U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentJohn P. Them
Former Callicoon farmer, 75
John Phillip Them of Midland, Texas, passed away on September 24, 2007 at home. He was 75.
He was born January 25, 1932 to Phillip Them and Susan Waltman Them in Schoharie.
He married Josephine Pirone on September 11, 1954, and they were together for 52 years, celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2005. They owned a dairy farm in Callicoon for many years before moving to Midland in 1978. He helped build many houses in Midland, before working at Ranchland Hills Country Club, and later Green Tree Country Club, as head of maintenance. He then retired and spent his time in woodworking and gardening. John has been a faithful member of St. Stephen's Catholic Church for many years. He enjoyed volunteering for Helping Hands Charity and Christmas in Action.
John was a tower for strength for his family and friends, literally and figuratively. Whenever anyone had a need, John was the first one to respond. He loved working with wood, and leaves behind many hand-crafted pieces for his family and friends to remember him. As a grandfather he delighted in giving his grandchildren anything they wanted and spending time with them. He was a faithful attendee of all their sports games, their #1 fan. He spent many hours doing home improvement projects, on his own home and those of his children. His passing has left a hole in their lives that God will have to fill.
He is survived by his loving wife, Jo Them of Midland, Tx.; one son, John Them and wife, Leighann, of Oyster Bay, Long Island; two daughters, Diane Houghtaling and husband, Keith, of Callicoon; and Lorianne Lightfoot of Midland, Tx.; six grandchildren, Rebecka Houghtaling, Aaron Houghtaling and wife, Naomi, Jaime and Michael Them, and Caleb and Abigail Lightfoot; one great-granddaughter, Cierra Roth; two sisters, Teresa Yanacek and Margaret Hillriegel and husband, Lester; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Jeff Lightfoot.
Memorial services were held Thursday, September 27, 2007 at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Midland. Memorial services will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Callicoon at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made to Odyssey Health Care, 1330 E. 8th St., Ste. 410, Odessa, TX 79761 as an expression of the loving care John received in the last days of his life.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home, Midland.
George E. Irwin
U.S. Army Veteran, 94
George Ezra Irwin of Selkirk, formerly of Neversink, passed away Saturday morning, September 22, 2007 peacefully in his sleep. He was 94.
The son of Matthew J. and Martha Calkins Irwin, he was born April 22, 1913 in Neversink.
On September 1, 1939, he married the love of his life, Edith Yonker of Woodridge and they moved to Selkirk where they resided for over 50 years.
George loved hunting, camping and was a founding member of the Buckaroo Lodge. George and Edith also loved to travel and drove to Alaska many times to visit their son. George was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in WWII in the Philippines. He worked for Killian Trucking, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk School District and for the Conrail Railroad for many years.
Survivors include his son, Frank George Irwin, and granddaughter, Sonya Anne, both of Anchorage, Alaska; and many loving relatives, friends and neighbors.
Mr. Irwin was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Gerald and Winthrop Irwin; and sister Regina Irwin Perry.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Babcock Funeral Home, 19 Pulver Ave., Ravena. The Rev. Alan Baumback officiated.
Burial will be made in Grove Cemetery, Coeymans, at a later time in the week.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Ravena Rescue Squad, PO Box 144, Ravena, NY 12143.
Solomon Katzoff, 82
Retired owner of Katzoff Realty
Solomon Katzoff, a lifetime area resident and the retired owner and operator of Katzoff Realty in Jeffersonville, died on Wednesday, September 25, 2007 in Catskill Regional Medical Center Harris. He was 82.
‘Sol’ was a World War II Army veteran, serving in the Philippians and in Japan. He was a thirty-plus year member of the Board of Directors of The First National Bank of Jeffersonville.
He is survived by his wife Gertrude at home; his son, Jan Katzoff and his wife Lynn of Whitefish, Mt.; his daughter, Sharon Katzoff of New York City; his brother, Herbert Katzoff and his wife Doris of Syracuse; his sister-in-law, Elaine Katzoff of Lake Huntington; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, September 30, 2007 at 11 a.m. in the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc., 388 Broadway Monticello.
Burial will be in the Jeffersonville Synagogue Cemetery, Route 52, between Jeffersonville and Youngsville.
Funeral arrangements by Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc. Monticello. For directions or send the family a condolence note, visit our website at www.josephngarlickfuneralhome.com.
Pamela J. Jones
College Student, 54
Pamela J. Jones, a 25-year resident of Liberty, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, September 22, 2007. She was 54.
The daughter of Roland and Peggy Rupp, she was born September 10, 1953 in Brooklyn.
Pam worked for Grossinger’s Resort in the reservations office from 1982 until it closed in 1987. She then secured a position at Marcel Dekker, Inc. Publishers in Monticello in the Journal Customer Service Department, where she was later promoted to supervisor. She remained there until they were bought by another company and moved out of New York. In 2006, Pam had a six-month stint as a proofreader/ typesetter at the River Reporter in Narrowsburg.
Pam was working toward a second associate’s degree at Sullivan County Community College, majoring in computer graphics, graphic design and photography. A graduate of Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, she attended Columbia University for a year, and also earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kingsborough Community College before she relocated.
