Sullivan County Democrat
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  OBITUARY ARCHIVES Established 1891 Callicoon, New York  
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September 1, 2000

Abraham Kleinman
Former Liberty Supv., 81

Abraham Kleinman of Liberty and Pembroke Pines, Fla., a 72-year area resident, died Tuesday, August 29, 2000, at his home in Liberty. He was 81 years of age.
The son of the late Isadore and Bertha Kleinman, he was born on March 4, 1919, in New York City.
Mr. Kleinman graduated from City University in New York City and St. John's Law School. He was a Sergeant and radio operator in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving with the 805th Tank Destroyer Battalion.
He was elected or appointed to various public offices in Sullivan County and the Town of Liberty over a period of 37 years in addition to practicing law for 45 years. Mr. Kleinman had served as Village and Town of Liberty Justice for 26 years, Clerk of the Sullivan County Board of Supervisors, Sullivan County Attorney, Supervisor of the Town of Liberty for eight years and was a Committeeman for the Republican Party.
Mr. Kleinman was a member and past president of the Liberty Lions Club, a member of the Liberty Elks, Clarence Hoyt Post No. 9217, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion's Drum and Bugle Corps, Congregation Ahavath Israel, where he served as secretary for several terms, all of Liberty. Mr. Kleinman was also a member of B'nai B'rith and the Anti-Defamation League. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake.
In a family statement, it was said, "He was a great man whose many accomplishments earned him love, respect and honor throughout the community and the love and adoration of his family."
He is survived by five children, Sherri Huntzinger and her companion, Jack Gaines, of Newburgh, JoAnn Slaver and her husband, John Slaver of Liberty, Wendy Rudder and her husband, Ed Rudder of Gardiner, Seth Kleinman of Liberty and Mark Kleinman and his wife, Marian Kleinman, of Liberty; a sister, Francis Kaufman of the Bronx; five grandchildren, Zoe and Kara Huntzinger, Erin Slaver and Daniel and Aaron Rudder. He was predeceased this past June by his wife, Mary Kleinman.
Services were held Thursday at the Congregation Ahavath Israel in Liberty with Rabbi Marvin Goldman officiating.
Burial was made at the Hysana Road Cemetery.
The family will sit Shiva at the Kleinman residence following the funeral and for several days afterward.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 6725 Lyons St., P.O. Box 7E, East Syracuse, N.Y. 13057 or to the American Diabetes Association, 200 White Plains Rd., Suite 523, Tarrytown, N.Y. 10591.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Joseph N. Garlick Funeral Home in Monticello.

Thomas J. LaGrutta
Contractor, 72

Thomas J. LaGrutta of Kauneonga Lake, a self-employed contractor and longtime resident of Sullivan County, died at his home on Tuesday, August 29, 2000. He was 72 years of age.
The son of the late Nicholas and Helen Gillen LaGrutta, he was born June 9, 1928, in New York City.
Mr. LaGrutta was a veteran of the U. S. Navy, serving from 1946 to 1948.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Judith "Judy" Lucas LaGrutta, at home; two sons, Robert LaGrutta of Bethel and Michael LaGrutta of Liberty; two daughters, Judith Sparks of Corpus Christi, Tex., and Regina Spring of Wildomore, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ramsay's Funeral Home, 3534 State Route 55, Kauneonga Lake.
Cremation will be made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.

