The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Obituaries

Mildred R. Whitman

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Hancock – Mildred R. “Millie” Rathbun Whitman, 94, of Main Street, Hancock, MA, died on Friday, October 3, 2008, at Springside of Pittsfield under the care of HospiceCare in the Berkshires.

Born in Hancock on September 10, 1914, she was the daughter of Chloe Rathbun and was raised by her grandparents Alfred and Blanche Rathbun. She was the loving wife of the late William H. Whitman who died on August 29, 1987. They were married in Pittsfield, MA, on June 17, 1933.

A lifelong resident, she attended schools in Hancock and Pittsfield. She served as postmaster of the Hancock Post Office in her home for over 35 years retiring in 1996. She was a member of the Hancock Grange for 76 years and a member of the Hancock Baptist Church. Millie was also involved in the Red Cross, the Willing Workers Community Group and was a 4H leader. She loved animals and flowers.

Survivors include her daughter, Alma Whitman and husband Richard Kingsley of Manchester, CT, a foster daughter, Georgianna Balantine of Alabama, her grandchildren, Duane A. and wife Elaine Kingsley of Coventry, CT, Dean and wife Donna Kingsley of Hancock, and a great-granddaughter, Hannah Mildred Kingsley. She is pre-deceased by a son, Henry A. Whitman, and a foster daughter, Gladys Lee Cullman.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday evening, October 7, at 7 pm in the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 NY 43, Stephentown where Rev. Angela Buchauer officiated. Relatives and friends were invited for visitation starting at 4 pm on Tuesday. Private interment will take place in the Hancock Cemetery next to her loving husband.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Hancock Baptist Church, the Community Christmas Tree at Hancock School, the Hancock Volunteer Fire Department or the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in care of the funeral home, PO Box 9, Stephentown, NY, 12168, in loving memory of Millie.

Rufus E. Hall

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Hoosick – Rufus E. Hall, 83, of Petersburgh Junction Road, Hoosick, NY, passed away Thursday, October 2, 2008, at the Centers for Living & Rehabilitation in Bennington, VT. He had resided in Hoosick with his wife Janet (Bain) Hall.

Born in Shaftsbury, VT, on June 1, 1925, Rufus was the son of the late William and Gertrude (Bump) Hall. He was employed at Stanley Tools in Shaftsbury for over twenty-five years. After retiring he had a small greenhouse business at his house for about twenty years. He enjoyed working outdoors, especially in his flower and vegetable gardens.

Survivors other than his wife Janet include his children, Janette Galusha and husband David, Robert Hall and wife Rosalie, all of Hoosick Falls, William Hall and wife Lorrie of Chantilly, VA. He is also survived by brothers, William “Stub” Hall and wife Ida of Cambridge, NY, and Richmond Hall and wife Mary of Shaftsbury, sisters, Donna Pradon of Maine, Marilyn Harrington, Helen Squires and husband William and Roberta Reynolds, all of Shaftsbury, grandchildren, Jennifer, Matthew, Dachia, Bryan, Deidra, Andrew, Eric and Zachary, great-grandchildren Rachel, Jeffrey and Branden. Rufus is pre-deceased by a sister, Fabiola Gills.

Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls on Sunday, October 5, from 2 to 4 pm. Funeral services and burial will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Southwestern Vermont Cancer Center through the funeral home.

Schuyler A. Bink Jr.

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Hoosick Falls – Schuyler A. Bink Jr., 78, of the Danforth Adult Home in Hoosick Falls, NY, formerly of Dyken Pond Road, Petersburgh, NY, died on Sunday, October 5, 2008, at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT, after a long illness. 

Born in Poestenkill, NY, he was the son of the late Schuyler Sr. and Alice Kaiser Bink and husband of the late Amanda Yerdon Bink. Schuyler was a lifelong resident of the area and was retired from Al-Tech Specialty Steel in Waterviliet, NY, where he was a cutter. Schuyler’s greatest passion in life was to spend his time fishing, hunting, trapping and camping.

