Betty Lou Schau Alford, 84
March 2, 1925 – Jan. 29, 2010

Betty Lou Alford 84, of Niles died at home at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 under hospice care following an extended illness.

She was born March 2, 1925 in Niles to Christian and Lillian (Rook) Schau, living in the Niles, Dayton and Galien areas most of her life.

On Oct. 11, 1941 Betty married the love of her life, William F. Alford, Sr., who survives.

She was a member of Four Flags Floozies Red Hat Society of Niles; life member of Niles Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 332; life member of AMVETS Post 98, Holiday, Fla.; and member of the First Baptist Church, Niles.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by son, William F. Alford, Jr. (fiancee Nancy Lane) Niles; sister, Lila Brown of Buchanan; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a large extended family; and long time caregiver, Diana Brooks.

Preceding her in death was her daughter, Martha Lou Alford Rudoni; parents; sisters, Alice Crocker and Luella Ladonski; and brother, Charles (Sonny) Schau.

Memorial services, conducted by the Rev. James Wing, will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 1, 2010 at Brown Funeral Home, 521 East Main St., Niles, where friends and family may gather one hour prior to services.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Niles, 1446 East Main St. Niles, or Hospice at Home, 4017 Chamberlain Rd., Buchanan, MI 49107.

 Niles Daily Star, Published 11:35am Monday, February 1, 2010

Jessie Barkman
March 1, 1923-March 15, 1993

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 16, 1993, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Jessie Barkman
1923-1993
Retired from
Electro-Voice

    Funeral services for Jessie Barkman, 70, 1351 Ferry St., are scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at the Church of the Savior with the Rev. Leon Roggen, church pastor, officiating.
    Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Barkman died at 10:25 a.m. Monday at Memorial Hospital following an extended illness.
    Born March 1, 1923, in Abergavenny, Wales, England, she had lived in Niles since 1946, coming from Leicester, England.
    On July 4, 1945, in Leicester, England, she married John A. Barkman, who survives.
    She retired from Electro-Voice Inc. in Buchanan where she worked for 18 years.
    Other survivors include a daughter, Kim Barkman of Niles.
    Memorial contributions may be made to the Church of the Savior.
    Funeral arrangements are being handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

Raymond X. Probst
Oct. 8, 1914-March 14, 1993

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 16, 1993, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Raymond X. Probst
1914-1993
Retired machine operator

    Graveside funeral services for Raymond X. Probst, 78, of 911 S. Third St., NIles, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. James A. Goodbow, officiating.
    Probst died at 7:20 p.m. Sunday at Silverbrook Manor following an extended illness.
    Born Oct. 8, 1914, in Granger, Ind., he was a resident of this area all of his life.
    He was a retired machine operator.  He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    Survivors include a sister-in-law, Mary W. Probst of Niles, a brother, Fred J. Probst preceded him in death on Feb. 4, 1985.
    Funeral arrangements are being handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

Carl E. Hess
Oct. 25, 1906-Sept. 9, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 10, 1997, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Carl E. Hess
1906-1993
retired, Kawneer Corp.

    Funeral services for Carl E.Hess, 90, 3602 S. Ironwood Drive, South Bend, Ind., formerly of Niles, are Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Niles.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
    Mr. Hess died Tuesday, at 6:25 a.m., at Holy Cross Care and Rehabilitation Center, South Bend, of natural causes.
    He was born Oct. 25, 1906, in Kendallville, Ind.
    On Sept. 27, 1930, in Brookfield, Ill., he married the former Helena Young, who survives.
    Mr. Hess retired in 1972 from Kawneer Corp., after 42 years as Insurance Manager. He was a member and held many positions at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Niles; was a past member of the Niles Safety Board; past President of the Niles Chamber of Commerce, Kawneer Management and the 25-Year Club.
    Survivors include a daughter, Phyllis Rogers of Niles; a son, Keith Hess of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; and four grandchildren.
    Friends may call Thursday from 6 until 8 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles.
    Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Niles.

Rebecca P. Smith
July 29, 1915-February 10, 1998

    Funeral services for Rebecca P. Smith, 82, 1025 N. Ninth St., NIles, are Monday Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Harry D. Pierson of Franklin A.M.E. Church.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
    Mrs. Smith died Tuesday at 2:45 p.m. at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, following a brief illness.
    She was born July 29, 1915 in Union City, Tenn., and had lived in Niles since 1940, coming from Tennessee.
    On Aug. 24, 1957 in Niles, she married Levern Smith, who preceded her in death Sept. 29, 1966.  She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret Jones and Alberta Farmer.
    Mrs. Smith was a member of the Niles Senior Center and had been employed by several families in Niles.
    Survivors include several nieces and nephews and many friends.
    Friends may call one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
    Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles Senior Center.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 14, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Bessie M. 'Becky' Wyatt
Nov. 10, 1930-Nov. 23, 2008

Bessie M. "Becky" Wyatt, 78, of Bertrand Road, Niles, died at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, 2008, in her home, following an extended illness.
The family is gathering privately at the graveside, with the Rev. Eva Buthy, chaplain of Hospice At Home, officiating. There is no public visitation.
Burial is in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
She was born on Nov. 10, 1930, in Summittville, Tenn. to William Alton Vandygriff and Pearl Mae Ellis Vandygriff. She graduated from Nile High School and has lived in Niles most of her life.
She was employed at the former Sunstrand Corporation in Dowagiac for 14 years.
On June 14, 1952, in Marion, Ark., she married Charles W. Wyatt, Sr., who died on Oct. 2, 2005.
She and her husband built their house in 1954 and lived there the rest of their lives. They enjoyed gardening and caring for their children and grandchildren.
She was also proceeded in death by two sisters and four brothers.
Surviving family includes two sons, Charles W. Wyatt, Jr. of Niles and Jonathan L. Wyatt of Lansing; two daughters, Debra A. Rorie of Osceola, Ind. and Peggy S. (John) Milliken of Bristol, Ind.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice At Home.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:07am Monday, November 24, 2008