Larry Gene Turtle
May 3, 1931-May 6, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 6, 1936, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Larry Gene Turtle, Aged 5, Dies After Three Days' Illness

Larry Gene Turtle, five-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Turtle, 1316 Silverbrook avenue, died in Pawating hospital at 12:30 this morning.  He had been ill three days.

The child was born in Shawnee, Okla., May 2, 1931. He celebrated his fifth birthday anniversary Saturday.  Beside his parents, he leaves a brother, Edward Lee, 7, and a sister, Donna Joyce, 3, also his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Shaw, Dayton, and Mr. and Mrs. Moses Delibec, Niles.

Robert W. Villwock
Oct. 6, 1873-April 23, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 23, 1936, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Service Set Saturday for Robert Villwock

Funeral services for Robert W. Villwock, 57, who died Wednesday in the Tabor sanitarium, Benton Harbor, will be held in the family home four miles north of Niles Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating.

Mr. Villwock was born in Germany, Oct. 6, 1873. He came here when nine years old and had lived near Niles since that time, where he operated his farm.

Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Matilda Villwock; two daughters, Mrs. Verne Asmus and Mrs. Carl Reum, Niles; three sons, Elmer, Robert Jr., and Henry at home, and a sister, Mrs. August Loroff, Castillo, Ohio.

The body will be at the family home until the hour of the funeral. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Birdie Waters
Nov. 25 1883-April 25, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 27, 1936, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Q. Waters, 52, Is Death Victim; Funeral Wednesday

Mrs. Quintard Waters, 52, died Saturday night at 11:15 o'clock at the family home on Route 3, Buchanan.  Mrs. Waters' death was due to complications following a dislocated shoulder.

She was born in Christianburg, Ky., Nov. 25, 1883, and leaves her husband, a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Quincy, Christianburg; and three brothers, Thornton Guinn, Louisville, Ky., Robern Guinn, also of Louisville, and Henry Guinn, Dowagiac.

Mrs. Waters was a member of the A.M.E. Church and had been an active worker there.

Funeral services will be in the Turner-Pifer funeral home Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the Rev. F.G. Hurd officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends of the family may call at the Turner-Pifer funeral home until the hour of the funeral.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 28, 1936, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  WATERS RITES WEDNESDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Quintard Waters, who died Saturday night in Pawating hospital, will be in the Turner-Pifer funeral home Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  The Rev. F.G. Hurd will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Eugene B. Allen
March 11, 1925-Oct. 26, 2016

Eugene “Gene” B. Allen, 91 years old, residing in South Bend, Indiana passed away at 9:30 am Wednesday, October 26, 2016 at his home.  He was owner and operator of Gene Allen Studio in River Park since 1955.

Gene was born on March 11, 1925 in South Bend, Indiana to Melvin and Sophie (Blumhardt) Allen and remained a lifelong area resident.  On November 19, 1949 in Niles, Michigan he was united in marriage to Charnley (Schnoor) Allen, and they would have been married 67 years this November. 

Along with his loving wife, Charnley “Cheetah” Allen, Gene is survived by his daughter, Darcy (Donald) Troyer of Mishawaka; his son, Mark (Cheryll) Allen of Rio Vista, Texas; five grandchildren, Courtney (Michael) Sailors, Britney (Josh) Ortiz, Mathew (Kelly) Patrick, Dillon (Tiffany) Allen  and Dustin Heckman; and seven great grandchildren, Makayla, Colton and Macean Sailors, Miles Ortiz, and Soffia, Todd and Jeffrey Allen; and Linda “Beaver” Shafer who has been at Gene Allen Studio for 53 years and is like family.  Gene’s sister, Maxine Mumford preceded him in death.

Gene served in the United States Navy and was a veteran of World War II.  He enjoyed hairdressing; all kinds of animals; and spending time with his family and time at his pond. He raised horses and enjoyed attending horse shows with his family.  Gene was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, South Bend. 

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 am Monday, October 31, 2016 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 805 S. 29th Street, South Bend, IN.  Rev. Steve Latzke, pastor of the church, will officiate.  Friends may visit with the family from 9:30 am Monday at the church, until time of services.  Private burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, MI.

