Ralph C. Smith
Aug. 21, 1912-Jan. 2, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 2, 1980, page 2, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Ralph C. (Mike) Smith, 67, of 525 Laurel Drive, died at 6:55 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital, following an illness of 11 days.

He was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church, the Orchard Hills Country Club, the Elks Lodge, and the Pickwick Club, and was a World War II Army veteran.

Mr. Smith was born Aug. 21, 1912 in Niles, and had lived here his lifetime.

On July 12, 1969 in Niles he married Jacqueline Norris, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Peter W. Smith of Niles; a step-son, Rev. Michael Malone of Springfield, Va.; two daughters, Mrs. Shelley W. Julius and Mrs. Victoria K. Aaron, both of Perrysburg, Ohio; a step-daughter, Miss Kathleen Malone of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Helen J. Stark of Niles; and six grandchildren.

Memorial services will be at noon Friday at the Trinity Episcopal Church with the Rev. Vincent J. Anderson of Trinity Episcopal Church and the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John D. Slowey, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

There will be no visitation. Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Niles Community Library.

Harry W. Stark
July 23, 1895-Dec. 31, 1979

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 2, 1980, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Harry W. Stark, 84, of 732 Hickory St., died at 8:04 p.m. Monday at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

Mr. Stark was born July 23, 1895, in South Bend, and was a lifetime resident of the Niles area. He was a World War I veteran of the U.S. Army and a 50-year member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge Number 4, Free and Accepted Masons. He was retired from the Studebaker Corp.

On Sept. 1, 1917, in South Bend, he married Helen J. Smith. She survives, along with several nieces and nephews in the area.

Full Masonic Rites will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home by members of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Maehue Woodruff
March 19, 1906-Jan. 2, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 2, 1980, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Maehue Woodruff, 73, of 449 Gumwood Road, died at 8:30 a.m. today at the Paul Stephen Nursing Home.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 3, 1980, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Maehue T. Woodruff, 73, of 449 Gumwood Road, died at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Paul Stephan Nursing Home, following an extended illness.

A member of the Franklin AME Church, she was a retired poultry sales employee.  She was born March 19, 1906 in Livingston, Ala., and had lived here since 1944 coming from Chicago, Ill.

Her husband, Clarence Woodruff, died June 15, 1958.

Survivors include a sister, Miss Fannie Lee Tankersley of Niles.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m.  Saturday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles E. Wilson of the Franklin AME Church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, where a wake service will be held from 7-8 p.m. Friday.

Charles Fred Goldfuss
July 6, 1878-March 21, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 22, 1971, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Charles Fred Goldfuss, 92, of 2463 Dick St., died at 2:52 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital, after being in poor health for some time.

A retired repairman for the Penn  Central Railroad, Mr. Goldfuss was born July 6, 1878, in Bertrand Township, and had lived in this area all his life. His wife, Melissa, died in 1960. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, are a son, Harry of Fallbrook, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. Harold Bates of Niles; a sister, Katherine of Bridgman; two half-sisters, Mrs. Orville Williams of Niles and Mrs. Irene Jerue of Galien; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. , Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Theodore Laesch of St. Paul's Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.

Viola M. Marston
May 27, 1878-June 14, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 15, 1965, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Viola M. Marston, 87, of 310 Cass St., died at 10:20 p.m. Monday in Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center, where she had been a patient 16 days. She had been ill two and one-half months.

Mrs. Marston was born May 27, 1878, in Grand Mound, Iowa. She came to Niles from that city in 1883. As Viola Wilcox she was married Nov. 16, 1898 in South Bend to Delano S. Marston. He died July 31, 1950.

Survivors include three sons, Joseph, Niles; Harold, St. Joseph; and Carl, Albuquerque, N.M.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home. Jerome Farmer, First Church of Christ Scientist reader, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Sarah Sheriff Marston
1849-Jan.13, 1883

Niles Democrat, Saturday, January 20, 1883, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The death of Mrs. Marston, wife of Will Marston, enrolling clerk at Lansing, which occured [sic] at Benton Harbor, on Saturday last, after an illness of about three weeks, has awakened sincere regret and sympathy in this, her old home, where as Miss Sarah Sheriff, sister of T.M. Sheriff, formerly of this city, now of the Mendon Globe, she is so pleasantly remembered. She was also married here and for a time dwelt among us, and by her quiet unobtrusive walk and christian virtues, won the esteem of the community.  Mrs. Marston was a member of the Episcopal church and during the trying hours of her fatal sickness, she expressed firm reliance on the mercy and goodness of the allwise Father, committing herself and family to Him, knowing that all would be well.  For her children, husband and friends, she prayed to stay, but if God so ordered, she was willing to go up higher. She talked calmly and beautifully of her approaching death, bade them all an affectionate farewell and peacefully passed away.  Three little children are left motherless, and thinking of that darkened home today, we are led to ask, why was she taken, just when maternal care and love would so fondly encircle and shield the dear ones from the cold, rude winds of life. But His ways are not our ways and through these rugged paths of affliction, he will bring the faint, weary soul to the gates of peace by and by.  We must not question though the way be thorny and hard. And who shall say that her blessed spirit does not  minister to the cherished circle, now bereft, with a love far holier than earth. She will watch over them from her beautiful home and await their coming "over there."

The funeral took place in this city, on Monday, January 15, 1883, at 4 p.m., from the Episcopal church, and was largely attended, many friends from Benton Harbor, where the deceased was so highly esteemed, being present, having accompanied the remains here. Rest happy soul! freed from all mortal sin and strife and safely harbored on the shore of eternal peace.