Obituaries

Carson Paul Parker
March 7, 1889-Nov. 29, 1943

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 29, 1943, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

CARSON PARKER, 54, TAKEN BY DEATH

Carson Paul Parker, 54, of 1651 Oak street, died in Epworth hospital, South Bend, at 1 this morning after an illness of seven weeks. He had been confined to the hospital since last Tuesday.

Born in Huntington, Ind., March 7, 1889, he came to Niles about 1891. He was married t Miriam Proctor, who died in 1931. In November, 1936, he married Macel Van Gilder, who survives.

Lodge Chaplain

A graduate of Niles high school, he attended the University of Chicago where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He was one of the early chaplains of the Elks lodge in Niles He was employed by the Studebaker corporation in the accounting department.

Surviving are the widow, two daughters, Lieut. Mary E. Parker, army nurses' corps, Langley field, Va., and Mrs. Thomas O'Halloran, Niles; his father, Bascom Parker, Sr., and a brother, Bascom, Jr., San Francisco, Calif.

Body was taken to the Price and Kiger chapel where funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon by the Rev. J.K. Hoffmaster.

Floyd Patesel
July 4, 1907-March 23, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 23, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Floyd (Charlie) Patesel, 55, of 1109 McKee St., will be conducted at 4 p.m.  Wednesday in the First Presbyterian Church.  The Rev. John MacLachan, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital at 4:45 p.m. Saturday. Death was attributed to a heart attack.

Mr. Patesel, a tool and die maker with the Bertrand Products Co., was born July 4, 1907, in Starke County, Ind. He married Helen Kinder on May 17, 1940, in South Bend, and came to Niles from that city in 1945.

Survivors include his widow; a son, Roger, at home, and a brother, Steven, Chicago.

Friends are being received at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Earl Edward Pierce
1878-March 10, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 11, 1963, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Man “Fears” Hospital, Dies

Earl Edward Pierce, 343 Water St., who, Niles police said, had a “fear of Hospital,” died at 9 a.m.  Sunday at his home.

Police said the 84-year-old man refused to leave his home for the hospital, or permit medical aid Saturday night.  Police went to Pierce's home at 6:40 p.m. Saturday, after a neighbor reported he had not been seen outside his home.

Police found Pierce in bed, very ill and having difficulty breathing. He refused to be moved to a hospital and declined aid from City Nurse Mary Thompson.

* * *

WAYNE Hendershott was at Pierce's home when police arrived. At 9 a.m. Sunday, Hendershott reported Pierce had died.

He was born in Willoughby, Lake County, Ohio, in 1878. He had no known living relatives, according to officials of the Kiger Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with Capt. William Stewart, commander of the Niles Salvation Army, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Emilie Mack Porter
1869-May 31, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 1, 1953, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Franklin S. Porter, 518 . .[illegible] . .socially prominent local woman, died at Pawating Hospital Sunday where she had been a patient since Jan. 12.

Born in Niles, Mrs. Porter was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. Mack. A sister and a brother preceeded her in death.

She taught in the high schools . . .[illegible] . ..before joining the state Department of Education at Lansing.

She married Judge Franklin S. Porter of Lansing on Dec. 17, 1902, and lived in Lansing until after the judge's death in 1924. She then returned to Niles, where she lived until her death.

She was a past president of the Niles Club of Home Gardens, and the Lansing  Woman's club. She  also was a member of the  Niels Musical Club and the Ladies Historical Society.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m . at the Kiger Funeral Home with the Rev. Chester Wetzel, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

George V. Prince
Feb. 22, 1901-Aug. 28, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Thursday,  August 28, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

George V. Prince, 62, of 115 Howard St., died at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday in Pawating Hospital where he was admitted at noon. His death was sudden.

A native of Winamac, Ind., he was born on Feb. 22, 1901, and moved to Niles in 1939 from Elkhart, Ind. He was employed as a die maker by the National-Standard Company.

On Dec. 7, 124[sic], he married Leone K. Pestow at Elkhart.  The widow survives.

Also surviving are a son, Richard K., Niles; one granddaughter, Niles; and two sisters, Mrs. Gladys Reish, Elkhart, and Mrs. Edith Overmyer, Lawanna, Ind.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Kiger Funeral Home with Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating.  Burial in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Bertha L. Putnam
May 30, 1884-Dec. 6, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 7, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Bertha Lampa Putnam, 69, of 1210 Cedar St. Died t 11:50 p.m. Friday. She had been a patient at the Dwellyn Hall nursing home, 612 N. 4th St., since 1958.

She was born May 30, 1894, and was married to William F. Putnam in Three Oaks in 1909. Mr. Putnam, who was  a local mail carrier and preacher at the Methodist Church, died in 1952.

She was born May 30, 1894, and Methodist Church since 1909; charter member of the Berean Class; the Women's Society of Christian Service,and the Woman's Auxiliary of Postal Clerks.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m .Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home. Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m.  Sunday.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 9, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

PUTNAM RITES

Funeral services for Mrs. Bertha Lampa Putnam, 79, of 1210 Cedar St., who died Friday, will be conducted at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home. Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs Putnam was born May 30, 1884.

Surviving are six nephews and four nieces.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.