Donald Edward Molusky, the unofficial "Mayor of Callicoon" and the former owner of The Autumn Inn restaurant in Callicoon, died Friday, April 22, 2005, at his home. He was 79 years of age.
The son of the late George F. and Clara R. Sparling Molusky, he was born March 13, 1926, in Callicoon.
Leaving high school to enlist in the service, he was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy and a life member of the H. Russell Kenyon Post #5808, Veterans of Foreign Wars in Callicoon. He was also a member of the Liberty Elks, a member and past president of the Callicoon Kiwanis and a member of the Grey Fox Hunting Club.
A friend of the family, said, "A doer, Don took action and was singularly credited with saving the Callicoon Depot when it was slated for destruction. Coming from a railroad family, he took immediate action by contacting the proper authorities and overnight the action was canceled. It was through Don's friendship with millionaire railroad buff, Ross Roland, that a steam train came through Callicoon on several occasions.
"In the early 1960s, he and his wife, Jean opened the Autum Inn restaurant in Callicoon. They were successful in that venture for more than 25 years.
"President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Roslynn, dined at the Autumn Inn as did General Lyman Lemnitzer (of Honesdale, Pa.) as Don had invited him to speak at the Callicoon Kiwanis Club meeting when he (Don) was president of the Club.
"Don numbered among his friends, dignitaries and officials on the county and state level."
A friend for more than 70 years, Fred Stabbert Jr. said that "He and Don had disagreed occasionally, but our friendship endured."
He is survived by his wife, Jean Wood Molusky, at home; a son, Karl Frederick Molusky and his fiancée Cheryl Stauch, of Callicoon; a daughter, Tracy Darder and Jeffrey Meola of Callicoon; five grandchildren, Katelyn Marie Molusky and Sara Jean Molusky and their mother, Rae Ellen Becker, Shaun Michael Darder, Chelcie Darder and Jared Donald Meola; and a brother and sister-in-law, George I. and Irene Molusky of the state of Florida. He was predeceased by two sisters, Adelaide and Roberta and three brothers, Carl, Robert and Vernon.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Callicoon United Methodist Church, Route 97, with Pastor Peg Van Siclen officiating.
Cremation was made at the Twin Tiers Crematory in Endicott.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Delaware Youth Center, P.O. Box 354, Callicoon, N.Y. 12723.

A Memorial Mass for Janice Cowen will be held on Saturday at the Holy Cross Church in Callicoon at 11 a.m. Father Ignatius Smith, O.F.M., will officiate.

Richard E. Bruning of Wurtsboro, a retired electrician with the Middletown Psychiatric Center and a lifelong area resident, formerly of Middletown, died Thursday, April 21, 2005, at his home. He was 80 years of age.
The son of the late Christian and Ruth Nichols Bruning, he was born January 19, 1925, in Middletown.
A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he was a member of North Congregational Church in Middletown and the C.S.E.A.
In a family statement, it was said, "Richard was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and provider. He was much loved by all of his family and friends. Anyone who knew Richard knew how kind-hearted and forgiving he was. He could never hold a grudge and could never find it in his heart to say 'no' to anyone. If you needed a helping hand, or just some moral support, you knew you could always count on him to be there for you. He was a friend to everyone he met. Richard will never be forgotten. He will be loved and held close to our hearts forever. A special thanks to the staff at Hospice and Dr. Dinsmore's office."
He is survived by his wife, Arlene Hulse Bruning, at home; a daughter and son-in-law, Ruthann and Rick Hayden of Wurtsboro; two sons, Jeffrey S. Bruning of Middletown and Richard W. Bruning and family of Maplewood, N.J; two step-children, Anthony DiValentino of Pennsylvania and Donna DiValentino of Newburgh; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Bruning of Wurtsboro; eight grandchildren, Candace and Jessica Schoonmaker, Nicole Bruning, Anthony, Michael, John and Melissa DiValentino and Bryanna Carter; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Christian and Ann Bruning of the state of Florida, Donald and Joan Bruning of Goshen and Bud and Dot Stewart of Elmwood Park, N.J.; a sister and brother-in-law, Maxine and Richard House of Westfield, Pa.; and numerous nieces,nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a brother, Thomas Bruning, a sister, Marlene Bruning and a step-son, James DiValentino.
Services were held Monday at the Cornelius, Dodd and Connell Funeral Home in Middletown with the Rev. Robert W. Hoag officiating.
Cremation was held at the Cedar Hill Crematory in Middle Hope.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties, Inc., 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.

Nelson Dean Robbins of Monticello, an employee of Prudential Life Insurance Co. for 30 years and a lifelong area resident, died Wednesday, April 20, 2006, at his home. He was 68 years of age.
The son of Daniel Robbins and the late Thelma Harrison Robbins, he was born April 18, 1937, in Hawley, Pa. He was the widower of Patricia Durland Robbins who died January 1, 2004, after 39 years of marriage.
He was a member of the Red Horse Hunting Club in Claryville.
In a family statement, it was said, "Nelson grew up in Hancock before moving to Monticello and enjoyed spending time with family and friends in the outdoors, hunting and fishing."
He is survived by two sons, John Robbins of Longmont, Colo., and Jeff Cook of North Easton, Mass.; his father of Hancock; a brother, Dale Robbins of Hancock; four sisters, Jean Kromm of Penfield, Joyce Swartwout of Hancock, Jane Roney and Carolyn Marsh, both of Waymart, Pa; a granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday at the Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel in Hancock with the Rev. James Barbour officiating.
Burial was made in the Riverview Cemetery in Hancock.

