Obituaries

Roxanne Leigh Wood
April 15, 1956-Feb. 20, 1987

The Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Michigan), Monday, February 23, 1987, page 16, col. 5

Niles—The funeral for Mrs. Terry (Roxanne) Wood, 30 of 1524 Tam-O-Shanter, Niles, who was found slain in her home Friday will be held Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 20 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles. Memorials may be made to the Special Olympics, South Bend, Ind.

The death is being investigated as a homicide, according to state police at the Niles post. Mrs. Wood reportedly was stabbed to death.

She was born April 15, 1956, in Niles, and was employed in the customer service department of Automated Molded Plastics Co., South Bend.

She was a member of Niles Junior Achievement. Survivors include: her husband; her father, Dale Woods of Niles; her mother, Patricia Chadwell of South Bend; one sister, Janet Woods of Niles; three brothers—Jerry, Bruce and Rick Woods, all of Niles; two half brothers—Brian Avery of South Bend and Brad Woods of Niles; and grandparents—Mr. and Mrs. Werner (Hilda) Airney of Niles and Lou Woods of Niles.

Robert W. Woodbridge
Dec. 18, 1912-Feb. 22, 1997

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, February 22, 1997, page 2

Robert W. Woodbridge
1912-1997
Former Old Kent Bank official

Robert W. Woodbridge, 84, of 2920 Crystal Lane, Kalamazoo, formerly of Niles, died on Saturday, Feb. 22, 1997, at 3 a.m. At Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo, the result of natural causes.

He retired in 1975 from his post as assistant vice president for Old Kent Bank, Niles.

He was born on Dec. 18, 1912, in Niles. He was married to Miriam M. Grabill on Nov. 26, 1936. She preceded him in Death on Jan. 17, 1995.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Charlene and Dean Holub of Portage, and two grandchildren, Michael and Christine Holub, both of Portage.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles and also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #1322, Niles.

No services will be held. Cremation will take place and cremains will be buried at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church.

Grace Woods
July 19 1880-Aug. 5, 1983

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, August 6, 1983, page 2

Mrs. Grace R. Woods, 103, of 1223 Airport Road, Niles, died at 12:55 p.m. Friday at Riveridge Manor after an extended illness.

In Mrs. Woods younger years, from 1892 to 1930, she was a musician in local minstrel shows and also performed for private parties in the area. She was also a member of the Niles City Band.

She was born July 19, 1880 in Bristol, Ind. and had lived in the Niles area since 1886, coming from Mishawaka.

She married Earl R. Woods on Nov. 25, 1902 in Buchanan. He preceded her in death in 1937.

Surviving is one son, Louis A. Woods of Niles; two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the mausoleum in Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg will officiate. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. Local arrangements are being made by the Halbritter Funeral Home. There will be no visitation.

Calvin J. Abair
Jan. 7, 1918-Feb. 26, 1973

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 26, 1973; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Calvin J. Abair, 55, of 1220 Fulkerson Rd., died at 8 a.m. today in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an illness of one month.

A shop foreman in the steel fabricating division of Midland Steel Corp., Mishawaka, Mr. Abair was born Jan. 7, 1918, in Buchanan, and had lived here all his life.   On Oct. 30, 1930, in Niles, he married Genevieve R. Hamilton, who survives.

Mr. Abair was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Additional survivors include two sons, Joseph and Daniel, both of Niles; his mother, Mrs. Alpha Abair of Elsinore, Calif.; a brother Gerald Abair of Niles; four sisters, Mrs. Clarabelle Thwaits of Niles, Mrs. Louise French of Costa Mesa, Calif., Mrs. Barbara Lineback of Central Valley Calif., and Mrs. Pauline Crawford of Elsinore, Calif., and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Albert A. O’Rourke of Pokagon United Methodist Church officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Floyd E. Barnes
Jan. 6, 1895-Sept. 7, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 8, 1971; page 2, col. 1, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Floyd E. Barnes, chairman of the City Planning Commission and active in many Masonic groups, died at 9 p.m. Tuesday, South Bend, after an illness of more than two months.   He was 76.

A retired storekeeper with Tyler Fixture Corp., Mr. Barnes was born Jan. 6, 1895, in Chicago, and had lived here since 1906.  On Dec. 25, 1919, in Niles, he married the former Mary Agatha Judy, who survives.

Mr. Barnes was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Niles Shrine Club, Wolverine Masonic Lodge of Detroit, the Niles Commandry of Knights Templar, Saladin Temple of Grand Rapids, and the Niles Royal and Select Masters.   He was an honorary member of St. Joseph Masonic Lodge here.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, George of Niles, a daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Lamoureux of Northfield, Ill.; a brother Cressel of Mesa, Ariz., and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Fr. Vincent Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, where Masonic rites will be administered.

Friends may call after noon Thursday at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to the church.

Howard L. Benjamin
Oct. 9, 1910-April 5, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 6, 1971; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Howard L. Benjamin, 60, of 219 Kings East Dr., died at 9:10 p.m. Monday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an extended illness.

An employee of the Kawneer Co. for 37 years, Mr. Benjamin was born Oct. 9, 1910, in New Carlisle, Ind., and had lived here since 1929, coming from South Bend.  On Dec. 25, 1936, in Lakeview, Mich., he married the former Viola F. Hayes, who survives.

Mr. Benjamin was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, the Kawneer 25 year Club, the Loyal Order of (illegible) Army in World War II.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Benjamin is survived by his mother, Mrs. Saloma Benjamin of Niles, and a brother, Amos E. Benjamin of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Orin M. Bailey of Grace United Methodist Church officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.