Obituaries

Larry Clymer
February 6, 1938-June 16, 2008

Larry W. Clymer, 70, of Powers Court, Niles, Michigan, passed away suddenly in his home of natural causes on Monday, June 16th, 2008. He was born in Niles on February 6, 1938, to Greydon and Edith (Wheeler) Clymer.

On April 24, 1958, Larry married Eleanor Meldrum at a ceremony in Niles.

Larry graduated from Niles High School in 1957. He served in the National Guard for eight years while establishing a career at Tyler Refrigeration, retiring after 30 years of service. Larry served Niles as the city's mayor for 14 years. After leaving office as mayor, Larry decided to go back to work and was employed for several years at Gene Wesner Chevrolet in Buchanan, and was previously employed as a radio personality for WGTO where he hosted Clymer's Corner, a daily talk show. He was also past chairman of the Niles Board of Public Works, past member of the Niles Area Planning Commission, past city chairman of the Niles United Way, chaired the Juvenile Justice Task Force, the Lakeshore Coordinating Council, the Niles Area Transportation Committee and the Berrien County Administration Committee where he was the board liaison to the Berrien County Health Board. He served as chair of the Berrien County Disaster Team, the Southwestern Michigan Commission, president of the Southwest Michigan Football Clinic where he also coached, was a board member of the Niles FOP Little League Baseball and chaired the Berrien County Sewer Appeals Committee. Larry was instrumental in the implementation of the Niles Disaster Plan, the Downtown Development Authority, and helped establish the industrial park. He also assisted in the planning of the Four Flags Plaza senior citizen apartments and the Niles Riverfront Park. Larry was the chairman of the community relations committee of the Boy Scouts of America, was a Kentucky Colonel, a member of American Legion Post 26, member of the St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge #4 and was 32nd Degree Mason and a Shriner. Larry was currently a Berrien County Commissioner representing the 13th District for 14 years and was serving on the Four Winds Casino revenue board.

He will also be remembered for the two songs he had written "Tear Down the Berlin Wall" and "Glory to the Red, White and Blue." Larry also had a love for hunting, fishing, reading and oil painting. Most will remember Larry filling in for Santa for many years, bringing smiles to young and old alike.

Larry was preceded in death by his father.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ellie Clymer of Niles; his mother, Edith Clymer of Niles; two sons, Larry "Jim" (Pati) Clymer of Niles and Jeffrey D. (Laura) Clymer of Valparaiso, Indiana; four grandchildren; a brother, Greydon Clark "Dennis Clymer" of Henderson, Nevada; and a sister, Cheryl (Jack) York of South Bend, Indiana.

A time of visitation will be held on Thursday, June 19, 2008, in the Brown Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a Masonic service at 7:30 p.m. in the funeral home by St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge #4.

A funeral service will be held in Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar Street in Niles, on Friday, June 19, at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Emmett Kadwell officiating. A private interment will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Contributions may be made in Larry's memory to The Salvation Army, 424 N. 15th Street, Niles, MI 49120; or to the American Heart Association, 950 Twenty Eighth Street, Grand Rapids, MI 49508-1393.

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared with Larry's family by visiting www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.Caption/Lead: Feb. 6, 1938 - June 16, 2008

 

Phillip F. Molica
June 20, 1917-March 19, 2009

 Phillip F. Molica, 91, of Hickory Street, Niles, died following a brief illness at 4:21 a.m. Monday, March 9th, in the Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles.

Mr. Molica was born on June 20, 1917, in Hammond, IN, to Rosario and Nancy (Merlo) Molica. He graduated from Niles High School in 1936 and had lived in Niles most of his life. He retired after 35 years of service from Michigan Central and New York Central Railroads.

Phillips was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Army.

Mr. Molica was a member of Saint John's United Church of Christ in Niles. He enjoyed hunting in the Upper Peninsula, reading, word and number puzzles, listening to music, and summering at his home at Diamond Lake.

On May 9, 1942, in Bryan, Ohio, he married the former Kathlyn Margaret "Kay" Kettlehut, who preceded him in death on October 19, 2003.

He is survived by his siblings, Anthony Molica, Henry Molica, Fanny Probst and Mary Curtis, all of Niles, Frankie Molica and Benny Molica of Jackson, MI, and Alfred Molica of Palm Coast, FL; and many nieces and nephews.

Phillip was also preceded in death by sisters, Nicolette McElroy and Jennie Imus, and a brother, Robert Molica.

The funeral services for Phillip F. Molica will be held Thursday, March 12th, at 2 p.m. in Saint John's United Church of Christ, with Rev. Kyle Gardner officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, with a Flag Presentation and "Taps" following the services at the graveside by the American Legion.

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

Contributions in memory of Phillip F. Molica may be made to the charity of donor's choice.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Lillian Welch
April 2, 1916-March 8, 2009

Lillian Ellen Welch, 92, of Niles, formerly of Christmas, Florida, passed away peacefully at West Woods of Niles on Sunday, March 8, 2009 following a brief illness.
 
