Edith Lucille Blanchard
Oct. 22, 1907-Nov. 8, 1982

    Edith Lucille Blanchard, 75, 1210 Lawndale St., Niles, died at 1:45 p.m. on Monday at St. Joseph Medical Facility in South Bend, Ind.  Born Oct. 22, 1907 in Frankfort, Ind., she had lived in the area most of her life.
    A homemaker, she married Lewis Blanchard on Feb. 20, 1924 in Marcellus.  Her husband has preceded her in death on Oct. 13, 1973.  Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Anthony "Betty" Molica of Niles and two grandchildren.
    Funeral services will be held in Niles on Friday at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. William Fuerstenau of First Presbyterian Church of Niles, officiating. Friends may call after 7 p.m.  Wednesday at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 9, 1982, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Eileen D. Thompson
May 31, 1922-Nov. 11, 1982

    Mrs. Eileen D. Thompson, 60, of 534 Hickory St., Niles, died at 6:15 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., after a brief illness.
    Born May 31, 1922, in Huntington County, Indiana, she had lived here since 1932.  She was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ and a member of the church choir.
    On March 13, 1942 in Corvallis, Oregon she was married to Robert E. Thompson, who survives.  Her mother, Mrs. Marie G. Eisen of Niles, also survives. Three sisters, Mrs. Richard (Gloria) Cooper of Niles and Miss Agnes Eisen and Miss Ruth Eisen, both of Athens, Ohio, also survive.
    Services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at St. John's United Church of Christ with Rev. Frederick S. West officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the St. John's United Church of Christ Memorial Fund or to the Berrien County Cancer Service.
    
Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 12, 1982, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Rodney J. Beckwith
Oct. 5, 1912-Nov. 10, 1982

    Rodney J. Beckwith, 70, of Buchanan, died at 5:20 p.m. Wednesday at Unity Hosptial[sic] in Buchanan after a brief illness.
    Born Oct. 5, 1912 in Elkhart, Ind., he had been a lifetime resident of the area and is formerly of Niles. He was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church of Niles, the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, the National Association of Veteran Railroad Employees and he was a retired freight conductor for Penn Central Railroad.
    On Nov. 11, 1935 in Niles, he married the former Cleo I. Mell, who survives.  Also survivng are: four sons, Rodney J. Beckwith III of Livonia, Brian A. Beckwith of Niles, Henry A. Beckwith of Ann Arbor and Craig A. Beckwith of Niles; a brother, Robert Beckwith of South Bend, Ind.; four sisters, Mrs. Joseph (Mary Jayne) Copeland of Jackson, Mr. Thomas (Atlee) Raciboski of Jackson, Mrs. Perry (Gloria) Mellinger of Jackson, and Mrs. Paul (Maxine) Elder of Elkhart, Ind.; and six grandchildren.
    Services will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Mark Graham of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorials may be given to the Michigan Heart Fund or the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 12, 1982, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Barbara L. Koontz
Jan. 31, 1925-Nov. 10, 1982
 
    Mrs. Barbara L. Koontz, 57, of 2462 Lake St., Niles died suddenly Wednesday at 2:25 a.m. at the St. Joseph Medical Center in South Bend, Ind.
    Born Jan. 31, 1925 in Niles, she was a lifetime resident. She was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church of Niles and worked as a medical secretary.
    On Feb. 9, 1946 in Niles, she was married to Earl J. Koontz, who survives.  A son, Dr. Michael J. Koontz of Bedford, Ind.; two sisters, Mrs. Donna Walls of Niles and Mrs. John (Jacqueline) Meile of Niles; and a grandson, Timothy Koontz, also survive.
    Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church with Rev. Harold E. Asire officiating. Local arrangements are made by Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Memorials may be give  to the Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church Memorial Fund.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 12, 1982, page 2, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

Frances M. Hendershott
Nov. 18, 1910-Nov. 6, 1982

    Mrs. Frances M. Hendershott, 71, of 316 Pokagon St., Niles, died Saturday at 4:55 a.m. at her home, after an extended illness.
    Born Nov. 18, 1910 in South Bend, Ind., she had been a lifetime resident of the area.  On Nov. 29, 1952 in South Bend, Ind., she was married to Harvey R. Hendershott , who survives.
    Also surviving are: a son, George Reichanadter of Niles; a stepson, Maxwell Hendershott of Rock Hills, S.C.; a daughter Mrs. Joseph (Joan) Cook of South Bend, Ind.; two brothers, Howard Bower of Arkansas and Wayne Bower of Arlington, Tex.; and three sisters, Mrs. Betty Conley of Niles, Mrs. Ruth Dahl of South Bend, Ind., and Mrs. Helen Reichanadter of South Bend, Ind., along with six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.     
    Services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m .at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Fred T. Smith of the South Niles Community Church officiating.  Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call Monday from 2-4 p.m.  and from 7-9 p. m. at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 8, 1982, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Chauncey F. Burkhead
March 15, 1914-Nov. 7, 1982

    Chauncey F. Burkhead, 68, of 1017 Edwards St., Niles, died Sunday at 5:05 a.m.  in Pawating Hospital after a sudden illness.
    Born March 15, 1914 in Sturgis, he had been a resident of this county for 19 years, coming from Goshen, Ind.  He was retired in 1976 from Beeline Travel Trailers, where he worked as a receiver.
    On Nov. 10, 1951, in Angola, Ind., he was married to the former Leona LeCount. His wife survives, along with three daughters, Mrs. Janet Aronson of Topeka, Ind., Mrs. Romona Burch of Edwardsburg, Miss Michele Burkhead at home; and three sons, Walter Burkhead of Lagrange, Ind., David Burkhead of California, and Thomas Burkhead of Howe, Ind.; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Helen Miller of Lagrange, Ind., Mrs. Sandra Mahler of Lagrange, Ind.; and two stepsons, Larry LeCount of Goshen, Ind., and Floyd LeCount of Wakarusa, Ind.; four sisters: Mrs. Winifred Grice of Edwardsburg, Mrs. Lydia Woodward of Elkhart, Ind., Mrs. Agatha Troyer of Elkhart, Ind., and Mrs. Lavora Yonally of Wadworth, Ohio; and four brothers, Harold Burkhead of Lagrange, Ind., Ralph Burkhead of Sturgis, Cal Burkhaead[sic] of Lagrange, Ind., and Franklyn Burkhead of Goshen, Ind.; 27 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren also survive.
    Services will be held Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles with Rev. Paul Fisher of the First Assembly of God Church of Niles officiating.  Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call after  7 p.m. Monday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Cerebral Palsey Foundation.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 8, 1982, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library