Obituaries

Alonzo W. Gentry
July 27, 1912-Aug. 20, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 22, 1981, page 2, col. 2=3, microfilm Niles
District Library

Alonzo W. "Tiny" Gentry, 69, of 164 Briar Crest Lane, Niles, died at 8:54 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

He was a retired employee of the Kawneer Company. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Kawneer 25 Year Club and the Big Brothers of America.

Mr. Gentry was born July 27, 1912 in Manchester, Tenn. and had lived here since 1936, coming from Tennessee.  He was married on March 3, 1939 in South Bend to Mildred A. Ernsberger. She survives.

Also surviving are a son, Roger of Paw Paw; a daughter, Mrs. Willard (Doris) Monks of Stigler, Okla.; a brother, Thurston, of Niles; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Ray C. Cunningham will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or the Michigan Heart Fund.

G. Maxwell Graham
Aug. 16, 1903-Aug. 2, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 3, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--G. Maxwell (Red) Graham, 66, of 2818 Niles-Buchanan Road, died at 11:55 p.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital, after an illness of several weeks.

A retired purchasing agent for Bendix Corp., South Bend, Mr. Graham was born Aug. 16, 1903, in Niles, and had lived here a lifetime.  On April 13, 1926, in South Bend, he married the former Gladys M. Meyers, who survives.

Mr. Graham was a member of the Niles Elks Lodge.

Survivors include two sons, Richard G. and Robert C. Graham, both of Niles; his mother, Mrs. George Graham of Niles and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Tuesday at the funeral home.

Martha L. Gilbert
Oct. 25, 1889-Jan. 2, 1940

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 3, 1940, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. L.E. Gilbert, Resident of Niles 14 Years, is Dead.

Mrs. Martha L. Gilbert, 50, wife of L.E. Gilbert, died Tuesday night in her home, 19 North Fourth street, death terminating one week's illness.

She was born near Port Amberth, N.Y., Oct. 24, 1889, and came to Niles from Paw Paw 14 years ago.

Surviving are her husband; her mother, Mrs. Mary Bernard, Kalamazoo; a daughter, Mrs. Max Albright, Niles; and three sons, Norman, Leroy and Donald, all of Niles; also three brothers, Frank Schoolcraft, Niles; Norman Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo, and Freeman Schoolcraft, Chicago.

The body is at the Rutherford funeral home, where services will be held Friday afternoon at 2. The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 4, 1940, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles  District Library

SERVICES FRIDAY FOR MRS. GILBERT

Services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 in the Rutherford funeral home for Mrs. Martha L. Gilbert, 50, wife of L.E. Gilbert. Mrs. Gilbert died Tuesday night in her home, 19 North Fourth street, following a week's illness.

She was born in Port Amberth, N.Y., Oct. 25, 1889, and came to Niles from Paw Paw 14 years ago.  She was married to Mr. Gilbert Dec. 13, 1909, at Paw Paw.

Surviving are her husband,; her mother, Mrs. Mary Bernard, Kalamazoo; four children, Norman, Leroy, Donald, at home, and Mrs. Max Albright, Niles; also four brothers, Frank Schoolcraft, Niles; Norman Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo; Freeman Schoolcraft, Chicago; Dale Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo; and five sisters, Mrs. Florence Spencer, Detroit; Mrs. Blanche Russell, Detroit; Mrs. Nellie Drolet, Climax; Mrs. Effie Reed, Athens, and Mrs. Eleanor Meyers, Kalamazoo.

The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster will officate at services Friday and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 5, 1940, page 2, col.2, microfilm Niles  District Library

GILBERT SERVICE HELD TODAY AT 2

Members of the family served as pallbearers this afternoon for the funeral of Mrs. Martha L. Gilbert at 2 o'clock in the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. J.K. Hoffmaster officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

The pallbearers were Max Albright, Niles; Ralph Reed, Athens; Duane Drolet, Comstock; Eric Spencer and Thomas Russell, Detroit and Samuel Mayers, Kalamazoo.

Out of town relatives here for the service included Mr.and Mrs. Ray Spencer, Mr.and Mrs. Oscar Schoolcraft, Mr.and Mrs. Eric Spencer, Dorothy Spencer and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Russell, Detroit, and Mr.and Mrs. Norman Schoolcraft, Mr. and Mrs. A. Bernard, Mr.and Mrs. Samuel Meyers, Dale Schoolcraft and Ruth Gilbert, all of Kalamazoo.

Meredith M. Harger
April 22, 1919-March 25, 1984

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 26, 1984, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Meredith M. Harger, 73, 750 Colony Court, died at 12:35 a.m. Sunday at Mease Hospital, Dunedin, Fla. after a brief illness.

She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was a retired employee of Niles Community Schools.

Born April 22, 1919 in Bay City, she lived here since 1918, coming from Bay City. On June 8, 1935 in Niles, she married C. Keith Harger, who survives.    Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral  home.  Memorials may be made to the Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service.

Gladys E. Hutton
Oct. 19, 1904-Oct. 29, 1977

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 31, 1977, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES-- Mrs. Gladys E. Hutton, 73, of 113 N. 15th St., died at 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.

A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles and the Eastern Star, she was born Oct. 19, 1904 in Niles and had lived here her lifetime.

On Nov. 1, 1972 in Niles she married Thomas H. Hutton, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Kenneth N. Murphy of Buchanan; two brothers, Clayton McCoy of Niles and Donald McCoy of Battle Creek; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. William J. Fuerstenau of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Michael L. Zechlin
Dec. 15, 1961-Sept. 30, 1988

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 1, 1988, page 2, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

Michael L. Zechlin, 302 S. Fourth St.., Niles, died as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident Friday morning.  He was pronounced dead at 9:45 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Pawating Hospital.

Zechlin was a graduate of Niles High school and attended Southwestern Michigan College.

Employed by Allied Signal Ind., he was an active softball player. He born born Dec. 15, 1961, in Niles where he lived all his life.

On Sept. 26, 1987, he married Julie Shields. She and their son Nicholas survive.

He is also survived by his parents, Lewis (Sparky) and Patricia Zechlin of Niles; a sister, Kim Zechlin of Niles; and a grandmother, Mary Cottrell of Niles.

Services are planned for 11 a.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. David Henderson of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-4 and from 7-9 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home. The family asks that memorials be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church of the Babe Ruthe League.