Dorothy Hill
May 31, 1923-May 20, 2000

Dorothy Virginia "Dottie" Hill, 76, of East Park Drive, Niles, Mich., passed on to eternal life on Wednesday, May 10, 2000, at her residence.

She was born in Niles on May 31, 1923, to Henry A. and Flora J. (Schanbacher) Kist. She had lived most of her life in Niles.

Mrs. Hill is survived by her loving and dedicated husband of 57 years, Clayton P. Hill; her son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Diane Hill of Niles; her two daughters and sons-in-law, Lorcasa and William Hyde of Plano, Texas, and Tammi and David Mayfield of Holland, Mich.; grandchildren and their spouses, Jeff and Mary Hill, Brent and Tamara Hill, Chad and Nichole Hill, Heather Hill, Christopher and Brian Hyde, and Christina and Isaac Mayfield; great-grandchildren, Kaleigh, Jacob, Hannah, Kyle, Katie, Allie, and Alexandria Hill.

She graduated from Niles High School in 1941, and worked at various positions, including South Bend Lathe Works, Simplicity Pattern, Allen Test Products, North Side School, and Michigan National Bank.

Mrs. Hill was a member of Saint John's United Church of Christ in Niles where she taught Sunday School, played the piano, and sang in the choir. She later attended Church of the Savior in Niles.

An avid bowler and gardener who enjoyed many flowers, she also participated in Arts and Crafts while wintering in Port Richey, Fla.

On October 10, 1992, Mr. and Mrs. Hill repeated their wedding vows, as they had done 50 years ago on the same day, at Saint John's United Church of Christ at the original hour, with Mrs. Hill wearing her wedding dress, and with all of her original bridesmaids in attendance.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 15, in Saint John's United Church of Christ with the Rev. Al Bastin of the church officiating,. and with the Rev. Leon Roggen of Niles assisting. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. Hill may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Inc., or to Hospice at Home, Inc.

Mr. Charles Richard Hill, 91, of Park Lane, Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at 9:15 a.m. Monday, May 26, 2003, in his home.

He was born on May 1, 1912, in Argos, Ind., to Hugh Donovan and Jessie Juanita (Schlosser) Hill. He came to Niles as a young child, was graduated from Niles High School in 1930, and attended the University of Notre Dame. He was employed for several years by Montgomery Ward & Company, serving as store manager in various Midwest locations. In 1945 he returned to Niles to take up dairy farming from which he retired in 1983.

As a dairyman, he was a member of the Southwestern Michigan Guernsey Breeders, the Berrien County Holstein Breeders, Michigan Animal Breeders Association, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Milk Marketing Inc., and the Michigan Farm Bureau. Paraphrasing his own words: "His pleasures were his work and his family."

Mr. Hill was also a member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles.

On Dec. 1, 1933, in Geneva, Ill., he was married to the former Mabel E. Hillis, who died on May 12, 1999. He was also preceded in death by a son, John Richard Hill, who died at 5; and by two sisters, Helen Louise Strong in 1973 and Jayne Blaske in 1984.

Surviving family includes their daughters, Barbara (Charles) Miltenberger of Niles, Nancy (James) King of Hudsonville, Mich., and Cynthia Jensen of Indianapolis, Ind.; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for C. Richard Hill will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 30, in the First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of the church officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Ulysses Grant Hibberd, 94, of Cannel Street, Arcadia, Florida, formerly of Niles, passed away following an illness on Monday, November 14, 2005, in Dasoto Memorial Hospital in Arcadia.

Grant was born on February 25, 1911, to the late Bert and Ada (Mears) Hibberd in Summitville, TN.

He served his country proudly with his service during WWII in the Army. On August 27, 1942, he married the late Anna Laura Stapleton at a ceremony in West Lafayette, IN.

Grant worked for Clark Equipment Company in Buchanan for many years as a welder before his retirement in 1973. He was a charter member of the Niles Moose Lodge #978, and was a life member of the DAV and AARP.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Clara Dickey; a sister, Gertrude Walker; two brothers, Robert and William K. Hibberd, his wife, Ann Stapleton Hibberd; and several nieces and nephews.

