OBITS: Times Herald-Record 28 Apr 2005; Middletown, Orange co., New York text-formatted by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** Source: Times Herald-Record http://www.recordonline.com Birish, Beatrice M. Beatrice M. Birish, a homemaker and lifelong area resident, died Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at St. Anthony's Hospital in Warwick. She was 81. The daughter of the late Clarence Smith and Beatrice M. Curran Smith, she was born August 3, 1923 in Suffern. She is survived by her husband, Joseph P. Birish of Monroe; sons, Michael J. Birish of Tuxedo, William G. Birish of Suffern, James R. Birish of Monroe; daughter, Beatrice Kimmenau of Tucson, Ariz.; brothers, Peter Smith of Monsey, William Smith of Sloatsburg; sister, Eleanor Gannon of Sloatsburg; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Joseph P. Birish and a granddaughter. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 29 at the Smith, Seaman and Quackenbush Inc. Funeral Home, 117 Maple Ave., Monroe. Prayer services will be held Friday evening in the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 30 at Sacred Heart Church, 26 Still Road, Monroe. The Rev. Vincent Howley will officiate. Burial will be in St. Anastasia Cemetery, Harriman. Arrangements by Smith, Seaman and Quackenbush Inc. Funeral Home. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 4/28/2005. Coburn, Robert E. Robert E. Coburn, a longtime resident of Monticello, passed away on Tuesday April 26, 2005 at Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, N.Y. He was 78. The son of Edwin and Theodosia Mac Travis Coburn, he was born on September 14, 1926 in Irvington, N.J. Robert was a retired meat cutter for the A & P in Monticello. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the US Navy from 1943-1946. He was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Forestburgh and was also a member of Ruddick-Trowbridge Post # 73 American Legion in Monticello. Survivors include his daughter Jane Coburn Farina and husband Charles of Niskayuna, NY; 2 brothers, "Mac" Coburn of Cottondale, FL and Richard Coburn of Florida and 2 grandchildren, Caroline Jane Farina and Nicholas Charles Farina. He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years Margaret Froelich Coburn who died June 18, 2002 and a brother Wally Coburn. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday April 30, 2005 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church in Forestburgh. The Rev. Ivan Csete will officiate. Burial will be in St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery, Forestburgh. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Forestburgh Rd., Forestburgh, NY 12777. Funeral arrangements are by Ramsay's Funeral Homes Inc., Monticello. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 4/28/2005. Henderson, John (Chick) John (Chick) Henderson, 59, of Cornwall, N.Y., retired from IBM and Superintendent of Building & Grounds for the Town of Cornwall, died suddenly on April 26, 2005, Cornwall Hospital. The son of John D. Henderson and Emma Etta Judson Henderson, he was born February 4, 1946 in Newburgh. He was a member of the IBM 25 Century Club; Highland Engine Co. (Cornwall Fire Dept); founder of Pit League at Cornwall-On-Hudson; and the Cornwall Little League as manager and coach. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Donna Crook Henderson, at home; two sons, Michael J. Henderson of Nyack, N.Y. and Eric J. Henderson of Albany, N.Y.; and many friends of Cornwall. Friends and relatives may call at the Quigley Bros. Funeral Home, 337 Hudson St., Cornwall-On-Hudson, N.Y. from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Friday April 29, 2005. Services will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 30 in the funeral home with Fr. Thomas Margrave officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, New Windsor, N.Y. following the service. Memorial contributions may be made to: Highland Engine Co., Cornwall, N.Y. Funeral arrangements were made by Kevin Quigley of Quigley Bros. Funeral Home. www.QuigleyBros.com. