Charles William Stubbs
April 28, 1907-Jan. 27, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 29, 1951; page 1, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Libraryfrom K. Alton)

Avalon Ballroom Owner Found on Garage Floor

Cass County Coroner Adam B. Greenawalt, of Cass county, today ruled as accidental the death by carbon monoxide poisoning Saturday of Charles W. Stubbs, 43, owner of the Avalon ballroom here.

Stubbs was found on the floor of his closed garage, dead from fumes from the same car which killed his wife 20 months ago.  State police said no evidence of suicide was found.

Dead 10 to 20 Hours

Vivian C. Bloodgood, Stubbs step-father, found Stubbs about 2 p.m. Saturday, lying by the driver’s side of the car.  Police said he had been dead for from 10 to 12 hours when found.  The Howard township fire department pulmotor was called to the scene but was not used.  Time of death was place at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

Wife Died in Similar Way

Stubbs’ wife, who sang professionally under the name of Carol Kay, was found dead in the same car and garage on May 24, 1949.  The engine of the car was cold when both bodies were found.  Bloodgood had gone to seek Stubbs at his home when he had not seen him all day.

Friends said Stubbs apparently had returned home after a Tall Cedars of Lebanon party which he left at 1:15 a.m. Saturday.  The keys to the car were in his pocket when he was found.

He was born April 28, 1907, in Kalamazoo, and came here from Benton Harbor in 1931.  He is survived by his step-father and mother Mr. and Mrs. Vivian Bloodgood of Barron Lake.

Stubbs was a member of St. Joseph Valley No. 4 Free and Accepted Mason, of the Dewitt Clinton Masonic consistory of Grand Rapids, of the Niles-Cass Shrine club, and of Saladin Shrine temple, Grand Rapids.  He was a veteran of World War II.

Funeral Services Tuesday

The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, of the First Presbyterian church will conduct funeral services at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home.

Robert E. Stitt
March 26, 1863-Feb. 10, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 10, 1951; page 2, col. 7, microfilm, Niles District Library(from K. Alton)

Robert E. Stitt, rural route four, died at 5:30 a.m. today in the Berrien Center hospital.  He had been ill for some time.

Surviving is his widow, Cora B.  He had no children or brothers or sisters.  Stitt, who was born on March 26, 1863, in Miami county, Ind., came here from Chicago in 1915.  He was a farmer.

Friends may call at the Pifer (illegible) be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Clara R. Smith
April 6,1879-Feb. 22, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 23, 1951; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

Mrs. Clara R. Smith, 71, of 1015 ½ Lake Street, died at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at her home.  She had been ill for several years.

Mrs. Smith was born on April 6, 1879 and came here from Union in 1914.  She married the late William C. Smith who died in 1915.  She was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Daughters of America.  

Surviving are: three sons, E. Elton, of Niles, Russell G., of South Bend, and C. Ralph, of Milwaukee, Wis.; one daughter, Mrs. George McKenzie, of Detroit; two sisters, Mrs. Hattie Squibb and Mrs. Laura Nowels, both of Elkhart; one brother, Roy S. Planck, of Fremont, Neb.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday.  The Rev. T. M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian church will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Circle 45 of the GAR will meet at 7:30 p.m.  Sunday at the Kiger Funeral home to conduct memorial services for Mrs. Smith

Alice Sherman
Nov. 18, 1905-Feb. 1, 1951

Niles Daily Star Friday, February 2, 1951; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library(from K. Alton)

Mrs. Alice Sherman, of 308 North Sixth street, who had been ill since Thanksgiving day, died at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Osteopathic hospital, South Bend.

Surviving are her father, Oscar Reid, and her husband, William Sherman, both of Niles; her daughter, Mrs. Lloyd Ostrander, of Niles; two step-sons Elmer E. and Vern R. Sherman, both of Niles; two brothers Harold and Foster Reid, of Niles, and two sisters, Mrs. Lyle Hoover, of Berrien Springs, and Mrs. Edith Johnson of Niles.

Mrs. Sherman was born on Nov. 18, 1905, in Mendon, and had lived here most of her life.  She was a member of the First Evangelical United Brethren church.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday by the Rev. G. A. Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren church.  Burial will bin in Silverbrook cemetery.

Everett E. Seals
July 3, 1873-Feb. 22, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 22, 1951; page 2, col. 4, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

Everett E. Seals, 77, of 1110 Phoenix street died at 12:55 a.m. today in Pawating hospital, after an illness of four weeks.

Surviving are his five daughters (illegible) Stemman and Mrs. Clair McIntyre, of Cassopolis, Mrs. Hubert Cole, of Chesney, and Mrs. Frank Leonard of Niles, and three sons, Frank, Allie and Eugene Seals, all of Niles.

Surviving are 25 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. William Witters, of Franklin, OK, and Mrs. Ruth Burch, of Texas, and three brothers, Warren and Harry Seals, of Attica, Ind., and Robert Seals, of South Bend.

Seals was born on July 3, 1873, in Warrant county, Ind., and came here from Illinois in 1928.  He last was employed as a guard by the Kawneer company.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday by the Rev. T. M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Effie Rush
April 1869-March 3, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 5, 1951; page 2, col. 7, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

Mrs. Effie Rush, 81, mother of Mrs. Carl VanSkiver, of Niles, died Saturday in Miami, Fla.  She was born in April, 1869, in Marion, Ind.

Also surviving are two daughters, Miss Marie Rush and Mrs. S.M. Auerbach, both of Miami; three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

The body will arrive at the Kiger funeral home Wednesday morning.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete.