Arthur H. Ferber
Retired Electrical Engineer, 90

Arthur H. Ferber, of Callicoon, N.Y. and Verona, N.J., passed away in Montclair, N.J. on April 10, 2013. Born in the Beechwoods above Hortonville, he was a proud German, who lived by the philosophy of “waste not, want not.” Following graduation from Callicoon High School he enrolled at Union College through the U.S. Navy’s V-12 program, and following his graduation, with a degree in Electrical Engineering, he served in the Navy at the end of World War II. He would remain in the Naval Reserve for many years and rise to the rank of Captain.
In search of employment he moved “temporarily” to northern New Jersey, and worked mostly in Manhattan, for engineering firms such as Gibbs & Hill. At the end of his career he was Vice President of Engineering at The Kuljian Corporation, in Philadelphia. His engineering work took him around the world, including extensive work in Vietnam and the Middle East. He “retired” at the age of 80, but would sometimes be called back to Kuljian for special assignments.
Despite living in New Jersey for 66 years, he never really left Callicoon, and took great pride in maintaining the family's farm in the Beechwoods, and participating in local activities . He was a long time member of the Delaware Hunting Club in Westbrookville, and the Masons F.&A.M. Delaware Lodge 561.
He is predeceased by his beloved wife, Betty, whom he heroically cared for during her illness at the end of their 63 years of marriage. He is also predeceased by his sister, Helen Stephenson. He is survived by his son Paul and his wife, Margaret; his daughter Nanci and her husband, Thomas; his grandchildren Alexandra and Peter; his niece, Shirley Buddenhagen and her husband David; his niece Marilyn and her husband, Neil; and other Ferber cousins too numerous to mention.
Visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. on Friday, April 12 at Shook’s Cedar Grove Funeral Home, 486 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, NJ.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 13 at the First Presbyterian Church, 10 Fairview Avenue, Verona, NJ.
Interment will be at the Hortonville Cemetery at 1 p.m on Sunday, to be followed by a reception at the Hortonville Firehouse.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Hortonville Presbyterian Church.

Verne Houghtaling
Retired Construction Equipment Operator, 86

Verne Houghtaling, a retired Construction Equipment Operator for the New York State Department of Transportation, died Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the Sullivan County Adult Care Center in Liberty, New York. He was 86.
The son of the late Charles and Edna Keesler Houghtaling, he was born October 4, 1926 in Equinunk, PA.
Verne was the husband of Gladys Mitterwager Houghtaling. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Gladys Mitterwager Houghtaling; his children, Vicki Busch and her husband Walter; Blaine Houghtaling and his companion Brenda; Bruce Houghtaling and his wife Rhonda; and Andrea Milucky; ten grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister, Phyllis Hunter; several nieces and nephews; and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. Verne was predeceased by his brothers Lyle, Arnold, Aaron and Ivan, and by his sisters Madelyn, Esther and Aletha.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 12, 2013 at 11aa.m. at the funeral home. Burial with Military Honors will take place in the Pine Mill Cemetery, Equinunk, PA.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Allan Milk Post VFW Long Eddy, New York or to the Pine Mill Community Hall, Equinunk, PA.
Arrangements by Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home, Callicoon, NY 12723; 845-887-4900.

Barbara E. Melita
Retired College Registrar, 79

Barbara E. Melita, loving Mother and Grandmother, of Chittenango, NY, formerly of Jeffersonville, NY, passed away on March 14, 2013, at LRMC, Lakeland, FL, from cancer, with her children by her side. She was 79.
Barbara was born October 12, 1933, in Johnstown, NY, to Walter and Julia Hertik. In 1955, she married the love of her life, Salvatore A. Melita, with whom she shared 37 wonderful years.
Barbara and her family moved to Jeffersonville, NY, where she worked as an administrative secretary at Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School. She continued her education at Oneonta College in NY, where while raising her family, she graduated with high honors with a B.S. in Biology in 1974. She then taught Biology at JYCS, later being employed as Registrar at Sullivan County Community College, NY, until her retirement in 1991.
Barbara was active in the investment club, enjoyed bowling, playing cards, dancing, gardening and spending time with her cherished grandchildren. She spent many winters in sunny Florida to escape the NY winters.
She was predeceased in death by her husband, Salvatore A. Melita, 1992; sister Jacqueline Wiltey, 1999; and brother Wayne Hertik, 2013. She is survived by three daughters, Pamela Reynolds, Bartow, Fla., Valerie Lare (Walter), Chittenango, NY, and Marcie Melita (Danny), Haines City, Fla., brother Walter Hertik (Gloria), Mayfield, NY, and grandchildren, Christina Reynolds, Sarasota, Fla., Brent Barron, Dade City, Fla., and Lindsay and Hunter Lare, Chittenango, NY, and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on June 22, 2013 at 10 a.m. at the Holy Trinity Church in Johnstown.
Following the service, her ashes will be brought to Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Johnstown, NY, and buried next to her beloved husband, where they will be together again eternally.
Condolences may be made to the family at 8740 E. Genesee Street, Chittenango, NY 13037.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Arrangements by Schepp Family Funeral Homes, Fayetteville, New York 13066, 315-637-3214.