Guy Abbott
June 29, 1872-Feb. 23, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 24, 1936, Page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Guy Abbott, 63, Dies in Hospital

Guy Abbot, 63, who was stricken suddenly at 3 o'clock Sunday morning and taken to Pawating hospital, died there at 8 o'clock this morning.  Mr. Abbott lived at 1004 Sycamore street and had been employed in the car department at the Michigan Central for more than 18 years.

He was born in Howard township  June 29, 1872, and had lived in and near Niles all of his life. Surviving are his wife, Mary, a son, Lawrence, and a grandson, Bennie, all of Niles.

Funeral services will be in the family home Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends of the family are asked to call at the home tonight and until the hour of the services Thursday.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 26, 1936, Page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Rites for Guy Abbott Thursday at M.E. Church

Funeral services for Guy Abbott, 63, which were to have been held at his home, 1004 Sycamore street, will be held instead at the Methodist church, it was announced today. Mr. Abbott was a former Michigan Central employe, and had lived in and near Niles all his life.

The funeral will be held at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon in the Methodist church, the Rev. T.O. Lee officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. The body will be taken from the residence to the church at 1 o'clock.

William T. Allen
Sept. 26, 1862-Feb 23, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 24, 1936, Page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

William T. Allen Dies at Age of 73

William T. Allen, 73, died suddenly Sunday afternoon at 1 o'clock following a heart attack. His death occurred at his home, 603 North Front Street.

Mr. Allen was born in Galesburg, Ill., Sept. 26, 1862. He has lived in Niles more than 60 years, and during his active years had been a painter and decorator. Miss Sarah Allen, his sister, is his only surviving relative.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the Price and Kiger home. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends are asked to call at the Price and Kiger funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 26, 1936, Page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief: Allen Rites Today

Funeral services for William T. Allen, who died suddently[sic] Sunday following a heart attack at his home, 603 north Front street, were held at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon in the Price and Kiger chapel. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Pallbearers were Harry Mansfield, John Smith, Thomas Flynn, Albert Schrumpf, John Dunn and Carl Shouder.

Anna Andrew
April 17, 1872-Feb. 14, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 214, 1936, Page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Anna Andrews Dies At Home Here

Mrs. Anna Andrews, 54, widow of Wesley Andrews, died this morning at 5:15 at her home, 517 North Fifth street. Mrs. Andrews' death followed an illness of seven weeks.

Mrs. Andrews was born in Indiana, April 17, 1872. She had lived in Niles nearly all her life.  Surviving are two bothers, T.L. Reese, Wiliamston, Mich., and F.H. Reese, Emida, Idaho. She leaves also two nieces who have been caring for her during her last illness.  They are Mrs. Annabelle Hubpacht, Detroit, and Mrs. Bertha Ellsworth, [illegible].

She as married July 3, 1894, to Wesley Andrew, who died Oct. 29, 1934. Before her illness she was active int eh work of the Baptist church, the Rebekah lodge and the Shakespeare club.

Funeral services will be held in the Baptist church Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the Rev. James F. Goodman officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends of the family are asked to call at the home before the hour of the funeral.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 15, 1936, Page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  ANDREW RITES MONDAY

Members of the Rebekah lodge, of which Mrs. Andrew was a member are asked to meet in the Baptist church Monday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock in the church, where the body willl lie in state from 1;45 to 2:15.  The Rebekah ritual will be used and the officers of the lodge will have charge of the  services.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 17, 1936, Page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  ANDREW SERVICE TODAY

The Rebekah lodge of which she was a member, conducted its ritualistic service at the funeral of Mrs. Anna Andrew in the Baptist church at 2: 30 o'clock this afternoon . The body lay in state in the church from 1;45 to 2:15 o'clock. Pallbearers were Walter Wesley and Hiram Zeiger, Herbert Hubrecht, Robert Reese and Charles Reese.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

John Even
March 17, 1864*-Feb. 9, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 10, 1936, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Services Wednesday For John Even, 64

John Even, 64, a brother of Mrs. W.F. Harrah, died Sunday noon at his home on the Harrah farm, northwest of Niles.

