Published:  02/27/03

HICKORY, N.C. — Mabel West, 96 of the Lutheran Home, West, Hickory, N.C., formerly of Plattsburgh, N.Y., died Feb. 15, 2003, at the Lutheran Home, West.

She was a leader in the northern New York Humane Society and helped establish the Clinton County, N.Y., animal shelter with her husband, Leo.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Ida Hart; her husband, Leo W West; and a great-grandchild, Joseph.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Fern and Ray O'Hare of Hickory and Ivy and William Ruzenski of Levittown, N.Y.; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Private services will be held at a later date.

Mechanicville, N.Y. — Betty Z. Getmen, 79, of Northern Sites Drive and formerly of Colonie, died peacefully on Feb. 23, 2003, while on vacation in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

She was born in Catskill, N.Y., on May 15, 1923, and was the daughter of the late Andrew and Elizabeth (Kubn) Ziegler.

Mrs. Getman was predeceased by her husband, LaVerne W. Getman.

She was a graduate of Catskill High School and studied stenotype prior to working for the Selective Service during World War II. After her husband returned from Europe, she assumed the role of homemaker.

When her husband established his own business, L.W. Getman Sales, Inc., she worked in the office for many years.

Mrs. Getman was formerly a member of Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Colonie for many years. She transferred her membership to the Westport Federated Church in Westport, N.Y. She was also a member of Helderberg Chapter 331 and Ella Nicholson-Fort Orange Albany Chapter 12 Order of the Eastern Star, Cyrene Temple 18 Daughters of the Nile and Marvia Court, 27 Ladies Oriental Shrine.

She is survived by a daughter and a son-in-law, Kathleen G. and William B. Fink Jr. Of Mechanicville; and various cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Friday morning at 11 a.m. at the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home, 1550 Route 9 in Clifton Park. Relatives and friends are invited to attend and may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family.

Mrs. Getman’s family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the 32 Masonic Learning Centers for Children c/o Supreme Council, AASR, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, Mass. 02173 or to the Shrine Hospitals for Children c/o Oriental Shrine, P.O. Box 124, Troy, N.Y. 12181.

Arrangements have been entrusted by the family to the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home, 1550 Rt. 9, Clifton Park, N.Y. 12065, 518-371-5454.

Newport, VT — Alberta Napper Darby (Bertie), 79, of Derby Line passed away peacefully with her family, in Newport on Feb. 25, 2003.

Bertie was born on Oct. 7, 1923, in Saranac, N.Y., the daughter of Christina White Napper and Charles Napper.

She attended Green Mountain College and graduated from American University in 1943. She taught at Derby Academy from 1943 to 1946.

On Sept. 15, 1945, she married Robert Darby, who she met at Green Mountain College. From 1960 until 1981 she taught at Newport High School, Derby Academy and North Country Union High School. She served on the Derby School Board and the committee to develop a union school. She was Vermont Teacher of the Year in 1981. One of her greatest joys was seeing students accomplish goals they thought were impossible. After retirement she acted as Guardian ad litum for several years. She served on the Derby Green Nursing Home Board, Area Agency on Aging and was an active member of Stanstead South United Church. She served as secretary of Congregation and President of Canusa.

Bertie is survived by her devoted husband Robert of 57 years. She is also survived by her three daughters, Tina Routhier and husband Ray of Derby Line, Ruth Gray and husband Keith of Derby and Sue Kearney and husband Peter of Cape Coral, Fla.; as well as the following grandchildren, Kristi Hudson and husband Dan, Amy Stimets and husband Jon, Melissa and Cy Nelson, Erica and Trevor Gray, Kyle and Meghan Hildebrand, Alison and Caitlan Kearney; and great-grandchildren, Emily and Nathan Hudson.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, 2003, at the Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Home, 4670 Darling Hill Road, Newport (formerly Sias Ave). A memorial service will be

held at a later date in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to the Alberta Darby Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o

Kimico Perry, Community National Bank, P.O. Box 259, Derby, Vt 05829.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Curtis-Britch Converse-Rushford Funeral Homes, locally

family owned and operated.

Willsboro, N.Y. — James Wade Sr., 77, of Willsboro, N.Y., died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Willsboro, N.Y., Dec. 10, 1925, the son of Walter Wade Sr. And Gladys (Daily) Wade.

He was an avid horseman, hunter, fisherman and trapper.

Jim was a veteran of World War II having served on the U.S. Navel Destroyer, the U.S.S. Skink.

Survivors include his wife, Mary (Mock) Wade; a sister, Evelyn Baker of Westport; two sons and a daughter-in-law, James Wade Jr. and Jeff and Wanda Wade; two daughters and a son-in-law, Mark and Wanda McKenna and Anna Marie Oquendo of Florida; nine grandchildren, Jesse Wade, Kasey, Kelly, Skip and Karley McKenna, Tory Wade and Ken, Marc and Denette; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by one sister, Dorothy Willbur; and three brothers, Guy wade, Walter (Bud) Wade, and Norman Wade.

He will be greatly missed by his family.

Calling hours are 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003, at the Huestis Funeral Home in Willsboro. A funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Essex, N.Y.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Willsboro Rescue Squad.

Margaret B. (Margo) Piper, of Shell Point Village, Fort Myers, Fla., died Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, following a brief illness.

She was born April 14, 1916, and she grew up in Plattsburgh, N.Y., and Maplewood, N.J.

A memorial service will be held in the Shell Point Village Church on March 15, 2003, at 1:30 p.m. followed by a reception hosted by her family. Calling hours and a memorial service will be held at Walker’s Funeral Home in Flemington, Pa. from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, April 4, 2003, and 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, April 5. The memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. with burial following the service.

William A. Ptaszynski, 60, of Basket Avenue, Keeseville, died Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2003, at his home.

There will be no public calling hours or services.

A complete obituary will be in the Press-Republican at a later date.

Arrangements are by the Hamilton Funeral Home.

Barbara E. Larose, 77, of State Route 22B Morrisonville, died on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in Rouses Point, N.Y., on Sept. 17, 1925, the daughter of James and Theresa (Young) Frenya.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 1, 2003, at 11 a.m. at the Brown Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at a later date in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Chazy, N.Y.

To contact the Press-Republican, Phone: (518) 561-2300 or send mail to:
Press-Republican, 170 Margaret St., P.O. Box 459, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

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