The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Obituaries

Robert Charles Hall, Sr

By

Cambridge – Robert Charles Hall, Sr., 79, died Sunday, August 24, 2008, at the Orchard Nursing Home in Granville, NY. He resided on Cambridge Woods Lane in Cambridge, NY, with his wife Wilhelmina E. (Tschumi) Hall.

Born on May 21, 1929, in Valley Falls, NY, Robert was the son of the late Wesley and Anna Mae (Hewitt) Hall. He graduated from Hoosick Falls High School. Bob was a Master Craftsman working throughout the Hoosick Falls, NY, area, building and remodeling houses. He also built the present Rescue Squad building in Hoosick Falls, built the church hall at the Raymertown Lutheran Church and did remodeling and updating at the Oak plants in Hoosick Falls. He especially enjoyed making cabinets and doll houses. Bob also built the first total electric house in this area in Valley Falls.

Bob enjoyed camping throughout his life. In his earlier years he and his family traveled across the United States, eventually camping in each state. In his later years he and his wife would go camping with their grandchildren.

Bob was very active in the community having served as the Exalted Ruler at the Hoosick Falls Elks # 178 for two terms. He was a Charter Member of the Lions Club, served on the Central School P.T.A., and was a volunteer for Rensselaer County Hospice. He was also involved with his church the First United Church in Hoosick Falls where he served as a Church Elder. Bob was also active in the Albany Presbytery and the Raymertown Lutheran Church where he served as the Superintendent of Sunday School.

Survivors, other than his wife Wilhelmina, include his children, Robert “Chuck” Hall Jr. and wife Cathy of Woodsville, NH, Brian J. Hall and wife Pamela of Cambridge, Karen R. Hall-Otero and husband Michael of Greenwich, NY, and Kathi Carknard of Hoosick Falls, and a brother, Malcolm Hall of West Hoosick, NY. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Eric C. Hall, Emily Rodriguez and Kenny, John McLucas, Brian McLucas, Carly Hall, Brian Hall and Ian Carknard. Robert is pre-deceased by three brothers, Forrest, Gilbert and Myron, and a son-in-law, Ed Carknard.

Funeral services were Thursday, August 28, at 10 am at the First United Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Committal services will follow the service at Maple Grove Cemetery in Hoosick Falls.

Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, New York, 12090, on Wednesday from 4 to 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to either the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad, the Rensselaer County Community Hospice, the Karen McGovern Memorial Fund or Camp Hebron, a camp for children, through the funeral home.

Albert W. “Babe” Waytkus

By

Hoosick Falls – Albert W. “Babe” Waytkus, 90, died Saturday, August 23, 2008, at home with his family tending to him in his own bed. He was also under the tender care of Hospice. Babe resided on Scott Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, with his wife Rose (McEckron) Waytkus. Babe and Rose celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary last November.

Born on January 16, 1918, in Hoosick Falls, Babe was the son of the late John and Beniga (Blinstrub) Waytkus. He graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls. Babe had many jobs in the Town, County and State. He was particularly happy with his school bus driving at Hoosick Falls Central, St. Mary’s Academy and the Howard Kinnicut School.

He belonged to the Elks Lodge # 178, the Derby Club, the St. Stanislaw Society and the Home Guard, all in Hoosick Falls. He was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church for 85 years.

Survivors, other than his wife Rose, include his eight children, Cynthia Salvi of Schenectady, NY, Rosemary Waytkus of Troy, NY, Neil Waytkus of Hoosick Falls, Michael Waytkus of West Sand Lake, NY, Steven Waytkus of North Petersburgh, NY, Patricia La Bombard of Manchester, VT, MaryAnn Anderson of Franklin, NH, and Donald Waytkus of Cambridge, NY. Babe is also survived by fourteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He is pre-deceased by four sons, John, Paul, Albert and Thomas.

Funeral services were Tuesday, August 26, at 9 am from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at 9:30 am from the Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial followed the Mass at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Relatives and friends called at the funeral home on Monday from 4 to 7 pm. 

Memorial contributions may be made to either the Hoosick Falls Fire Department or the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad through the funeral home.

Ruth P. Wager

By

Petersburgh –  Ruth P. Jones Wager, 80, died on Tuesday, August 19, 2008, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Born October 24, 1927, in Berlin, NY, she was the daughter of the late Harold W. and Nora Brown Jones. She was the widow of Claude Wager. Ruth attended Berlin schools and was of the Baptist faith. She worked for General Cable in Williamstown, MA, for 34 years before relocating to Vero Beach, FL, in 1978. She returned to the area in October of 2007 to celebrate her 80th birthday with family and was taken ill. She resided with her brother Harold and his wife Eva in Petersburgh, NY, and at the Center for Living and Rehabilitation in Bennington during her illness.

