Robert William Stiles died aged 81 years old on the 12th February 1947 and is buried at Wakapuaka cemetery. Robert Stiles was involved in military activities over a long period and rose to the rank of Major by 1914. Robert senior married Jane Elizabeth Bell on 20 February 1892 but Jane Stiles died on 2 April 1895 of typhoid fever. 2 Robert and Jane had two children, a daughter born circa 1893, 3 and Robert junior born 22 February 1895.4 The family lived at Alton Street. Robert senior’s second marriage in 1901 was to Mary (Minnie) Spencer, of Waimea Street, 5 and the family included three children with a boy being born in 1902. 6 Robert Stiles senior was involved in voluntary military activities over a long period and in 1907 he was appointed Captain Adjutant D Company Nelson Rifle Volunteers and he held the rank of Major by 1914. He was involved in publishing in Nelson initially with the Colonist and after the demsie of the Colonist in 1920 he took over the printing part of the Colonist's work with the firm R W Stiles and Co. He was at the Rutherford St old Colonist's premises since 1914, opened a shop in 1932 then moved to Bridge Street in1960.

See Subject Files Businesses Nelson p6 + 70.