Harold F. Stall (1935 – 2019)
DE LEON SPRINGS, FL—Harold Frederick Stall of De Leon Springs, FL, formerly of East Chatham, returned to his heavenly home July 2, 2019.
He was born September 7, 1935 to Phineas Aaron and Florence Hotaling Stall.
Mr. Stall is survived by: his loving wife of 31 years, Myrtle Stall.
He was predeceased by his beloved first wife, Beverly Alice Williams, also of 31 years; his older brothers, Oscar, Kenneth, Phineas Jr., and Donald, and is survived by his younger brother, Ralph.
Mr. Stall attended Chatham public schools before playing a key role in the development of Crellin Plastics, where he worked for 32 years. Throughout his life he worked in many other capacities including TV repairman, electrician and handyman. He later became an author and a gospel music writer. He was the pastor of the East Chatham United Methodist Church, where he loved to serve God and his church family.
He later moved to Virginia Beach with his wife, Myrtle and lived there for several years, ultimately moving to Florida where he was the maintenance director for the Stetson Baptist Church.
Upon retirement, he continued to pursue his passion for writing and singing gospel music and remained very active in his church.
Throughout his life Mr. Stall had many passions. He was an inventor at heart, creating a working Ferris wheel, toys for his children, and mechanical Christmas decorations which many passers-by his house enjoyed. He loved photography, and as a young adult built his own darkroom and even had an amateur photography studio.
Mr. Stall enjoyed camping with his family and the great outdoors, and instilled in his children the same passion. He is a published author of two books, many short stories, and several gospel songs. He also sang much of his own original music, beginning with his first band, “Cowboy Harold and the Three Country Boys.” He built his own house and helped multiple others complete theirs. He was a fixer of things, a tinkerer, a solver of problems, and was self-educated in countless areas. He competed in boxing as a boy, competed in archery, loved playing golf, enjoyed many sports, and later in life enjoyed watching Yankee baseball with his wife, Myrtle.
He leaves behind: his children, James Stall, Jacqueline (Frank) Gesek, Andrew (Stacy) Stall and Karen (Allen) Gilligan; his step-children, Shirlanne (Kenny) Bazemore and Marcia (Curt) Brandow; his grandchildren, Joshua Stall, Jennifer (Stephen) Barbic, Jamie (Seth) Pollay, Rachel (Joshua) Rhodes, Alan, Jennie, and Maria Gesek, Corey (Hannah) and Aaron Stall, Caitlin and Megan Gilligan; his step-grandson, Ryan Brandow, and his great-grandchildren, Jacob Stephen Barbic, Jameson Joshua Rhodes, Nathan Harold Stall, Jack Gregory Pollay and his step-great-grandchildren, Lydia and Aubrey Brandow.
A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Deland, FL, Saturday, July 20 at 11 a.m. Additionally, a celebration of his life will be held at the East Chatham United Methodist Church Saturday, July 27 at 11 a.m., with internment to follow at the New Concord Cemetery. A reception for friends and family will follow at the church.
Donations may be made to the East Chatham United Methodist Church in Mr. Stall’s name.
Condolences may be conveyed at frenchblasl.com
Bruce H. Near (1957 – 2019)
ALBANY—Bruce H. Near, 62, of Pine Plains passed away Monday, July 8, 2019 at the Stratton VA Medical Center.
He was born June 25, 1957 in Poughkeepsie, a son of the late Ernest and Mary (Feroe) Near.
Mr. Near was a local resident for the past 35 years and was previously employed by Briggs Paving in Poughkeepsie.
He proudly served his country with the United States Navy from 1974 to 1975.
He was a lover of both classic cars and Harley Davidsons. A mechanic by trade, he loved to fix things and work with his hands.
On June 22, 1976 in Dover Plains he married Sue Ellen (Ingraham) Near.
Survivors include: his wife, Sue Ellen Near of Pine Plains; a son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Missy Near of Elizaville, and a daughter and son-in-law, Angel and Jonathan Hotaling of Taghkanic. He also leaves his grandchildren, Cameron, Isaac, Shyann and Jaden; his siblings, Robert Dunlop of Peyton, CO, Catherine Hubley of Summerfield, FL, Theresa Hepton (Frank) of Walcott, IA, and Ernie Near of Stuyvesant.
