Charles Searles of Bloomingburg, a renowned painter and sculptor, died Saturday, November 27, 2004, from complications of a stroke, at his home in New York City. He was 67 years of age.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and graduated from The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts where he was awarded the prestigious Cresson Memorial Traveling and the Ware Traveling Memorial Scholarships. These enabled him to travel to Africa which had a significant influence on his art. Mr. Searles taught art for over 20 years in Philadelphia and later in New York City where he moved in 1978.
He had over 25 solo art exhibitions and his works are included in numerous museums and collections. Among these are the Smithsonian, the Schomburg Center in New York and the Philadelphia, Dallas and Montclair Art Museums. His first public art commission was a 1976 mural at the W.J. Green Federal Building in Philadephia. Mr. Searles received numerous other public art commissions, among them Freedoms Gate in Brooklyn, Striving in Philadelphia, Pa., and five painted aluminum wall sculptures for train stations in New Jersey for the Delaware River Port Authority. He had also received several awards, including the National Endowment of the Arts and recently the Pollock-Krasner and the Adolph and Esther Gottleib Awards. In October, he received the prestigious Van Der Zee Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brandywine Workshop in Philadelphia, Pa.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Spicer Searles, at home; a daughter, Vanessa Mitchell; a brother, an uncle, several grandchildren and dear friends.
A memorial service in celebration of his life is being planned.
Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Wurtsboro.

Cecelia G. Balle of Narrowsburg, a homemaker and a longtime area resident, died Thursday, November 25, 2004, at her home. She was 93 years of age.
The daughter of the late Thomas and Mathilda Muller Holmes, she was born July 9, 1911, in Brooklyn. She was the widow of Herman G. Balle who died in 1993.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Don Holbert of Narrowsburg; four grandchildren, Craig and Tami Holbert of Beach Lake, Pa., Kyle Holbert of Narrowsburg, Kelly and Dan Carlsen of Hickory, N.C., and Patrick Nolan of Bakersfield, Calif.; six great-grandchildren, Danielle and Erica Carlsen, Megan and William Holbert, Anna-lyse Holbert and Ryan Nolan; threenephews and a niece. She was predeceased by a daughter, Nancy Nolan and a brother, Howard Holmes.
Cremation was private.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Rasmussen Funeral Home in Narrowsburg.

Earle N. Terwilliger of Narrowsburg, a retired employee of the Erie Railroad and a longtime area resident, died Thursday, November 25, 2004, at his home. He was 99 years of age.
The son of the late Isaac B. and Anna Robinson Terwilliger, he was born April 18, 1905, in Westtown. He was the widower of Mattie Holbert who died in 1997 after 72 years of marriage.
Mr. Terwilliger was a member of the Tusten Historical Society and was a past president and charter member of the Tusten Senior Citizens. He was also a 75-year member of the United Commercial Travelers (UTC).
He is survived by a son, Roger; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and two great-great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held Monday at the Rasmussen Funeral Home in Narrowsburg.
Burial was made in Pine Hill Cemetery in Middletown.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tusten Ambulance Corps, Narrowsburg, N.Y. 12764.

John W. Van Patten of Milford, Pa., the owner and operator of J.W. Van Patten Gunsmith, in Milford, and a lifelong area resident, died Wednesday, November 24, 2004, in Morristown (N.J.) Memorial Hospital. He was 81 years of age.
The son of the late Bertram and Sara Walling Van Patten, he was born September 26, 1923, in Port Jervis. He was the widower of Isabel R. Fenner Van Patten, who died September 15, 2004.
Mr. Van Patten was a member of the Deerpark Reformed Church in Port Jervis, the Cahoonzie Hunting Club in Rio and a life member of the National Rifle Association.
He is survived by three sons, John S. Van Patten of Guadalajara, Mexico, Brian J. Van Patten of Milford, Pa., and Jason Van Patten of Glen Spey; and a grandson, Aren Barkley Van Patten.
Services were private.
Interment was made at the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Jervis.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Rifle Assoc., 11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, Va. 22030.

Doris E. Branning of Ferncliff, a former resident of Glenham and a retired 30-year correction officer at Mattawan Correctional Facility, died Saturday, November 27, 2004 at the Ferncliff Nursing Home. She was 78 years of age.
The daughter of the late Searle Wood and Madeline Dailey, she was born January 1, 1926, in Narrowsburg.
Mrs. Branning is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Thomas and Mary Branning of Marlboro, John and Dorothy Branning of Florida and Jeff Branning of Monticello; three daughters and sons-in-law, Betty and Joseph Volpe of Marlboro, Laurie and Thomas Agunzo of New Windsor and Cathy and John Rutigliano of Marlboro; grandchildren, John and Nicole Volpe of New Paltz, Kim and George Greiner of Highland, Traci and Aaron Posner of Florida, John and Staci Branning of Florida, Tommy Agunzo and Eric Agunzo, both of New Windsor, Jay Rutigliano and Carli Rutigliano, both of Marlboro; and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a sister, Lulu Werneke.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the DiDonato Funeral Home.
Burial will be made in the Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Town of Marlborough Volunteer Ambulance Corps., Marlboro, N.Y. 12542.

Donald Bowers of Beacon, a retired bus driver and cleaner for the Haldane School System and a former employee of Nabisco in Beacon, died Wednesday, November 24, 2004, at St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh. He was 72 years of age.
The son of the late Otto C. and Ida Misner Bowers, he was born April 23, 1932, in White Sulphur Springs.
He was a communicant at South Highland United Methodist Church in Garrison. Mr. Bowers was an honorary member of the Panther Mountain Hunting Club, Inc., in Willowemoc. His family and hunting camp were most important in his life. He was also an Army veteran, serving in the Infantry in Germany from 1956-1958.
Mr. Bowers is survived by his wife of 48 years, Carol S. Wyman Bowers, at home; a daughter, Cynthyia B. Bowers and her life partner, Florence Keahey of Big Indian; a son and daughter-in-law Timothy B. and Deborah Bowers of New Paltz; a brother, Douglas O. Bowers of White Sulphur Springs; two grandchildren, Casey and Jennette Karsten; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Saturday at the Libby Funeral Home in Beacon, with the Rev. Douglas Osgood officiating.
Burial was made in Laurel Hill Cemetery in White Sulphur Springs.
Memorial contributions may be made to the South Highland United Methodist Church, 10 Snake Hill Rd., Garrison, N.Y. 10524.