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.

Cole, Herbert H.

Herbert H. Cole
Nov. 5, 1925-May 26, 1974


NILES--Herbert H. Cole, 48, of 1057 Carberry Rd., was dead on arrival at 2:26 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital.

A laboratory employe of National-Standard Co., Mr. Cole was born Nov. 5, 1925, in Niles, and had lived here all his life.  He was a World War II veteran of the Army and Navy.

Surviving are a son, Chris, at home; his father, Ralph Sr. of Niles; two daughters, Pamela and Sharon, both at home; a brother, Ralph M. Jr.. of Cassopolis, and two sisters, Mrs. Shirley Jones and Mrs. June Shafer, both of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Arlen Schlundt of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted by LaRue messenger American Legion Post.

Friends may call after noon Tuesday at the funeral chapel.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 28, 1974, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Carter, Robert W.

Robert W. Carter
Oct. 7, 1903-June 6, 1974


NILES-- Robert W. Carter, 72, of the Paul Stephan Nursing Home, died at 11:05 a.m. Thursday after an extended illness.

A mechanic, Mr. Carter was born Oct. 7, 1903, in St. Louis, Mo., and had lived here for many years.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Charles F. Wilson of the Franklin AME Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 7, 1974, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Carter, Edith M.

Mrs. Edith M. Carter
May 7, 1903-June 9, 1974

NILES--Mrs. Edith M. Carter, 71, South Bend, died at 11:40 a.m. Sunday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an extended illness.

Born May 7, 1903, in Sun City, Iowa, Mrs. Carter had lived in South Bend since 1970, coming from New York.

Surviving are three grandchildren, John and Sharon Vaughn, both of Niles, and Robert D. Vaughn of Atlanta, Ga.,

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. John R. Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 10, 1974, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Bowerman, Arthur Earl

Arthur Earl Bowerman
Sept. 14, 1923-Oct. 6,1926


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 7, 1926, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Child Stricken by Poison, Thought Sprayed on Fruit


Stricken with convulsions Tuesday afternoon, Arthur Earl Bowerman, three, son of Mr.and Mrs. Harold Bowerman, 633 Woodruff street, died last evening at 7 o'clock. The diagnosis of one of the attending physiicans[sic] is that the child died of strychnine poisoning..  It is thought that poison was of a spray used on grapes which the child ate on Sunday. Other children ate from the same vines but none of them became ill.  Arthur appeared in his usual health until after he awakened from his nap Tuesday afternoon and complained of illness.
The child was born in Niles on September 14, 1923.  He is survived by his parents and by a brother.  Mrs. Bowerman was formerly Miss Martha Bunch, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Bunch, and Mr. Bowerman is a son  of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Bowerman, 646 Lincoln avenue.
The funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bunch, 26 N. Lincoln avenue.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 9, 1926, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

HOLD FUNERAL SERVICE

Numerous relatives from out of the city came to Niles today to attend the funeral services for little Arthur Earl Bowerman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bowerman, 633 Woodruff street.  The services will be held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home of Mrs. Bowerman's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Bunch, 26 N. Lincoln avenue. Rev. John Schurman will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 11, 1926, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

HERE FOR FUNERAL

Among those from out of the city who attended the funeral services on Saturday for the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bowerman, West Niles, were Mrs. Elizabeth Bowerman, great grandmother of the child, George Sherer, Owen Wetzel and daughter, Ruby, of South Whitely, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. Hovey Harrington and children, Mr. and Mrs. Lean Layser and children, of Elkhart, Ind., Leo Williams, South Bend, Teddy Tees, Buchanan; Mr. and Mrs. George Morehouse and children, Mrs. William Morehouse and Hershel Anders, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. William Harbaugh and children, Jennie and Ralph, of Plymouth, Ind.

Wilkinson, Kenneth Lee

Kenneth Lee Wilkinson
July 18, 1938-March 20, 1993


Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 19, 1993, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library.

Kenneth L. Wilkinson
1938-1993
Retired from Peerless Pattern

Funeral services for Kenneth Lee Wilkinson, 54, of 2818 U.S. 31 North, Niles, were scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral home with the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Wilkinson died at 2:50 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Medical Center in South Bend following an extended illness.

Born July 18, 1938, in Rockford, Ill., he moved to Niles in 1976, coming from Three Oaks.

On Feb. 4, 1978, he married the former Nancy L. Boyd, who survives.

He was retired from Peerless Pattern Works in South Bend.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and the Pattern Maker's Union. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was active in establishing the Volunteer Ambulance Service in Three Oaks.

Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 22, 1993, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library.

Funeral services for Kenneth Lee Wilkinson, 54, of 2818 U.S. 31 North, Niles, were scheduled for 11 a.m. today with the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Wilkinson died at 2:50 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Medical Center in South Bend following an extended illness.

Born July 18, 1938, in Rockford, Ill., he moved to Niles in 1976, coming from Three Oaks.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and the Pattern Maker's Union.  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and was active in establishing the Volunteer Ambulance Service in Three Oaks.

On Feb. 4, 1978, he married the former Nancy L. Boyd, who survives.

He was retired from Peerless Pattern Works in South Bend.

Other survivors include a daughter, Brenda Page, of Battle Creek; a son, Brian Wilkinson of Marshall, Ill.; a step-son, Jim McLalin of Three Oaks; two step-daughters, Kathy Heimbuch of Three Oaks and Sandy Blasko of Mishawaka; 11 grandchildren and a sister, Shirley Walker of Indianapolis.

Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church.

 

Mark, Jeff Cory

Jeff Cory Mark
June 14, 1974-June 15, 1974


NILES--Jeff Cory Mark, one-day-old son of Mr.a nd Mrs. Roy L. Mark, 2826 S. 13th St., died at 5:45 p.m. Saturday in Unity Hospital, Buchanan.

In addition to his parents, the baby is survived by three brothers, Roy Jr., Trent and Troy, all at home; a sister, Beth Brancine, at home; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Mark and Mrs. Gentry Evans, all of Niles, Walter Miller of Smithville, Tenn. and his great-grandfather, George Crips of Smithville.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. Fred T. Smith of the South Niles Community Church officiating.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 17, 1974, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Hamilton, Pearl M.

Mrs. Pearl Hamilton
March 24, 1895-June 14, 1974


NILES--Mrs. Pearl M. Hamilton, 79, of 2330 East Main St., died at 2:40 p.m. Friday in the Michigan Skilled Care Center, after an illness of three years.

Born March 24, 1895, in Chicago, Mrs. Hamilton had lived here since 1952, coming from Jackson, Mich. Her husband, Ralph, died in 1952.

Survivors include a son, Ralph of Jackson; two daughters, Mrs. Lee (Norma) Cox and Mrs. Clarnece[sic] (Helen) Holcomb, both of Niles; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with Rev. Donald Cozadd of the Grace United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Sunday in the Halbritter Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 15, 1974, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library