Survivors include his children, Schuyler Bink III, William Bink, David Bink and Sharon Merrills, a brother, Robert Bink, his sisters, Doris Lewis, Patricia Miller and Linda Smith, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Relatives and Friends were invited to call at the Perry-Komdat Funeral Chapel, 2691 NY 43 at Glass Lake, Averill Park, NY, on Wednesday from 4 to 6 pm. A graveside service was held on Thursday at 10 am at the Woodside Cemetery, 56 Road, East Poestenkill, NY.

Warner Benjamin Harrison

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Hoosick Falls – Warner Benjamin “Ben” Harrison, 79, died Friday, September 26, 2008, at the Hoosick Falls Health Center. He had resided on Griffin Avenue in Hoosick Falls, NY, with his wife of fifty-six years, Henrietta Ann “Hennie” (Demick) Harrison.

Born on November 14, 1928, in Cambridge, NY, he was the son of the late Howard and Ina (Mason) Harrison. Ben graduated from Hoosick Falls High School. After high school, he worked in the family business, Harrison Vending. He later started Harrison Mobile Sales before starting his own vending business, now operated by his two sons, David and Doug. Ben retired in 1983. He was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the Army National Guard, the Derby Club, a life member of the St. Stanislaw Society and a charter member since 1961 of the Lions Club, all in Hoosick Falls. Ben enjoyed playing golf, spending summers at Hedges Lake, winters in Florida, boat parades at the lake and riding his scooter.

Survivors other than his wife Hennie include his children, Lee Ann Kilby and Kimberly Harrison, both of Tallahassee, FL, David Harrison and wife Heather, Doug Harrison and friend Sandy Trembly, all of Hoosick Falls, a brother, Ronald Harrison of Syracuse, NY, and two sisters, Shirley Moses of Eagle Bridge, NY, and Ann Gilfeather of Red Hook, NY. He is also survived by his five grandchildren, Stephen, Lauren, Patrick, Emily and Evan. Ben is pre-deceased by three brothers, Harry, Malcolm and Mason Harrison.

Funeral services were Monday, September 29, at 10 am from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial followed the service at Maple Grove Cemetery, Hoosick Falls.

Isabelle B. Marshall

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Hoosick Falls – Isabelle B. Marshall, 95, passed away suddenly on October 1, 2009, at her residence in the Wood Park Apartments in Hoosick Falls, NY. She formerly resided in Hoosick, NY, and was the wife of the late H. Rudolph Marshall. Isabelle and Rudolph had been married for forty-seven years at the time of his death.

Born on June 25, 1913, in Bennington, VT, Isabelle was the daughter of the late Harry G. and Belle (Rudd) Breese. She graduated from Bennington High School in 1931 and attended Simmons College and Burdett College in Boston, MA. Isabelle was employed at the Samaritan Hospital in Troy, NY, as the Medical Record Librarian.

She was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Hoosick, an honorary member of the Bennington Chapter of D.A.R., a member of the Cambridge Area Branch of the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association, the Cheney Library Book Club, a volunteer at the Louis Miller Museum, Hoosick Falls, and a Genealogy Library volunteer at the Bennington Museum.

Survivors include her twin daughters, Sandra Phelps and husband Robert and Susan Lohnes and husband Robert, all of Hoosick, her sister, Jane Rydberg of Rochester, NY, her brother, Robert Breese of Hoosick Falls, five grandchildren Carol MacDonald, Gary Lohnes, Heidi Byrne, Betsy Seplowitz and Brenda Phelps, six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Isabelle is pre-deceased by a brother, Alexander Breese.

Funeral services will be Friday, October 3, at 11 am from All Saints Episcopal Church in Hoosick. Burial will follow the service at Hoosick Rural Cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, on Thursday from 5 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to either the Cheney Library in Hoosick Falls or the Hoosick Rural Cemetery Association through the funeral home.