Contributions in memory of Gene may be offered to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.  Palmer Funeral Home-River Park is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

http://www.palmerfuneralhomes.com/notices/EugeneGene-Allen

Ralph W. Hendershott Sr. of Niles
June 26, 1927 — Nov. 10, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:00 am Monday, November 14, 2016

Ralph William Hendershott Sr., 89, of Niles, died peacefully following a brief illness at 10:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, with his family gathered around at his home in Niles.

He was born June 26, 1927, in LaPorte, Indiana, to Benjamin Peter and Elgie (Odykirk) Hendershott.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force near the end of World War II, and was stationed in the Territory of Alaska as foreign service, prior to Alaska’s statehood. He was discharged in 1949 as a veteran of World War II, and settled in Niles.

He was a member of United Automobile Workers Union Local 590, and was employed for 33 years at the former South Bend, Indiana, plant of the Torrington Company.

Ralph attended Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles. He enjoyed traveling throughout the western U.S. He maintained a large vegetable garden and a well-kept yard.

Ralph W. Hendershott Sr.

On Nov. 13, 1948, in Saint Joseph, he married the former Lucia J. Brothers, with whom he would have celebrated the remarkable 68th anniversary of their wedding this Sunday.

Surviving family includes his wife, Lucia Hendershott; their children, Ralph W. Jr. (Suzette) Hendershott of Buchanan and Janet M. Hendershott of Niles; grandchildren Levi (Monica) Hendershott and Carisa (Randy) Simpson; great-grandchildren Ginger Hendershott, Devon Simpson and Esme Simpson; Ralph Sr.’s sister, Shirley McKinley of Lafayette, Indiana; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and 13 siblings: Harold, David, Harvey, Wayne, Clyde, Edna, Mary, Ruth, Dollie, Doris, Anna Mae, Dorothy and Hazel.

A Catholic funeral liturgy for Ralph Hendershott Sr. will be read by the Rev. Christian Johnston of Saint Mary Catholic Church at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016, at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles. Committal rites will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, and will conclude with a veteran’s flag presentation and the playing of taps by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Ralph may be made to the Niles Senior Center, 1109 Bell Road, Niles, MI 49120. 

Paula Jean Barker, of Niles
Feb. 1, 1950 — July 5, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:37 am Monday, July 11, 2016

Paula Jean Barker, 66, of Niles, Michigan died on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, at her home unexpectedly, but of natural causes. She was born Feb. 1, 1950, in Battle Creek, Michigan to Paul and Thelma Jean (Hopkins) McCray.

Paula graduated from Brandywine High School in 1968 and was always proud to be a Bobcat. PJ, as she was affectionately known by many, enjoyed sports, travelling, reading, and conquering her daily crossword puzzle, yet the most important thing in her life was her friends and her family. She was the epitome of a people person, she had a huge smile, laugh, personality and was adored by many. Paula was also an avid and talented golfer, and played on many leagues in the area. Her love of golf was cultivated while living in San Jose, California for more than 10 years. Paula was a loyal Notre Dame Women’s Basketball fan and thoroughly enjoyed attending as many games as she possibly could, often taking different friends to each game. She also lived for attending her granddaughter’s sporting events, PJ was a very proud and vocal fan. On Feb. 1, (her 66th birthday), Paula retired from AAA Cindy McCall Insurance Agency after over 20 years of service. After retirement, she travelled often to visit friends in Florida and California.

Paula Jean Barker

Surviving family includes one daughter, Shanna (Chris) Tyler of Stevensville, Michigan and three granddaughters of whom she was so proud, Claire Tyler of Telluride, Colorado, Cameron Tyler at Washington Lee University, Lexington, Virginia and Elizabeth Tyler, a senior at Lakeshore High School, Stevensville.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Sandra Lee Gwin.

The Memorial Service for Paula Jean Barker will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 11 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Donations in memory of Paula may be made to American Heart Association, Go Red for Women, 328 Pratt Road, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001, attn: Chris Laurent.

www.halbritterfunerals.com