Obituaries

John Spencer
March 18, 1903-Dec. 23, 1969

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 24, 1969, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--John Spencer, 66, of 1730 Ontario Road, died at 7:05 a.m., Tuesday in South Bend Memorial Hospital.

An electrical mechanic for Materials Handling Equipment Corp., South Bend, Mr. Spencer was born March 18, 1903, in St. Louis, Mich., and had lived here most of his life coming from his place of birth. He married the former Irene Juhasz, who survives.

Also survivng[sic] are two brothers, Dwight Spencer, Niles and Dr. Perry Spencer, Lansing.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Robert Trenery of the Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 this evening at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Mrs. Rose McLaughlin
Feb. 27, 1882-Dec. 23, 1969

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 24, 1969, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles--Mrs. Rose McLaughlin, 87, of 218 Parkway, died at 12:50 p.m. Tuesday in Berrien General Hospital, where she had been a patient since June 2.

Born Feb. 27, 1882, in Kentucky, Mrs. McLaughlin had lived here since 1926, coming from Morrison, Tenn.  She married Walter H. McLaughlin on July 22, 1900. He preceded her in death on May 1, 1943.

Survivors include three sons, Ray and Clifton McLaughlin, both of Niles and George McLaughlin, Wauchula, Fla.; three daughters, Mrs. Charles Stroud, Berrien Springs, Mrs. Earl Hoisington, Chicago Heights, Ill., and Mrs. Minnie Dawson, Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Minnie Bonner, Niles and Mrs. Cora Bennett, Cookville, Tenn., 21 grandchildren; 61 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with Gary Johnson of the Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetry.

Friends may call after 7 this evening at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Alice M. Partridge
Aug. 29, 1888-Dec. 21, 1969

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 22, 1969, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Alice M. Partidge, 81, of the Willow Fair Nursing Home, Baroda, Mich., a former Niles resident, died at 12:310 p.m. Sunday in the home.

Born Aug. 29, 1888 in St. Joseph, Mrs. Partridge had lived here since 1940, coming from Galien. She married William H. Partridge on July 4, 1910, in Galien. He preceded her in death on Dec. 23, 1956. She was a teacher in the Adult Sunday School class of the South Niles Community Church for many years.

Mrs. Partridge is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Mayer, and Mrs. Wilma Zebell, both of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Hazel Simmons, Grants Pass, Ore., Mrs. Edith Simpson, Fontan, Calif. and Mrs. Ruth Collins, Compton, Calif.; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Fred Smith of the South Niles Community Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Robert Palmer
Dec. 24, 1914-Dec. 21, 1969

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 22, 1969, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Robert Palmer, 54, of 1134 Maple St., died at 7:45 a.m. Sunday in South Bend Memorial Hospital, where he had been a patient for 18 days.

A construction worker for the Masonry Builders, Inc., Mishawaka, Mr. Palmer was born Dec. 25, 1914, in Salisbury, Tenn. His wife, Clara, survives.

Also surviving is a son, Robert Palmer Jr., Jackson, Mich.; two stepsons, Christopher and Leslie Chavous, both of Niles and two daughters, Denise and Stephanie Palmer, both of Niles.

Funeral arrangements, being handled by the Pifer Funeral Home, are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 23, 1969, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Funeral services for Robert Palmer, 54, of 1135 Maple St., who died Sunday in South Bend Memorial Hospital will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.

Officiating will be the Rev. Willis E. Weaver of the Niles Church of the Nazarene. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

John Loos
Dec. 27, 1901-Dec. 22, 1969

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 23, 1969, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--John Loos, 67, of 1221 Regent St., died at 1:10 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital after a brief illness.

A retired Tylers employe, Mr. Loos was born Dec. 27, 1901, in Ames, Neb. and had lived here since 1923, coming from Three Oaks. He married the former Erma Long, who survives, on Oct. 8, 1960. He was a member of the Niles Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Also surviving are, a son, John A., Whittier, Calif.; two brothers, Alex and Edward Loos of Sunland, Calif. and Niles respectively; two sisters, Mrs. Lydia Stover and Mrs. O'Linda Knauf, both of Niles and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Seventh-day Adventist Church with the Elder Oliver Johnston officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Donald H. Sparks
April 6, 1917-Dec. 18, 1969

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 19, 1969, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Donald H. Sparks, 52, of 1035 Allouez Dr., died at 4 p.m. Thursday in his home.

A salesman with the Electrolux Company, Mr. Sparks was born April 6, 1917, in Clark County, Iowa, and had lived here since 1963, coming from Wauwatosa, Wis. He married the former Justine G. Maseth, who survives, on May 24, 1941, in Detroit. He was a World [War] II veteran.

Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Robert Banjamin, Munich, Germany and the Misses Gail and Laurene Sparks, both at home and a brother, Eugene Sparks, Chicago.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. John R. Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Sunday at the funeral home.