Helen B. Eddy

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Eagle Bridge – Helen B. (Bartling) Eddy, 93, died Tuesday, September 30, 2008, at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT. She had resided on Rt. 67 in Eagle Bridge, NY, and is pre-deceased by her husband Perry Eddy.

Born on November 24, 1914, in the Town of Pittstown, NY, Helen was the daughter of the late Walter and Florence (Quackenbush) Bartling. She was educated at schools in Pittstown and was a homemaker all of her life. Helen also owned the Owlkill Gift Shop in Eagle Bridge. She enjoyed reading, taking care of other people and playing with her grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughter, Joan Gardner of Hoosick Falls, NY, a sister, Louise Splatt of Albany, NY, seven grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves her close friends, Debbie and Denny Brownell, Leslie, Jean and Lynn. Helen is pre-deceased by her daughter, Lois Sukuskas, sisters, Eva Gates and Lois Haner, and a brother, Walter Bartling.

Funeral services are Thursday, October 2, at 2 pm from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial follows the service at Island Hill Cemetery, Buskirk, NY.

Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 12 pm until the start of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cambridge Valley Rescue Squad through the funeral home.

Bertha M. Jost

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Hoosick Falls – Bertha M. Jost, 101, died Friday, September 26, 2008, at the Hoosick Falls Health Center in Hoosick Falls, NY, where she had resided since 2007. Bertha formerly resided on South Street in Hoosick, NY. She was the wife of the late Milford Strait and the late Casper Jost.

Born on May 5, 1907, in Petersburgh, NY, Bertha was the daughter of the late Guy and Fidelia (Church) Barber. She was educated at schools in the Town of Hoosick and was a homemaker all of her life. Bertha was a member of the Senior Citizens and enjoyed playing cards and bowling.

Survivors include her daughter, Shirley Hayes, and her grandson, Ron Bovie, both of Hoosick Falls, a family friend, William Hamlin of Saratoga Springs, NY, and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were on Monday, September 29, at 2 pm from All Saints Episcopal Church in Hoosick. Burial followed the service at Maple Grove Cemetery in Hoosick Falls.

Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Church through the funeral home.

Mona Marie Thomson

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Hoosick Falls – Mona Marie Thomson, 93, of Wood Park Lane, Hoosick Falls, NY, died on Thursday, September 18, 2008, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Petersburgh, NY, on March 19, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Alton Thomson and Eva Smith Watrous. She was the step-daughter of the late James Watrous.

Mona was educated in Petersburgh, Hoosick Falls and Rensselaer. She was a graduate of the Ritter School of Floral Design in Boston, MA. Mona had an independent and adventurous nature, trying her hand at numerous occupations including window dressing, floral design in Mt. Vernon, NY, and narrator on Shoreline Cruise Lines in Sarasota, FL. She also bought and sold antiques. She enjoyed traveling, taking her grandchildren to Hershey Park, PA, visiting old friends and spending the holidays with her daughter’s family. She was pre-deceased by an infant brother, Malcolm.

Survivors include her daughter, Audrey and husband Ronald Bartus of Petersburgh, a son, Dennis and wife Patricia Moon of Berlin, NY, grandchildren, Anthony and wife Linda Wescott, Dawn and husband William MacVeigh, Randy and Jerusha Jarvis, Sara and husband Ronald Bierwirth, Tracey and husband Melvin Teal, Holly, Jessica, Dennis and wife Margie and Jason Moon along with 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandsons.

Funeral services were on Sunday, September 21, at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh, where Rev. Trygve Tomlinson officiated. Interment followed in the Meadowlawn Cemetery.

Relatives and friends were invited to the funeral home on Sunday from noon until the start of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the United Mitochondria Disease Foundation, 8085 Saltsburg Road, Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA, 15239, or online at www.umdf.org.