Obituaries

Rose Espey 
Jan. 25, 1866-Aug. 11, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 11, 1944, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Rose Espey, Edwardsburg, Dies; Funeral in Niles

Edwardsburg, Aug. 11—Mrs. Rose Espey, 78, died at 6:30 this morning in Pawating hospital after a week's illness. She was born in Cass county Jan. 25, 1866, and spent all her life in the vicinity of Edwardsburg.

Mrs. Espey was a member of the Royal Neighbors and the Women of the Moose.

She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Frank early, Edwardsburg, three sisters, Mrs. Will Howard, Jackson; Mrs. George Bachmeyer, Kalamazoo, and Mrs. Fred Whitwam, Topeka, Kas., and three brothers, E.T. Dean and Eugene Dean, Chicago, and Alex Dean, Grand Rapids.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral chapel in Niles, where services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2:30. Mrs. Ilah Wheeler will read a Christian Science service. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 14, 1944, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

ESPEY FUNERAL

Services for Mrs. Rose Espey, 78, Edwardsburg, who died Friday morning were read this afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral chapel by Mrs. Ilah Wheeler.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Women of the Moose attended the funeral in a group. Pallbearers were Howard Payne, Earl Zechlin, Thomas Flynn, John Tynan, William Maunder and Leslie Brooks.

Florence Fowler
Oct. 8, 1875-Aug. 15, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 15, 1944, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Florence Fowler, Studebaker Firm Librarian, Dies

Miss Florence C. Fowler, 68, of 10 South Fourth Street, died at 10 this morning in her home after poor health for some time due to a heart ailment. This November Miss Fowler would have completed 44 years as librarian for the Studebaker company in South Bend.

Born in Niles Oct. 8, 1875, Miss Fowler was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Fowler. All her life was spent in Niles and South Bend.

She is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Ida Howard and Mrs. Lena Morris, Niles; a brother, George W. Fowler, Washington, D.C., and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the family home after noon Wednesday.  The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, pastor of the Methodist church of which she was a member, will officiate at services at the Rutherford funeral home Thursday afternoon at 2:30.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 16, 1944, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

FOWLER RITES

Friends of Miss Florence Fowler, 68, who died Tuesday morning may call at the home at 10 South Fourth street until 9 Thursday morning. Services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2:30 by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster. Burial will follow in Silverbrook cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Raymond and Kenneth Morris, Richard Howard, Lyle Giddings and W.S. Wright, all of Niles, and G.A. Reum, South Bend.

Edward Ray Grice
April 7, 1944-Oct. 10, 1944 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 11, 1944, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Dowagiac Child Dies at Pawating Hospital

Edward Ray Grice, five month old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Grice, 201 First avenue, Dowagiac, died at 9:15 Tuesday night in Pawating hospital after a week's illness.

The infant was born in Lee Memorial hospital, Dowagiac, Apr. 7, 1944.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted Thursday morning at 11 by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Charles Foster Hammond
Aug. 19, 1854-Oct. 30, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 1, 1944, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES RESIDENT 60 YEARS EXPIRES

A resident of Niles for over 60 years, Charles Foster Hammond, 90, was buried in Silverbrook cemetery today following service at 2 p.m. in the Calvin funeral home, Hartford.

Hammond, who has lived in Hartford for the past 24 years, died Monday afternoon in the St. Joseph sanatorium, St. Joseph.

Born in Mayville, Wis., Aug. 19, 1854, Hammond came to Niles as a small boy.

Surviving are the widow, Ida; a son, Samuel Hammond, Niles, and five daughters Mrs. Bernice Willard, Indianapolis; Mrs. Gladys Hess, Kalamazoo; Mrs. Phyllis Ball, Chicago; Mrs. Alice Ryno, Benton Harbor; and Mrs. Janice Taggert, at home.

Pallbearers were Samuel, Frank L., and Charles S. Hammond, Dr. Waler C. Ball, W.R. Hess and S.C. Woollard.

Walter Stanley Hatch
July 10, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 11, 1944, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Hatch Baby Dies Soon After Birth 

Walter Stanley Hatch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Hatch, 1211 North Thirteenth street, died 12 hours after birth Monday in Pawating hospital.

He is survived by four brothers, Bernard, Virgil, Robert and Wayne, all at home, and the parents.

Services were conducted in the Pifer funeral home at 1 this afternoon by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Charles A. Hess
Feb. 13, 1877-Aug. 28, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 28, 1944, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

CHARLES HESS, 67, ROUTE 3, STRICKEN

Charles A. Hess, 67, of the Maple Grove farm, Route 3, died at 12:06 this morning in his home after three months' illness.

Born in Niels Feb. 13, 1877, Hess moved to Mishawaka and returned to Niles 25 years ago.  He was employed at The Kawneer Company and was a member of the 25-Year club there. Hess also was a a member of the Elks, the Masonic lodge and the Bend of the River grange.

He was married Aug. 31, 1899, to Imogene Babcock in their present home.  Thursday would have been their 45th wedding anniversary.

Surviving besides the widow, area a daughter, Mrs. William Karstens and a grandson, James George Karstens, Niles; two brothers, Fred Hess, St. Joseph, Mo., and Frank Hess, Minneapolis; a sister, Clara Hess, Niles, and a niece, Mrs. Gordon Bachman, Niles.

Friends may call at the family home . . . [illegible] . . . conducted in the Price and Kiger chapel Wednesday at 3 by the Rev. O. H. Gerstenkorn. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 31, 1944, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

HESS RITES

Services for Charles A. Hess, 67, of Route 3, were conducted in the Price and Kiger chapel Wednesday at 3 by the Rev. O.H. Gerstenkorn. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.  Hess died in his home Monday.  Pallbearers were John Pfeil, Bruce Ward, Howard Nieb, Maurice Lolmaugh, Charles Conrad and M.F. Osborne.