Friends called at the Peck and Peck Funeral Home, 7749 South Main Street, Pine Plains, Saturday, July 13, 2019. Interment followed the visitation at the Evergreen Cemetery in Pine Plains.
Esther Chappuis (1944 – 2019)
SUN CITY CENTER, FL—Esther Chappuis, wife of Curtiss Chappuis of Hillsdale and Sun City Center, FL, died unexpectedly in Sun City Center, May 10, 2019 on the eve of their return to Hillsdale.
Born near Zurich, Switzerland, the daughter of Arthur Voegele and Emma Voegele-Mauerer, she came to the United States in 1964.
She worked in the administrative offices of Swissair and later worked in reinsurance in New York City and Philadelphia, PA.
Mrs. Chappuis received a master’s degree from the New York Theological Seminary and served as a minister in the Methodist Church.
In the late 1970s, she built a house in Hillsdale, where she met and married Curtiss Chappuis. They both sang with the Hudson Choral Society.
Besides her husband, Curtiss, she is survived by: her brother, Reinhard Voegele of Zurich, Switzerland; step-daughter, Susan Irvine of Selkirk and step-son, Robert Chappuis of Attleboro, MA.
A private remembrance will be held at the convenience of the family. Condolences may be sent to 62 Farview Lane, Hillsdale 12529.
Florence E. Kring (1929 – 2019)
GHENT—Florence Ellen (Schrader) Kring passed away to join her waiting family in spirit, July 10, 2019 at the age of 89.
She was born September 3, 1929 to Lottie Mae Coons and Preston Eugene Schrader in Hudson.
She was predeceased by: eight siblings, Perline (Victor) Blair, Beatrice (William) Carter, Ethel (Edwin) Manchuck, Betty (Michael) Kimok, Shirley (Henry) Curran, Sara Jean (Charles) Kendall, Preston (Joyce) Schrader and Barry (Peggy) Schrader.
Mrs. Kring leaves behind many nieces and nephews on the Schrader and Kring family sides including: grandchildren, Jacquelyn (Jay) Hutson, Michael (Andrea) Coon, Meghan (Will) Calhoun, Dane (Ashley) Coon, Jillian (Stephen) Gerding, Brianna (Ross) Minor, Brandyn, Brayden, Talon, Sharri and Jeremiah Kring and 11 great-grandchildren.
She attended Hudson High School, graduated in 1947 and married Ralph R. Kring of Ghent in March 1950. They were married for 69 years and had seven children. Twin daughters predeceased their remaining children; Patricia (Wesley) Coon, Bonnie Kring, Ralph I. Kring (Lisa), all of Ghent, Kevin D. Kring of Hudson and Mark (Jennifer) Kring of Colonie.
Mrs. Kring spent most of her life as a housewife and devoted mother to her children, but sporadically worked at Kring Nursing Home in Hudson, owned and operated by her mother-in-law, Helen M. Kring.
She was a waitress at the Chatham Bakery after moving to the Ghent area where she designed the first-known Spoon Cake on the Chatham area, served as a special by Wally Stewart of the Chatham Bakery.
Mrs. Kring was a gentle spirit with a humorous side and genuine smile and was admired by everyone who met her. She was a dedicated communicant of the West Ghent Reformed Church throughout her life in Ghent and loved attending church services and the social period after church on Sundays. She was a State Fair enthusiast who attended every year with her husband, Ralph. She loved collecting kitchen items and accessories to complement her kitchen skills of cooking and baking for her family. On the holidays, all would gather at her home.
Mr. and Mrs. Kring were well-known at social functions and family gatherings where music surrounded them. Big Band music was played as they danced the Lindy with precision, or to “In the Mood.” They seemed to “flow” around the dance floor together.
Family and friends are welcomed to the Celebration of Mrs. Kring’s Life at the Ghent VFW, State Route 66, Ghent, Sunday, July 14, 2019 from 1 to 4 p.m. For online condolences visit wenkfuneralhome.com
