Lettie M. Pointer
May 13, 1906-Aug. 26, 1999

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 28, 1999, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Lettie Maud Pointer, 93, of 2006 Ontario Road, Niles are Monday at 11 a.m. at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, by Pastors Ralph Offord and David Smith of the First Church of God, Cassoplolis.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Pointer died Thursday at 4:15 p.m. at home of natural causes.

She was born May 13, 1906, in Stoddard County, Mo., and lived in  the Niles area for 56 years.

On Nov. 15, 1924, in Bloomfield, Mo., she was married to Glennie Lee Pointer, who preceded her in death on March 5, 1971.

Pointer retired from National-Standard Co., in 1971.

Survivors include one son, Denver K. "Jack" Pointer of Buchanan; two daughters, Wanda Stevens and Patricia Stover-Skarbek, both of Niles; a brother, Dale Gobel of Casper, Wyo.; a sister Hazel L. Pointer of Niles; 20 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Dorsey L. Pointer, who died in 1989, and Gains G. Pointer, who died in 1999.

Friends may call Monday afrom 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, 2626 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, 49127.

* * * * *

Lettie Maud Pointer, 93, of 2006 Ontario Road, Niles, Mich., entered into rest with her family at 4:14 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26, 1999,  in her home.

Lettie retired from the National Standard Company in 1971, and had lived 56 years in the Niles area.

Lettie was born on May 13, 1906, in Stoddard County, Mo., to John and Mae (Hale) Goble. Lettie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Glennie Lee Pointer; and by two sons, Dorsey L. Pointer and Gains G. Pointer.

She is survived by a son, Denver K. ''Jack'' Pointer of Buchanan, Mich.; two daughters, Wanda Stevens and Patricia Stover-Skarbek, both of Niles; a brother, Dale Goble of Casper, Wyo.; and by a sister, Hazel L. Pointer of Niles.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 30, at the Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with Pastors Ralph Offord and David Smith from the First Church of God, Cassopolis, Mich., officiating.

Family and friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services on Monday. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice-at-Home, 2626 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, MI 49127.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Hazel L. Pointer
Sept. 14, 1916-March 23, 2006

Hazel Lillian Pointer, 89, passed away at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, March 23, 2006, in Silverbrook Nursing Home, Niles, of natural causes.

Hazel was born on September 14, 1916, in Zalma, Missouri. She lived here for 64 years. On July 29, 1934, she was married to Oral Reed Pointer, who preceded her in death on January 5, 1971. Also preceding is a daughter, Genetta Stark (1983).

Hazel worked as a cook for Plaza Restaurant in Niles.

Left to cherish her memory are a son; Glen (Carole) Pointer of Niles; four daughters, Geneva (Don) Pear and Joyce (Jim) Vaughn, both of Niles, and Margie Pointer of South Bend and Pamela Mills of West Palm Beach, FL; eleven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and fourteen great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2006, in Hoven Funeral Home, with Jason Dillenbeck officiating. Friends may call one hour before services. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph or Meal on Wheels of the Niles/Buchanan area.

Ralph O. Pletcher
Feb. 17, 1921-Jan. 13, 2007

Reverend Ralph O. Pletcher, 85, of Edgewater Drive, Edwardsburg, Michigan, formerly of Hoyt Drive, Niles, died at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, in his son's home of an extended illness.

Rev. Pletcher was born February 14, 1921, in Nappanee, Indiana, to Nathan and Cleo (Beam) Pletcher. He had lived in this area since 1956, coming from Indiana.

On July 5, 1942, in Plymouth, Indiana, he married the former Vena Fleek, who died on November 2, 2004.

Rev. Pletcher retired after 36 years as pastor of the Coulter's Chapel Church of God in Niles, Michigan. Leading by example, and not just a white-collar pastor, he was not afraid to get his hands dirty in construction or whatever needed to be done. He had a part in the construction of all of the current buildings at Coulter's Chapel.

Even late in his life, he still called on the shut-ins and visited those in extended-care facilities. His family became quite extended as he gave his all to his church, religion, and his calling.

He was very involved in the foreign mission fields, especially the work done in Haiti, where he personally made thirteen trips. He also loved music.

Rev. Pletcher was a U.S. Army veteran, serving his country during World War II.

Rev. Pletcher is survived by his children, Ronald (Sharon) Pletcher and Darlene (Paul) Ferry, both of Edwardsburg, Philip Pletcher of Grand Rapids, Pam (Jerry) Lingle of Niles; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are his sister, Naomi Crow of Plymouth; and his brothers, Gene and Russell Pletcher of South Bend, and Willard Pletcher of Argos.

Rev. Pletcher was preceded in death by one granddaughter, three brothers and a sister.

Services for Rev. Ralph O. Pletcher will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 18, 2007, in Coulter's Chapel Church of God, Niles. Burial will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, where military rites will be provided by the American Legion Post #51, Buchanan, Michigan. The family will receive relatives and friends from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the church.

