Helena B. Whetstone
June 5, 1878-Oct. 19, 1970

    Helena B. Whetsone, 92, of 714 N. Fifth St., died at 7:45 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital, after being in poor health for several weeks.
    Miss Whetstone was born June 5, 1878, in Niles, and had lived here all her life. She was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church and the St. Agnes Guild of the church.
    Surviving are two sisters, Frankie of Niles and Mrs. Thomas Donnelly of Bay City.
    Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Fr. Vincent Anderson officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends may call after 7 tonight at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 20, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles Whetstone
Jan. 17, 1852-March 2, 1905

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 2, 1905, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


    Charles Whetstone, proprietor of the Forler House, died last midnight, of tubercolosis[sic], aged 53 years.  The deceased was born in Beyenheim, Germany, and was brought to this country by his parents, when 18 months old. His parents came to Michigan and settled in the Upper Peninsula, where they remained until the deceased was four years old, when they came to Niles, where he  had since resided. Mr. Whetstone was married in 1876 to Miss Magdalen Forler, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George K. Forler. This union was blessed with six children, who together with their mother, mourn the departure of a kind husband and parent.  The children are William and George of Boulder, Montana, and the Misses Lena, Frances and Magdalen and Carl of Niles.  Mr. Whetstone also leaves a brother, whose address is not known here.
    Fraternally the deceased was identified with the Masons, the M.W. A. and the German Working men's Benevolent association.
    Mr. Whetstone had been proprietor of the Forler House since his father-in-law, G.K. Forler, retired in 1895, and he was widely known amoung railroad men and the traveling fraternity, as well as by the public generally throughout this section.
    The funeral arrangements have not yet been made.

Edwin T. Bair
Dec. 12, 1898-Oct. 31, 1970

    Edwin T. Bair, 71, of 1958 Lewis Dr., died at 7:10 a.m. Saturday in Berrien General Hospital, after an illness of several months.
    A retired employe of the Kawneer Co., Mr. Bair was born Dec. 12, 1898, in Niles, and had lived here all his life.  On Oct. 8, 1939, in Goshen,Ind., he married Helen M. Witherell, who died in 1967.
    Mr. Bair was a life member of Post 2608 of the American Legion, of which he was past commander, and a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, the Four Flags Barracks of Veterans of World War I, 40 et 8, and the Kawneer Co. 25-year Club, as well as past fourth district commander of the American Legion.
    Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Carl Schadler and Mrs. Harley Davis, both of Niles; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
    Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Robert Trenery of Wesley United Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends may call at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 2, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Victor Reeves
Oct. 14, 1919-Nov. 3, 1970

    Victor V. Reeves, 51, of 123 Bertrand Rd., died at 11:05 a.m. Tuesday in St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, after an illness of 10 months.
    An employe of Sollitt Construction Co., Mr. Reeves was born Oct. 14, 1919, in Fowler, Kan., and had lived here since 1955, coming from Buchanan. On Oct. 28, 1945, in Clio, Mich., he married the former Lillian Ayres, who survives. He was a World War II veteran.    
    Survivors, in addition to his wife, are three sons, Daniel of Niles, Michael of Mishawaka and Patrick at home, and two daughters, Laura and Mary, both at home.
    Private funeral services will be held Thursday with military graveside rites by Niles American Legion Post 26 in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Funeral arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 4, 1970, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Jonnie Miller
Nov. 2, 1970

    Jonnie Miller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jonnie Lee Miller, 1175 Leet Rd., was stillborn at 12:50 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital.
    Survivors, in addition to his parents, are three brothers, Timothy, Jerry and Christopher, all at home.
    Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. M.C. Williams of the Greater Harvest Baptist Bhurch officiating.
    Funeral arrangements were made by the Pifer Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 3, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Russell H. Phillips
May 19, 1908-Oct. 17, 1970

    Funeral services for Russell H. Phillips, 62, of 201 S. Main St., Berrien Springs, a former Niles resident who died Saturday in the Parker Rest Home, Berrien Springs, were held at 11 a.m. today in the Halbritter Funeral Home.
    Officiating was the Rev. Orin M. Bailey of the Grace United Methodist Church.  Burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    A retired butcher, Mr. Phillips was born May 19, 1908, in Niles, and had lived in Niles most of his life. He was a veteran of World War II.
    Survivors include three sisters, Mrs. Harold Treesh, Mrs. William Bowers and Mrs. Ray Smith, all of Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 19, 1970, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library