was also a member of the Niles City Band.

She was born July 19, 1880 in Bristol, Ind. and had lived in the Niles area since 1886, coming from Mishawaka.

She married Earl R. Woods on Nov. 25, 1902 in Buchanan. He preceded her in death in 1937.

Surviving is one son, Louis A. Woods of Niles; two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the mausoleum in Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg will officiate. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. Local arrangements are being made by the Halbritter Funeral Home. There will be no visitation.

 

 

Abair, Calvin J. 1918-1973

Calvin J. Abair
Jan. 7, 1918-Feb. 26, 1973

 

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 26, 1973; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Calvin J. Abair, 55, of 1220 Fulkerson Rd., died at 8 a.m. today in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an illness of one month.

A shop foreman in the steel fabricating division of Midland Steel Corp., Mishawaka, Mr. Abair was born Jan. 7, 1918, in Buchanan, and had lived here all his life.   On Oct. 30, 1930, in Niles, he married Genevieve R. Hamilton, who survives.

Mr. Abair was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Additional survivors include two sons, Joseph and Daniel, both of Niles; his mother, Mrs. Alpha Abair of Elsinore, Calif.; a brother Gerald Abair of Niles; four sisters, Mrs. Clarabelle Thwaits of Niles, Mrs. Louise French of Costa Mesa, Calif., Mrs. Barbara Lineback of Central Valley Calif., and Mrs. Pauline Crawford of Elsinore, Calif., and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Albert A. O’Rourke of Pokagon United Methodist Church officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.