BOWERSTOWN _ David Welsh Jr., a beloved husband who enjoyed his native Cooperstown and the outdoors, died after a long illness early Friday morning, Dec. 9, 2011, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 86.
A lifelong resident of Cooperstown, Dave was born July 3, 1925, at the Thanksgiving Hospital on Grove Street, and was later baptized into the Episcopal faith at Christ Church in Cooperstown. A son of David and Annie (Dickson) Welsh, he grew up in Cooperstown and graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1943.
As soon as he graduated from high school, Dave, along with some of his other buddies _ including Bud Ballard and Floyd (“Pagey”) Page _ entered into service in the United States Military. He enlisted in the United States Army on Sept. 16, 1943, and served his country as an automatic rifleman during World War II, during which he received injuries that earned him a Purple Heart. On Dec. 21, 1945, he received his honorable discharge from the military.
Soon after returning to his native Cooperstown, Dave with the help of a few good friends, most especially Pagey, began building the house in Bowerstown that would be his home the rest of his life.
For 38 years, Dave was employed by Ma Ball and AT&T and was well-known as an expert troubleshooter. When a technician could not solve a particular problem with a telephone, Dave was brought in and always found the answer and solution to the problem at hand. A member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, Dave will be remembered as being one of the initial installers of Dolores Coleman’s answering service switchboard, and, even after he retired, as one of the few telephone technicians who could maintain that system.
On April 10, 1948, Dave married Helen (Ella) S. Kyle, a native of Coatbridge, Scotland. Ella died March 22, 1989. On Nov. 18, 1990, (the day before hunting season began), Dave married Roberta Rebecca Sitts of Milford in a ceremony at the Oneonta Seventh- day Adventist Church. Dave and Becky enjoyed their life together in the house he built in Bowerstown, along with their many cats.
An avid golfer, Dave always enjoyed a good round with friends, as well as just hitting balls in the area behind his house. He was also an avid hunter, and was a staunch member of the NRA. Dave also enjoyed being a Charter and Life member of the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128 in Cooperstown and the Cooperstown Native Sons.
Dave is survived by his wife of 24 years, Becky, of Bowerstown; two sisters, Grace Welsh of Cooperstown and Mrs. Annie Bantham and her husband, C. Harvey, of Saratoga Springs and Florida; one brother, Douglas J. Welsh of Cooperstown; a godson, Kent St. John; special friends, Dr. Steve Jastremski and his wife, Connie; and many nieces and nephews. Dave is further survived by his and Becky’s beloved cats, Angel, Smokey, Chester and Gypsy.
Dave’s life, especially near its end, was made easier through the kindness and caring of the entire Ballard family and neighbors, Kim Jastremski and George Hovis, and John Coughlin and Kristen Jastremski.
Dave will be remembered for being a man of high integrity and honesty, who led his life down the narrow road, and who was fond of saying that there are no gray areas in life, only black and white.
In the spring of 2012, Dave’s ashes will be scattered on his property at which time military honors will be accorded by members of the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128 in Cooperstown. Immediately following, family and friends are invited to gather for a time of refreshment and fellowship at the Cooperstown Vets Club.
In consideration of the extraordinary care extended to Becky’s nephew, Shelby David Knapp, it was Dave’s request that memorial gifts be directed to The Shriners Hospital for Children, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104-2396.
Arrangements are under the guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Obituaries
David Welsh Jr.
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Roxy Carnes
COOPERSTOWN Roxana P. Carnes, a longtime resident of Cooperstown, passed away Tuesday evening, May 1, 2012, at Valley Health Services in Herkimer. She was 91.
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Janet D. Bailey
COOPERSTOWN Janet D. Bailey, a lifelong resident of Cooperstown, died Sunday morning, May 6, 2012, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. She was 86. Born May 15, 1925, in Cooperstown, she was a daughter of Harold Lewis Davidson and Grace née Putnam Davidson. Raised in Cooperstown, she graduated from Cooperstown High School with the Class of 1942. She then went to work for the war effort doing sewing in Oneonta.
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Duane C. Hotaling
A graveside Service of Committal for Duane C. Hotaling, 66, a man devoted to his family and the community of Hartwick, who died Jan. 9, 2012, will be offered at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, 2012, in Hartwick Cemetery, with the Rev. John C. Young officiating.
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Grant T. Campbell
COLONIE — Grant T. Campbell died Sunday afternoon, April 8, 2012. Born in the Thanksgiving Hospital in Cooperstown he was the son of Ambrose W. and Maude V. (McManus) Campbell. He was predeceased by his parents; sister, Beverly I. Felske; and brother, Leland A. Campbell.
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David M. Hribar
COOPERSTOWN — David Matthew Hribar, a native of the Cooperstown and Fly Creek areas, passed away following a long illness, early Friday morning, April 6, 2012, at his home in Fork Shop. He was 81.