Grant is survived by a son, Donald G. (Diane) Hibberd of Hot Springs, AK; a daughter, Patricia Ann (Mel) Timmons of Edwardsburg; two sisters, Ann Stahl of Niles and Edna Schutt of Elkhart, IN; two granddaughters, Carol (Matt) Fontana of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and Bridget (Richard) Nelson of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania; and one great-grandson, Erik Nelson of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania.

In keeping with Grant's wishes, cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held Tuesday, November 22, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. in Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles. An interment will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Contributions may be made in Grant's memory to a charity of one's choice.

Ruth O. Hibbard
Aug. 17, 1907-April 1, 1994

Services for Ruth O. Hibbard, 86, of 1333 Wells St., Niles, who died at 1:45 a.m. Friday (April 1, 1994), in Riveridge Manor, will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.  Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association or any charity.

Mrs. Hibbard was born Aug. 17, 1907, in Chicago, and lived in Niles since 1929, coming from Watervliet.  On Aug. 28, 1927, in Plainwell, she married Russ W. Hibbard.  He died Sept. 13, 1967.   Surviving are four daughters, Donna Hahn of St. Joseph, Susan Burgess of Kalamazoo, June Foddrill of Buchanan, Tenn., and Abby Husband of Elk Rapids, Mich.; 14 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. She was a member of the church, Order of the Eastern Star, Pioneers of America Chapter 90 and Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown. 

Russell William Hibbard
Sept. 28, 1928-Jan. 16, 1938

Russell Hibbard, 9, 1st Traffic victim in Berrien in 1938 Child’s injuries fatal;

Inquest called for Tuesday.

Berrien County’s first traffic fatality of 1938 was recorded in Niles early Sunday morning with the death of Russell William Hibbard Jr. in Pawating hospital.

The child, the nine year old son of Mrs. and Mrs. Russell Hibbard, 140 Forest Avenue, died at 3:45 o’clock from head injuries suffered Friday noon when a struck by a car.  Lewis Rossow, Route. 4 Niles and employee of the Simplicity Pattern Company, was the driver of the automobile. The accident occurred near the Huron Street intersection of South Third Street.

Inquest called

An inquest, called by coroner Louis J. Kerlikowake, will be held at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning in the Rutherford funeral home.  The jury selected by Police chief L.O. Bates will be composed of Lee Howard, A.E. Buchanan, Dave Lowe, Fred Babcock, Charles Umholtz and Hugh Lippert.

Born in Niles Sept. 28, 1928, Russell William was the only boy in a family of four children. Besides his parents he leaves his three younger sisters, Donna, Susan and June.

At the time of the accident he was on his way home from Central school where he was enrolled in Miss Esther Keeler’s fourth grade.

Member of M.E. church.

He was also a member of the Methodist Sunday School and church and of the Cub Scout troop of St. John’s Evangelical Church. Services will be held at 2:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon in the Rutherford Funeral Home followed by burial in Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rev. T. O. Lee of the First Methodist church will officiate.  Friends may call at the Hibbard Home. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.

Robert W. Hibbard
June 16, 1926-Oct. 8, 1981

Robert W. Hibbard succumbs at age 55. 

Robert Warren Hibbard, 55, of 1325 Sheffield St., superintendent of the Niles Street Department, died at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

Niles Mayor Larry Clymer said the flags at city Hall and the police and fire department buildings will be flown at half mast today and Thursday in honor of Hibbard who had worked for the city for 31 years.  Niles City Engineer Arthur Reed, Hibbards supervisor said, “He was a long and faithful employee, 31 years, including eight of them as street superintendent. He was a dedicated individual who performed a vital service to the community. He always cared about Niles and did his best”.

Mr. Hibbard was born on June 16, 1926 in Dowagiac and had been a lifetime resident of this area.  He was a veteran of World War II and was member of the Disabled American veterans.

He married Carolyn Morehouse in Niles on Dec. 7, 1946. His wife survives.  Also surviving are two daughters, Carolyn Gail Hibbard of Holland and Carol Ann Hibbard of Watertown, MA; his mother, Myrtle Paskel Hibbard of Niles; two brothers, George of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and William Hibbard of Niles; and two sisters, Mrs. Bessie Green of Niles and Beatrice Hibbard of Arlington, Va.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. The Rev. Mark D. Graham of Wesley United Methodist church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.Friends may call form 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer –Smith Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Association. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown.