Obituary, William Henry Conklin, Jr.

William Henry Conklin, Jr, 89, a 58-year resident of Holmes, NY, passed away Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, NY.

“Red” to his family and many, many friends, was born in Peekskill, NY on August 6, 1933, and was the son of the late William H. Conklin, Sr, and Ruth VanKeuren.  He graduated from Carmel High School and later served in the US Army from 1955-57.  He married Penelope “Penny” Trudsoe on May 2, 1965, at St. John’s Church in Pawling and were married for almost 56 years, until Penny predeceased Red on March 23, 2021.

Red was a local butcher for many years, first working at the Grand Union and later at the Poughquag AG Market and the Pawling AG Market.; he then worked at Hannaford until he retired.

Red was an avid reader and loved doing jigsaw puzzles, but most of all he loved being with his family and friends.  Red was a lifetime member and past President of the Pawling Fire Department and a director of the Dutchess County Fireman’s Association for several years, a member and past Grand Knight of St. John’s Knights of Columbus, and a member of the Hasler-Kamp Post American Legion.

He survived by his daughter Lori Scarano and husband Nicholas of Wallkill, NY; three grandchildren, Brianna King of Holmes and Nicholas & Anthony Scarano, both of Wallkill; his brother John Conklin and wife Gladys of Arizona; and many nieces & nephews, great nieces & nephews, and friends.

In addition to his wife and parents, he is predeceased by his daughter Colleen, his brother Charles Conklin and his wife Catherine, his in-laws John and Rose Trudsoe, his brothers & sisters-in-law, Daniel and Dorothy Graham, Ronald and Rose VanKleeck, Bill and Louise Trudsoe, and Eileen Conklin.

Family and friends may pay their respects on Wednesday, April 19th from 4-7 PM at the Horn & Thomes, Inc Funeral Home, 83 East Main Street, Pawling. The American Legion will conduct a service at 6 PM, the Knights of Columbus service at 6:30, prayers will be said at 6:45, and the Fire Department will conduct their service at 7 PM.

Burial will be Saturday, April 22nd at 11 AM at the Maple Avenue Cemetery in Patterson, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Memory of Red may be made to the Pawling Fire Department, St. John’s Knights of Columbus, or the Hasler-Kamp Post American Legion.

 

Author: Harlem Valley News