Pam was an accomplished author and poet, and many of her pieces were published in journals, newspapers and periodicals in Sullivan County and on the World Wide Web. Some of her work can be found at www.associatedcontent.com.
Survivors include her mother, Peggy Rupp of Liberty; a sister, Linda Johnsen of Brooklyn; husband, Charles Jones of Half Moon Bay; a son and daughter-in-law, Dana and Lauren Jones; a granddaughter, Haley Jones of Albany; Yogi and Tayla of the canine persuasion, and Calvin, Kevin, Sandy and Honey Bun, who follow the feline calling, all of Liberty.
She was predeceased by her father, Roland Rupp; aunts, Mildred Blackler and Beatrice Rupp, and sister, Sally Jacobsen.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 29 at 1 p.m. at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 275 S. Main St., Liberty.
Francis Edward Hitt
WWII Vet., 80
Francis Edward Hitt of Astor, Fla. and a longtime resident of Woodbourne, passed away on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at Hospice of Lake and Sumter in Tavares, Fla. He was 80.
The son of the late Luton and Nora Stangle Hitt, he was born on November 30, 1926 in Roscoe.
Fran was a veteran and served our country in WWII.
He leaves behind his loving wife, Irene at home; two children, Edward Hitt and his wife, Peggy of Colorado and Denise; three step-children, Carol Canfield and her husband, John of Albany, Richard Wells, and his companion, Elf of Virginia and Howard Wells and his wife, Paula of Syracuse; his sister, Della Smalls of Monticello; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother, Luther Hitt, his sister, Irene Zamansky; and his daughter, Diane Decker, formerly of Monticello.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 29 at 11 a.m. at the Woodbourne Fire Department, State Route 52, Woodbourne. Pastor Thomason of the United Methodist Church of Monticello will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fran’s name to the Woodbourne Fire Department, PO Box 45, Woodbourne, NY 12788.
Carol A. Homer
Retired Teacher, 75
Carol A. Homer of Jeffersonville and Freeport, LI, entered into rest on September 24, 2007 at home. She was 75.
The daughter of Everard K. and Carrie Vogt Homer, she was born April 19, 1932 in Livingston Manor.
She was a retired teacher.
Survivors include five nieces and nephews, Stephen Clifford, Thomas Clifford, Patrick Clifford and his wife, Lorraine, and Susan Clifford, all of Jeffersonville, and Mary Margaret Green and her husband, Troy, of White Sulphur Springs.
She was predeceased by her sister, Freda Clifford, and her brother-in-law, Patrick J. Clifford.
A Rosary Service was held Wednesday evening at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Jeffersonville.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday, Sept. 27 at St. George's Church, Jeffersonville, with Father Ignatius Smith, OFM, officiating.
Burial was made in St. Aloysius Cemetery, Livingston Manor.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550.
Lillian C. Piatt, 70
Lillian C. Piatt of Summitville, a lifelong area resident, died Sunday, September 23, 2007 at Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus, Middletown, with her loving husband at her side. She was 70.
She was born August 2, 1937 in Port Jervis, the daughter of the late Charles and the late Lillian McConnell.
Lillian had worked at the Dirty Duds Laundromat in Middletown and was a member of AARP.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Robert E. Piatt Sr. at home; and two sons, Robert E. Piatt Jr. and Shawn M. Piatt both of Summitville.
She was predeceased by a son, Jonathan Robert Piatt; a daughter, Barbara Ann Piatt; and a brother, Edward McConnell.
Funeral services and burial in the Rural Valley Cemetery, Cuddebackville will be private.
Funeral arrangements are by the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis.
Dorothy M. Dolgas
Homemaker, 86
Dorothy Marie Kehrley Dolgas, formerly of Livingston Manor, died on Saturday, September 22, 2007 at Good Samaritan Hospital. She was 86.
The daughter of Joel and Letha Simpson Kehrley, she was born October 14, 1920 in Livingston Manor. She was the widow of Michael Dolgas, who passed away in 1989.
She was a member of the Livingston Manor Seniors and the Livingston Manor Presbyterian Church.
She is survived by five sons: James Dolgas and his wife Andrea of Schaghticoke; Richard Dolgas and his wife Sandi, and Michael Dolgas and his wife Elizabeth, all of Cape Coral, Fla.; Thomas Dolgas and his wife Lorraine of Essex Junction, Vt.; Brian Dolgas and his wife Jean of Stillwater; four daughters, Jill Iorio and her husband Richard of Suffern; Jo Beth Spellicy of Loch Sheldrake; Lori O’Shaughnessy and her husband Joe of Queensbury; and Mary Pardi and her husband Terri of Picknes, SC; three sisters, Edith Irwin of North Carolina, Ann Jersey of Livingston Manor, and Nancy Bornemann of Syracuse; 19 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by one son, John Michael; two grandchildren, Sherri Stevenson and Kelly Coll; and two sisters, Ruth and Betty.
Funeral services were held Wednesday at the Herbert C. Bryant Funeral Home, 29 Pearl Street, Livingston Manor.
Burial of the cremains was made in the Lew Beach Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Livingston Manor Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 1, Livingston Manor, NY 12758 or to the Kelly Coll Scholarship Fund, 21 Vangogh La., Suffern, NY 10901.