Memorial contributions for Rev. Ralph O. Pletcher may be made to the Children's International Lifeline, 16106 Brookwood Drive, Buchanan, MI 49107; or to Hospice at Home.

The funeral arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Gerald G. Pinch
Dec. 25, 1934-Aug. 23, 2005

Gerald Garland Pinch, 70, of 125 South 5th Street, Niles, died at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday August 23, 2005 at home. of  natural causes.

He was born Dec. 25, 1934 in Niles to the late Klingerman and Lucille (Garland) Pinch. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Leslie Scott.

He was a US navy veteran, volunteer firemen for Niles Township for 10 years, member of the NA with honors, loved to Fish, metal detect and antiquing. He loved his family dearly. Worked for Niles Steel Tank, Co, a journeyman alloy welder. And was a lifetime Niles Resident.

On October 23, 1954 in Niles he married Shirley (Brumfield) Pinch who survives. Also surviving are daughters, Terrie (Herbert) Hubbard, Tracy (Mark) Nichols twin daughters, Marcy (Dale) Kutz and melody Bryant, all of Niles and Tammy (Robert) Bertles of South Bend; a brother, Daniel Pinch of Clermont, Fla.; sister, Mary Beth (Charles) Ottinger, Memphis, Tennessee; 22 grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, MI, with Pastor Terry White of Beacon Baptist Church, Niles officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, where friends call one hour before services.  

Betty Lou Pickles
Aug. 21, 1922-May 15, 2006

Mrs. Betty Lou Pickles, 83, of Rynearson Road, Buchanan, Michigan, and formerly of Niles, died following a brief illness at 9:17 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2006, in Lakeland Hospital, Niles.

Ms. Pickles was born on August 21, 1922, in Niles, to Carl and Marie (Hover) Schrumpf. She lived most of her lifetime in Niles, spending 20 years in Sebring, Florida, after retirement. Betty Lou retired after 10 years of service as a secretary from the Niles City Police Department.

Betty Lou was a member of the First Church of Christ-Scientist of Niles and Sebring, and also attended Saint John's United Church of Christ in Niles. She enjoyed community social and service activities with her husband, Spencer. She also enjoyed reading music, dancing and ice skating.

On Dec. 9, 1945, in Niles, she first married Ralph James Heckaman, who died on January 8, 1962. She later married Spencer Pickles on August 26, 1967, in Niles, who also preceded her in death on December 12, 1998.

Mrs. Pickles is survived by her daughter, Anna Marie (David Schoff) Padgett of Niles; two stepdaughters, Susan (Russ) Widdis and Patricia (Dick) Ham, both of Niles; a stepson, Larry (Sarajane) Pickles of Niles; five grandsons, Todd (Veronica) Ham of Austin, Texas, Christopher (Krista) Ham of High Point, North Carolina, Jeffrey Ham of Chicago, Illinois, Brett (Laura) Wiggins of Mishawaka, Indiana, and Chad Wiggins of Ann Arbor, Michigan; a granddaughter, Erika Pickles of Niles; and by four great-grandchildren, Spencer, Jenna, Trever and Isabella Ham.

Mrs. Pickles was also preceded in death by a brother, Robert Schrumpf.

Funeral services for Betty Lou Pickles will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 19, in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Kyle Gardner of Saint John's United Church of Christ in Niles officiating. Burial will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Friday in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Betty Lou may be made to the Saint John's Church of Christ in Niles.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Jill L. Phillips
Oct. 25, 1975-April 2001

Jill Lorraine Phillips, 25, of 1410 N. Haiden Drive, Syracuse, Ind., entered into rest April 2001 in Syracuse, Ind. An investigation is pending.

Jill was born Oct. 25, 1975, in Niles, Mich., and had lived the last two years in Syracuse. Jill was baptized at Peace Evangelical Church, South Bend. She graduated from Edwardsburg High School in 1994, and had been actively involved in track, choir and drama club.

Jill had previously been employed in retail sales by J.C. Penney, L.S. Ayres, J. Riggins and Meijer's. She had worked for Brandy's in Fort Wayne for the last two years.

Jill is survived by her mother, Jean A. Phillips Nyhuis, and her stepfather, Tom Nyhuis of Buchanan; maternal grandmother, Evelyn Phillips of Niles; paternal step-grandparents, Elwin and Anne Nyhuis of Edwardsburg, Mich.; three daughters, Trista Phillips of Buchanan, Cheyenne Phillips of Lombard, Ill., Jasmyn Phillips of Niles; a half sister, Andrea Nyhuis of Buchanan; two half brothers, Brandon and Michael Nyhuis of Buchanan; an aunt, Terrie DePoy of Sherman, Texas; three uncles, Joseph Phillips of Niles, Robert Phillips of Edwardsburg and Christopher Phillips of Niles; and many friends.

Jill was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Kermit L. "Tad" Phillips.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2001, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with Reverend Mike Smith officiating.

Family and friends may call from 1 p.m. until time of services on Wednesday in the funeral home. Burial will follow services at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to her children's trust fund.