Sullivan County Democrat
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  OBITUARY ARCHIVES Established 1891 Callicoon, New York  
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April 25, 2006

Ralph O. Knapp
Ret. Tunnel Worker, 81

Ralph O. “Knappy” Knapp of Youngsville, a retired tunnel worker and a lifelong area resident, died Wednesday, April 19, 2006 at his home. He was 81.
The son of the late Fred and Mabel V. O’Dell Knapp, he was born January 22, 1925 in Peakville.
He served our country in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and was a member of the Liberty Free Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Katharine “Katie” Wells Knapp, at home; four daughters, Cathy Norwood and her husband, Tom, Penny Heinle and her husband, Doug, and Thelma “Toby” Barton all of Cochecton Center, and Lori Knapp of Middletown; one stepson, Michael Schultz of Youngsville; three half-sisters, Caroline Hinkledire of Liberty, Virginia Montag also of Liberty and Donna Knapp of New Jersey; three half-brothers, Thurston Knapp of Monticello, Vincent Knapp of Forestburgh and John D. White and his wife, Patricia of Sparks, NV; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; six great great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Patty McAbier, and two sisters, Sharon VonKampen and Joan Huggler.
Funeral services were held Monday at the Harris Funeral Home in Liberty. The Rev. David McCarthy officiated.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Liberty Free Methodist Church, Route 52, Liberty, NY 12754 or the Jeffersonville Volunteer Ambulance Corp., Jeffersonville, NY 12748.

James D. Phillips
Retired Engineer, 82

James D. Phillips of St. James, and formerly of Black Lake, passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2006 at the Long Island State Veteran’s Home in Stonybrook. He was 82.
The son of Ralph L. and Hilda Hultzander Phillips, he was born July 2, 1924 in Monticello.
Jim was a retired member of Operating Engineers Local #138 in Farmingdale and was a celebrated woodcrafter who donated his time to local museums and children’s programs. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving during WWII as a gunner’s mate in the Pacific Theatre. He was also an avid hunter and animal lover.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 59 years, Arline Reep Phillips at home; his two daughters, Sandy Stewart of Newburgh and Roberta Schroder and her husband, Michael of Garden City; his brother, Ralph Phillips of Florida; his sister, Mildred Bressler and her husband, Herman of Black Lake; and three grandchildren, Keith Karchner, Allison Schroder and Jared Schroder.
Funeral Services were held Sunday at Ramsay’s Funeral Home. The Rev. David Coon officiated.
Burial with full military honors was made in Evergreen Cemetery, Bethel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the LCS Ship Retrieval Fund, c/o John Rooney, 2 Emory Lane, Phoenixville, PA 19460.

Dorris Taggart
Homemaker, 71

Dorris Taggart of Monticello, a homemaker and lifelong resident of the area, died Thursday, April 20, 2006 at Achieve Rehab and Nursing Facility in Liberty. She was 71.
The daughter of the late Walter Strickland and Ida Bivins Strickland, she was born April 2, 1935 in Monticello.
She is survived by two sons, Robert Taggart and his wife, Jeanette of Rock Hill and Glenn Taggart and his wife Alice of Menifee, CA; a sister, Ruth DeSimone of Monticello; five grandchildren, Robert, Nicole, Maria, Kyle and Brandon; her companion, John Whitlock; and her loving and devoted pets, Willow and Pierro.
She was the widow of Robert Taggart who died September 19, 1984.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 25 at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 401 Broadway in Monticello. The Rev. Gene Smith will officiate.
Burial will be made in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Greyhound Rescue of New York, P.O. Box 1527, Clifton Park, NY 12065.

Helen Castle, 84
Ret. Exec. Secretary

Helen Castle of Jeffersonville, a retired executive secretary in the Pennsylvania governor’s office and a homemaker, died Sunday, April 23, 2006 in Callicoon. She was 84 years of age.
The daughter of the late John and Veronica Martinec Hlavka, she was born February 16, 1922 in Coaldale, Pa.
She was the widow of John H. Castle.
She is survived by a daughter, Nadine Castle-Polizzi of Callicoon; a son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Cindy Castle of Grahamsville; three grandchildren, Justin Polizzi, Olivia Castle and Garrett Castle; a brother, Stephen Hlavka; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son-in-law, Cosmo James Polizzi.
Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Callicoon.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 26 at Holy Cross Church, Callicoon, with Father Ignatius Smith, O.F.M., officiating.
Burial will be made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Callicoon Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 806, Callicoon, NY 12723 or to the Upper Delaware Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 238, Hankins, NY 12741.

Robert H. Bingay
Ret. Engineer, 70

Robert H. Bingay of Jeffersonville, a retired operating engineer for Local #825 of Newburgh, died Sunday, April 23, 2006 at Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 70.
The son of the late George and Ida Kirsher Bingay, he was born July 29, 1935 in Jamaica, Queens.
He was the widower of Roberta Tyler Bingay.
He is survived by a son, Robert Bingay and his wife, Bethany, and a daughter, Karen Mattera and her husband, Anthony, all of Jeffersonville; a son, Kenneth Bingay and his wife, Nina, of Fremont; seven grandchildren, Patrick and Kevin Clifford, Brittany Costello, James and Michael Bingay, Kimberly and Samantha Bingay; two sisters, Denise Chamberlain of Georgia and Dianne Hendrickson of California; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 26 at the funeral home.
Burial will be made in the Jeffersonville Lutheran Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jeffersonville First Aid Squad, PO Box 396, Jeffersonville, NY 12748.

Stephen Milisauskas
Ret. Dpty. Sheriff, 54

Stephen J. Milisauskas of Barryville, a retired Deputy Sheriff of Sullivan County and longtime resident of the area, died Friday, April 21, 2006 at home. He was 54.
The son of the late John Milisauskas and Patricia Levy Castagna, he was born February 8, 1952 in Brooklyn. He was married to Gail Wilson Milisauskas for 12 years.
A family statement read, “He was a loving husband and father. He took great pride in his children. He was an outdoorsman, who enjoyed fishing and hunting.”
Survivors include his wife, Gail Wilson at home; his mother, Patricia Levy Castagna; five sons, Keith Milisauskas and his wife, Pat, of Grahamsville; Tim Milisauskas and his wife, Amy, and Kevin Milisauskas, all of Brooklyn; and Stephen Milisauskas and Eric Milisauskas, both of Grahamsville; two step-daughters, Christen Doyle of New York City and Andrea Goddard and her husband, James, of California; a sister, Denise Papandrea and her husband, Tony, of Brooklyn; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Gray-Rasmussen Funeral Home in Barryville.
Funeral services will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Linda Bohs will officiate.
Burial will be made in Montoza Cemetery in Eldred.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Anne E. Carney, 95
Ret. Clerical Supr.

Anne E. Carney of Wurtsboro, a retired clerical supervisor for Commercial Credit Co. in New York City, died Sunday, April 23, 2006 at her home, surrounded by her family. She was 95.
The daughter of Hermann and Karolina Hess Schlarb, she was born March 7, 1911 in Gollheim, Germany.
She was a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Wurtsboro, and the widow of James P. Carney who died in 1962.
She is survived by a daughter, Eileen A. Carney of Wurtsboro; a son, James K. Carney of Wurtsboro; two grandchildren, Kurt W. Carney and his wife, Maryvonne, of Middletown and Debra A. Schulz of Wurtsboro; two great-grandsons, Julien and James. She was predeceased by three brothers, Kurt Schlarb, Hermann Schlarb and Herbert Schlarb.
Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 111 Sullivan Street, Wurtsboro.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 27 at St. Joseph’s Church, Sullivan St., Wurtsboro with her nephew, Rev. Peter Madori, officiating.
Burial will be made in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph’s Church, P.O. Box 277, Wurtsboro, NY 12790 or Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 2 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 103, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

Mary B. Coll
Retired Secretary, 82

Mary B. McHugh Coll of Jeffersonville, a retired secretary at Sullivan County Office for the Aging, went into rest peacefully on April 22, 2006 at home. She was 82.
The daughter of Thomas and Anna McNiff McHugh, she was born August 19, 1923 in Brooklyn.
She was a member of St. George’s Church in Jeffersonville, the Rosary Society of the church, American Legion Auxiliary #276, Jeffersonville.
In a family statement, it was said, “She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and friend. She will be truly missed by all.”
Survivors include four sons, John Coll and his wife, Barbara of Kerhonkson, Brian Coll and his wife, Pat of Monticello, Thomas Coll of Brooklyn and James Coll of Jeffersonville; a daughter, Jane Olsen and her companion, Chris Jardine, of Callicoon; a daughter-in-law, Norma Coll of Youngsville; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, John J. Coll, and a son, Kevin Coll.
Services were held Monday, April 24 at St. George’s Church in Jeffersonville with Father Ignatius Vu officiating. Burial will be made in Calvary Cemetery, Youngsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jeffersonville Fire Department, Box 610, Jeffersonville, NY 12748.

Chester G. Slaver
Business Owner, 84

Chester G. Slaver, a lifelong resident of Liberty, died Thursday, April 20, 2006 at the Stratton VAMC in Albany. He was 84.
The son of John A. and Agnes Prothero Slaver, he was born December 4, 1921 in Liberty.
He was the owner of Slaver Electric Company in Liberty, and served in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service during WWII.
He was a member of St. Peter’s R.C. Church of Liberty, the Billy Goat Inn Inc. hunting club of Claryville, Clarence Hoyt VFW Post #9217 in Liberty, Corporal Russell D. Sprague American Legion Post in Liberty, and the Disabled American Veterans.
Survivors include his wife, Patricia Kays Slaver, who he married February 13, 1954; a son, George C. Slaver of Liberty; a brother, Demmond Slaver and his wife, Betty of Coconut Creek, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by two brothers, Conrad and Robert; and three sisters, Anna Duchin, Agnes Baker and Ruth Suslosky.
Funeral services will held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Ramsay’s Funeral Home, 275 South Main Street, Liberty with Rev. Ivan Csete officiating.
Burial will be made with military honors.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Liberty Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

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