Mr. Even had been living at the farm home for several years.  He was born in Peoria Ill.,and was the eldest member of a family of six brothers and sisters.

Mrs. Even died about two years ago.  He leaves three brothers, Charles, Los Angeles; Eno J., San Diego; D.C. New York City, and his sister, Mrs. Harrah.

Funeral services will be in the Price and Kiger chapel Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock, Dr. G.W. Simon officiating.   Burial will be in the Silverbrook mausoleum.  Friends of the family are asked to call at the Price and Kiger funeral home before the hour of the funeral.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 12, 1934, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  EVEN SERVICES TODAY

Services for John Even, 71, who died Sunday at the Harrah farm home northwest of Niles, were held this afternoon in the Price and Kiger chapel. The Rev. Dr. G.W. Simon officiated and burial was in the abbey at Silverbrook cemetery. The following acted as pallbearers:  Don Chidester, Thorton Walter, Arthur Ranft, Lute Ranft, Jack Utter and Joseph McBain.

Note: DOB from Michigan Death Record

Gordon W. Fisher
July 23, 1897-Feb. 22, 1936*

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 22, 1936, Page 1, col. 8, cont. page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

TAKES OWN LIFE BY INHALING GAS

GORDON W. FISHER LEAVES WIDOW WITH 4 SMALL CHILDREN

Family Quarantined for Scarlet Fever; Takes Life in Gas Company Shop

Leaving his wife and four children under quarantine for scarlet fever at the home at 1420 North Eleventh street, Gordon W. Fisher, 38, who was employed for six years as meter [Illegible] for the Michigan Gas and Electric company, committed suicide early this morning at the company's meter house, Front and Howard streets.

His body, a light coat over the head and a small rubber tube connected to an open gas line, lying against his mouth, was found shortly after 7 o'clock when Floyd Joslin and Homer Frame, company employes, reported at the building.

Police who investigated said Fisher had apparently lain face down on the floor after opening the gas line.  He had then placed the tube in his mouth and pulled the coat over his head.

No Inquest

The body was still worm when discovered. Dr. Robert Henderson, summoned by the officers, placed th time of death at approximately 7 o'clock.

Coroner Louis Kerlikowske, in a telephone conversation  from St. Joseph, told city police he would not conduct an inquest.

Fisher had not been at work the last two days and had been [illegible] by fellow employes and other acquaintances Friday.  He had been rooming at at Sycamore street address since his family was placed under quarantine.

Investigators said that had been informed his [illegible] periodic and occasionally brought searches for him.

Gave No Hint

Fisher, officer said, left no note and had given neither his wife, who was prostrated when informed of his action, nor fellow workers even a veiled hint of his intention.

Search of his room revealed a letter from his sister, and another he had written to a brother.  Neither contained a line which might supply a motive, it was said.

Mr. Fisher is survived by the widow, Nora; four children, Joseph, Alma, Margaret, and Gordon, Jr.; a brother, William R. Fisher, Verona, Pa. And a sister, Mrs. J.R. Flint, Oakmont, Pa.

The body was taken to the Turner and Pifer mortuary, where friends may call.

Funeral arrangements are being postponed pending receipt of word from the sister.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 24, 1936, Page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Fisher Funeral Rites Held Today

Funeral services for Gordon W. Fisher, whose lifeless body was discovered Saturday morning at the meter house of the Michigan Gas and Electric company, were conducted this morning at 10:30  o'clock in the Turner-Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiated and burial was in Silverbrook.

Relatives of Mr. Fisher arrived in Niles by automobile this morning, coming from their homes in Pennsylvania.  They included five sisters and one brother, Mrs. Calvin Wilhelm, Mrs. Fillmore Simpson, Mrs. Stephen Whitmore and Mrs. Walter Closson, all of Verona, Pa., Mrs. Harry Brooks, Oakmont, Pa., and William Fisher, Verona.  Mrs. Wilhelm and Mrs. Simpson were accompanied by their husbands.