She was born on April 2, 1916 in Berrien Springs, Michigan to the late William Henry and Bertha (Gorham) Fulkerth.
 
In 1935 Lillian married the late Jesse Welch at a ceremony in Niles.
 
A homemaker most of her life, Lillian enjoyed gardening and had a love for animals.
 
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, six sisters, two brothers and a son Jesse Welch Jr.
 
Lillian is survived by tow sons Nathan (Patricia) Welch of Niles and Omer Welch of Niles, a daughter Tillie Drummond of Niles, eleven grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and a brother Lynes Fulkerth of Niles.
 
In keeping with Lillian’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private graveside committal will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery.
 
Memorial contributions can be made in Lillian’s memory to Humane Society 2506 Grape Road, Mishawaka, Indiana 46545.
 
Condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the family by visiting www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com.
 
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles.

Howard "Duffy" Huttenstine, Jr.
Sept. 6, 1951-Sept. 25, 1995

Howard ‘Duffy” Huttenstine Jr. 44, of 1405 N. Phillip Road, Niles, died at 11:45 a.m. Monday (Sept. 25, 1995) in his home of natural causes.

Mr. Huttenstine was employed in quality control at Delta Machine. He was born Sept. 6, 1951, in Niles. On April 1, 1988 in Buchanan, he married Patricia Redzinski. She survives with a daughter, Kristin Ann Holt of Niles; a son, Jared of Niles; a stepson, Harley Groves of Niles; two grandchildren; his father and stepmother, Howard D. Sr. and Martha Huttenstine of Boardman, Ohio; a sister, Marilyn Fox of Niles; two stepsisters, Jill Palmer of Niles and Laura Butler of Kingsville, Ohio; and two stepbrothers, Ron Rolfs of Vicksburg, Mich, and Steve Rohlfs of Niles.

Mr. Huttenstine was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Buchanan Moose.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Helen Hurley
Oct. 19, 1906-April 23, 2003

Helen Beatrice Hurley, 96, of 14967 95th Place North, Maple Grove, Minn., died at 2:45 p.m. April 23, 2003, in her home of natural causes.

She was born on Oct. 19, 1906, in Niles, Mich., to the late Joseph and Emma (Huston) Smith. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Leon Douglas Hurley in 1992; a daughter, Mary Jo Scheibelhut in 1988; and two sisters, Margaret Roth and Ernamay Harrell.

She retired from Bendix Corporation in 1972. And was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Niles and the Progressive Club of South Bend.

She is survived by two sisters, Annette Herman of Edwardsburg, Mich., and Mary Case of Boyne City, Mich.; three grandchildren, Jill Scheibelhut of Maple Grove, Minn., Mark Scheibelhut of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Joy Essig of Lamar, Colo.; and five great-grandchildren, David Scheibelhut and Debra Scheibelhut, both of Maple Grove and Jan, Collin and Ali Scheibelhut, all of Lakewood, Colo.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. (Michigan time) Monday, April 28, in Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles, with Dr. Rev. Ronald Wakeman officiating. Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. (Michigan time) until time of services. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Heart Association or American Cancer Society.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Melvin E. Hurlbutt
Jan. 18, 1923-Aug. 3, 2004

Melvin E. Hurlbutt, 81, of LaSalle Avenue, Niles, Mich., died after a brief illness at 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 3,  2004, in the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind.

He was born Jan. 18, 1923, in Buchanan, Mich., to Ray B. and Freda M. (Schrumpf) Hurlbutt. He was a lifetime area resident. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served five years aboard the U.S.S. Charleston, a patrol gun boat. Some of his service on the Charleston was with his brother Ray. Mel rose to the rank of gunner's mate first class by the end of the war.

In 1997 Mr. Hurlbutt was awarded a commemorative medal for "The 50th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War." This recognition was for the allied support of Russia during her fight for freedom against Nazi Germany. His citation was signed by then Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

Mr. Hurlbutt was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles. In addition to his World War II U.S. Navy service, he was a member of American Legion Post #26, Niles. Mel was a member of A.A.R.P. In addition to his love for family and friends, he enjoyed being a jack-of-all-trades and trying to master each one. In 1975 he retired from the Clark Equipment Company, Buchanan.

On May 1, 1945, in Niles, he married Eunice M. (Tuesley) Hurlbutt, who survives. Mel is also survived by two sons, Jerry (Linda) and Bruce (Isabella), both of Niles; three grandchildren; and by a brother, Ray Hurlbutt Jr. of Niles.

He was preceded in death by another brother, Burton.

Funeral services will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 7, in the Wesley United Methodist Church, with Rev. Emmett Kadwell Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, with full military honors. The family will receive friends in the Halbritter Funeral Home on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Hurlbutt may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar St., Niles, MI 49120.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown