Franklin Toney, 88
March 29, 1922 – May 31, 2010

Franklin Benjamin Toney, 88, of Niles died at 1:25 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2010 at Silverbrook Manor in Niles of a brief illness.

Mr. Toney was born March 29, 1922 in Niles to Henry and Florence (McClary) Toney. He graduated from Niles High School and lived in Niles all of his life.

He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Coast Guard. He was a life member of Disabled American Veterans.

Franklin worked for many years as a tool and die maker, first at Kawneer Co. and he later retired from the Modineer Co., both of Niles.

Franklin was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church of Niles. He was also a life member of Saint Joseph Valley Lodge 4, F. & A.M. He enjoyed music, especially big band and jazz, and dancing with his wife. He was a competitive bowler on the Stroh’s team. His greatest interest was raising his children.

On Jan. 11, 1947 in Niles, he married the former Bette Lou Bailey, who preceded him in death Dec. 7, 1997. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Gordon, who died March 31, 1952.

Surviving family includes a son, Terry Toney, of Buchanan; daughters, Nancy (Bruce) Evick and Tracey Toney, both of Niles; grandchildren, Heather Lee Polk, Tyler Lee Toney, Ryan Anthony Evick, Danielle Kristen Watson and Anthony Roger Tracey; great-grandchildren, Bailey, Austin and Isabella Castillo.

The funeral service for Franklin Benjamin Toney will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 4, 2010 at First Presbyterian Church of Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating.

Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles and will conclude with a flag presentation and “Taps” by a unit of the United States Coast Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday with Masonic rites at 7:30 p.m. by Saint Joseph Valley Lodge 4.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Toney may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Niles or to In House Hospice.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:11pm Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Excel Fox Sr., 70
July 18, 1939 – May 27, 2010

 

 

Excel Fox Sr., 70, died Thursday, May 27 at 7:15 a.m. at Blessed Home Adult Foster Care in Niles of natural causes.

He was born on July 18, 1939 in Arkansas.

A lifetime area resident, he was a Mason and a supervisor at TOEFCO Engineering.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Sr. and Ethel Fox; daughter Helen Fox; sister Carrie Mae Fox; brothers Oxyzlee Fox and Walter Fox Jr. and an ex-wife Lodean Fox.

He is survived by sons Excel Fox Jr. and Thomas Fox; daughters Elizabeth Fox-Pedley, Rennie Fox, Threasa Fox, Wynee “Nisie” D. Wilson and Secusser Green; sister Lela Fox-Willis and a host of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday, June 8 at 10 a.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 7:36pm Sunday, June 6, 2010

Leonard Temple, 95
Jan. 7, 1915 – June 5, 2010

Leonard William “Bill” Temple, 95, of Niles died at 3:45 p.m. Saturday, June 5, 2010 at Silverbrook Manor, Niles of natural causes.

He was born Jan. 7, 1915 in Morrison, Tenn. He was a lifetime area resident.

Leonard was a U.S. Marine Corp World War II veteran (1941-1945) and member of the Niles American Legion and Buchanan Christian Church. He worked at National Standard in Niles from 1946 to 1980.

He loved to attend church, bowl and work with wood. Leonard was a Christian man, easygoing and kind and treated people the same as he would like to be treated. He always met people more than halfway and looked for understanding and peace.

He married Wanda (Poteet) Temple on April 14, 1945 in Reno, Nev.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Wanda; son, William Leonard (Carole) Temple, of Bothell, Wash.; sister, Irene Stackhouse, of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Bessie Temple; a nephew, William Marrs; and a sister, Lucille Chilson.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 10, 2010 at Hoven Funeral Home,

Buchanan with Pastor Sean Kidd of Buchanan Christian Church, Buchanan officiating.
Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be sent to Michiana Area Service Camp, 7383 Steinbauer Rd., Niles, MI 49120; Hospice at Home Inc., 4017 Chamberlain Rd., Buchanan, MI 49107; or the Milton Day Care Center, 922 East Colfax Ave., Benton Harbor, MI 49022.

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:19pm Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Dolores A. “Dee” Lett, 83
Sept. 22, 1926 — June 9, 2010

Dolores A. “Dee” Lett of Woodruff Street in Niles died Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at her home unexpectedly but of natural causes. She was 83 years old.

She was born on Sept. 22, 1926 in Benton Harbor to parents Frederick Hasse and Augusta (Schmaltz) Hasse. She’s lived in her home on Woodruff Street since 1959.

She was employed for many years at the former Open Door Services of Niles and was a member of Saint Boniface Evangelical Church in Niles.

She always enjoyed Bible Study and teaching Vacation Bible School. She also enjoyed reading mystery novels and cats.

She graduated from Watervliet High School and was active in her class reunions and earned an Associates degree from Lake Michigan College.

She enjoyed the close sense of neighborhood on Woodruff Street.

On November 10, 1951 in Benton Harbor she married Harold Cecil Lett, who preceded her in death on Nov. 19, 1965.

She was also preceded in death by four brothers and sisters.

She is survived by a daughter, Dee Ann (Tom) Lett-Neal of Prescott, Ariz., son Jim (Mary Ellen) Lett of Walkerton Ind. and grandson Jimmy Lett.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. John Rutowicz of Saint Boniface Evangelical Church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Boniface Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Niles Daily Star, Published 7:46pm Sunday, June 13, 2010

James “Buff” Vella, 88
March 26, 1922 — June 19, 2010

James “Buff” Vella, 88, of Mobile Boulevard in Niles, died at 3:20 a.m. Saturday, June 19, 2010 at his home following an extended illness.

He was born on March 26, 1922 in Barnsboro, Pennsylvania to Carlo and Lucy (Barrett) Vella.
As a young man he was inducted into the U.S. Army Air Force and placed in the 509th Composite Group, serving on Tinian Island.

Corporal Vella received a commendation for his support of the 393rd Bomb Squadron during their atomic bombardments of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Buff came to Niles in 1951 and was employed at Niles Cabinet, United Dairy and the Holiday Inn. He was then employed by the City of Niles Public Works Department for 17 years.

In retirement he was employed at the former Peel’s Supermarket.

He is best known for his lifelong participation in baseball. He began in the Pennsylvania Moose leagues, played in the military and then with the House of David.

In Niles, he volunteered for 40 years in the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and Babe Ruth leagues serving as a coach and an umpire and behind the scenes maintaining and grooming the fields.

Buff was a member of the American Legion Post No. 26 in Niles as a veteran of World War II. He was a former member of the Loyal Order of Moose No. 449 in Buchanan.

He was formerly married to Helen (Butterworth) Vella.

Surviving family includes his children, James C. (Christine) Vella, Tim (Deb) Vella, Frank (Angie) Vella, Todd Vella and Lisa (Tom Fields) Scofield, all of Niles; grandchildren Gabriel and Todd Vella, Jennifer Lagoni, Fred Scofield, Tyler Weedon and Jamie and Corey Thacker; great-grandchildren Mahaila, Haidyn, Emma, Courtney, Alexis and Jacob; sisters Chistina Freda of Spangler, Pa., Marie Munoretto of Amity, Pa.; brother Nino Vella of Evansburg, Pa. and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Scott Lagoni on Feb. 22, 1996; brother Frank Vella and sisters Katheryn LaBella and Mary McCarthy.

The funeral service for James “Buff” Vella will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at the Michiana Christian Embassy in Niles. Pastor Jeffery L. Whittaker of the church will be officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by an honor guard of the U.S. Air Force and American Legion Post No. 26.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Buff Vella may be made to the FOP Baseball league or to Hospice at Home.

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:20pm Sunday, June 20, 2010 

Richard Fintze
Sept. 4, 1926-June 20, 2010

Richard James Fintze, 83, of Champlain Drive, Niles died at 2:10 p.m. Sunday, June 20, 2010 at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles following a brief illness.

He was born Sept. 4, 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio to William James and Lela (Oehling) Fintze. He graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and attended Western Reserve University, Cleveland.

He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, serving in the United States Navy.

Dick was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles. He was appointed to positions in several municipal boards and was active in several community service clubs, including the Berrien County Civitan and Niles Riverfest.

On Oct. 3, 1953 in Warren, Pa., he married Joanne Peterson, who survives. Also surviving are their daughters, Lisa Karsten, of Marietta, Ga. and Susan Fintze, of South Bend.

He was preceded in death by a son, James Fintze, who died in 1982.

The funeral service for Richard J. Fintze will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The veterans’ flag presentation will be provided by an honor guard of the  U.S. Navy.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at noon Wednesday at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Mr. Fintze may be made to the Berrien County Civitan Club.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:14pm Monday, June 21, 2010