Continued ... - Thursday, February 23, 2012
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Anthony G. Martucci
COOPERSTOWN _ Anthony George Martucci, a kind, loving and gentle family man, died early Saturday morning, Feb. 18, 2012, at hishome in the Town of Middlefield. The loving husband of Josephine Martucci, he was 85.
Continued ... - Thursday, February 16, 2012
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Frances ‘Panny’ Gorham Hill
LAKELAND, Fla. _ Mrs. Frances “Panny” Gorham Hill, 103, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, at her home due to natural causes. She was born June 25, 1908, in Cooperstown, to James Jr. and Lulu (Tarpening) Byard.
Continued ... - Friday, February 10, 2012
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Jane H. Patrick
COOPERSTOWN _ Mrs. Jane H. Patrick, of Cooperstown, passed away peacefully Feb. 2, 2012, in her home in the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home from complications related to pneumonia. Prior to living there, she had lived for over 30 years on Chestnut Street in Cooperstown.
Continued ... - Monday, January 30, 2012
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William Thomas Every
COOPERSTOWN _ William Thomas Every, formerly of Goodyear Lake, died Sunday morning, Jan. 15, 2012, at Otsego Manor. He was 64.
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Nancy Carol Folts Birdsall
RICHFIELD SPRINGS _ Nancy Carol Folts Birdsall, 70, went to be with the Lord on Saturday morning, Jan. 21, 2012. After a short illness, she passed away peacefully at home with her loving family by her side. She was born on Sept. 24, 1941, in Montgomery, Ala., daughter of the late Lt. Col. John L. and Karolyn Folts.
Continued ... - Thursday, January 19, 2012
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Gayle M. Austin
PITTSFIELD _ Gayle M. Austin, 61, died early Saturday morning, Jan. 14, 2012, in her home at the Hoboken Horticultural Preserve, Pittsfield. The seventh of nine children, she was born Aug. 9, 1950, to Gordon J. and Mary Rupar Powell on the Old Estate Dairy farm in Holton, Mich.
Continued ... - Thursday, January 12, 2012
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Duane C. Hotaling
HARTWICK _ Duane C. Hotaling, a man devoted to his family and well-known in the arena of tractor pulling, died Monday evening, Jan. 9, 2012, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. He was 66. Born Dec. 6, 1945, in Cooperstown, he was the son of the late Howard and Margaret (Sullivan) Hotaling. After graduating from Cherry Valley Central School, Duane attended the Milwaukee Institute of Technology. After receiving his degree he stayed in the Milwaukee area and worked for Allis-Chalmers.
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Eileen Marie Sinnott
FLY CREEK _ Eileen Marie Sinnott, passed away after a battle with cancer Jan. 10, 2012, at Otsego Manor, where she received wonderful care. She was 57. She was born Jan. 5, 1955, and raised in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, to loving parents Victor and Anne (Collopy) Sinnott. She attendedHoly Cross Elementary School (grades one-eight), Erasmus Hall High School and Kingsborough Community College.
Continued ... - Thursday, January 5, 2012
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Dorothy M. Gardner
COOPERSTOWN _ On 29 Dec. 2011, Dorothy Marie Gardner, peacefully joined her husband, Ralph D. Gardner, in heaven.
Continued ... - Thursday, December 29, 2011
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Maureen Micek
COOPERSTOWN _ On Dec. 18, 2011, Dr. Maureen Micek, a former pediatrician with Bassett Healthcare Network, Oneonta, died unexpectedly. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Timothy R. Siegel; children, Jacob and Sarah Siegel; and her mother, Maureen W. Micek.
Continued ... - Monday, December 19, 2011
- Thursday, December 1, 2011
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Jean Lois La Chaunce
HARTWICK _ Jean Lois La Chaunce, a former resident of New Jersey, died unexpectedly Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, at her home in Hartwick. She was 81. Born March 5, 1930, in the city of Hackensack, N.J., she was a daughter of Ellis and Edna (Ockenholt) Covert. Raised in Mahwah, N.J., she was employed for many years as an assembler and last worked for Ultimate Automotive Industries in Mahwah.
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Susan M. Knodel
FLY CREEK _ Susan M. Knodel, affectionately known as Susie, died unexpectedly Sunday evening, Nov. 27, 2011, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. She was 58. Born Sept. 27, 1953, in Utica, she was a daughter of the late Edward C. and Margaret E. (Hawkins) Madore.
Continued ... - Thursday, November 17, 2011
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Ellen H. Rockwell
Ellen Louise Haiston Rockwell, age 93, died on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, in St. Luke’s-Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh. Ellen was born on Sept. 4, 1918, in Tyrone, Pa. She grew up in Pottstown, Pa., where her father, Frank Haiston, was the superintendant of schools and her mother, Elizabeth Kriner was an elementary school teacher. Her younger sister, Mary Alice Fronheiser and older brother, Frank predeceased her.
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Tom Mottram
Tom Mottram, 64, passed away due to complications from cancer on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011.
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Roxy Carnes