George Ruger of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., died Wednesday, April 13, 2005, after a valiant battle with cancer. He was 45 years of age.
The son of George and Donna Ruger, he was born March 16, 1960, in Ellenville.
In a family statement, it was said, "George was blessed with the gift of creativity. He was an artist, accomplished horticulturist and master landscaper. He was also an athlete in his youth, competing in track and wrestling."
He is survived by his lifelong friend and the mother of his children, Lula Ruger Bathe; three children, Randy Ruger of Wurtsboro, Amanda Ruger of Port Jervis and Kennedy Ruger of Glen Spey; his parents, of Ocala, Fla.; a brother, Dale Ruger of Walden; a sister and brother-in-law, Vicki and Paul Vinci of Walden; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial gathering was held at Bob's Spring Street Tavern on Sunday.

Benjamin Gibson Lobb of Sarasota, Fla., a retired vice president of Grand Union, died Saturday, April 16, 2005, in Sarasota, Fla. He was 75 years of age.
The son of the late Arthur and Cora Horton Lobb, he was born September 26, 1930, in Burnside. He married Phyllis Downing on June 21, 1951.
He began his employment with Grand Union as a bottle boy, eventually become a vice president. He worked for Grand Union from 1940-1990.
He is survived by two sons, Christopher Lobb of Washington, D.C., and Martin Lobb of Silver Spring Md.; two grandchildren, Benjamin and Chiara; a sister, Ruth LoGerfo of Bloomingburg; two brothers, Arthur Lobb of Maybrook and Robert Lobb of Campbell Hall; and nine nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Cora Brundage, and a brother, William Lobb.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Stroke Association, Florida, Puerto Rico Affiliate, P.O. Box 21475, St. Petersburg, Fla. 33742.

Doreen Slater of Shelbyville, Kty., a former resident of Sullivan County and a retired electronics technician for Cordis Medical Electronics in Miami, Fla., died Tuesday, April 19, 2005, at her home. She was 81 years of age.
The daughter of the late John and Annie Rowley Purvis, she was born March 23, 1924, in Brook, County of Durham, United Kingdom, England. She was the widow of Eugene A. Slater who died in 1984.
After living in Sullivan County, she and her husband moved to Florida for 40 years, and then Doreen moved to Kentucky to be near her daughter.
She was a veteran of the Royal Air Force in England and was a member of Shelby Christian Church in Shelbyville, Kty.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert C. and Mary Slater of Hollywood, Fla.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara A. and Charles S. Edington of Shelbyville, Kty., and Betty J. and Donald Passaro of Livermore, Calif.; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a brother, Jackie Purvis, a half-brother and two half-sisters.
Graveside services and burial were held Saturday at the Hurleyville Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were by the Ramsay's Funeral Home in Liberty.

Charlotte S. Christiansen of Jeffersonville, a bookkeeper for Boulevard Tire Company in Jeffersonville, died Thursday, April 21, 2005, at the Westside Regional Medical Center in Plantation, Fla. She was 78 years of age.
The daughter of the late William and Emily Vaupel Lichtenberger, she was born February 15, 1927, in Valley Stream.
Mrs. Christiansen was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Jeffersonville, the Ladies Aid of the church and the church choir. She was also a member of the Happy Footers Square Dance Club.
She is survived by her husband, Henry C. Christiansen, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, Glenn and Nancy Christiansen of Jeffersonville; two grandchilden, Ann and James Christiansen; three brothers, William Lichtenberger of Glastonbury, Conn., and Walter Lichtenberger and Gus Lichtenberger, both of Secaucus, N.J.; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the First Lutheran Church of Jeffersonville.
Burial will be made in the Christiansen Family Cemetery in Jeffersonville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Charlotte Christiansen Memorial Fund, c/o First Lutheran Church, Jeffersonville, N.Y. 12748.

Arthur Gilger of Wurtsboro, a retired extrusion press operator for United Aluminum Works in Ellenville, died Saturday, April 23, 2005, at his home after a battle with cancer. He was 76 years of age.
The son of the late Anthony and Helen Cybulsky Gilger, he was born June 27, 1928, in New York City.
A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of the Shawanga Mountain Post No. 4947, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Bloomingburg as well as a member of the Mamakating Conservation Club, the Tri-State Rod and Gun Club in Port Jervis and a 40-year plus member of the Wurtsboro Fire Department. He was also a manager and umpire for the Mamakating Little League.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Dorothy E. Bower Gilger, at home; two sons, Kenneth Gilger and Thomas Gilger, both of Wurtsboro; two aunts, Catherine Yasa of Wurtsboro and Margaret Lake of Hudson, Fla.
Graveside services and burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Sylvan Cemetery in Wurtsboro.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Wurtsboro Fire Department, P.O. Box 442, Wurtsboro, N.Y. 12790.