Obituaries

Thelma L. Porter
April 13, 1909-Nov. 30, 1994

Services for Thelma L. Porter, 85, of Chestnut Towers, Dowagiac, who died at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday  Nov. 30, 1994, in her home of an apparent heart attack, will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Groner Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 11 a.m. Friday in the funeral home.

Mrs. Porter was born April 13, 1909, in Linton, Ind., and moved to Dowagiac in 1985 from Niles. On July 3, 1954, in South Bend, she married Robert Porter. He survives with a son, Robert Luke of Dowagiac; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and three brothers, Charles Lace of Dowagiac, Henry Lace of Atlanta and Asa Lace of Florida.

Frank D. Pollitt
May 20, 1943-July 14, 1994

Frank Duane Pollitt, 51, of 1630 Huron St., died at 12:15 p.m. Thursday July 14, 1994, in Pawating Hospital after an illness. Mr. Pollitt was born May 20, 1943, in Buchanan and was a lifelong resident. There are no survivors.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before services Monday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles Adult Activity Center.

Lettie M. Pointer
May 13, 1906-Aug. 26, 1999

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 28, 1999, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Lettie Maud Pointer, 93, of 2006 Ontario Road, Niles are Monday at 11 a.m. at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, by Pastors Ralph Offord and David Smith of the First Church of God, Cassoplolis.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Pointer died Thursday at 4:15 p.m. at home of natural causes.

She was born May 13, 1906, in Stoddard County, Mo., and lived in  the Niles area for 56 years.

On Nov. 15, 1924, in Bloomfield, Mo., she was married to Glennie Lee Pointer, who preceded her in death on March 5, 1971.

Pointer retired from National-Standard Co., in 1971.

Survivors include one son, Denver K. "Jack" Pointer of Buchanan; two daughters, Wanda Stevens and Patricia Stover-Skarbek, both of Niles; a brother, Dale Gobel of Casper, Wyo.; a sister Hazel L. Pointer of Niles; 20 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Dorsey L. Pointer, who died in 1989, and Gains G. Pointer, who died in 1999.

Friends may call Monday afrom 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, 2626 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, 49127.

* * * * *

Lettie Maud Pointer, 93, of 2006 Ontario Road, Niles, Mich., entered into rest with her family at 4:14 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26, 1999,  in her home.

Lettie retired from the National Standard Company in 1971, and had lived 56 years in the Niles area.

Lettie was born on May 13, 1906, in Stoddard County, Mo., to John and Mae (Hale) Goble. Lettie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Glennie Lee Pointer; and by two sons, Dorsey L. Pointer and Gains G. Pointer.

She is survived by a son, Denver K. ''Jack'' Pointer of Buchanan, Mich.; two daughters, Wanda Stevens and Patricia Stover-Skarbek, both of Niles; a brother, Dale Goble of Casper, Wyo.; and by a sister, Hazel L. Pointer of Niles.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 30, at the Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with Pastors Ralph Offord and David Smith from the First Church of God, Cassopolis, Mich., officiating.

Family and friends may call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services on Monday. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice-at-Home, 2626 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville, MI 49127.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Hazel L. Pointer
Sept. 14, 1916-March 23, 2006

Hazel Lillian Pointer, 89, passed away at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, March 23, 2006, in Silverbrook Nursing Home, Niles, of natural causes.

Hazel was born on September 14, 1916, in Zalma, Missouri. She lived here for 64 years. On July 29, 1934, she was married to Oral Reed Pointer, who preceded her in death on January 5, 1971. Also preceding is a daughter, Genetta Stark (1983).

Hazel worked as a cook for Plaza Restaurant in Niles.

Left to cherish her memory are a son; Glen (Carole) Pointer of Niles; four daughters, Geneva (Don) Pear and Joyce (Jim) Vaughn, both of Niles, and Margie Pointer of South Bend and Pamela Mills of West Palm Beach, FL; eleven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and fourteen great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2006, in Hoven Funeral Home, with Jason Dillenbeck officiating. Friends may call one hour before services. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph or Meal on Wheels of the Niles/Buchanan area.

Ralph O. Pletcher
Feb. 17, 1921-Jan. 13, 2007

Reverend Ralph O. Pletcher, 85, of Edgewater Drive, Edwardsburg, Michigan, formerly of Hoyt Drive, Niles, died at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, in his son's home of an extended illness.

Rev. Pletcher was born February 14, 1921, in Nappanee, Indiana, to Nathan and Cleo (Beam) Pletcher. He had lived in this area since 1956, coming from Indiana.

On July 5, 1942, in Plymouth, Indiana, he married the former Vena Fleek, who died on November 2, 2004.

Rev. Pletcher retired after 36 years as pastor of the Coulter's Chapel Church of God in Niles, Michigan. Leading by example, and not just a white-collar pastor, he was not afraid to get his hands dirty in construction or whatever needed to be done. He had a part in the construction of all of the current buildings at Coulter's Chapel.

Even late in his life, he still called on the shut-ins and visited those in extended-care facilities. His family became quite extended as he gave his all to his church, religion, and his calling.

He was very involved in the foreign mission fields, especially the work done in Haiti, where he personally made thirteen trips. He also loved music.

Rev. Pletcher was a U.S. Army veteran, serving his country during World War II.

Rev. Pletcher is survived by his children, Ronald (Sharon) Pletcher and Darlene (Paul) Ferry, both of Edwardsburg, Philip Pletcher of Grand Rapids, Pam (Jerry) Lingle of Niles; 16 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are his sister, Naomi Crow of Plymouth; and his brothers, Gene and Russell Pletcher of South Bend, and Willard Pletcher of Argos.

Rev. Pletcher was preceded in death by one granddaughter, three brothers and a sister.

Services for Rev. Ralph O. Pletcher will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 18, 2007, in Coulter's Chapel Church of God, Niles. Burial will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, where military rites will be provided by the American Legion Post #51, Buchanan, Michigan. The family will receive relatives and friends from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the church.

Memorial contributions for Rev. Ralph O. Pletcher may be made to the Children's International Lifeline, 16106 Brookwood Drive, Buchanan, MI 49107; or to Hospice at Home.

The funeral arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Gerald G. Pinch
Dec. 25, 1934-Aug. 23, 2005

Gerald Garland Pinch, 70, of 125 South 5th Street, Niles, died at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday August 23, 2005 at home. of  natural causes.

He was born Dec. 25, 1934 in Niles to the late Klingerman and Lucille (Garland) Pinch. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Leslie Scott.

He was a US navy veteran, volunteer firemen for Niles Township for 10 years, member of the NA with honors, loved to Fish, metal detect and antiquing. He loved his family dearly. Worked for Niles Steel Tank, Co, a journeyman alloy welder. And was a lifetime Niles Resident.

On October 23, 1954 in Niles he married Shirley (Brumfield) Pinch who survives. Also surviving are daughters, Terrie (Herbert) Hubbard, Tracy (Mark) Nichols twin daughters, Marcy (Dale) Kutz and melody Bryant, all of Niles and Tammy (Robert) Bertles of South Bend; a brother, Daniel Pinch of Clermont, Fla.; sister, Mary Beth (Charles) Ottinger, Memphis, Tennessee; 22 grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, MI, with Pastor Terry White of Beacon Baptist Church, Niles officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, where friends call one hour before services.