Gerald H. George
July 18, 1913-Feb. 15, 1960

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 14, 1960, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles Trucker Is Found Dead
Heart Failure Blamed for G.H. George Death

     HEART FAILURE claimed the life of a Niles truck driver Sunday. Gerald H. “Rex” George, 46, 415 N. 8th St. was found dead in the cab of his tractor trailer at a service plaza on the Ohio Turnpike near Cleveland, O.
     Earlier in February, five Berrien County residents were stricken with heart attacks while driving vehicles in the north end of the county.
     George, driver for Trans American Freight Lines, South Bend, was found by another trucker after the victim had gone to his truck when he became ill.
      He was born July 18, 1913, in Larned, Kan. and had lived in Niles 37 years coming here from Colorado.
      Surviving are his widow, Harriett, eight daughters, Mrs. Eugene F. Meadle, Marcellus, Mrs. Bernard Bush and Mrs. Bob Fowler, both Niles, and Patricia, Phyllis, Sandra, Dorothy and Diane, all at home; a son, James, at home, eight grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Jay VanGrider, Wichita, Kan.
      Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home here with the Rev. John G. Carlton, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Gerald Harrison George Jr.
Jan. 21, 1936-June 5, 1958

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 5, 1958, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles Young Man Dies After Fall From Jail Bunk
Coroner Says Heart Attack Caused Death of Gerald George, Jr., 21

     A 21-year-old Niles man suffered a heart attack early today in Berrien County jail at St. Joseph where he was serving a 30 day sentence for reckless driving, and died before arrival at Memorial Hospital.
     Gerald Harrison George, Jr., of 415 North Eighth Street was taken to the hospital at 6 a.m. And pronounced dead on arrival.
Berrien County Undersheriff Joseph Heward said a turnkey a the jail, Marvin Mitchell, reported George had fallen from his bunk at 5: 28 a.m. And requested assistance from sheriff's officers.
     The officers found George unconscious in his cell, bleeding from a face cut. He was taken immediately to the hospital.
     After an autopsy, County Corner[sic] George Dey ruled George died of a heart attack.
     Niles Police arrested George last May 5, after an 80-mile-an-hour chase on US-31 South. They found George's car had no brakes.
     When arraigned in Municipal Court May 6, George pleaded guilty to charges of reckless driving and driving with defective brakes. Judge Thomas W. Cain sentenced him to 30 days in Berrien County jail in lieu of a $50 fine.
     Cass County sheriff's deputies reported that George was on probation after being convicted of breaking and entering a Dowagiac store in 1957, and had violated probation.
     George's wife, Sharon, is living in Georgia.
     Survivor's living in Niles are his parents, Gerald and Harriet George; his grandfather, James Hargreaves and seven sister and one brother, James.
     The sisters are Mrs. Beverly Fowler, of 2015 Bertrand Road, and Florence, Patricia, Phillis, Sandra, Dorothy, and Harriet who live at the George home with their brother.
     Another sister, Mrs. Eugene Beadle, lives in Marcellus.
     George served three years and eight months in the Air Force, spending part of that time in the (continued on Page Two) Korean war. He was born January 21, 1936 in Niles.
Services will be at the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home at a time to be determined later. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.           Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Friday.

Donald W. Friend
Aug. 15, 1922-April 5, 1999

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 6, 1999, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Donald W. Friend, 76, 1280 Barron Lake road, Niles, will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, the Rev. Joseph W. Koma, CSC of St. Mark Catholic Church.
Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.
Friend died Monday at Hospice House, South Bend, Ind. following an extended illness.
He was born Aug. 15, 1922, in South Bend. He had lived in Niles since 1955, coming from Battle Creek.
On Jan. 27, 1945, in Mishawaka, Ind., he married the former Marion “June” Pape, who survives.
Friend was formerly employed at the National Standard Company, Niles.
He was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church, Niles. Friend was a Veteran of World War II, serving in the US Army, and was a member of American Legion Post No. 26, Niles. He enjoyed fishing near his home at Barron Lake and camping “up north” in Michigan.
Surviving family also includes a son, Richard D. (Judy) Friend of Jacksonville, Ill., two granddaughters, Tracy Eldridge of Findlay, Ohio and Nicole Marin of Fort Bragg, N.C.; a grandson, Donald A. Friend of Findlay, Ohio; a great-granddaughter, Isabelle Marie Friend of Findlay, Ohio; and a sister, Velma Atkinson of Mishawaka, Ind. Friends may call Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home. A Veteran's Flag Presentation will follow the committal on Thursday at the Graveside by American Legion Commander John McLaughlin. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice House of St. Joseph County, or Hospice at Home of Berrien County.

Leland Eaton
Nov. 12, 1898-Feb. 15, 1960

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 16, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Cassopolis—Leland Eaton, 61, route three, Cassopolis, a well known cattle buyer, died at 4:30 a.m. Monday after he was stricken with a heart attack while cutting wood in an area two miles north of Union.
Mr. Eaton was born Nov. 12, 1898, in Manchester, Tenn. and had lived in this community for 39 years coming here from Tennessee. His wife preceded him in death in 1956.
Surviving are three sons, Donald Eaton, Edwardsburg, and Leland Jr. and Eugene Eaton, both Cassopolis; 10 grandchildren; four brothers, James Eaton, Manchester, Tenn., Euless Eaton, Tullahoma, Tenn., Clyde Eaton, Anderson, Ala., and Delbert Eaton, Elkhart, Ind., and four sisters, Mrs. Lee James and Mrs. Rollie Keele, both Manchester; Mrs. Allen Harges, Nashville, Tenn. And Mrs. Thelma Harvill, Floral City, Fla.
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call at the funeral home.

A. Lawrence Carter
April 3, 1907-May 16, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 17, 1995, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

A. Lawrence Carter, 88, of 2101 E. Main St., Niles, died at 8:05 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital in Niles, following a brief illness. The family, respecting the wishes of Mr. Carter, will gather privately for services and no other information will be published.

Arrangements are being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Florence (Bunbury) Frankenberry
Sept. 18, 1887-Aug. 18, 1962

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 29, 1962, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Fred Frankenberry, 74, 44 S. 3rd St., died Tuesday at 10 p.m. In Pawating Hospital.
Mrs. Frankenberry was born Sept. 18, 1887, in Niles and lived most of her lifetime here. Her husband Fred and daughter Anne died.
She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and the St. Agnes Guild.
Following cremation, funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 10 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Frederick LaCrone officiating.
Friends may pay their respects at the Pifer Funeral Home after 7 p.m. today.