Published:  03/06/03

PEASLEEVILLE — John D. Wilson Jr., 73, of the Ore Bed Road in Peasleeville, died Sunday March 2, 2003, in Houston, Texas.

He was born in Yonkers on May 24, 1929, the son of John D. and Ellen (Finnerty)

Wilson Sr. He married the former Patricia Smith in Yonkers in 1949, she died in 1986.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1946 and received the World War II Victory Medal, the United Nations Ribbon, the Korean Theatre Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation and Good Conduct Medal, being honorably discharged in 1952.

Mr. Wilson attended St. Augustine's Church in Peru. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign War Post 309, the Marine Corps League in Peru and American Legion Post 20, serving in the colour guard and firing teams in all three organizations.

He was also a member of the Lake Carmel Volunteer Fire Department and organized functions for the Boy Scout Troop in Peru.

Mr. Wilson helped start and promote the Annual Children’s Christmas Party and the Annual Easter Egg Hunt in Peru. He volunteered with the Clinton County Christmas Bureau, delivered food vouchers and gifts to the area's needy and was a Blood Drive Coordinator for the VFW.

Over the years, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were foster parents for nine children, three of which lived with them for more than 15 years.

Mr. Wilson worked for General Motors, in their Tarrytown, N.Y., Plant, from 1953 until retiring due to illness in 1975. They moved to Peasleeville in 1980.

Survivors include three sons, John D. Wilson III of California, Richard Wilson and his wife Amy of Lyon Mountain and Donald Wilson and his wife Donna of Poughkeepsie; two daughters, Patricia Spardella and her husband Peter of Houston, Texas, and Lorraine Truax and her husband David of Port Orange, Fla.; three foster children, Frances Wagner, Jay Ratliff and Betty Bell; 14 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine's Church in Peru. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery in Peasleeville.

Donations in his memory be made to Hospice of the North Country.

Syracuse — Nancy Anderson Waterfield of Syracuse, N.Y., died on March 5, 2003.

She was a nurse at St. Joseph's Hospital and communicant of St. Lucy's Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Dani Coss, Rhonda Ely and Jennifer Cruz; one son, Thomas Ely, all of Syracuse; two sisters, Jean Liberty of Syracuse and Caryl Hamell of Vermont; two brothers David and Steven Anderson of New Jersey; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Nancy was predeceased by her husband, Beryl in 1993.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Whelan Bros. Funeral Home 3700 West Genesee Street, Syracuse, N.Y. A funeral Mass will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday in St. Lucy's Church, burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park.

Contributions in Nancy’s memory may be made to Hospice of CNY.

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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