David Martin
David Martin, 62, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away surrounded by loved ones at home on July 9, 2016.
Dave was born in Beacon to Richard and Doris Martin and graduated from John Jay High School in Hopewell Junction. While in New York Dave ran a family owned candle making company and a general contracting business.
He is survived by his sister Sue, sons Christopher, Jeffrey, Timothy and Gregory, daughter Marissa, grandchildren Sophia and Cooper, nephew Tommy and nieces Colleen, and Susan.
Interment was held Oct. 14 at Fishkill Rural Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org).
Gerard “Jerry” J. Schuder (1937-2016)
Gerard “Jerry” J. Schuder, 78, died on Oct. 6, 2016, at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie.
Jerry was born in Beacon on Dec. 11, 1937, the son of James A. and Catherine (Cofield) Schuder. In 1961 he married Joanne Pennucci, who survives at home. Jerry was a carpenter with Local 323 Carpenters’ Union in Beacon (where he was a past president) and a member of Beacon Fur, Fin & Feather and St. Rocco’s Society. Jerry was an avid coin collector, loved to fish and loved to tell jokes.
In addition to his wife, Jerry is survived by his children, Kim Doyle (Ed); Kelle Harrison; and Jerry Schuder (Laura) and grandchildren, Brittany, Nicholas, Catherine, Alyssa, Julianne and Jake.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Oct. 10 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill, with burial at St. Joachim Cemetery in Beacon. Memorial donations may be made to the Kelley Doyle Children’s Christmas Foundation, c/o Kim Doyle, 52 Osborne Hill Road, No. 31, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590.
John A. “Sully” Sullivan
John Allen “Sully” Sullivan, 73, of Poughkeepsie, died Oct. 7, 2016, at Renaissance Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center in Staatsburg. He was born Nov. 25, 1943, in Asheville, North Carolina, to John and Pauline C. Sullivan, the youngest of their 12 children.
John attended Beacon and Wappingers schools, where he earned letters in football, basketball and track and played for the Dutchess County Scholastic League before serving in the infantry during the Vietnam War.
For 20 years he worked as a recreational therapist at Hudson River Psychiatric Institution, until his retirement in 2000. He owned and operated the Poor Man’s Fish Market for 10 years, where he worked to feed the homeless. He also worked as an paraprofessional at Beacon High School until 2013, where he loved interacting with the teachers and students. He also was involved with the Boys Scout and AAU as a basketball assistant.
John was a member of Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Beacon and a member of the Men of Valor Men’s Ministry. In his free time, he volunteered at the Salvation Army. John was a resident of Admiral William Halsey Senior Village and enjoyed watching sports and having gatherings for and with his friends. John loved being the life of the party. Wherever he went, he never met a stranger. He is known for his charisma, humorous attitude and infectious personality.
John is survived by a daughter, Tracey Sullivan Keaton and two grandchildren, Taylor Alexandra Rainey-Sullivan and MacKenzie Noelle Keaton, as well as nephews and nieces and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and four sisters.
A memorial service was held Oct. 14 at Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church, with burial at Fishkill Rural Cemetery.
Edward Roscoe “Eddie” Wilkin (1947-2016)
Edward Roscoe “Eddie” Wilkin, 69, of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, died Oct. 5, 2016, at home surrounded by his family. He was born Feb. 24, 1947, in Beacon, son of James Edwin and Evelyn Ina (Raycraft) Wilkin.
Eddie proudly served his country as a combat medic and retired from the U.S. Air National Guard. He served during three wars: Vietnam, Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Eddie also retired from the New York State Department of Corrections, where he worked at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility. He later worked as a security guard at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital.
He is survived by his wife, Deborah Robert Wilkin; daughter Stacia Valdes (Jose) of Fort Myers, Florida; brother James Wilkin (Jacqueline) of North Myrtle Beach; three sisters, Phyllis Caruso (John) of Fishkill, Judy Hughes (Bill) of Pleasant Valley and Donna Kozlek (Peter) of Murrells Inlet; and grandchildren, Charlotte Valdes and Graceson Edward Valdes.
Memorial donations may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children (shrinershospitalsforchildren.org).