Donald Lester Niles

Donald Lester Niles, 91, died Monday, May 20, 2013 in Lincoln, Neb.

He was born on Oct. 21, 1921 in Sacramento, Calif., to Lester Reid and Artie Luvern (Gates)Niles.

He graduated from San Juan Union High School in Citrus Heights, Calif., and from Chapman College in Los Angeles.

Niles then attended Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Ky., where he studied to become a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

He served churches in Carrollton, Ky.; Geneva, Ohio; and Monticello, Portland Mills and Waveland in Indiana. He also served two rural community churches in Parke County, Friends Union at Grange Corner and Wolf Creek, southwest of Wallace.

Niles served for 37 years as a scoutmaster of Troop 98, Russellville, and served a number of summers as chaplain and Camp Krietenstein, a summer Boy Scout camp of the Wabash Valley Council BSA. He also served four years as district commissioner and as a unit commissioner in the Wabash Valley Council.

In November 2000, he was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash.

On July 29, 1947, he married Rose Marie Clodfelter, who passed away on Jan. 21, 2005. He then moved to Lincoln to be closer to family.

Suriving are two daughters, Linda Gray and Cathy Niles, both of Lincoln.

The service in Indiana will take place at the Russellville Community Church at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 24, with calling from noon until the time of service.

A service at the Southview Christian Church, Lincoln, is pending.

He was a gentleman and a gentle man. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Condolences may be sent to www.machledtservies.com.