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  OBITUARY ARCHIVES Established 1891 Callicoon, New York  
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November 11, 2003

Richard Palmer
Ret. Civil Engr., 92

Richard Earl Palmer of Barryville, a retired civil engineer for 41 years with the Sullivan County Department of Public Works and a lifelong area resident, died Saturday, November 8, 2003, at his home. He was 92 years of age.
The son of the late Earl King and Catherine O'Grady Palmer, he was born January 21, 1911, in Barryville.
Mr. Palmer was a member of St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church and the Lackawaxen Missions in Shohola, Pa.; a former 16-year town justice for the Town of Highland; a member of the New York State Magistrates Association; the first dwelling ordinance enforcement officer for the Town of Highland and a six-year retired member of C.S.E.A.
A World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served with the 5th Naval Battalion Seabees and was a member and past commander of Sylvan-Liebla American Legion Post #1363. He served many years as a volunteer with the Ambulance and First Aid Corps in Eldred, and was a member of the Yulan Fire Department, honorary and life member of the Eldred Mountain Stream Rod & Gun Cub where he was also a past president and treasurer. An avid hunter and fisherman, Mr. Palmer was also a member of the AARP.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Eleanora Alston Palmer, at home; and a nephew, Gary Eckhart of Barryville. He was predeceased by a sister, Kathryn Palmer Eckhart.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church in Shohola, Pa., with the Rev. Thomas Petro officiating.
Burial will be made in the Montoza Cemetery in Barryville.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church, P.O. Box 86, Richardson Ave., Shohola, Pa. 18458 or the Eldred American Legion Post #1363 Volunteer Ambulance Fund, Eldred, N.Y. 12732.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home in Port Jervis.

Alexander Jakubowski, 84

Alexander Jakubowski of Glen Spey died Thursday, November 6, 2003, at his home. He was 84 years of age.
The son of the late Antoni and Julianna Pawlak Jakubowski, he was born September 7, 1919, in Poland. He was the widower of Zofia Szewczyk, who died January 25, 1999.
Mr. Jakubowski attended St. Anthony of Padua Church in Yulan.
He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Jesse and Irene Jakubowski of Eldred and Adam and Agnes Jakubowski of Statesville, N.C.; a daughter, Donna Jakubowski of Glen Spey; 10 grandchildren, Jesse, Chris, Yolanda, Bobby, Tabitha, Justin, Jason, Tommy, Lisa and Diana; a great-granddaughter, Haley; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Monday at the Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home in Barryville, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Yulan with the Rev. Anthony Moore officiating.
Burial was made in St. Anthony's Cemetery in Eldred.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 407 E. Main St., Middletown, N.Y. 10940 or to St. Anthony of Padua Church, 25 Beaver Brook Road, Yulan, N.Y. 12792.

Betty Lou Burch
Ret. Office Clerk, 68

Betty Lou Burch of Wanaksink Lake, Rock Hill, a 12-year area resident, formerly of Middletown, and a retired office clerk for Orange County Community College, died Tuesday, November 4, 2003, at the Horton Campus of Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. She was 68 years of age.
The daughter of the late Charles Allen and Nettie Knibbs Lattimer, she was born December 12, 1934, in Middletown.
Mrs. Burch was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion in Monticello, the Rock Hill United Methodist Church, and the Sullivan County Christian Women's Association.
In a family statement, it was said, "She loved her nieces and nephews. She loved her music and played the organ in several local churches."
She is survived by her husband, Richard Burch, at home; a sister, Audrey Wheeler of Woster; four nephews, Dan Wheeler of Cazenovia, David Wheeler of Pasadena, Md., Douglas Wheeler of Poughquag, and Randy Burch of Indianapolis, Ind.; two nieces, Debra Terry of Santa Clara, Calif., and Beth Lacomb of Venice, Fla.; a brother-in-law, Warren Burch and his wife, Patricia, of Venice, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Joanne Burlison of Dover, Ohio, and her children, Heather Cooley of Dover, Ohio, and James Burlison of Kent, Ohio.
Services were held Monday at the Rock Hill United Methodist Church.
Burial was made in the Ridgebury Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rock Hill United Methodist Church, Rock Hill, N.Y. 12775 or to the American Diabetes Association Memorial and Honor Program, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, Ohio 44720.

