Obituaries

Samuel Carson
Feb. 13, 1919-Jan. 12, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 13, 1981, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Samuel Carson, 61, of 923 Sycamore St., Niles, died at 3:30 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital following a lengthy illness.

He was a retired employee of Laughin' Place Stables and had spent most  of his life in this area.

He was born Feb. 13, 1919 in Union, Tenn. He was married to Mildred Jameson who died in 1943.

Survivors include a son, Grace Gamble of Chicago and six grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles. The Rev. W.L. Daniel of Mount Calvary Baptist Church will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Wake services will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Minnie L. Burdue
Sept. 17, 1904-Jan. 11, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 12, 1981, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Minnie L. Burdue, 76, of 986 S. th St., Niles, died 12:30 p.m. Sunday, January 11, at Pawating Hospital, after an illness of a month.

Mrs. Burdue was a member of the New Apostolic Church.

She was born September 17, 1904, in Iuka, Illinois. She had lived in this area since moving here from Dodge City, Kansas, in 1925.

She was married October, 1929, in South Bend, to Ralph F. Burdue, who died in 1950.

Surviving are a son, Eugene Burdue, of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Charles (Peggy) Waldron and Mrs. Robert (Mary) Krysiak, both of Niles; and three step-daughters, Mrs. Daisey Webster, Niles; Mrs. Alice Ray, Greenstown, Indiana; and Mrs. Dorothy Alison, Mishawaka.

Also surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Lilllie Mitchell, Mrs. Grace Williams, and Mrs. Rosa Buck, all of Niles.

Mrs Burdue had five grandchildren, 18 step-grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 14, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Officiating will be the Rev. Ernest Lindstaedt and the Rev. Lawrence Lee, of the New Apostolic Church.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Verlin M. Williams
July 2, 1899-Jan. 10, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 12, 1981, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Verlin M. Williams, 81, 2323 E. Main St., Niles, died  5:30 a.m. , Saturday, January 10, at Pawating Hospital, after an extended illness.

He was a member of the Niles Elks Lodge and was retired from National Standard Company.

Williams was born July 2, 1899, in Marion, Indiana. He had lived in this area since 1916, when he moved from Marion.

August 6, 1919, in St. Joseph, Michigan, he married Olive P. VanLue, who survives him.

Also surviving are a son, B.J. Williams, of Niles; and three daughters, Mrs. G.T. (June) Frucci, and Mrs. Lois Donahue, both of  Niles; and Mrs. Keith (Betty) Russom, Eau Claire.

Also surviving are two brothers, Wayne of South Bend, and Russell, of Niles; and a sister, Mrs. Iva Lanham, of Nora, Nebraska.

He had 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Services will be held 1:30 p.m. Tuesday , at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. The Rev. Fred Smith, of the South Niles Community Church, will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call at the funeral  home from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the South Niles Community Church.

Barbara Joan Cooper
June 6, 1926-Jan. 19, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 22, 1981, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Barbara Joan Cooper, 54, of Hollywood, Calif., died at 1 p.m. Monday at her home.

She was a secretary for the Myers Drum Company.

She had been past president of the Chicago Lakeshore Chapter of the National Secretaries' Association (International.) She was a graduate of Niles High School.

She was born June 6, 1926 in Niles.

Survivors include her mother, Mrs. Mabel I. Kilgore of Niles and two sisters, Mrs. Charles (Shirley) Lunger of Niles and Mrs. Ann Reum of Dallas, Tex.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

The Rev. Donald E. Nepstad of the First Presbyterian Church in Buchanan will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbroook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Jarrell Lloyd Gentry
Feb. 10, 1940-Jan. 20, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 22, 1981, page 2, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

Jarrell Lloyd Gentry, 40, of 1421 Sheffield st., Niles, died suddenly, 8:25 p.m., Tuesday, January 20, at Pawating Hospital.

Gentry was born February 10, 1940, in Cass County, and was a lifetime resident of Niles. He was employed as a mechanic at Andy Legus Shell., Niles.

He was married June 3, 1967, in South Bend, to Betty Lou Cuthbert, who survives him.

Also surviving are three daughters, Lisa Marie, Lori Ann and Danielle Lynn, all at home; his father, Thurston, of Niles; a brother, Frank, and a sister, Mrs. Theodore (Joyce) Miller, both of Niles.

Gentry was a member of Niles F.O.P. Lodge. His CB handle was Double Dip.

Services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, January 23, at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. The Rev. Mark Graham, of Wesley United Methodist Church, and the Rev. W.J. Coad, of the Apostolic Faith Assembly, will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Thursday.

Ella F. Bartlett
May 26, 1912-Jan. 21, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 22, 1981, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Ella F. Bartlett, 68, of 19330 Darden Road, South Bend, died 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, January 21, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend.

She was formerly employed as a waitress in Niles.

Mrs. Bartlett was born May 26, 1912, in Royal Center, Indiana. Until August, 1979, she had lived in Niles for 25 years.

She was married June 15, 1940 to George E. Bartlett, who preceeded her in death in 1978.

Surviving are two brothers, Owen L. Farabee, of Osceola; and George L. Farabee of Mishawaka; and two sisters, Mrs. Alice Huenerkopf, of South Bend; and Mrs. Betty J. Breit, of Mishawaka.

Services ill be 1 p.m. Friday, in the Welsheimer North Chapel, 52803 US-33 North, South Bend. The Rev. William Imler, of Clay United Methodist Church, will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.