Obituaries

Joseph Probst
Sept. 28, 1906-Jan. 10, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 11, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Joseph Probst, 56, of 307 Michigan St., died at 8:20 p.m., Thursday, in Berrien County Hospital where he had been a patient two months.  He was in failing health for four years.

Mr. Probst, a mason tender, was born Sept. 8, 1906, in South Bend and moved to Niles from there in 1922.

Surviving are: his widow, Mildred, and three brothers, George, Fred and Ray Probst, all of Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday with the Rev. Earl J. Wickstrom, pastor of First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Myrtle Benhardt Blood
1875-Jan. 14, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 16, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Myrtle Benhardt Blood, 87, formerly of Berrien Center, died Monday at her home in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Chester Erickson, pastor of Detroit Evangelical United Brethren Church, formerly of Niles, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call Friday evening at the funeral home.

Minnie B. Villwock
July 6, 1891-Jan. 19, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 21, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Minnie B. Villwock, 71, of 214 N. 13th St., died at 1:45 a.m., today in her home. She had been ill six months.

Mrs. Villwock was born July 6, 1891 in Chicago, Ill. She came to Niles from that city in 1914. She was married to Emil W. Villwock on Sept. 26, 1914 in Niles. He survives.

Other survivors include three sons, Max and Lester, both of Niles, and Albert, Berrien Springs; two daughters, Mrs. John Gold, Niles, and Mrs. Henry Villwock, Berrien Springs; a brother, Albert Priebe, Chicago; 13 grandchildren, a niece and a nephew.

She was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed.)

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Monday in the Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. Richard Fraser, pastor of her church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

The family requests that flowers be omitted.

William H. Silkworth, Sr.
July 24, 1893-Jan. 19, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 21, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for William H. Silkworth, Sr. 69, of 1339 Ferry St., will be conducted at 1 p.m., Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. John MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Silkworth died at 2:15 p.m., Saturday in his home, following an illness of several months.

Mr. Silkworth was born July 24, 1893 in Bangor.  He came to Niles from Battle Creek in 1919. He was a retired engineer with the New York Central Railroad.

Survivors include his widow, Helen; a son, William Jr., Niles, and two grandchildren.

He was a veteran of World War I and a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Elizabeth Jordan
Feb. 3, 1878-Jan. 24, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 24, 1963, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Elizabeth Jordan, 84, of 904 Ferry St., died at 3:20 a.m., today in Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient since Sunday.

Mrs. Jordan was born Feb. 3, 1878 in Oxford, Ohio. She came to Niles from Cassopolis 30 years ago. Her husband, Llewellyn died Dec. 18, 1961.

Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. Melba Dixon and Mrs. Geraldine McGruder, both of Niles and Mrs. Muriel Crew and Mrs. Vivian Nolan, both of Cleveland, Ohio; a son, Scott Poston, Detroit; five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

She was a member of  Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Saturday in her church. The Rev. Theodis Hadley, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the Kiger Funeral Home.

Zada E. Cutting
Aug. 19, 1865-Oct. 24, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 25, 1961, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in Trinity Episcopal Church here for Mrs. Zada E. Cutting, 96, 903 Oak St., who died Wednesday morning in Pawating Hospital following a months' illness. The rector, the Rev. John G. Carlton, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Cutting was born on Aug. 19, 1865, in Allegan and had lived most of her lifetime here. Her husband, William who had been a member of the Niles Police Department, died in September, 1953[sic].

Surviving are; two daughters, Mrs. Florence Paddock, 903 Oak St., and Mrs. Mary Etzcorn, Royal Oak; a son, Clarence J. Cutting, Detroit; 17 grandchildren; numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Henry A. Davis, 1216 Phoenix St., and a sister, Mrs. Clarence Vetter, 520 Union St.

Friends are being received at the Pifer Funeral Home.

*Husband William Cutting died in September, 1935.