Walter E. Biggs
June 5, 1908 - April 18, 2002

Walter Eles Biggs, 93, of 1229 Thompson Road, Niles, Mich., formerly of 1805 Ferry Street, Niles, died of natural causes at 7:15 a.m. Thursday, April 18, in the Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.

He was born on June 5, 1908, in Leachville, Ark., to the late James Ranson and Nancy Lee (Valentine) Biggs. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Nadine Minton in 2000; a son, Harvel E. Biggs in 1991; and by two brothers, Arthur and Oscar Biggs.

He worked for Clark Equipment Company for 25 years, and was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Buchanan, Mich.

On Aug. 22, 1935, in Pemiscott County, Hayti, Mo., he married Virginia Lee Meek, who survives. He is also survived by three daughters, Joanne (Bill) Hunter of Phoenix, Ariz., Barbara (Fred) Bailey and Velda Skinner, both of Niles; three sons, Michael (Kathy) Biggs of South Bend, Walter L. (Doris) Biggs of Niles and Larry Biggs of Indiana; a brother, Lee Biggs of Colorado; and by 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. (Mich. time) Tuesday in the Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles, where Pastor Tony Rodriguez will officiate. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Heart Association.

John M. Birt
May 29, 1914 - April 27, 2007

Mr. John M. Birt, 92, of South Third Street, Niles, died at 5:15 p.m. Friday, April 27 in West Woods of Niles, following an extended illness.

He was born on May 29, 1914 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, to Thomas D. and Gertrude L. (Hobbs) Birt. He served in the Royal Canadian Navy, and was a veteran of World War II. He came from Chicago, IL, to Niles in 1954, living for many years on Walton Road. He was retired from NAPCO Graphic Arts of Milwaukee, WI.

Mr. Birt was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles, where he served on the Vestry and as an usher. He volunteered as an adult councilman to the White Beaver District of the Boy Scouts of America, and had served 17 years as president of the Senior Center of Niles. He had also volunteered with Meals-on-Wheels, and was a member of Orchard Hills County Club where he enjoyed playing golf. He was an avid player of Bridge, and had maintained a large garden.

On June 8, 1940, in Chicago, he married the former Winifred Mary "Peg" Pullen, who preceded him in death on January 31, 1996. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Shirley Pullen and Phyllis Woods.

Surviving family includes a daughter, Gayle (Barry) Borst of Niles; and a son, John P. (Nancy) Birt of Cary, IL; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Tom Birt of Minneapolis, MN; a sister, Marjorie Davies of Vancouver, British Columbia; many nieces and nephews; and special friend, Connie Blackmond of Niles.

The funeral services for John M. Birt will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 3 in Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles, with The Reverend Steven L. Schuneman of Saint Timothy's Episcopal Church, Griffith, IN, officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contribution in memory of Mr. Birt may be made to the Trinity Episcopal Church Organ Fund.

Erma M. Bisby
Aug. 30, 1912-July 4, 1994

NILES - Erma Magdalen Bisby, 81, of 418 W. Main St., died at 3:12 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital. Mrs. Bisby was born on Aug. 30, 1912, in Logansport, Ind. On Nov. 23, 1930, in Niles, she married Joseph Willard Bisby. He died on Nov. 3, 1987. She is survived by four daughters, Erma Jo Burnham of Kalamazoo, Marilyn J. Tate of Port Huron, Mich., Judith Bisby of Niles and Claudia Williams of Mishawaka; two sons, Robert of Menasha, Wis., and Joseph D. of Fairfield, Calif; 17 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Willard Lowery of St. Joseph and Robert Lowery of Hollywood, Fla. Mrs. Bisby was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church and The Macabees.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in the church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Berrien County Asthma or Tuberculosis & Emphysema associations.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Lisa K. Bitting
Dec. 11, 1960 - Aug. 20, 2005

Lisa Kay Bitting, 44, of South Bend, passed away in her residence on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005.

