George Whitney Irish (1915 – 2015)
CANTON—George Whitney Irish, 100, of Canton passed away November 28, 2015.
He was born in North Chatham, September 25, 1915 to Mabel (Stedman) and Leland Wesley Irish.
As a boy he was very active in 4-H. He graduated from Martin Van Buren High School, Kinderhook in 1933, and Cornell University College of Agriculture in 1939. At Cornell he was a member of Scorpion (now TKE), Scarab, ROTC, and the Cornell Band.
After college Mr. Irish returned to the family farm near Kinderhook in Columbia County, where he; his brother, Leland, Jr., and their father grew apples for many years, and later converted to dairy. Mr. Irish participated in local Town of Kinderhook and Columbia County politics, and was a member of the Mohawk-Hudson Chapter of The U.S. Power Squadron and North Chatham United Methodist Church. He enjoyed playing mellophone in the Ghent Summer Band, singing with local barbershop groups, gardening, beekeeping and growing nut trees.
In 1977, he married Elizabeth “Betty” Linden. They wintered in Florida for many years then returned to the North Country to be close to family. Mr. Irish was an active member of the Canton Goldenaires Barbershop chorus and the First Presbyterian Church of Canton. Mr. and Mrs. Irish enjoyed numerous trips, including to Hawaii, Alaska and Israel, as well as trips to visit family in Colorado, California, Massachusetts and Canada.
Mr. Irish was predeceased by his wife of 36 years, Betty; his brothers, John “Jack” and Leland Irish and his sister, Margaret T. Irish.
He is survived by: Roger (Audrey) and Wade (Mary) Linden; his nieces, Leslie Haines, Lynda (Rusty) Hay, Margaret (George) Janson, Molly (Karl) Wielgosz; his nephew, John (Nancy) Irish and their many children and grandchildren.
Many of his family gathered in Canton in September this year for a joyous celebration of Mr. Irish’s 100th birthday.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, December 12, 2015, 2:30 p.m. at the North Chatham Cemetery. Donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Canton, 17 Park Street, Canton 13617.
Arrangements are with the Raymond E. Bond Funeral Home, 1015 Kinderhook Street, Valatie.
Ralph E. Melino, Jr. (1961 – 2015)
ALBANY—Ralph E. Melino, Jr., of Greenport died peacefully Monday, December 7, 2015 at Albany Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Hudson, October 23, 1961, he was the son of Denise N. (Crowley) Melino of Philmont and the late Ralph E. Melino.
Mr. Melino was proud of his career as a correction officer with the New York State Department of Corrections. He retired from the Greene Correctional facility in Coxsackie.
He was a graduate of the Taconic Hills High School, and earned his associate’s degrees from both Hudson Valley Community College, Troy in electrical engineering and Columbia-Greene Community College in criminal justice. Following an accident, he was associated with the Canine Companion for Independence Organization and the proud partner of both “Viking” and “Tonio,” his faithful companions.
Mr. Melino was a member of the Hudson Elks Lodge #787 and the Sons of the American Legion in East Greenbush.
He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Mary E. (Unson) Melino at home; his sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Kevin Skype of Chatham; his father and mother-in-law, John and Betty Unson of Stottville; brothers-in-law, Paul, John and Robert; sister-in-law, Pam; nieces and nephews, Jonathan Shepard, Ian Unson, Abigail Unson, Kody Skype and Jenna Skype.
Calling hours will be Thursday, December 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Sacco-McDonald Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 11, 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church (Holy Family) in Stottville with Father Dan Quinn officiating. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Church Cemetery, Martindale Road in Philmont. Contributions Mr. Melino’s memory may be made to: Canine Companions 286 Middle Island Road, Medford 11763 and/or Greenport Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 275 Hudson 12534.
Susan E. Taylor (1938 – 2015)
HUDSON—Susan Elizabeth Taylor, 77, passed away Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at home surrounded by her loving and adoring children and family.
She was born April 1, 1938 in Hudson to Alexander Mathew and Frances (Scutt) Martin.
She was educated in Hudson public schools, and graduated high school in Albany. She lived on the family farm until marrying James Taylor, Sr., of Hudson, November 6, 1956. They were married 54 years until his untimely death.
After raising six children she attended Columbia-Greene Community College, where she graduated as a registered nurse. She worked at the Firemen’s Home for 15 years until her retirement. She was lovingly referred to as “Susie Q” by her patients, colleagues and friends.
Mrs. Taylor is survived by: her six children, Deborah Bolstad and her husband Carl, Donna Pough and her husband Keith, James Taylor, Jr., Joseph Taylor, David Taylor and his wife Jeannette and Alex Taylor; a brother, Robert Mathew and a sister, Patricia Rooney; 14 grandchildren; 12 great- grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, James Taylor Sr., and a sister, Frances Kennedy. Calling hours will be held Friday December 11, 2015 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson. Services will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Roberta Lee Neal (1932 – 2015)
GHENT—Roberta Lee Neal, 83, of Ghent was quietly called home to be with her Lord and Savior, Sunday, December 6, 2015, at her home.
Born June 18, 1932 in Campbellsburg, Kentucky, she was the daughter of the late Henry C. and Bertha Mae (Prichard) Partin.
Mrs. Neal was a homemaker and devoted member of the Martindale Community Gospel Church. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her husband, James E. Neal predeceased her October 3, 2015, after 64 wonderful years of marriage.
She will be greatly missed by: her four daughters, Nancy (Ted) Preusser, Lois Ann (Eric) Janson, Amy Folmsbee, Sarah (Howard) Montague; two sisters, Emogene Dalton and Wanda Bryant; nine grandchildren, Jessica, Daniel, Timothy and Philip Preusser, Melanie Eisele, Megan Wilcox, Rebekah Brown, Jeffrey and Emily Montague; and four great-grandchildren.
In addition to her late husband, she was predeceased by two sons, Jeffrey and Daniel Neal; one daughter, Janet Profetto; one granddaughter, Laura Janson; three brothers, Delbert, Lowell and Gorman Partin and one sister, Mayme Spears.
Visiting hours will be at the Sacco-McDonald-Valenti Funeral Home, 700 Town Hall Drive, Greenport, Friday, December 11 from 3 to 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 12, noon at the Martindale Community Gospel Church, 1018 State Route 23. Burial will follow at the Martindale Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Martindale Community Gospel Church, 1018 State Route 23, Craryville 12521.
To leave online condolences visit www.saccomcdonaldvalenti.com.