Roberta Schmitz
Switchboard Oper., 57

Roberta "Chippy" Schmitz of Hurleyville, a lifelong area resident and a switchboard operator for the Raleigh Hotel in South Fallsburg, died Tuesday, August 29, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. She was 57 years of age.
The daughter of Virginia Ackerley Cross and the late Harold Cross, she was born April 21, 1943, in Hurleyville. She was the widow of Martin Schmitz who died June 24, 2000.
Mrs. Schmitz is survived by her mother, Virginia Dunn of Hasbrouck; a son, Kevin Schmitz of Livingston Manor; four daughters, Barbara Rooney and Tarri-Lou Bailey, both of Monticello, Lisa Kearney of Tampa, Fla., and Wanda Sue Skiba of Harris; three brothers, Harold Cross Jr. of Fallsburg, Roger Cross of Arkansas and Robert Cross of Port Jervis; six sisters, Lillian Miller of Unadilla, Viola Benjamin, Edith Breakey and Louise Seitz, all of Monticello, and Dolores Katz and Donna Unger, both of Rock Hill; 18 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a daughter, Roberta Tamok, and a sister, Dorothy Cross.
Friends may call at the Ramsay's Funeral Home, 55 St. John St., Monticello, on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be held at the funeral home Friday evening at 8 p.m.
Cremation will be made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.

Louise B. Moshier, 84
Former Times H-R Emply.

Louise Blanche Moshier of Middletown, a former employee of the Times Herald-Record in Middletown and a lifelong area resident, died Monday, August 28, 2000, at the Orange County Residential Health Care Facility in Goshen. She was 84 years of age.
The daughter of the late John and Blanche Horn Germill, she was born June 22, 1916, in Middletown. She was the widow of Ralph Moshier.
Mrs. Moshier was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the American Legion.
She is survived by two daughters, Suzanne Bruning of Walden and Donna Hadden of Bloomingburg; a son, Robert W. Bruning of Claryville; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Services were private.

Anna G. Kitson
Homemaker, 82

Anna Gilmore Kitson of North Branch, a homemaker, died Monday, August 28, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. She was 82 years of age.
The daughter of the late Henry and Nellie Pierce Gilmore, she was born January 13, 1918, in Manhattan. She was the widow of John T. Kitson.
Mrs. Kitson was a member of St. Mary's R.C. Church in Obernburg and the Ladies Auxiliary of the North Branch Fire Department in North Branch.
She is survived by three daughters, Margaret MacIsaac of Plymouth, Mass., Anna Altbach of Neversink and Marie Graby of Callicoon; three sons, William Kitson of Columbia, S .C., Thomas Kitson of Obernburg and Martin Kitson of Grahamsville; a sister, Josephine Notarfrancisco of Florida; a brother, Hugh Gilmore of Manhattan; 17 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, John Kitson.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Thursday at St. Mary's Church in Obernburg with Father John Richardson and Father Ignatius Smith officiating.
Burial was made in St. Mary's Cemetery in Obernburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to the North Branch Fire Department, North Branch, N.Y. 12766.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Callicoon.

Ernest E. Zeh Jr., 79
Ret. NYC Police Officer

Ernest E. Zeh Jr. of Wurtsboro Hills, a retired New York City Police Officer, Director of Security at the Horton Medical Center in Middletown and a 35-year area resident, died Monday, August 28, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. He was 79 years of age.
The son of the late Ernest Sr. and Julia Burnham Zeh, he was born October 16, 1920, in New York City.
A U.S. Army Veteran of World War II, he was a member of the Mamakating American Legion Post No. 1266 of Wurtsboro and the Shawanga Mountain Memorial Post No. 4947, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Bloomingburg.
He is survived by his wife, Helen Ruggiero Curcio Zeh, at home; six sons and daughters-in-law, Ernest and Elaine Zeh of Staten Island, Louis and Kathy Zeh of Brooklyn, William and Peggy Zeh of Virginia, Richard and Arlene Zeh of Binghamton, Edward and Ann Marie Zeh of Brooklyn, and Daniel and Kristine Zeh of Wurtsboro; two daughters, Marilyn Zeh of Monticello and Frances Zeh of Rock Hill; two sisters, Mary Foley and Julia Spetaker, both of Kingston; 23 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; two step-daughters, Helen de Prado and Hazel Moshier, both of Wurtsboro; a step-great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Agnes Notofrancisco Zeh, two brothers, Edward and John Zeh, and a sister, Grace Tartaglia.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joseph's R.C. Church in Wurtsboro.
Burial will be made in Pine Grove Cemetery in Middletown, Conn.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wurtsboro Fire Department, P.O. Box 457, or to the Mamakating First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 525, both at Wurtsboro, N.Y. 12790.
Funeral arrangements were made by the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Wurtsboro.