Survivors include a daughter, Debra and husband Wayne Barber of North Adams, MA, her siblings, Agnes Stanley of Zephyr Hills, FL, Harold W. and wife Eva Jones, Jr. of Petersburgh, Howard and wife Blanche Jones of Buskirk, NY, Dorothy Stewart of Las Vegas, NV, Alric “Mike” and wife Betty Jones of North Petersburgh, NY, a special niece, Gloria Adams of Berlin, an aunt, Gladys Jones of Berlin, and many nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by a brother, George Jones.

Following Ruth’s wishes, she will be cremated, with no calling hours or services. She had a great love for animals. Memorial contributions in her memory may be made to the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, FL Inc., PO Box 664, Vero Beach, FL, 32961. Arrangements are under the guidance of the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home of Petersburgh.

Walter Cottrell Baker

By

Hoosick – Walter  Cottrell Baker, 89, died Saturday, August 16, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington after a brief illness.

 

Walter was a life-long farmer, living his whole life in the home where he was born on May 2, 1919.  He was the son of the late David Allen and Hattie Cottrell Baker and was also pre-deceased by his two sisters, Agnes P. Cornell and Lois F. Cornell.

Graduating from Hoosick Falls High School in 1935, he chose to farm with his father, enlarging and improving the home farm on Bovie Hill in Hoosick, NY, purchased in 1916. He had an egg delivery route during the late 1940s and 50s selling to many of the corner markets and customers in the Troy area, as well as doing errands, dropping off folks and  picking up supplies for some of the organizations of which he was a member.

He was a member of the Hoosick Grange for seventy-five years, most recently serving as chaplain at the time of his death. A life-long member of the First Baptist Church of Hoosick Falls, NY, he served in many roles, including those of Sunday School teacher, Deacon and Trustee. He also enjoyed being active in farming organizations, serving as an Agway committeeman, Rensselaer County Farm Bureau member, and he was on the Cornell Cooperative Extension Board, being named Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1964 and 1965.

The activities that gave him the most enjoyment were spending time with his family, hearing what his grandkids were up to,  working outside on the farm and seeing the results of his labor develop each year, as well as visiting with his farming neighbors to exchange what was the “news” in the area. If a neighbor needed some help, he was a member of that generation that was always there to lend a hand, never expecting anything in return.

Surviving him are his wife, Barbara Frisbie Baker, his sons, Kendal Frisbie Baker and his wife Florina Capistrano-Baker and Sherman Walter Baker and his wife Sandra Castro-Baker, all of Hoosick Falls, Larry Cottrell Baker and his wife Patty Kaminski Baker of Eagle Bridge, NY, and Elon Lee Baker of Hoosick Falls, and a daughter, Hattie Ann Baker of Delmar, NY.

Grandchildren are Jessica S. Baker of Plattsburgh, NY, Matthew J. Baker and Lucas H. Baker of White Creek, NY, and Phoebe Laura Baker and Julia Thankful Baker of Hoosick Falls.  He is also survived by his nieces, Arlene Davie, Geraldine Greene, Lorraine Brownell, and his nephews, David and Allen Cornell, and their children and grandchildren.

The funeral service was at the First Baptist Church of Hoosick Falls at 80 Main St. on Thursday, August 21, at 10 am. Calling hours were on Wednesday, August 20, from 2  until 4 pm and from 6 to 9 pm at the Robson Reinfurt Funeral Home at 72 Main St. Hoosick Falls.  Burial was at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Hoosick Falls immediately following the service. A reception followed at the First Baptist Church.  Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the First Baptist Church of Hoosick Falls or to the Hoosick Falls Health Center.

Mary Lou Cocco

By

Petersburgh – Mary Lou Cocco, 74, of Route 22, Petersburgh, NY, died on Wednesday evening, August 6, 2008, at her home.

Born in Erie, PA, on January 25, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Luman and Agnes Dudenhoeffer DeLong. She was the loving wife of James M. Cocco whom she married on March 27, 1992, in Erie. They have lived in the Petersburgh area for ten years after moving from Twinsburg, OH. She was a communicant of St. John Francis Regis Roman Catholic Church in Grafton, NY.

A graduate of Strong-Vincent High School, Mary Lou worked at the Erie Maennerchor Club and Kaiser Aluminum in Erie until 1997. She was pre-deceased by her first husband, Ronald Swanson.

Survivors besides her husband James include a sister, Shirley Dion of Erie, three God-daughters, Sharon and husband Michael Crandall and Mary Crandall both of Grafton, Melissa and her husband Matthew Pace of Cleveland, OH, along with many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 23, at 10 am in St. John Francis Regis Roman Catholic Church, Grafton where Rev. Kenneth Gregory will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to the Erie Dawn, Inc. (a home for homeless and battered women), 330 East 10th Street, Erie, PA, 16503. Arrangements are under the guidance of Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home of Petersburgh.