Mrs. Helen Stewart Wing, 86, of Sun City, Ariz., a former resident of Johnstown, died Dec. 24 at Boswell Hospital, Sun City, after a short illness. She was born on April 26, 1914 in Johnstown, the daughter of Frederick L. and Florence Avery Stewart. Mrs. Wing was a 1932 graduate of Johnstown High School. After her first marriage, she lived in Albany, Syracuse and Kansas City, Kan. She moved to Sun City after her second marriage. She was employed as a bookkeeper at the the former Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., Johnstown office in the 1930s. Mrs. Wing was a member of Willowbrook United Methodist Church, Sun City. Survivors include one son C. Stewart Monnier of Kansas City; one daughter, Sue M. Bowersock of Alberquerque, N.M.; one brother, Ralph A. Stewart of Glenville; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cousins; In 1970 she married Coburn Wing, who died in 1991. She was also predeceased by her first husband, Charles Monnier; and two brothers, Russell Stewart and Kenneth Stewart. A service was conducted Dec. 28 at Willowbrook United Methodist Church. The Rev. Jo Kimmel, pastor, officiated. Cremation took place in Sun City. Final burial will take piece in the family lot in Ferndale Cemetery, Johnstown. Local arrangements are by Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, Gloversville.

Antonio Compani
January 12, 2001

Mr. Antonio "Uncle Tony" Compani, 83, of Fonda, died Thursday at St. Mary's Hospital, Amsterdam. He was born on June 13, 1917 in Fonda, the son of Giovannina and Frank Compani. Mr. Compani attended Fonda schools and lived most of his life in Fonda. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II as a staff sergeant with the 4111th Air Force Base Unit. He was employed as a track supervisor for the New York Central Railroad, the Penn Central Railroad which later became Amtrak, in which he was in charge of New York to Washington corridor. In the past few years, he was responsible for the high speed rail installation and maintenance of the high speed rail between New York and Washington, D.C. He retired from Amtrak in 1985 and worked at the Fonda Fair grounds. Mr. Compani was a communicant of St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church, Fonda, and a member of John J. Wyszomirski Post 701 American Legion, Amsterdam. Survivors include his wife, the former Carrie M. Zannitto, whom he married on Sept. 24, 1938; one son, John Compani of Albany; one daughter, Carolyn M. Carpenter of Dover, Del.; one brother, Carmen Compani of Gloversville; four sisters, Rose Davis and Theresa Vallero, both of Gloversville, Julia Bell of Fonda and Philomena Musella of Schenectady; four grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; nieces, nephews and cousins. Calling hours will be 5 to 8 p.m. today and 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. Saturday at Jackson & Betz Funeral Home, 15 Main St., Fultonville. A service will be conducted at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. At 10 a.m., a Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church. Burial will take place in St. Cecilia's Cemetery in the spring.

William A. Hotaling
January 12, 2001

Mr. William A. Hotaling, 58, of Amsterdam, died Friday at home after a long illness. He was born on Nov. 27, 1942 in Gloversville. Mr. Hotaling moved to Worcester, Otsego County, and later to Broadalbin, where he attended the former Broadalbin High School. He had resided in Amsterdam the past 26 years. He served in the Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was employed for 33 years as a fibre glass applicator at General Electric Co., Schenectady, retiring in 1996 due to medical disability. Mr. Hotaling was a member of the GE Quarter Century Club; Pine Tree Rifle Club, Gloversville, and the National Rifle Association. Survivors include his wife, the former Ellen L. Gibson, whom he married on July 2, 1965; two sons, Douglas M. Hotaling and William R. Hotaling, both of Amsterdam; one daughter, Dawn R. Hotaling of Amsterdam; his mother, Charlotte Seeley Hotaling Gibson of Rotterdam; two brothers, James Hotaling of Schenectady and Theodore Hotaling of Loudonville, Albany County; one sister, Gail Millias of Perth; two stepsisters, Elaine Novak and Dennice Davis, both of Broadalbin; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his father, Jacob Hotaling. There will be no calling hours. Cremation will take place at Parkview Crematorium, Schenectady. Arrangements are by Robert M. Halgas Funeral Home, Broadalbin. A memorial service will take place at a later date.
An alternate obituary for William Hotaling.