Mabel O. Potter
Homemaker, 76

Mabel O. Potter of Apalachin died Friday, August 25, 2000, at her home. She was 76 years of age.
The widow of Lawrence Potter, Mrs. Potter was born December 16, 1923.
She is survived by three daughters, Marie Cottrell of Chenango Bridge, Bernice and her husband, James Queen, of Hallstead, Pa., and Mary Ellen Parsons of Hillcrest; two sons, Lawrence and his wife, Penny Potter, of Harpursville, and Robert Potter of Binghamton; 16 grandchildren, including Sullivan County Democrat Reporter/Photographer Rob Potter of Callicoon; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held Tuesday, August 29, at the Fischer-Scholder Funeral Home in Binghamton with the Rev. David C. Seaver, Chaplain of Spiritual Care, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice Unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, 169 Riverside Dr., Binghamton, N.Y. 13905.

Alma J. Nichols
Homemaker, 66

Alma J. Nichols, a 10-year resident of Seneca Falls and a former 10-year Monticello resident, died Tuesday, August 29, 2000, at the Living Center South in Geneva. She was 66 years of age.
The daughter of the late Joseph and Edna Tyler Wood, she was born April 17, 1934, in Milanville, Pa. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles E. Nichols, in February 1989.
Mrs. Nichols formerly attended the First Baptist Church of Seneca Falls and later attended the Waterloo Baptist Church.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Michael Stofka of Hubert, N.C.; three grandchildren, Jennifer Hanselman and her husband, George, of Waterloo, Jonathan M. Stofka of Pensacola, Fla., and Daniel E. Stofka of Waterloo; two brothers, Donald Wood of Honesdale, Pa., and Keith and his wife, Shirley Wood, of Beach Lake, Pa; a sister, Roberta Bruning of Hawley, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at the Coe-Genung Funeral Home in Waterloo with the Rev. Mark Stento, pastor of Waterloo Baptist Church, officiating.
Burial will be made at 2 p.m. Friday at the Milanville Cemetery in Milanville, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ontario-Yates Hospice, 756 Pre-Emption Road, Geneva, N.Y. 14456.

Freeman H. Pollender
Retired Farmer, 71

Freeman H. Pollender of Middletown, a retired farmer in Orange County and a 42-year area resident, died Monday, August 28, 2000, at the Arden Hill Hospital in Goshen. He was 71 years of age.
The son of the late Joseph and Lydia Pollender, he was born September 27, 1928, in Richford, Vt.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly Pollender, at home; six childen, Duwayne Weaver of Johnson, Theresa Ann Weaver of Vermont, Sheila May Pollender of Wurtsboro, Brenda Kay Bound of Middletown, Freeman "Pete" Pollender Jr. of Slate Hill and Bonnie Fay Lulay of Slate Hill; a brother, Joseph Pollender, and three sisters, Gladys Lumbra, Reba Ryea and Eloise DeMar, all of Vermont; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held Thursday at the Faith Reformed Church in South Centerville.
Burial was made in the Ridgebury Cemetery in Ridgebury.

Robert L. Krychear, 72
Ret. Liquor Store Owner

Robert L. Krychear of Bloomingburg, a retired owner of the Rock Hill Liquor Store in Rock Hill and a 20-year area resident, died Sunday, August 27, 2000, at the Horton Medical Center in Middletown. He was 72 years of age.
The son of the late Louis J. and Catherine McGillicuddy Krychear, he was born April 14, 1928, in Nyack.
Mr. Krychear was an U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Patricia O'Mahony Krychear, at home; two sons, Kevin M. Krychear of New City and Louis J. Krychear of Fort Montgomery; three daughters, Karen E. Vislocky of Goshen, Kathryn M. Menendez of Walden and Mimi Zeffiro of Middletown; and nine grandchildren.
There will be no visitation.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday, at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bloomingburg with Father James R. Sidoti officiating.
Cremation will be made at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Venture, 100 Convent Road, Box 402, Nanuet, N.Y. 10954 in memory of Mr. Krychear.

