Judith Babbitt Ruetz, 81
Nov. 27, 1928 – March 12, 2010

Judith Babbitt Ruetz, 81, of North Fifth Street, Niles died at 1:15 p.m. Friday, March 12, 2010 at her home following an illness.

She was born Nov. 27, 1928 in Niles to John and Fay (Smith) Babbitt and has lived in Niles all her life. She graduated from Niles High School  and attended the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor).

Judith was an active patron of the Niles District Library, reading a wide variety of subjects. She also enjoyed and practiced many of the arts of homemaking, including gardening, sewing, cooking, upholstery, canning and other crafts.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Fay Babbitt.

Surviving family includes her daughters, Nicola Babbitt Ruetz and Tobye (Dallas) Babbitt Merrill, both of Niles and a granddaughter, Tya Babbitt Penton of Charleston, S.C.

Her family wishes to publicly express their deepest gratitude to Judith’s loving caregivers, Sara, Gabriela, Juan, Victor and Yolanda.

The family of Judith Babbitt Ruetz is gathering privately at the graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. They invite relatives and friends to an open house at Judith’s home to celebrate her life from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 18, 2010.

Contributions in memory of Judith may be made to the Niles District Library or to an animal humane organization of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Nancy Anglin, 40
May 21, 1969-March 31, 2010

Nancy Irene Anglin, 40, of 1249 Lykins Lane, Niles died at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at Lykins House Adult Living Facility, Niles of natural causes.

Services will be held at noon Saturday, April 3, 2010 at Bethel Tabernacle, 71378 Ironwood Drive, Niles with Pastor Matthew Bair of the church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles graveside on Monday, April 5, 2010.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 3 at Bethel Tabernacle.

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:58am Friday, April 2, 2010

Alan Vetter, 79
July 18, 1930 – April 7, 2010

Alan I. Vetter, 79, formerly of Niles died at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at Laurels of Kent in Lowell, Mich. following an extended illness.

He was born July 18, 1930 in South Bend to George I. Vetter and Kathryn Schmidt Vetter. He lived most of his life at 405 South Saint Joseph St., Niles, moving to Grand Rapids in 1997. He was employed for several years at the former Niles Cabinet Co.

Al graduated from Niles High School in 1948. He had an outstanding record with the Niles High School baseball team as a pitcher, which led to a successful tryout with the Detroit Tigers. An eye injury ended his major league baseball career before his first game. He completed a year at Western Michigan University, but his eyesight continued to fail, eventually leaving him blind. He continued to follow baseball as a fan of the Tigers, and enjoyed following the University of Michigan football team.

His survived by a brother, Thomas F. Vetter, of Rochester, N.Y.

He was preceded in death by his father, George I. Vetter, D.D.S., who died in 1952; mother, Kathryn Schmidt Vetter, who died in 1987; and a brother, John H. “Jack” Vetter, who died in 1995.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at the graveside, Silverbrook Cemetery with Raymond Fulbright of First Presbyterian Church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. No visitation will be offered.

Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:36am Friday, April 9, 2010

Judith A. Kolig, 67
Nov. 28, 1942 – April 12, 2010

Judith A. Kolig, 67, of Flintstone, Md. and formerly of Niles, died Monday, April 12, 2010 at her home following an extended illness.
Mrs. Kolig was born Nov. 28, 1942 in Niles to Ralph and Virginia Wegner. She was a middle school teacher and homemaker.
Judith was a Protestant by faith. She was an avid quilter. She enjoyed her book club and reading and loved history.
Mrs. Kolig is survived by her husband, Helmut; daughter, Eva C. (Marco) Perry, of Newport Beach, Calif.; son, Erich A. (Dana) Kolig, of Columbia, Md.; and brothers, John (Dorothy) Wegner and Jim (Nancy) Wegner, both of Niles.
Funeral services for Judith A. Kolig will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church in Niles officiating.
Internment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Services were also held Wednesday at Scarpelli Funeral Home in Cumberland, Md.

May June Darnell, 87
Dec. 30, 1922 – April 17, 2010

May is preceded in death by a son, Louis “Jack” Darnell, who died in 2005.

She is survived by a daughter, Linda Vain, of Charlotte, N.C. and a son, Thomas Darnell, of Mumford, Tenn.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at the graveside. The family will lead some readings and share some memories.

Burial will be a Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

No public visitation will be offered.

Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice.

Ethel C. Carmichael, 98
Nov. 17, 1911 – April 16, 2010

Ethel C. Carmichael, 98, of Hickory Street, Niles died at 11:20 p.m. Friday, April 16, 2010 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

Mrs. Carmichael was born Nov. 17, 1911 in Oronoko Township, Mich. to George A. and Millie A. (Ewalt) VanPatten. She graduated from Berrien Springs High School and attended Ypsilanti Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) in Ypsilanti, Mich. She was employed at the former Funk Insurance Agency.

Ethel was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles. She volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary (now Lakeland Community Hospital) in Niles.

On Sept. 21, 1935 in Berrien Springs, she married Donald F. Carmichael, who preceded her in death on Oct. 23, 1996.

Mrs. Carmichael was also preceded in death by her brothers, Richard and Ben Warren, and a sister, Helen A. Welsh.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews.

Services for Ethel C. Carmichael will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Niles with Raymond Fulbright of the church officiating.

Internment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

There will be no visitation.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Ethel may be made to First Presbyterian Church or Berrien County Cancer Service.