Alex Petro, Jr.
July 9, 1912-July 18, 1955

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, July 18, 1955, page 2 col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Alex Petro, Jr., 43, 1518 Sheridan Ave., died suddenly at 2 a.m. today at Franklin, Ind. Details of the death were not available this afternoon.

Petro, who was employed by the Kawneer Co., was born July 9, 1912 at South Bend and lived most of his life in Niles. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Survivors are his widow, Beatrice; two daughters, Judith and Sharon Petro, both at home; his mother, Mrs. Alex Petro, Eau Claire, a sister, Mrs. LeRoy Hand, Berrien Springs, and a brother, Lewis Petro, Eau Claire.

Removal was made to the Kiger Funeral Home. Arrangements are incomplete. Burial will be at Silvebrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Tuesday, July 19, 1955, page 2 col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the First Presbyterian Church for Alex Petro, Jr., 43, of 1518 Sheridan Avenue, who died at 2 am.. Monday in Franklin, Ind. The Rev. Carlyle Carson, pastor of the Buchanan Presbyterian Church will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Petro was born July 9, 1912, in South Bend and had spent his entire life in Niles. He was an employe of the Kawneer company and a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Surviving are: his mother, Mrs. Rose Petro, of Berrien Center; his wife, Beatrice; two daughters, Judith and Sharon, both at home; a brother, Lewis Petro of Berrien Center, and a sister Mrs. LeRoy Hand, of Berrien Springs.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home.

Willard Sherwin French
March 7, 1887-Dec. 26, 1959

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan), Monday, December 28, 1959, page 24

Advertising Man Dies in Detroit

DETROIT, Dec. 28 (UPI)--Funeral services were scheduled for tomorrow for Willard French, 72, prominent advertising executive who died at his home Friday.

French was chairman of the firm of Brooke, Smith, French and Dorrance. He was born in Three Rivers and attended the University of Michigan before moving into the advertising business in Detroit in 1916.

He is survived by the widow, Natalie, a son, Sherwin, and a daughter, Mrs. Jack Bennett, of Rolling hills, Cal.

Funeral services will be held and Detroit and burial will take place in Niles.

Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan), Monday, December 28, 1959, page 26

FRENCH

Willard S., Dec. 26, 1959, of 2239 Burns, Husband of Natalie B. French; father of Mrs. Jack Bennett of Rolling Hills, Calif., and Sherwin B. French; brother of Joseph W. French of Chicago, Ill.; also survived by five grandchildren. Funeral services at chapel of the Wm. R. Hamilton Co., 3975 Cass Ave., Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Natalie Bonine French
1890-April 3, 1978

Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan), Wednesday, April 5, 1978, page 46

FRENCH, Natalie B. (nee Natalie Bonine), April 3, 1978, San Pedro, Calif., age 88, (Widow of Willard S. French, deceased 1959, former President of Brooke, Smith, French and Dorrance, Detroit Advertising Agency.) Survived by a son Sherwin B. French and daughter Mrs. Jack Bennett (Millicent); four grandchildren. Mrs. French was born in Niles, Michigan and lived in Detroit for mnay years until 1977. Body shown Thursday, April 6, 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Halbritter Funeral Home, 615 East Main, Niles. Funeral service Friday, April 7, 10 a.m. Trinity Episcopal

Viva T. Bonine
July 1866-Sept. 30, 1956

The Herald-Press (St. Joseph, Michigan), Tuesday, October 2, 1956, page 10

NILES―Mrs. Viva Bonine, 90, widow of Dr. Fred Bonine, famed eye specialist of Niles, died Sunday morning in Jennings hospital, Detroit. Mrs. Bonine had been making her home in Detroit with her daughter, Mrs. Willard S. French, 2239 Burns ave.

Mrs. Bonine was born in July of 1866 in Newark, N.J. Dr Bonine died Aug. 22, 1941. Mrs. Bonine resided in Niles several years after her husband's death before moving to Detroit.

Mrs. Bonine is survived by her daughter, Mrs. French; two grandchildren, Sherwin Bonine French and Mrs. Millicent French Prescott, both of Detroit; five great-grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. H. M. Baldwin of Santa Barbara, Calif.

Committal services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the mausoleum in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles. The Rev. John Carlton, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home beginning this evening.

Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan), Monday, October 1, 1956, page 9

MRS. VIVA T. BONINE―Mrs. Bonine, 90, widow of Dr. F.N. Bonine of Niles, died Sunday.

A native of Newark, N.J., Mrs. Bonine lived the last several years with a daughter, Mrs. Willard S. French, of 2239 Burns.

Services will be in Niles, the time to be determined. The body is at the William R. Hamilton Co., 3975 Cass.

Also surviving is a sister, Mrs. H.M. Baldwin, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

James E. Bonine
Jan. 24, 1924-Sept. 28, 1995

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), Thursday, October 19, 1995, page 26

CASSOPOLIS: James E. Bonine, 71, of El Segundo, Calif., formerly of Vandalia and Cassopolis, died Sept. 28 in Daniel Freeman Hospital, El Segundo. Mr. Bonine was a former engineer in the engineering administration group at Bendix Missile Division, Mishawaka, and Emerson Electric Division, St. Louis. He was born Jan. 24, 1924, in Vandalia. His father, the late G. Elwood Bonine, was a state senator from 1943 to 1953, state director of eh Farmers Home Administration and director of the Michigan Legislative Services Bureau from 1961 to 1965. For four generations, the Bonine family has owned Elk Park Farm in Vandalia, which was a station on the Underground Railroad. Surviving are a daughter, Jane Reilly of St. Charles, Mo.; two sons, James E. III of Stamford, Conn., and William R. of Kahoka, Mo.; four grandsons, and a sister, Mary Charlotte Roberts of Bell, Fla. Mr. Bonine was a graduate of Howe Military Academy and Michigan state University. He was an Army veteran of World War II.

A memorial service will be later in St. Charles. Cremation has taken place. Baue Funeral Home, St. Charles, is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Ruth Morse Bonine
1901-May 4, 1980

Florida Today (Coons, Florida), Thursday, May 8, 1980, page 9B

No services are scheduled for Ruth Morse Bonine, 79, 1525 S. Fiske Blvd., Rockledge.

A homemaker and Brevard resident for 3 ½ years, Mrs. Bonine died Sunday at Wuesthoff Memorial Hospital in Rockledge.

Survivors include a son Jame[sic] of Rockledge; a daughter, Mary Charlotte Binkowski of Rockledge; a sister living outside the state; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home in Rockledge is in charge of arrangements.