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 4/28/2005. Kastner, Margaret C. Margaret C. Kastner, of Middletown, assistant director, having retired after 45 years from Horton Memorial Hospital and lifelong resident of the area, died Monday, April 25, 2005 at Glen Arden in Goshen. The daughter of Edward and Bessie Murphy Coleman, she was born in Otisville, N.Y. She was the widow of Frederick B. Kastner. She was a member of St. Joseph R.C. Church in Middletown as well as having been a member of the Altar Rosary Society and she was a former member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies' Auxiliary. Survivors include her nieces, Cheryl Karas of Lakewood, N.J. and Judy and Charles Sutton of Terra Alta, W. Va. and her nephews, Jim Kane of California, James Newsome of Middletown, Roger Newsome of Middletown and William Mapes of Rochester, N.Y. She is also survived by Ginger Mapes of Middletown. She was predeceased by three sisters, Mary Newsome, Kathryn Kohler and Josephine Kane and one brother, John Coleman. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 29 at Holy Name Church in Otisville. Burial of ashes will be at Holy Name Cemetery in Otisville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in her honor to Orange Regional Medical Center, Horton Campus, Middletown. Arrangements by Ralston-Lippincott- Hasbrouck-Ingrassia Funeral Home. Published in the Times Herald-Record from 4/27/2005 - 4/28/2005. McMeekin, Mary Ellen Mary Ellen McMeekin, 65, of Harrison Ave., died Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at Southern Maine Medical Center. She was born May 22, 1939 in St. Paul Minnesota, a daughter of Fred J. and Margaret Flynn Bednar and was educated there, coming to this area in 2002. She served in the US Army and worked as an employee of West Point for many years. On August 19, 1961, she married Charles B. McMeekin in Highland Falls, NY. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles B. McMeekin, July 3, 2004. Surviving are 2 sons: Charles D. McMeekin and his wife Rhonda of Springvale and John T. McMeekin of Newburgh, NY; 6 daughters: Sheila M. McCurry and her husband Timothy of Biddeford, Molly A. Johnson and her husband Jeffrey of Newburgh, NY, Patricia Mucci and her husband Frank of Biddeford, Sarah McMeekin of Biddeford, Kathleen McMeekin of Newburgh, NY, Maggie Jaycox and her husband Dwayne of Newburgh, NY; 18 grandchildren; 2 sisters: Katy Betz of St. Paul MN, Aggie Thiessen of Owasso, MN; several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held for Charles and Mary McMeekin on Sunday May 1, 2005 at 10 a.m. in the Eagle Valley Cemetery, Highland Falls, N.Y. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 4/28/2005. Mednick, Betty Betty Mednick, a longtime area resident, died on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 in the Skilled Nursing Unit of Catskill Regional Medical Center. She was 85. Betty was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. on November 27, 1919, and was the widow of the late Joseph Sol Mednick. She is survived by her sons Murray Mednick and his wife Christine of California and Marvin Mednick of Savannah, Ga.; her three daughters Audrey Herman of North Caroline, Blanche Mednick of Brooklyn, NY and Beverly Isberg of Woodridge, NY; and her two sisters Mildred Berman of California and Shirley Love of Riverdale, NY; and her four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by one son Gilbert Mednick. Graveside funeral services will be held on Friday, April 29, 2005 at 10 a.m. in the Woodridge Synagogue Cemetery, Marsh Road, Glen Wild, NY. Rabbi Ben Zion Chanowitz will officiate. Funeral Arrangements by Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home Inc., Monticello. Visit our website at www.josephngarlickfuneral.com. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 4/28/2005. Oehlmann, Matthew A. Matthew A. Oehlmann, 50, of Dingman's Ferry, Pa., died on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at home. He owned and operated Oehlmann Construction, Dingman's Ferry, Pa. He chaired and participated in the American Softball Association of local umpires and chaired the Delaware Township Men's Softball League. For many years, he was chairman for the Delaware Township Recreation Commission and aided in fundraising for community members with cancer. Friends and family reflect on his heroic effort to save Carin and Benjamin Smirman and his mother Dorothy. He was never too busy to help friends and people in need. Born in Dover, N.J. on May 30, 1954, he was the son of Raymond and Dorothy (Hansen) Oehlmann. He was married to Jo Anne Solimani Oehlmann. Survivors include his wife, Jo Anne; his mother, Dorothy; one son, Matthew S. Oehlmann of Cocoa, Fla.; his brother and sister-in-law, Gordon and Kathy Oehlmann of Dingman's Ferry; and his brother, William Oehlmann of Dingman's Ferry. Graveside services will be held on Friday, April 29 at 11 a.m. at Delaware Cemetery, Route 739, Dingman's Ferry, Pa. The Rev. Niels Nielsen will officiate. Donations may be made to the charity of one's choice. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 4/28/2005. Pierson, Alice Jamison Alice Jamison Pierson, a lifelong area resident, died Tuesday April 26, 2005 at home, of cancer. She was 71. The daughter of the late William Baird Jamison and Vira Hill Jamison, she was born September 8, 1933 in Kingston, N.Y. Alice was a homemaker and she worked side by side with her husband, Stephen G. Pierson, on the family farm, "The Evergreens". He preceded her in death on May 6, 1995. She was formerly employed at Arden Hill Hospital as a kitchen supervisor. Mrs. Pierson was a member and elder of Otisville-Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church; a member of the Otisville Garden Club; Mt. Hope Historical Society; New York Southeastern Beekeepers Club; and she was active in other community services. A family statement reads: "Our mother, Alice, was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. We will miss her dearly." She is survived by three sons: Orrin T. Pierson and wife, Jackie, of Mt. Hope, Baird J. Pierson of Mt. Hope, and Josiah Pierson and wife, Jennifer, of East Greenville, Pa.; one daughter, Susan Pierson and husband, Dr. Gregory Vachon, of Oak Park, Ill.; two sisters, Ellen Jamison Springsteen and husband, Rev. Louis Springsteen, of Westwood, N.J., and Janet Jamison Fuller and husband, Obby, of Milanville, Pa.; eight grandchildren: Lorna, Rachel, Carolyn and Marguerite of Mt. Hope, Emily, Henry and Jane of Oak Park, Ill., and Elizabeth of East Greenville, Pa. She is also survived by her in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call at the Otisville-Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church, Main St., Otisville, N.Y. on Saturday April 30, 2005 from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 AM in church, with the Rev. Jeffrey Farley officiating. A luncheon gathering will follow the service in the church hall. Interment will be on the family farm at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Otisville-Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 628, Otisville, NY 10963, or to American Cancer Society, 407 E. Main St., Middletown, NY 10940. To offer your condolences online, please visit www.connellfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Cornelius, Dodd & Connell, Inc. Funeral Home, 26 Grove St., Middletown, N.Y. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 4/28/2005. Schwall, Apollonia B. Formerly of Middletown, N.Y. Apollonia B. Schwall, a homemaker and 10-year resident of Boynton Beach, Fla., died April 26, 2005 in Goshen, after a brief illness. She was 94. The daughter of Giacinto Galioto and Vincenza Meli, she was born October 7, 1910 in Garfield, N.J. She was married on October 10, 1928 in New York, N.Y. to Julius A. Schwall. He died January 8, 1988. Survivors include her sons, Giacinto (Jack) Schwall of Boynton Beach, Fla., Julius A. (Dutch) Schwall of Fayetteville, N.C. and Joseph Schwall of Highland; many grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Julius; her daughter Appollonia (Sisty) Schwall; and a son, Benedetto (Benny) Schwall. Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 28 at Robert H. Auchmoody Funeral Home, 1028 Main Street, Fishkill. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, April 29 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fishkill Rural Cemetery, 801 Route 9, Fishkill. Arrangements by Robert H. Auchmoody Funeral Home. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 4/28/2005. Smirman, Carin Jennifer and Benjamin Joseph BENJAMIN JOSEPH SMIRMAN Carin Jennifer Smirman, 13, and Benjamin Joseph Smirman, 9, of Dingman's Ferry, Pa., died on Tuesday April 26, 2005, at home. Carin was an 8th grade student at Dingman-Delaware Middle School, where she was continuously a high honors student. She raised funds from the age of 8 for community members with cancer in need of financial help, and also raised funds for, and participated in walks, for the Lymphoma-Leukemia Society. She was selected by and published on Poetry.com at 11 years of age. Benjamin was a 4th grade student at Dingman-Delaware Elementary School, where he achieved straight A's in 2004-2005. He helped his sister with fundraising and walked for the Lymphoma-Leukemia Society. Carin and Benjamin were both born in Newton, N.J. Carin was born on August 24, 1991 and Benjamin was born on June 26, 1995, to Todd and JoAnne (Solimani) Smirman. Survivors include their parents, JoAnne Oehlmann of Dingman's Ferry, and Todd Smirman, also of Dingman's Ferry; a sister, Danielle Smirman of Dingman's Ferry; maternal grandmother, Anne M. Clock of Barnegat Light, N.J.; and two step-brothers, Todd Smirman and Kyle Smirman, both of Dingman's Ferry. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday April 29, 2005 at 10:00 AM in St. Vincent DePaul Church, Dingman Hills, Milford, Pa. Burial will take place in Delaware Cemetery, Route 739, Dingman's Ferry, Pa. immediately following mass. Donations may be made to the charity of one's choice. Arrangements were made by Stroyan Funeral Home, Inc., 405 W. Hartford St., Milford, Pa. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 4/28/2005. Stewart Sr., Charles E. Formerly of Middletown, N.Y. Charles Edwin Stewart, Sr., a resident of Yadkinville, N.C. and former resident of Middletown, died April 26, 2005 at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital, Elkin, N.C. He was 84 years old. The son of the late Bessie and Elroy Stewart, he was born on March 26, 1921 in Middletown. Charles owned and operated "Stewart Movers" in the Middletown area for 28 years. During World War II he served in the US Navy in the Pacific aboard the USS Bancroft DD598 and the USS Montpelier CL 57, earning 8 battle Stars, Medals and Ribbons. He was a charter member of the USS Montpelier Association, Montpelier, Vt. A 30-year plus member of the Hoffman Lodge #412 F and A.M. serving as master and member of the Board of Trustees; a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner, he received a silver plaque for his years of service as "Dad" of the Order of Rainbow Girls and Grand Cross of Colors; a 26-year member of the Middletown American Legion Post 151; an Honorary Deputy Sheriff of Orange County since 1963 and past member of the New Hampton Fire Department as well as past member of the Hudson Valley Movers Association. He was a member of the Longtown Methodist Church, Yadkinville, N.C. as well as a 30-year member of St. Paul's Methodist Church in Middletown, serving as President of the Board of Trustees and other offices. He and his wife, Minnie were in charge of the Youth Fellowship for several years. He is survived by his son, Charles E. Stewart Jr. and his wife, Ethel of Yadkinville, N.C.; his daughter Barbara Jellema and her husband, Clarence of Mesa, Ariz.; four grandchildren, Danielle Stewart and Christopher Stewart and his wife, Amanda of Yadkinville, Darlene Jellema of Wisconsin, and Michelle Lamb and her husband, Ross of Tucson, Ariz.; two great-grandchildren, Breanna Elizabeth and Eyra Mae Stewart of Yadkinville, N.C.; one brother Stanley Stewart of Siler City, N.C.; one sister Lily Mae Horrevoets of Callao, Va.; as well as 2 nephews, Jerry and James Stewart of Middletown. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Elizabeth "Minnie" Stewart and one daughter Amy Ann. Family and friends are invited to call from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 29 at Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., 130 Highland Avenue, Middletown. A Funeral Service of Remembrance will be celebrated on Saturday, April 30 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. The Rev. Bill Wolf will be officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in the family plot in Ridgebury Cemetery, Ridgebury. Memorial Donations in Charles's name may be made to either the Hoffman Lodge #412 F. & A.M., Box 333, Middletown, NY 10940 or to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 58 West Main Street, Middletown, NY 10940. Arrangements are under the direction of Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc. Published in the Times Herald-Record on 4/28/2005. Weyant, Richard F. Richard F. Weyant (Dick) of Highland Mills, NY, died peacefully at Orange Regional Medical Center, Goshen, NY, on April 22, 2005 with his family at his bedside. He was born July 10, 1926 in Tuxedo, NY, the son of the late Frank and Irene Cromwell Weyant. He was a burner serviceman, retired from Carpenter and Smith, Inc., Monroe, NY. He attended Tuxedo and Monroe Schools and received his GED in Alaska in later years. In August of 1943, he enlisted in the US Navy. He received training in Newport, Rhode Island and Little Creek, Utah. He was assigned to the 6th Beach Battalion and was sent overseas to Swansea, Wales and then Netly Hant, England to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. The 6th Beach Battalion landed on Fox Green, Omaha Beach in the first hours of the D-Day invasion. They endured fierce enemy resistance and suffered many casualties. The Beach Battalion remained in Normandy aiding wounded troops and landing equipment and supplies for the invasion inland. Dick returned to England with the Beach Battalion in time to celebrate his 18th birthday. Later, he was stationed in Oceanside, California and was honorably discharged in 1946 as a Seaman First Class. For service to his country, he received the Victory Medal, the American Theatre Medal, the European Theatre Medal (1 star), and the Crois De Guerre Certificate. In 2002, the entire 6th Beach Battalion was granted the Presidential Unit Citation with Arrowhead for their heroic efforts on D-Day. In the years after the war, he was a logger on the Oregon coast and in Sitka, Alaska. Dick returned to Monroe in 1970 and went to work at Carpenter and Smith, Inc., Monroe. During his years of retirement, Dick went to secondary schools to speak about his D-Day experiences. He also enjoyed going to Pine Tree School in Monroe each year to talk to students about growing up in Monroe in the 1930s. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Dona, at home; his daughters, Michelle (Shelly) Weyant and her fiance Wayne Richter of Highland Falls, NY, Debra Weyant of Troutdale, Oregon, Christina Eckman of Kapolei, Hawaii; and his granddaughter, Hannah Dew of Killeen, Texas. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Patricia Lucas and brother-in-law, Don Lucas of Monroe; brothers-in-law, William Elliot of Harriman and Thomas Elliot of Colorado; and sister-in-law and family Linda, Garry, and Colleen Rudd of Buena Vista, Colorado. He is also survived by his niece and husband Lynn and David Darrigo of Goshen; niece and family Diane, Robert, Rebbeca, and Jason Klein of Monroe; nephew Rick Young of Pennsylvania; nephew and family Robb, Dawn, Sabrina, and Camille Young of Monroe; niece Suzanne Elliot of Illinois; niece Donna Lucas-Zcharko and husband Michael and daughters of Maryland; nephew and family James and Lisa Lucas of Arizona; nephew and family Peter and Robin Lucas of Ohio; nephew and family John and Beth Lucas of Illinois; nephew and wife Robert and Jessica Lucas of Pennsylvania; niece Jayne Hesse, her husband John, and children John Paul and Kelly of Mountain Lodge Park, NY; and many friends. He was predeceased by a son, Daniel Weyant Grunwalt; his sister, Marie Drescher and her husband John; his sister, Eleanor Maxwell and her husband Ed; and an infant brother and sister. Dick enjoyed his family and friends, pets, telling jokes, and stories, meeting new people, building rock walls and unique gifts for friends and family, and drinking coffee. He felt he had a good day if he could lend someone a hand or make someone laugh or smile. He will be missed. Interment of his cremains will be private and at the convenience of his family in the Seamanville Cemetery by a rock wall he built. Donations may be made in his name to the Kirk Scholarship Fund, c/o Woodbury Historical Society, PO Box 30, Highland Mills, NY 10930, the Highland Mills Fire Company, Route 32, Highland Mills, NY or a charity of one's choice. A celebration of Dick's life will be held for friends and family on the afternoon of May 22, 2005 at the Mombasha Fire House, Route 17M, Monroe, NY. Funeral arrangements by Smith, Seaman, & Quackenbush, Inc. Funeral Home, Monroe, NY. Published in the Times Herald-Record from 4/27/2005 - 4/28/2005.