SERVICES SET TOMORROW FOR NILES JUDGE GIFFEN

Niles - Funeral services for Municipal Judge Wiley W. Giffen, 73, of 1303 Robbins Ave., who died at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Trumbull Memorial Hospital, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Reese Funeral Home. Judge Giffen who suffered a stroke, nine months ago, had been hospitalized three times in the past year.

Well known throughout the district, Judge Giffen had headed the Municipal Court since it was established in 1932. He had a reputation for leniency, particularly for first time offenders, who were given a lecture rather than a sentence. Before becoming Judge of the Municipal Court, the jurist was associated with the law firm of MacQueen and Giffen, from 1922 to 1932.

Judge Giffen was reelected in November 1957, when he was unopposed for the office. He was reelected for a six year term which he had just started to serve, this year. Mitchel S. Shaker has been serving as acting judge during Judge Giffen's illness. The Judgeship will be filled by appointment by Gov. C. William O'Neill with the appointee to serve until November 1959 when a new judge will be elected. The elected judge will serve out Judge Giffen's term which runs through 1963.

He was born Feb. 15, 1885, in Mount Pleasant, Pa., a son of John and Susan Smith Giffen. Following his graduation from the College of Wooster and Washington and Jefferson College, he came to Niles in 1910. He taught chemistry in the Old Central School and coached the first undefeated, football team there during 1911-1915. Two members of the team were Russ and Herb Stein who went on to become All American football players.

During World War I, he served as clerk-secretary of the Niles Draft Board and served one year as city solicitor. Judge Giffen was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Loyal Order Of Moose, the Independent Order Of Odd Fellows, and various Masonic bodies. He was a past commander of the Knights Templar. Surviving are his wife, the former Edna Lodwick, to whom he married in 1914; two sisters, Mrs. Isabel Swauger of Indiana, Pa. and Mrs. Sarah Bleich, of Johnstown, Pa.: two brothers, John of New Alexandria, Pa., and William of Blairesville, Pa.

Friends may call tonight and Tuesday afternoon and evening at the funeral home. Atty. Paul Moritz, president of the Trumbull County Bar Assn., announced today that members of the association will meet at the funeral home Wednesday at 1:15 to attend the services in a body. The Municipal Court will be closed all day Wednesday and other city officials will attend the funeral services.

Date and place of death: Dec. 7, 1958 - Warren, Ohio

Source: Warren Tribune Chronicle - December 8, 1958 - Warren, Ohio

Submitted by Catherine Timlin-Hebb

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