Roberta Jean Simpson 
July 29, 1942-May 14, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 16, 1995, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Roberta Jean Simpson
1942-1995
licensed dog groomer

     Funeral services for Roberta Jean Simpson, 52, of 1619 Taft St., Niles, will be Thursday at 2 p.m., at Halbritter Funeral Home by Pastor Scott Goodman of First Baptist Church.
     Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
     Mrs. Simpson died at 3:59 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital in Niles, following a brief illness.
     She was born July 29, 1942, in Detroit, and had lived in Niles since 1952, coming from South Bend, Ind.
     Mrs. Simpson was a retired employee of Ewert's Pater Pan Pets in Niles.
     She attended Southwestern Michigan College, studying toward a degree in veterinary assistance, and was currently licensed in dog-grooming. She was a member of American Legion Post No. 26 Auxiliary in Niles. She was active in arts and crafts.
Survivors include a daughter, Dawn Marie Ford of Niles; two sons, Robert Jo Denney and Johnny Jo Denney, both of Niles; nine grandchildren; a brother, David bridges of South Bend and companion, Moses “Chip” Scott of Niles.
     Visitation will be on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

NOTE:  Listed in cemetery records as Roberta Jean Simpson Van Sicklen.

Asia L. Jackson
March 21, 1914-April 2, 1999

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 3, 1999, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Asia L. Jackson, 85, of 2405 Pokagon Highway, Niles, are tuesday[sic] at 11 a.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Jackson died in the early morning hours of Friday at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, of natural causes.

She was born March 21, 1914, in Portageville, Mo. On July 10, 1937, in Portageville, she married Raymond L. Jackson, who preceded her in death on June 26, 1981.

Jackson was a homemaker. She enjoyed flowers and puzzle making. She was a former member of the Assembly of God Church.

Survivors include two daughters, Patricia Funk of South bend, Ind., and Saron Lintz of Cassopolis; two sons, Bobby W. Jackson and Jimmie R. Jackson, both of Niles; a sister Opail York of Evansville, Ind.; 17 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Frances Jeannette Hart
May 28, 1907-May 16,1995

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 17, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Frances Jeannette Hart
1907-1995
Co-established
Niles Riding Club

Funeral services for Frances Jeannette Hart, 87, of 2141 Lewis drive, Niles, will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, by the Ev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mrs. Hart died at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, at Pawating Hospital in Niles, following a brief illness.

She was born May 28, 1907, in Tippecanoe County, Ind., and had lived in Niles since 1927, coming from Lafayette, Ind.

On April 7, 1928, at South Bend, ind., she married Russell T. Hart, M.D., who survives.

Mrs. Hart assisted her husband in his obstetrics practice.

She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and its Suzanna Wesley Guild; formerly active in the P.T.A. At Eastside School and the former city-wide P.T.A; she had[sic] her husband established the Niles Riding Club for area horse enthusiasts, and she remained active as secretary for many years.

Mrs. Hart as a 1927 graduate of Purdue University in Lafayette, with education degrees in mathematics and history. She was a member of the American Association of University Women.

Survivors, in addition to her husband, include two daughters, Virginia “Jean” Spranger of Howell, and LouAnn DeVall of Niles; three sons, Richard Hart of Lafayette, Wayne Hart of Elkhart, Ind., and Bruce Hart of Niles; 17 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Sarah Hallowell of Dallas. She was preceded in death by one sister and two brothers.

Visitation will be after 6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church of Niles.

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.