Olive Kniffin
Homemaker, 70

Olive Kniffin of Milton, a homemaker and a 40-year area resident, died Sunday, August 27, 2000, at her home. She was 70 years of age.
The daughter of the late Oliver and Ella Williams Cutler, she was born May 29, 1930, in Westtown.
Mrs. Kniffin was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), a Girl Scout leader and Cub Scout board member, both in Milton.
She is survived by her husband, Chester Kniffin, at home; two daughters and sons-in-law, Debra and Randall Tanton of Milton and Pamela and Noel Shovan of Glens Falls; a son, Chester Kiffin Jr. of New Paltz; a brother, Robert Cutler of New Vernon; five grandchildren, Christene and Cory Tanton, and Brent, Emily and Kyle Shovan; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, Donald Cutler, and three sisters, Carrie Tammaro, Marjorie Shostak and Gladys Brink.
Services were held Thursday at the Engel Funeral Home in Newburgh with the Rev. David Ballou officiating.
Burial was made in the Bloomingburg Cemetery in Bloomingburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Ulster, 34 Broadway, Kingston, N.Y. 12401.

Louise G. Eggler, 86
Ret. Telephone Oper.

Louise Graff Eggler of White Sulphur Springs, a retired telephone operator for the New York Telephone Company and a lifelong area resident, died Wednesday, August 30, 2000, at the Seelig Division of Community General Hospital in Harris. She was 86 years of age.
The daughter of the late Henry and Josephine Boxberger Graff, she was born September 5, 1913, in Callicoon Center.
Mrs. Eggler was a member of the White Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church, a charter member of the Jeffersonville Central School PTA, a former member of the Callicoon Center Fire Department's Ladies Auxiliary, and a former member of the Callicoon Center Dutch Reformed Church and its Willing Workers. She had also worked as a nurses aide at the Loomis Hospital in Liberty.
In a family statement, it was said, "She truly loved her family and worked to pass on her strong moral values to family members and friends."
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Ralph M. Eggler, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, John H. and Nancy Eggler; and a daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Leon Teed, all of White Sulphur Springs; a sister, Ruth Graff Decker of Livingston Manor; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, Walter Graff Eggler and a sister, Lorrie Graff Reum.
Friends may call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the Rev. Dubois Smith officiating.
Burial will be made in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in White Sulphur Springs.
Memorial contributions may be made to the White Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church or the White Sulphur Springs Fire Department, both at White Sulphur Springs, N.Y. 12787.

Carl G. Schluer
Ret. Storekeeper, 93

Carl Gustav "Gus" Schluer of Narrowsburg, a retired owner and operator of Schluer's store in Lava, a gifted sign painter, and a resident of the area since 1945, died Thursday, August 31, 2000, at the Ellen Memorial Health Care Center in Honesdale, Pa. He was 93 years of age.
The son of the late George and Bertha Aldach Schluer, he was born May 6, 1907, in Germany.
Mr. Schluer was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and a former financial secretary of the church; a member and former secretary of the Lava Fire Department; and a former board member of the Glen Cove Cemetery Association.
He is survived by his wife, Anna Schluer, at home; four children, Helen Fraser of Monticello, Marion Roche and her husband, Maurice, of Callicoon, George L. Schluer and his wife, Christine, of Narrowsburg and Carol Seidel and her husband, Robert of Binghamton; ten grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Rasmussen Sons Funeral Home in Narrowsburg on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with the Rev. Phyllis Haynes officiating.
Cremation will be made at the Twin Tiers Crematory in Endicott.
Interment of the cremains will be made in the Glen Cove Cemetery in Narrowsburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550 or to the Lava Fire Department, Narrowsburg, N.Y. 12764.

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