Floyd E. Barnes
Jan. 6, 1895-Sept. 7, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 8, 1971; page 2, col. 1, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Floyd E. Barnes, chairman of the City Planning Commission and active in many Masonic groups, died at 9 p.m. Tuesday, South Bend, after an illness of more than two months.   He was 76.

A retired storekeeper with Tyler Fixture Corp., Mr. Barnes was born Jan. 6, 1895, in Chicago, and had lived here since 1906.  On Dec. 25, 1919, in Niles, he married the former Mary Agatha Judy, who survives.

Mr. Barnes was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Niles Shrine Club, Wolverine Masonic Lodge of Detroit, the Niles Commandry of Knights Templar, Saladin Temple of Grand Rapids, and the Niles Royal and Select Masters.   He was an honorary member of St. Joseph Masonic Lodge here.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, George of Niles, a daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Lamoureux of Northfield, Ill.; a brother Cressel of Mesa, Ariz., and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Fr. Vincent Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, where Masonic rites will be administered.

Friends may call after noon Thursday at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to the church.

Howard L. Benjamin
Oct. 9, 1910-April 5, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 6, 1971; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Howard L. Benjamin, 60, of 219 Kings East Dr., died at 9:10 p.m. Monday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an extended illness.

An employee of the Kawneer Co. for 37 years, Mr. Benjamin was born Oct. 9, 1910, in New Carlisle, Ind., and had lived here since 1929, coming from South Bend.  On Dec. 25, 1936, in Lakeview, Mich., he married the former Viola F. Hayes, who survives.

Mr. Benjamin was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, the Kawneer 25 year Club, the Loyal Order of (illegible) Army in World War II.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Benjamin is survived by his mother, Mrs. Saloma Benjamin of Niles, and a brother, Amos E. Benjamin of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Orin M. Bailey of Grace United Methodist Church officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Lillian A. Benjamin
Jan. 1, 1891- Jan. 5, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Monday,January 5, 1970; page 2, col. 1, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Mrs. Lillian A. Benjamin, 79, of 1425 N. 12th St., died at 8 a.m. Monday in St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, where she had been a patient for one month.

Born Jan. 1, 1891, in Niles, Mrs. Benjamin had lived here all her life. She married Allen Benjamin, who survives, on Jan. 13, 1923, in South Bend.

Also surviving are two sons, Guy W. Egbert, Palos Heights, Ill. and Joseph S. Egbert, Niles; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Arlan F. Schlundt of St. John’s United Church of Christ officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Jimmie A. Blackburn
Dec. 4, 1942-July 11, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 12, 1982; page 2, col. 5, cont. col. 6 &7, microfilm, Niles District Library

Jimmie A. Blackburn, 39, of 2773 Hoyt Drive, Niles, died on Sunday at 4:46 a.m. in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, IN., after an illness which began in 1978.

Born on Dec. 4, 1942, in Niles, he had been a resident of this area most of his life. He was a Vietnam Army veteran and retired in 1975 as a maintenance mechanic from Tyler Refrigeration Corporation.

He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Blackburn of Niles, who survive.  On July 16, 1966, he married Carol Phillips in De Vona, TN., who survives.  Three sons, Kevin, Neil and Troy also survive. A brother, Ronald Joe Blackburn of New Paris, IN., and two sisters, Mrs. Sandra Walter of Niles, and Miss Susan Blackburn of Houston, TX., also survive.

He was a member of the Huntly Memorial Baptist Church and was affiliated with the Southwestern Michigan Football Clinic.

Services will take place at Huntly Memorial Baptist Church on Wednesday, July 14, at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Donald Hall officiating with Ronald Smith of Niles.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. on Tuesday at the Pifer Smith Funeral Home in Niles. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Military rites will be conducted by LaRue Messenger Post 26, American Legion, of Niles. Memorials may be made to Huntly Memorial Baptist Church and Southwestern Michigan Football Clinic.

Robert R. Blake
Nov. 4, 1868-Nov. 12, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 13, 1952; page 2, col. 3, microfilm, Niles District Library

Robert R. Blake, 84, of 934 North Fifth street, a retired railroad carpenter, died Wednesday morning at Pawating Hospital following a six months illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Presbyterian Church with the Rev. T. M. Greenhoe officiating, and Masonic rites will be conducted at the grave site in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the residence.

A foster daughter, Mrs. Harry Williams, Niles, two foster granddaughters and seven great grandchildren survive.
Blake was born Nov. 4, 1868, in Buchanan and had resided in Niles for 50 years.

He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 2 F and A.M., R.A.M. Chapter No. 3, Niles Commandry, Knights Templers and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.

Ruth C. Blackmun
June 7, 1898-Sept. 22, 1985

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 23, 1985; page 2, col. 3, microfilm, Niles District Library

Ruth C. Blackmun, 87, 2371 Yankee St., died at 4:25 a.m. Sunday at the Cass County Medical Care Facility following an extended illness.

She was a retired teacher from Niles Community Schools and a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Colonial Dames and Alpha Omicron Pi sorority.

Born June 7, 1898 in Spencerville, Ind., she lived here since 1929, coming from Buchanan.

On Nov. 1, 1919 in Bloomington, Ind., she married Harold C. Blackmun, who died Feb. 28 of this year.

Surviving are two sons, William H. Blackmun of Niles and Robert C. Blackmun of Hilton, N.Y.; a daughter, Mary E. Crouch of South Bend, Ind.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services are 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. William J. Fuerstenau of First Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, the Niles Community Library or the Berrien County Cancer Service.