Obituaries

Corbette Lowery
Oct. 29, 1904-Jan. 9, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 10, 1974, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Corbette Lowery, 69, of 1711 S. 15th St., died at 12:55 a.m. Wednesday in Pawating Hospital, after being ill since December.

A retired employe of the Studebaker Corp., South Bend, Mr. Lowery was born Oct. 29, 1904, in Hickman, Ky., and had lived here for 40 years. On Dec. 24, 1939, in South Bend, he married Cleo L. Adams, who survives.

Mr. Lowery was a member of the John W. Moore Masonic Lodge, the Royal Arch of Niles, and Onward Lodge of the Knights of Pythias of South Bend.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Lowery is survived by a stepson, Henry Lee Jones of Niles; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Virginia Wilson of Cassopolis; two brothers, Collins and Harold, both of Cleveland, Ohio, and a sister, Mrs. Grace Robinson of Cleveland.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m Saturday in the Mount Calvary Baptist Church, with the Rev. W.L. Daniel officiating.  Burial will be in Slverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 11, 1974, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--A wake will be held from 7 to 9 tonight in the Pifer chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home for Corbette Lowery, who died Wednesday.

Memorials may be given to the Mount Calvary Baptist Church building fund.

M. Joan Martinson
Jan. 11, 1897-Jan. 6, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 7, 1974, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Miss M. Joan Martinson, 76, of 604 S. Third St., died at 8:40 a.m Sunday in Pawating Hospital after being ill since October.

Miss Martinson was a retired secretary for the John Hardwood Lumber Co., Logansport, Ind., where she was employed for 53 years. Born Jan. 11, 1897, in Manitowoc, Wis., Miss Martinson had lived here for four years, coming from Logansport. She was a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Logansport.

Survivors include four sisters, Mrs. Glen (Grethe) Waldorf of New London, Ohio, Mrs. Harvey (Ingeborg) Crouch, Mrs. William F. (Freda) Grafford and Mrs. S.H. (Thera) Foley, all of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Chapel of Swem-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Robert Trenery of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral chapel.

Edmund O. Merchant
Feb. 17, 1911-April 1, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 1, 1974, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Edmund O. Merchant, 63, of 2670 Lake St., died at 3:55 a.m. today in St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, where he was admitted 10 days earlier.

A retired paper maker for Simplicity Pattern Co., Mr. Merchant was born Feb. 16, 1911, in Cheboygan, Mich., and had lived here for 29 years.

Surviving are a stepson, Gerald Percy of Niles,; two daughters, Mrs. Sharon Barry and Mrs. Timothy (Janet) Rooney, both of Niles; a brother, Clarence Merchant of Cheboygan; two sisters, Mrs. Russell Barrette of Cheboygon and Mrs. Theadore Vieau of St. Clair Shores, Mich., and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in St. Mary's Catholic Church, with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John Slowey officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, where a rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Alonzo Moss
April 10, 1919-Nov. 22, 1976

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 24, 1976, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Alonzo Moss, 57, of 2273 Mulder Dr., died at 11:10 p.m. Monday at Pawating Hospital, after a short illness.

He was a self-employed brick mason.

Mr. Moss was born April 10, 1919 in Texarcana, Ark., and had lived here for 20 years, coming from Arkansas. On April 24, 1974, in Niles, he married Rosie West, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Dwayne at home, and Dwight E., Camp Pendelton, San Diego, Calif.; nine daughters, Regina, Carla, Deborah, Lisa, Estelle, Melissa, Yolanda, all at home; Mrs. Darlene Macon, South Bend, Ind. and Mrs. Augustine Kyles of Niles; one brother, Lonnie Moss, Oakland, Calif.; one sister, Izella Moss, Texarcana, Ark.; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Fletcher McAffee officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 3 p.m. Thursday at Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home.

Retta M. Nieb
Jan. 14, 1888-Oct. 6, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 8, 1968, page 14, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Retta M. Nieb, 80 of 1781 Hoyt Drive, who died at 11 p.m. Sunday in her home, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.

Rev. John R. Wyngarden, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in the Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Nieb was born Jan. 14, 1888 in Vandalia and has lived here most of her life. Mrs. Neib's husband Charles, died July 10, 1957.

She is survived by two sons, Jess and Charles both of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Larry Sherrick of Phoenix, Aria.[sic]; 14 grandchildren and 12 grea-grandchildren[sic].

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Lydia Richter
Feb. 7, 1905-Oct. 7, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 8, 1968, page 14, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lydia Richter, 63, of 544 Broadway, died at 8 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital. Mrs. Richter had been in  poor health for several months.

She was born Feb 7. 1905, in Niles and had lived here all her life.  On June 5, 1931, she married the late Frederic W. Richter in Niles. Mr. Richter died Feb. 2, 1967.

Mrs. Richter was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church, a former member of the St. Catherine Guild of the Trinity Church and an Honorary member of the Seepewa Reading Club.

She is survived by two sons, Frederic W. Jr., of Howell, Mich. and Robert of Niles; three brothers, Allen Belknap of of Oak Park, Ill., Donald of Fort Worth, Tex. and Simeon of Niles; and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Trinity Episcopal Church, with Rev. Vincent J. Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday only.

At the request of the family, memorials may be made to the Trinity Episcopal Church Memorial Fund.