Sylvia Crawford
Homemaker, 91

Sylvia Crawford of Ellenville, a homemaker, died Thursday, November 6, 2003, at Ten Broeck Commons, Lake Katrine, after a long illness. She was 91 years of age.
The daughter of the late Joshua and Charlotte Wright Krom, she was born July 28, 1912, in Napanoch. She was the widow of Harrison Crawford who died in October of 1983.
In a family statement, it was said, "She was a wonderful, loving mother and grandmother and she will be greatly missed by all the many lives she touched."
She is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Arlene and Harold Brown of Grahamsville, Charlene and Jack Erceg of Sedona, Ariz., Lorraine and Stanley Strath of Saugerties, and Joan and Terry Sheeley of Napanoch; eight grandchildren, Anthony Erceg and his wife, Valerie, of Saratoga Springs, Todd Erceg of Boston, Mass., Kris Erceg of Glens Falls, Eric Strath of San Francisco, Calif., Stacey Strath of Saugerties, Keith Bittner and his wife, Denise, of Phoenix, Ariz., Mark Bittner of Napanoch and Alicia Sheeley of Napanoch; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The last surviving of twelve children, she was predeceased by seven brothers, Jerry, Clarence, William, Albert, Andrew, Clyde and Gordon Krom, and four sisters, Hattie Lake, Laura Keener, Ethel Stedner and Mary Krom.
Services were held Monday at the Louck's Funeral Home in Ellenville with the Rev. Eileen Daunte officiating.
Burial was made in the Fantinekill Cemetery in Ellenville.

Inez M. Williams
Homemaker, 81

Inez May Williams of Swan Lake, a homemaker, died Friday, November 7, 2003, at her home. She was 81 years of age.
The daughter of the late Hezekiah and Mary VanGelder Cooper, she was born October 19, 1922, in Glenwood, N.J. She was the widow of Eldorus Williams who died October 15, 1981.
In a family statement, it was said, "Inez's world revolved around her family. She was a loving and caring mother and grandmother who was loved by everybody. Some of her other hobbies included collecting dolls and teddy bears."
She is survived by a son, James Williams of Swan Lake; four daughters, Barbara LaRock of Swan Lake, Marie Williams of Wurtsboro, Donna Flowers of Monticello and Ruth Browning of Davenport; her twin sister, Irene Westbrook of Newton, N.J.; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 195 Broadway, Monticello, with the Rev. Robert Nadelen officiating.
Burial will be made in Sylvan Cemetery in Wurtsboro.

Anna L. Lemke
Andmore Retiree, 75

Anna L. Lemke of Port Jervis, retired from Andmore Sportswear and a lifelong area resident, died Friday, November 7, 2003, at the Horton Campus of Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. She was 75 years of age.
The daughter of the late William A. and Anna Ecker Livingston, she was born November 4, 1928, in Port Jervis.
She is survived by two sons, Paul Lemke of Schenectady and Edward Lemke of Port Jervis; three daughters, Roseann Lemke Neves of Port Jervis, Sharon Cannon of Cardiff, Wales, and Catherine E. Lemke of Port Jervis; two brothers, Joseph Livingston of Eldred and Vincent Livingston of Port Jervis; two sisters, Mary Boyd of Fairport Harbor, Ohio, and Catherine Simons of Port Jervis; 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two sons, Walter and Robert Lemke.
Services were held Monday at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home in Port Jervis with Dr. Donald Martin officiating.
Burial was made in Rural Valley Cemetery in Cuddebackville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Adult Day Care, c/o Southwinds Nursing Home, Middletown, N.Y. 10940 or to the American Cancer Society, 407 E. Main St., Middletown, N.Y. 10940.

Thelma Herbert
Historian, 87

Thelma Inez Whitmore Herbert, a lifelong resident of Fremont Center and a longtime historian of the Town of Fremont, died Sunday, November 9, 2003, at the Roscoe Nursing Home. She was 87 years of age.
The daughter of the late Richard and Mary Hazen Whitmore, she was born September 6, 1916, in Fremont Center. She was the widow of Francis H. Herbert who died in 1962.
Mrs. Herbert was a member, lay speaker and a longtime diligent worker of the Fremont Center Community Church. She was a member of the now defunct Ladies Aid of the church and was a past member of the Bluebird Home Extension Group. Mrs. Herbert served as chairman of the Fremont Center Parade for many years, and after retiring from that position, was named a parade marshal in the late 1990s, honoring her for her many years of dedication.
She is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Richard and Kathy Herbert of Jeffersonville, Herman Herbert of Callicoon and James and Wendy Herbert of Ferndale; two daughters, Eloise and Michael McKeon of Liberty and Elise and James Wilkerson of Callicoon Center; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Helen M. Schaefer.
Friends may call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville on Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m.
Services will be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Wednesday with the Rev. James O'Rourke officiating.
Burial will be made in the East Branch Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fremont Center Community Church, Fremont Center, N.Y. 12736 or to the Roscoe Nursing Home, Rockland Rd., Roscoe, N.Y. 12775.

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