OBITS: Post-Star 30 May 2005; Glen Falls, Warren 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: Post-Star http://www.post-star.com Bottum, Edward B. GLENS FALLS -- Edward B. Bottum, of Glens Falls, passed away Friday, May 27, 2005, of Lewy Body Dementia at Eastpointe Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center in Chelsea, Mass. He was born on July 28, 1919, in Cohoes, N.Y., to the late Daniel and Wilhelmina (Petersen) Bottum. Mr. Bottum attended Cohoes High School and the former Albany State Teachers College. He and the former Rite Mae Benedict, of Fayetteville, N.Y,. were married on March 15, 1938, and remained married until her death in 1980. He was working in Albany, N.Y., when the Army drafted him during World War II. While serving as a Tech Sergeant in Compiegne, France, he taught himself French in order to trade his Army-issued cigarette coupons for champagne. He developed a lifelong love of France, to which he returned several times in his later years. After the War, he relocated to Glens Falls (which his wife promptly dubbed "Rainville On the Hudson") to take a job with the IRS after which he was self-employed as a Public Accountant for nearly 60 years. He made Glens Falls his home for all but the last seven months of his life. In his spare time, he was an accomplished pool player and an avid fan of Dixieland jazz. He loved words and wordplay and read extensively. He was one of the New Yorker magazine's longest running subscribers, and once wrote them a letter in response to repeated subscription renewal notices which said, "Dear Sirs: At this point, my subscription is paid so far in advance that you may rest assured that I will expire before my subscription does." (There is no record of their response to this missive). In 1962, he and his wife purchased a summer residence on Lake George, where he spent many happy summers boating, swimming and admiring the lake's beauty. After his wife's death, he became a gourmet cook, using Julia Child and Craig Claiborne as his role models. Thereafter, he hosted many family holiday meals, at which he often served his signature potatoes boulangere. He was an excellent storyteller with a wonderful and eccentric sense of humor, and was known by two generations of children as "The Grampy Man." Mr. Bottum was predeceased by his wife, Rita (Benedict); two daughters, Janice and Lisa; a brother, Robert; and his sisters, Daisy Murray, Dorothy Henry and Janet Audette. He is survived by a brother, James Bottum, of Cohoes, N.Y.; a daughter, Julie Muse and her husband, Paul, of Chelsea, Mass., and two sons, Dr. Edwin Bottum of Corte Madera, Calif., and Brant Bottum and his wife, Moya, of South Glens Falls. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Morgan Closson, Christian Bessette, Colleen Ryan , Brooke Bottum, and Elijah Morgan, and three great-grandchildren, Logan Barody, Liliana Barody, and Luke Closson. There are no calling hours, and interment will be private. Close friends and family are invited to visit his Glens Falls home between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. next Sunday, June 5, 2005, to reminisce about his life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association Inc. (www.lewybodydementia.org) or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org). Arrangements are under the direction of Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 136 Warren St., in Glens Falls. Published in the Post-Star from 5/29/2005 - 5/30/2005. Davis, Charles E. North Creek -- Charles E. Davis, 98, a longtime resident of Peaceful Valley Road, passed away peacefully, Saturday afternoon, May 28, 2005, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Charlie was born April 7, 1907, in North River, and was a lifelong resident of the area. He began his working years driving logs down the Hudson River and worked road construction. He spent a few years at Hooper Mines before working for more than 30 years with Barton Mines in North River, retiring as Mill Supervisor in 1972. Charlie had been a Free and Accepted Mason for 51 years. He was a member of the former Glendale Lodge 497 Free and Accepted Mason in Pottersville and at the time of his passing, was a member of the Warrensburgh Lodge 425 Free and Accepted Mason. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, bowling and spending time with his family and his little dog, Princess. His wife, Iva Hitchcock Davis, died in November 1980. His stepson, Philip Hitchcock, great-grandson, Kevin Kimmerly; brothers, Howard and Herb Davis; and sister, Blanche Clark have also predeceased him. Survivors include his daughter, Carol Morse and her husband, Morton, of Bakers Mills; stepdaughter, Avis Hitchcock of Bakers Mills; grandchildren, Kevin Morse and his wife, Cindy, of North Creek, Kelly Bonniger and her husband, Ken, of Gaines, Pa., Barbara Galusha of Bakers Mills, Michael Morse of Bakers Mills and Lisa Morse of Bakers Mills; stepgrandchildren, Linda Kimmerly of Hartford, Brenda Ordway and her husband, Dwight, of North River and Debbie Perry and her husband, Marty, of Saranac; 13 great- grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Friends may call on the family from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening at the Alexander Funeral Home, Inc., 4479 state Route 28, North River. The Masonic service will be conducted at 7 p.m. during the visitation. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Sodom Community Church with the Rev. Ron Allen, Pastor officiating. Burial will follow in the Bates Cemetery, Johnsburg. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Johnsburg EMS, North Creek, NY 12853. Published in the Post-Star on 5/30/2005. DiGirolamo, Margaret L. QUEENSBURY -- Margaret L. DiGirolamo, 95, a resident of Queensbury, passed away Friday, May 27, 2005, at her home. She was born Feb. 25, 1910, in Catskill, and was the daughter of the late Angelo and Rose (Battaglino) Compositor. Margaret retired from Gloversville Knitting in Schenectady, and at one time worked at General Electric Co., Building 2. She enjoyed crocheting, doing jigsaw puzzles and spending time with her grandchildren. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Albert DiGirolamo, who passed away on July 3, 1995; her son, Ronald DiGirolamo; and several brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughter, Jean Cooper, and her husband, Milton, of Queensbury; her five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 2, at Singleton-Healy Funeral Home, 407 Bay Road, Queensbury. Burial will follow at Pine View Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited and may also call from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday prior to the service at the funeral home. Those who wish may send a remembrance in her name to High Peaks Hospice, 286 Glen St., Glens Falls, NY 12801. Published in the Post-Star from 5/28/2005 - 5/31/2005. Dowmont, Robert A. Argyle -- Robert A. Dowmont, 84, of Barkley Avenue, died Sunday, May 29, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital. Born on Sept. 15, 1920, in Hudson Falls, he was the son of the late John and Catherine (Sollohub) Dowmont. Robert's hobby was woodworking and he enjoyed making items and giving them to his family. He also enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Shirley (Knickerbocker) Dowmont, in 1999; a son, Edward Dowmont, in 1994; a brother, William Dowmont; three sisters, Viola Murray, Loretta Chartier and Anna Edwards. Survivors include his three sons, John Dowmont and his wife, Bonnie, of Argyle, Robert Dowmont and his wife, Debbie, of Argyle, William Dowmont and his fiance‚, Lillian Duhon, of Kilgore, Texas; two daughters, Karen Clark and her husband, Ronald, of Tucson, Ariz., and Sheryl Dowmont and her fianc‚, Ron Hill, of Argyle; a former daughter-in-law, Diana Dowmont of Hartford; 10 grandchildren; five great- grandchildren; a brother, Sanford Dowmont and his wife, Stella, of Hudson Falls; and several nieces and nephews. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1, at M. B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 123 Main St., Argyle. Funeral services will be private at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date in St. Joseph Cemetery, Fort Edward. The family suggests that donations be made in his memory to the Argyle Emergency Squad, 248 Pleasant Valley Road, Argyle, NY 12809. Published in the Post-Star on 5/30/2005. Eldridge, Thomas Plattsburgh and Indian Lake -- Thomas Eldridge, age 57, of Alford Boulevard and formerly of Indian Lake, died suddenly, Friday evening, May 27, 2005, at Glens Falls Hospital. Born on Aug. 15, 1947, in Glens Falls, he was the son of the late Russell F. and Erma M. (Blanchard) Eldridge. He was a graduate of Indian Lake Central School, where he played six-man football and basketball. Tom served in the United States Navy during Vietnam aboard the USS America and USS Independence. He married Martha Parker on Aug. 25, 1972, in North Creek. Tom was employed as an aircraft mechanic at Plattsburgh Air Force Base for 19 years. He enjoyed spending time with his grandsons, camping, painting, bowling and fishing. He also enjoyed his four cats: Mittens, Boots, Socks and Slippers. Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Martha Eldridge; one son, "Skip" Riley and his wife, Cindie, of Plattsburgh; one daughter, Mary Ann Eldridge and Mike Thomas, of Plattsburgh; two grandsons, Derrick and Dylan Riley of Plattsburgh; two sisters, Janet Moulton and her husband, Wesley, of Indian Lake, Carol Wilson and her husband, Mark, of Brant Lake; one brother, Donald Eldridge and his wife, Bonnie, of Indian Lake; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, George and Jeannie Puterko of Indian Lake and Glenn and Carol Kuzma of Erie, Pa.; several nieces, nephews and cousins. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Church, Indian Lake with the Rev. Sony Pulickal, pastor, officiating, assisted by Deacons Gerry Gilner and Glenn Kuzma. Friends may call Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Miller Funeral Home, 35 West Main St., Indian Lake, where members of the Parker-Benton American Legion Post No. 1392 will conduct services at 8 p.m. Burial will be in Cedar River Cemetery, Indian Lake. Pallbearers will be Greg Puterko, Ben Eldridge, Jamie Roblee, Charlie Bruso, Tim Kuzma and Danny Kuzma. Contributions in Tom's memory may be directed to the Indian Lake Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Indian Lake, NY 12842. Published in the Post-Star from 5/29/2005 - 5/30/2005. Fassett, Elaine L. GANSEVOORT -- Elaine L. Fassett, 72, passed away Friday, May 27, 2005, surrounded by family at Glens Falls Hospital after a brief illness. She was born Jan. 25, 1933, in South Valley, N.Y., the daughter of Charles and Bertha (Brodie) Terpening. On Aug. 5, 1951, she married Lewis E. Fassett in South Valley. He survives. Survivors besides her husband of 53 years, Lewis E. Fassett include four children, Bruce, Diane, Leonard and Darlene; eight grandchildren, Christina, Dana Lynn, Paul, Melinda, Casey, Kyle, Josh, Hannah; one great-granddaughter, Madelynne Elaine; two brothers, Dennis and Barry Terpening; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley, with the Rev. Lyman Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in the Cherry Valley Cemetery, Cherry Valley. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mrs. Fassett's memory may be made to the Cherry Valley Firemen's Auxiliary, Cherry Valley, NY 13320. Published in the Post-Star on 5/30/2005. Miles, Norman M. HUDSON FALLS -- Norman M. Miles, 81, of Myrtle Avenue, passed away, Saturday, May 28, 2005, at the Indian River Rehabilitation Center in Granville, after a long illness. Born on Feb. 10, 1924, in Chateaugay, he was the son of the late Maurice and Estella (Bruso) Miles. Mr. Miles was a graduate of Fort Edward High School, and during his military service he attended Texas A&M University, where he received his certification in Radio Operations. He served his country in the U.S. Marine Air Corps during World War II in the Pacific and obtained the rank of staff sergeant. He received bombardier and navigator training at Turner Field in Quantico, Va. While overseas, he served with the Third Air Wing of the Third Marine Corps Headquarters Communications as well as MAG 23rd headquarters. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with one star, a Navy Unit Citation, the Navy Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. On Aug. 3, 1947, he married Pauline A. Lettus at St. Mary's Church in Hudson Falls. Mr. Miles served with the New York State Department of Corrections, retiring in 1980, as deputy superintendent of security at Great Meadow Correctional Facility. During his career, he was instrumental in the formation of the Command Emergency Response Teams, or CERTS. During the Attica uprising he assisted CERT Team operations there and was involved in the retaking of the facility. He was highly respected by staff and prisoners because he had the reputation of treating everyone fairly. For many years, he was Commissioner Quick's right-hand man, going to many of the prisons to help solve problems. Mr. Miles loved his grandkids, ice fishing, gardening, working on cars and building things. He was Past Grand Master of the Fort Edward Masonic Lodge No. 267. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by two brothers, John Miles and Harold "Pudgy" Miles; his sister, May Otis and his daughter-in-law, Cheryl Miles. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Pauline Miles of Hudson Falls; three children: Judith Rheaume of Queensbury, John A. Miles of Queensbury and Steven N. Miles and his fiancee, Diane Petta of Queensbury; four grandchildren: Darren Miles, Megan Miles, Quinn Rheaume and Christopher Miles; one great-granddaughter, Madison Miles; one brother, Howard Miles of Keeseville; several nieces, nephews and cousins; a sister-in-law, Ruth Miles of Fort Edward; and two brothers-in-law, James Lettus of Queensbury and Paul LeValley of South Glens Falls. Friends may call on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main St. in Hudson Falls. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Burial, with military honors, will take place at 1 p.m. Friday at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery on Duell Road in the town of Saratoga. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be sent to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220 or the Alzheimer's Association, Capital District Chapter, 85 Watervliet Ave., Albany, NY 12206-2083. Published in the Post-Star from 5/30/2005 - 5/31/2005. Paul, Florence Perrelli (Baker) QUEENSBURY -- Florence (Baker) Perrelli Paul, 97, a resident of Queensbury, passed away Saturday, May 28, 2005, at the Stanton Nursing Centre, Queensbury. She was born on Aug. 28, 1908, in New York City, and was the daughter of the late George and Mary (Lynch) Baker. At one time, Mrs. Paul lived in Corona, N.Y., and Lodi, N.J., until she moved to Queensbury to reside at John Burke Apartments. Mrs. Paul was a homemaker and attended Our Lady of the Annunciation Church. She was predeceased by her first husband, Vito Perrelli, and her second husband, Phil Paul. She was also predeceased by a son, William J. Perrelli. Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Ursula (Deich) Perrelli of Queensbury; three grandchildren, Darron E. Maille, Michael W. Perrelli, and Anthony J. Perrelli, all of Queensbury; and several great-grandchildren: Brittany Rabine, Collin Duval, Erich Perrelli, Micaela Perrelli, Darrich Maille, and William Perrelli. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, Queensbury. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. There are no calling hours scheduled. Those who wish may send a remembrance in her name to the West Glens Falls Emergency Squad, 105 Main St., Queensbury, NY 12804. Arrangements are under the direction of Regan & Denny Funeral Home, 53 Quaker Road, Queensbury. Published in the Post-Star from 5/30/2005 - 5/31/2005. Simmons, Elmer CLIFTON PARK -- Elmer Simmons, 73, of Clifton Park, passed away peacefully Saturday evening, May 28, 2005, at his home. Born on Nov. 14, 1931, in Clifton Park, he was the son of the late Frank Simmons Sr. He was a graduate of Burnt Hills Ballston Lake High School. Mr. Simmons lived in Clifton Park all of his life. He worked for General Electric Co. in Schenectady in Quality Control for 36 years, retiring in 1986. He was a member of the Clifton Park United Methodist church all his life. We have been blessed to have had such a kind, thoughtful and gentle person who touched so many lives and will be missed dearly. His love and caring for animals was exemplified in his sanctuary on his hobby farm and was enjoyed by all who passed by it. He was predeceased by two brothers, Robert J. Simmons Sr. and Frank Simmons Jr., and a nephew, Frank B. Simmons. Survivors include his mother, Inez Simmons of Clifton Park, his sisters and brother, Ruth (Roman) Johnson of Mechanicville, Charlotte (Robert) Butler of Ballston Lake, Marjorie (Roger) Travis of Clifton Park, Owen (Darlene) Simmons of Ballston Spa, and June (George) Lajeunesse of Clifton Park; a sister-in-law, Minnie Simmons of Schaghticoke. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Catricala Funeral Home Inc., 1597 Route 9, Clifton Park. Calling hours will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home prior to the funeral services. Burial will be at Clifton Park Village Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christian Appalachian Project, 6550 South KY Route 321, Hagerhill, KY 41222. Published in the Post-Star from 5/30/2005 - 5/31/2005.