Private services will be held in the family home, 1420 North Eleventh street, Tuesday morning.

Note: DOB from Michigan Death Record

Ruthe Elaine Montgomery Halbritter, of Niles
May 12, 1921 — May 18, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 2:26 pm Friday, May 20, 2016

Ruthe Elaine Montgomery Halbritter, 95, of Niles, Michigan died at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at Lakeland Hospital — Niles following an extended illness.

Ruthe Elaine Montgomery Halbritter

She was born on May 12, 1921, in Buchanan, Michigan to John Myron and Teddy May (Rowley) Montgomery. She was graduated from Buchanan High School, and attended Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York. She enlisted in the United States Navy in 1943 and served as a laboratory technician in several Naval Hospitals including the U.S. Navy Air Station in Clinton, Oklahoma where she met her husband, Ted who was a Chief Pharmacist Mate. She was discharged as a Pharmacist Mate and a Veteran of World War II.

Ruthe returned to Buchanan, and Ted joined the Price and Kiger Funeral Home in Niles. She actively assisted Ted — and later their son, Ted III – at the funeral home, especially after their family moved into the residence above the funeral home. Many families will remember her acts of kindness, inviting them to her home for something to eat, and entertaining the children. She always had a crystal dish of fresh brownies ready to be delivered wherever it was needed the most.

She was a long-time member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles where she taught Sunday School, served on many of the boards and committees, and participated in the United Methodist Women circles. As her mobility declined, many dear friends provided transportation to special activities of their congregations, and Carol and Fred Laesch made her feel most at home at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles.

She was a Life Member, and former board member of the Pawating Auxiliary at what is now Lakeland Hospital – Niles, volunteering a remarkable 10,772 hours – many at the former coffee bar just off the lobby. She was honored with the Continuous Unselfish Performance Award, and was named to light the Tree of Love at the annual Christmas celebration. A 2001 South Bend Tribune article quoted Ruthe: “I do this because I like to help people. When I volunteer, I do something for the entire community.”

For almost 50 years, she gave book reviews, encouraging reading of a book by revealing the outline of the story ­— but never the ending — to many organizations, usually on an annual basis. Another South Bend Tribune article, in 1977, featured her reviews of books by the late humorists Jean Kerr and Erma Bombeck, and spoke of her library “full of books with little paper bookmarks marking the passages she felt important.”

Ruthe was also a member of the Ladies’ Historical Society, a sustaining member of the Niles Service League, and a supporter and member of the Fernwood Botanical Gardens Nature Preserve.

On Nov. 11, 1944, in Clinton, Oklahoma she married Ted L. Halbritter with whom she celebrated the forty-ninth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on August 13, 1994. They were sadly preceded in death by a 1-year-old daughter, Sue Ann Halbritter on March 2, 1947; and by Ruthe’s brothers, William B. Montgomery, John J. Montgomery, and Paul C. Montgomery.

Surviving family includes her children, Sandra (Anthony) Bruno of Grafton, Ohio and Ted (Mary Jo) Halbritter III of Niles; grandchildren Katie Bartley, Kevin (Kelly) Bartley, Claire (Jason) Ziesmer, and Carrie (Matt) Sponsky; great-grandchildren, Caitlin, Avery, Chelsea, Arden, and Morgan; and Ruthe’s sister, Marie Kangas of Buchanan, Michigan and many nieces and nephews; and an amazing circle of wonderful friends who have continued to visit and care for her through her final illness.

The funeral service for Ruthe Halbritter will be – fittingly at her home, the Halbritter Funeral Home on Monday, May 23, 2016, at 11 a.m. with the retired Rev. Carl W. Bassett of Niles officiating. Committal services will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veterans Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Navy Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday at the funeral home from 2 until 5 p.m. Contributions in memory of Ruthe may be made to the Foundation of the Lakeland Hospital – Niles; or to the Niles District Library.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

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