Diane George, 60, beauty school grad, upholsterer
PHILMONT—Diane George, 60, passed away September 3, 2011 at the Pine Haven Nursing Home after a long battle with cancer. She is finally at peace and with her sister, Roxanne McKibbin, who passed away three-and- a-half years ago.
She is survived by her parents, Leonard and Barbara Wilson of Ghent; sons, Kenneth (Shannon) Curik and Bobby Austin of Florida; granddaughters, Vivien and Sophia of Coxsackie;, brother, Leonard (Sallie) Wilson, Jr. of Old Chatham; and sister, Terry Laguesse of Waterford/Ghent.
Ms. George attended Chatham High School and went into the Job Corps for two years. She went on to graduate from the Austin Beauty School. While living in Daytona Beach FL, she was in the upholstery business until her illness brought her back home to be closer to family.
A graveside service takes place at the Ghent Union Cemetery, Saturday, October 1 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be sent at www.frenchblasl.com.
Ernest Phillips, 85, merchant mariner during WWII
GREENPORT—Ernest J. Phillips, 85, of Greenport, died Monday, September 19, 2011 at his home. He was 85.
Born December 24, 1925 in West Ghent, he was the son of the late Edward and Martha Phillips.
Mr. Phillips was a merchant mariner during World War II and often sailed in enemy waters. After the war, he served in the US Army and was stationed in post-war Germany.
He later worked as a welder and repairman for Lone Star and retired from Blue Circle Cement. He was a member of the Greenport Pumper Company#1 and the VFW. He enjoyed woodworking after his retirement, and loved being around his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mr. Phillips leaves behind his beloved wife of 65 years, Della (Gorman) Phillips; one daughter, Donna Shetsky; one son, Michael Phillips; grandchildren, Kim Coon, John Shetsky, Amy, Steven and Julia Phillips; and six great-grandchildren.
Calling hours are Wednesday evening, September 21 from 6 to 8 at the McDonald-Valenti-Richards Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport. Funeral services will be Thursday, September 22, 10 a.m. at the funeral home with Father Joseph Falletta officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Stuyvesant Falls. Memorial contributions are requested to Community Hospice, 47 Liberty Street, Catskill 12414
Geraldine Daloia, 79, medical assistant
HUDSON—Geraldine (Shook) Daloia, 79, of Livingston, passed away Sunday, September 18, 2011 at Columbia Memorial Hospital.
Born August 17, 1932 in Hudson, she was the daughter of the late Thayer and Madelyne (Vining) Shook.
Mrs. Daloia was a medical assistant for Dr. Shapiro in Garden City, Long Island. She and her husband, George, lived in Freeport, until moving to Livingston four years ago. They were married for 58 years.
She is survived by her beloved husband, George Daloia of Livingston; her devoted daughter, Bonnie Robinson of Selden; her loving granddaughter, Heather Robinson of Selden; her brother, Reginald Shook of Livingston; many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 22 at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 8 Storm Avenue, with the Reverend John Hodges officiating.
Donations may be made to Animalkind, Inc., 721 Warren Street, Hudson, 12534, or to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, 125 Humane Society Road, Hudson.
Arrangements are with the Bates & Anderson-Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home. To leave condolences for the family go to www.batesanderson.com.
Edwin Smith, 94, leaves daughter
VALATIE—Edwin C. “Ted” Smith, 94, a resident of Barnwell Nursing Center in Valatie, passed away Saturday, September 17, 2011 at Barnwell.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda Schoonover of Castleton and friend, John Schoonover.
He was predeceased by his wife, Gertrude (Fox) Smith and his friend, Theresa Purdy.
Funeral services and burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the humane society of one’s choice.
Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Horne, Valatie. The family thanks the staff at Barnwell, especially the third floor, for the loving care they provided to Mr. Smith during his stay there.
Memorial service Saturday for George Ashley
COPAKE—Amemorial service for George Henry Ashley, II, will be conducted Saturday, September 24, 2011, 11 a.m. at the Copake United Methodist Church followed by a reception in the Church House next door.
Interment will be in the Copake Cemetery.
(This obituary is reprinted here by request in advance of the memorial service. It originally appeared in the July 21, 2011 issue. The Columbia Paper attempts to accommodate such requests, but only as space and staff time permits. –Ed.)
Mr. Ashley, II, 89, of Copake passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at the Firemen’s Home.
He was born in Old Chatham, June 17, 1922, the son of George Henry Ashley and Jenny Staats Ashley (later Batemen).
He attended and graduated from the Riders Mills Elementary School, New Lebanon High School and SUNY Cobleskill.
In 1942, he married Ruth Lou Wilber, whom he met when they were students at SUNY Cobleskill. They lived in Copake, she died more than 58 years later.
For 15 years, Mr. Ashley was a dairy farmer in Copake and Ancramdale. Then, for more than 30 years, he was a carpenter, working for various contractors in the Copake area, the Catamount Ski Resort and ultimately ran his own business as a builder and contractor.
In 1954, he and his family moved into a house on Taconic Street in Copake that he had helped build, and he continued to live there until 2007. He then moved first to the Payn Residence in Chatham and finally to the Firemen’s Home in Hudson.
Mr. Ashley was active in the Copake United Methodist Church, serving many years as a delegate to annual conferences, a member of the Board of Trustees, and on numerous church committees. After he retired, he went to Haiti to help build a mission school and he became a lay minister who sometimes conducted worship services and preached in Copake and other churches in Columbia County.
For many years, Mr. Ashley and his wife were members of the Copake Grange. They were active members of the PTA when their children were in school, and were members of several square dance groups. He was a volunteer fireman in the Copake Fire Department, a member of the Copake Zoning Board of Appeals for two decades, a member of the Roe Jan Historical Society and a member of the Republican Party throughout his life. During his later years, he enjoyed taking river cruises, visiting his son’s vacation home in Mexico, going to events at the Rider’s Mills School museum, and traveling anywhere that he could see historic trains, boats or canals.
Mr. Ashley was predeceased by his wife Ruth Ashley and his sisters Ida Tooley of Pittsfield, MA, and Helen Briggs of Red Rock.
He leaves one daughter, Susan Ashley of State College, Pennsylvania; three sons, George Ashley, III, of Hatfield, MA, Walter Ashley of Cooperstown and David Ashley of Brooklyn; a grandson, Todd Ashley of Portland, OR; and many nephews and nieces.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Copake United Methodist Church or the Copake Fire Company, Copake 12516.
Arrangements are with the Peck & Peck Funeral Home, Copake.
To send an online condolence visit www.peckandpeck.net.