Obituaries

Benjamin H. Smith
Feb. 7, 1878-Oct. 17, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 18, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Benjamin H. Smith, 731 Hickory street, vice president of the Michigan Wire Goods Company and active . . .[illegible] . . last Monday.

His wife, Grace, died on March 8, 1953. Surviving are two sons, Mahlon, of Niles, and Rolland, of New Orleans, La.; one daughter, Mrs. Dale Apt, of South Bend, and two grandchildren.

Smith was born Feb. 7, 1878, in Coldwater Township, Branch County, and came here from Coldwater in 1902.  He was a graduate of Cleary Business College, at Ypsilanti, and was a member of the Rotary Club, the Knights of Pythias, was a director of the Niles Federal Savings and Loan Association, chairman of the local Cemetery Board, trustee of the First Methodist Church, member of the South Bend Knife and Fork Club, and president of the Buff Wyandotte Club.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Methodist Church, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor, presiding.  Burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Fern I. Shoemaker
Feb. 2, 1900-Sept. 6, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 8, 1975, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library 

NILES—Mrs. Fern I. Shoemaker, 75, 405 Brookfield, died at 8 a.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital after an illness of two years.

She was born Feb. 2, 1900 in Mishawaka, Ind., and was a lifelong resident of the area.

Her husband, O.A. Shoemaker, died in 1945.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Fred T. smith of the South Niles Community church officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends are calling at the funeral home.

William H. Wharton
July 26, 1878-July 13, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 15, 1954, page 2 col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

William H. Wharton, 2114 Portland avenue, Nashville, Tenn., who moved from Niles several years ago, died Tuesday at Chattanooga, Tenn. He had been ill 10 months.

Surviving are his wife, Sue; one daughter, Mrs. J.F. Conover, Nashville, Tenn.; two sisters, Mrs. T.P. Yeatman, Columbia, Tenn., and Miss Anne L. Wharton, Chattanooga, Tenn., and one brother, Richard C. Wharton, Nashville, Tenn.

He was born on July 26, 1878, and moved from Niles several years ago. He was retired general agent of the N.C. & St. L. Railroad of Nashville, Tenn., and married the former Sue Landon of Niles.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Nashville.  Arrangements are being made by the Kiger Funeral Home for graveside services at 1 p.m. Friday at Silverbrook Cemetery. The body will be taken directly from the train to the cemetery.

Infant Daughter Woodhall
Oct. 10, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 11, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Committal rites were held at 3:30 p.m. today at Silverbrook Cemetery here for the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Woodall, 1037 Bailey avenue.  The baby was born at 9:38 a.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital, and died at 11:15 p.m.  Surviving besides the parents are a brother and sister, Harold Jr., and Diana, both at home.

Jacquelin Zo Woodford
Oct. 9, 1952-Oct. 8, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 8, 1954, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Jacquelin Zo Woodford, 23-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rollin Woodford, 1310 North Fifth street, was pronounced dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital at 6:50 p.m Thursday.  Berrien County Coroner Dr. Franklyn G. Rice of Niles ruled the death due to a congenital heart.  An autopsy has been ordered.

The child was born Oct. 9, 1953[sic] in Niles.  Besides her parents she leaves five sisters and a brother, Myrtle, Mary Leila, Jule, Susanne and Melvin, all at home, and her grandparents, Mr and Mrs. Harry Woodford of Dowagiac, and Mrs. Ada Finley of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Full Gospel Assembly Church with Elder W.J. Coad officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home.

Jorjen Fletcher
Oct. 23, 1954-Jan. 12, 1955

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 13, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library 

Jorjen Fletcher, two-months-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Fletcher, 1827 Pucker, died at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday in Gary, Ind. While enroute from Pawating Hospital to Loyola University Hospital in Chicago. She was admitted to Pawating on Jan. 3.

The child was born Oct. 23, 1954, in Niles. Surviving besides her parents are: a sister, Peggy, at home, and her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Fletcher, of Niles, and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Hellwig, of Buchanan.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funral[sic] Home here until noon Friday when the body will be taken to the Methodist Church for services at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.