Rev. Martha Bolster Orr
January 12, 2001

The Rev. Martha Bolster Orr, 66, of Tazewell, Tenn., formerly of Speculator, died Wednesday at Claiborne County Hospital in Tennessee. She was born in Glens Falls, the daughter of Ernest and Lillian Bolster. Rev. Orr was a graduate of SUNY Cobleskill. She was employed for 27 years as a bookkeeper for the treasurer of Hamilton County until she retired. She later worked part-time for the town of Lake Pleasant. Rev. Orr entered Wesley University Theological Studies at age 48. She was pastor of Wells United Methodist Church for 13 years until the onset of illness. She was a youth leader, Sunday school teacher, choir leader, Parent Teacher Association leader and a member of Tazewell United Methodist Church at the time of her death. Survivors include her husband, Robert Louis Orr; one son, Ralph Alan Orr of Prince George, Va.; two daughters, Nancy Lynne Hager of Tazewell and Frances Jean Allen of Ft. Campbell, Ky.; three brothers, Edmond Bolster of Charlotte, N.C., and Ernest Bolster and Robert Bolster, both of Glens Falls; four grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by one brother, Chuck Bolster; and one sister, Louise Huntley. Calling hours will be 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Northville Funeral Home, 401 Bridge St. A service will be conducted at 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will take place in Airdville Cemetery, Lake Pleasant, in the spring.

Kathleen Sanders
January 12, 2001

Mrs. Kathleen Sanders, 85, formerly of Gloversville, died Thursday at St. Mary's Hospital, Amsterdam. She was born on April 28, 1915 in the town of Northampton, the daughter of Harry and Helen Deming. Mrs. Sanders attended Northville schools and was a lifelong area resident. She was employed for more than 25 years as a library assistant at Gloversville Free Library. Mrs. Sanders was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Gloversville, and its Semper Fidelis class; and Tryon Doll Club, Johnstown. Survivors include four sons, David Sanders of Sebastian, Fla., Donald Sanders and Glen Sanders, both of Gloversville, and Daryl Sanders of Caroga Lake; three brothers, Malcolm Deming of Glen, Douglas Deming of Greenville, S.C. and Lawrence Deming of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sisters, Winifred McConnel Greenville and Joyce Carpenter of Easton, Md.; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and cousins. On Jan. 27, 1935, she married Eseck Sanders, who died on March 18, 1999. She also was predeceased by one grandson and one great-grandson. Calling hours will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Hollenbeck Funeral Home, 4 Second Ave., Gloversville. A service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Rev. Edmond T. Freeborn III, pastor of the Gloversville First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will take place in Ferndale Cemetery, Johnstown.

LeRoy L. Bishop
January 14, 2001

Mr. LeRoy L. Bishop, 87, of Broadalbin died Saturday at Nathan Littauer Hospital after a long illness. He was born on Feb. 7, 1913, in Wells, the son of George and Mary Mattice Bishop. Mr. Bishop was a self-employed excavating contractor who retired in 1991. He was a lifelong resident of Broadalbin. He was a member of the Northampton United Methodist Church at Fish House and the American Legion Post and an exempt member of the Kennyetto Fire Company. He was a former Broadalbin village board member. Mr. Bishop was a World War II Army veteran and served in Normandy and southern France. Survivors include his wife, the former Marjorie Crannell, whom he married on Nov. 30, 1933; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by three brothers, Louis, Ernest and Leonard Bishop; and one sister, Alice Bishop. There will be no calling hours. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Robert M. Halgas Funeral Home, 38 W. Main St, Broadalbin, with the Rev. Herbert Johnson officiating. Spring burial will take place at the Broadalbin-Mayfield Rural Cemetery.

George Decker
January 14, 2001

Mr. George W. Decker, 99, of Amsterdam, died Friday at the Edward L. Wilkinson Residential Health Care Facility, Amsterdam, after a brief illness. He was born on April 30, 1901, in Northampton, the son of Fred and Etta Tanner Decker. He was educated locally and was a lifelong resident. Mr. Decker was the owner and operator of a dairy farm on Route 30 North for a number of years, and later was a self-employed contractor. Mr. Decker was the oldest member of the Northampton United Methodist Church. He was a member of Kennyetto Lodge 599, Free and Accepted Masons, in Broadalbin and the AANOMS Shriners of Troy. He served as treasurer for the Perth Central School for 31 years. Survivors include his wife, the former Alice Mosher, whom he married on Sept. 24, 1988; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his first wife, Margurite Jones Decker, who died in 1985. Calling hours will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home on 171 Guy Park Ave., Amsterdam, where the Kennyetto Lodge will conduct a Masonic service at 7:30 p.m. Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Dan J. Wheeler officiating. Interment is in Fairview Cemetery.