Russell William Hibbard
Sept. 28, 1928-Jan. 16, 1938

Russell Hibbard, 9, 1st Traffic victim in Berrien in 1938 Child’s injuries fatal;

Inquest called for Tuesday.

Berrien County’s first traffic fatality of 1938 was recorded in Niles early Sunday morning with the death of Russell William Hibbard Jr. in Pawating hospital.

The child, the nine year old son of Mrs. and Mrs. Russell Hibbard, 140 Forest Avenue, died at 3:45 o’clock from head injuries suffered Friday noon when a struck by a car.  Lewis Rossow, Route. 4 Niles and employee of the Simplicity Pattern Company, was the driver of the automobile. The accident occurred near the Huron Street intersection of South Third Street.

Inquest called

An inquest, called by coroner Louis J. Kerlikowake, will be held at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning in the Rutherford funeral home.  The jury selected by Police chief L.O. Bates will be composed of Lee Howard, A.E. Buchanan, Dave Lowe, Fred Babcock, Charles Umholtz and Hugh Lippert.

Born in Niles Sept. 28, 1928, Russell William was the only boy in a family of four children. Besides his parents he leaves his three younger sisters, Donna, Susan and June.

At the time of the accident he was on his way home from Central school where he was enrolled in Miss Esther Keeler’s fourth grade.

Member of M.E. church.

He was also a member of the Methodist Sunday School and church and of the Cub Scout troop of St. John’s Evangelical Church. Services will be held at 2:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon in the Rutherford Funeral Home followed by burial in Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rev. T. O. Lee of the First Methodist church will officiate.  Friends may call at the Hibbard Home. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.

Robert W. Hibbard
June 16, 1926-Oct. 8, 1981

Robert W. Hibbard succumbs at age 55. 

Robert Warren Hibbard, 55, of 1325 Sheffield St., superintendent of the Niles Street Department, died at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

Niles Mayor Larry Clymer said the flags at city Hall and the police and fire department buildings will be flown at half mast today and Thursday in honor of Hibbard who had worked for the city for 31 years.  Niles City Engineer Arthur Reed, Hibbards supervisor said, “He was a long and faithful employee, 31 years, including eight of them as street superintendent. He was a dedicated individual who performed a vital service to the community. He always cared about Niles and did his best”.

Mr. Hibbard was born on June 16, 1926 in Dowagiac and had been a lifetime resident of this area.  He was a veteran of World War II and was member of the Disabled American veterans.

He married Carolyn Morehouse in Niles on Dec. 7, 1946. His wife survives.  Also surviving are two daughters, Carolyn Gail Hibbard of Holland and Carol Ann Hibbard of Watertown, MA; his mother, Myrtle Paskel Hibbard of Niles; two brothers, George of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and William Hibbard of Niles; and two sisters, Mrs. Bessie Green of Niles and Beatrice Hibbard of Arlington, Va.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. The Rev. Mark D. Graham of Wesley United Methodist church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.Friends may call form 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer –Smith Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Association. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown. 

Robert Lee Hibberd*
Sept. 23, 1913-June 22, 1972

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 23, 1972, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles – Robert Lee Hibbard, 58, of 914 Tomahawk Ln., died at 7:50 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital, after an illness of one day.

An employee of the Clark Equipment Co., Mr. Hibbard was born Sept. 23, 1913, in Summittville, Tenn., and had lived in this area all his life. On Dec. 31, 1942, in Medford, Ore., he married the former Evelyn M. Moyer, who survives. He was a veteran of World War II, with the U.S. Army.

Additional survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Richard (Gwendolyn) Cater of Elkhart, Ind.; two brothers, Grant Hibbard and William Hibbard, both of Niles; three sisters Mrs. Gertrude Walker and Mrs. Ann Stahl, both of Niles, Mrs. Edna Schutt of Elkhart; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Halbritter funeral Home, with the Rev. Donald Cozadd of the Grace United Methodist church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Sunday at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 24, 1972, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles--The name of Robert Lee Hibberd was spelled incorrectly in an obituary Friday in The Star. Mr. Hibberd, 58, of 914 Tomahawk Ln., died Thursday. He was a Clark Equipment Co. employe.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Mrs. Richard (Gwendolyn) Cater of Elkhart, two brothers and three sisters.  Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call beginning Sunday.

George Hibbard
March 8,1939-April 7, 1941

Death takes infant son of Mr. and Mrs. George Hibbard

George Edward Hibbard, two year old son, of Mr. and Mrs. George Hibbard, 1518 Clarendon Avenue, died at 2:15 Sunday morning in Pawating hospital. He had been ill four days of complication after an appendix rupture.

The child was born in Niles, March 8, 1939. Mrs. Hibbard is the former Dorothy Ausmus. Beside the parents he leaves a sister, Joan, 5, and his grandparents, Mrs. and Mrs. George L. Ausmus and Mrs. Myrtle Hibbard, all of Niles. Friends may call at the Hibbard home until the service at 2:30 Tuesday afternoon in the Rutherford Funeral Home. The Rev. Guy W. Simon will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Elizabeth Mae Hibbard
Nov. 15, 1924-Oct. 29, 1994

Funeral services for Elizabeth Mae Hibbard, 69, of 911 S. Third St., Niles, are Monday  Oct. 29, 1994, at 2 p.m. in Hoven Funeral Home by Pastor Terry Peer of the Buchanan Church of Christ.Cremation will follow.

She was born Nov. 15, 1924, in Niles, where she lived her lifetime.  Mrs. Hibbard was a homemaker. She was a member of the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary No. 26 in Niles.

Survivors include two sons, Robert Hibbard and John Hibbard, both of Niles; a brother, Robert Miltenberger of Niles, eight grandchildren and a great-grandchild.  Friends may call from 10 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.