She was born December 11, 1960, to Herbert and Pearl (Sanders) Bitting. She is survived by her parents, Pearl (Tom) Weir of Cathedral City, Calif., and Herbert Bitting of Pendleton, Ore.; her sister, Julie L. Lamberton of South Bend; a brother, Bryan (Teresa) Bitting of Fruitland, Idaho; a special sister-in-law, Diane Lubbers; nieces and nephews, Shannan and Matthew Lamberton, Julian Kamanda, Erica and John Lubbers; and numerous aunts and uncles.

Lisa was the director of the Ronald McDonald House in Memorial Hospital for the past three years. She was also involved with the Firefly Festival in South Bend. She graduated from Niles High School and furthered her formal education and graduated from I.U.S.B. with her degree in business.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. (Ind. time) today, Aug. 24, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, with Rev. Dan Thornhill officiating, and burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, MI. Friends called Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House; or to the Karen Schirmer Fine Art Teacher Grant, P.O. Box 635 S. Main St., South Bend, IN 46624.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Pastor Lowell K. Black
Dec. 29, 1959 - Jan. 10, 2003

Pastor Lowell Kenneth Black, 43, of Parkside Lane, Niles, Mich. and Pastor of First Church of Christ-Christian, Niles died at 5:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, 2003 in Lakeland Medical Center-Niles, suddenly, but of natural causes.

He was born on Dec. 29, 1959 in Danville, Ill. to Robert S. and Ruth M. (Haxton) Black Jr., and graduated from Danville High School and Lincoln (Ill.) Christian College. He was ordained through the Second Christian Church, Danville and served as a Youth Pastor in Newburgh, Ind. for nine years prior to accepting the Senior Pastor position at First Church of Christ-Christian, Niles.

Lowell had always been active in athletics, having participated in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in both high school and college, and coaching the Soccer team at Lincoln College. He had coached his son's Little League Baseball team in Niles and was currently training for the Chicago Marathon.

In Niles, Pastor Black was a member of the First Church of Christ-Christian; member and past-president of Niles Area Ministerial Alliance, volunteer chaplain at Lakeland Medical Center-Niles, a participant in Promise Keepers and DeColores Ministries of Southwest Michigan, and very active as a parent volunteer at Granger (Ind.) Christian School.

On Sept. 22, 1984 in Evansville, Ind. he married the former Cynthia Faye Gholson, who survives. Also surviving are their children, Brittanie Kaye Marie Black and Logan Michael Pearce Black, both at home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Black, Jr. of Danville; Cindy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Gholson of Evansville; his brothers, James Black of Danville, Dennis Black of Covington, Ind., Karl Black of Saint Joseph, Ill.; and sister, Joetta Lee of Owensboro, Ky.; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Pastor Lowell K. Black will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003 in the First Church of Christ-Christian with Pastor David L. Clark of Central Christian Church, Beloit, Wis. Officiating. Committal services will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends in the church today, Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A trust fund for Brittanie and Logan Black has been established at Berrien Teachers' Credit Union, Niles. Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Odester J. Blair
Feb. 20, 1911-Nov. 10, 1994

NILES - Odester J. Blair, 83, of 2314 Caruthers St., died at 9:30 p.m. Thursday in the home of a daughter in Kalamazoo. Mr. Blair was a retired drill press operator at Clark Equipment Co., Buchanan. He was born Feb. 20, 1911, in Nashville, Tenn. He married Roberta Tiggs, who preceded him in death. Surviving are five daughters, Katherine Moore and Arlene Gray, both of Chicago Heights, Ill., Wilma Jean Reed of Los Angeles, Bayyinah Muhammad of Kalamazoo and Vernessa Dotson of Niles; five sons, Blair and Robert, both of Los Angeles, Charles of Chicago Heights, Yamini Abdullah of Niles and Dorise Blair of Grand Rapids; 37 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and a sister, Louise Curry of Detroit.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown