Published: 11/19/03

CROWN POINT, NY — Roderick F. Drinkwine, 82, of Main Street, Crown Point, died Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003, at his home.

Rod was born at Mineville, N.Y., on Jan. 30, 1921, the son of Joseph H. and Nellie (Strong) Drinkwine.

He retired as head custodian at the Crown Point Central School. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1945.

Rod served as Commander of Burnell Ross Post 1403 American Legion. He had been a member of the A.E. Phelps Fire Department since 1941, where he received his gold badge in 1976. He started the Crown Point Fire Police in 1959 where he served as captain. He belonged to the Lower Adirondack Fire Police Association. Rod was "Fire Policeman of the Year" in 1982. He was a life member of the volunteer fire police association of the State of New York.

He married Barbara E. Vaughn on June 9, 1946, Barbara died Aug. 16, 2003.

He is survived by his son, Joseph H. Drinkwine and wife Bernadette of Rehoboth, Mass.; his daughters, Peggy Stevens and husband Gary of Crown Point and Theresa Landry and husband Timothy of Crown Point; several grandchildren; great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

Calling hours will be held Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Harland Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, 11 a.m. at the Congregational Church, Crown Point, Rev. Brian Kimble officiating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flower, memorial donations may be made to The A.E. Phelps Fire & Rescue, Fire Co. or Ambulance Squad.

PLATTSBURGH — Elizabeth R. Heins, 88, of 75 Court Street, Plattsburgh, died Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, at the CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in New York City on Dec. 15, 1914, the daughter Dr. and Mrs. Henry Clay Ruhl.

She attended schools in NYC and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Hunter College in 1935.

She married Jack W. Heins in 1937 and moved to Darien, Conn., where she taught kindergarten at the Thomas School in Rowayton, Conn., and later opened her own Little Folks School in Darien. This enabled her husband to attend Cornell Medical School. After Dr. Heins completed his residency and retirement from the Air Force, the family moved to Decatur, Texas. Here Elizabeth continued her interest in politics she had developed in college. In Decatur, she chaired the Democrats for Eisenhower campaign and was an active Cub Scout leader.

Missing the mountains and the multicultural activities of New York, the Heinses relocate to Plattsburgh, N.Y. Elizabeth was always active in community projects. She was a Girl Scout leader, one of the founders of the Audubon Society in Clinton County and was editor of the Audubon News for 10 years. She was treasurer of the Women’s Auxiliary for the Clinton County Medical Society for eight years and was a very active member of the PTA. Elizabeth was office manager for Drs. Heins, Gonyea, Likhite and Villafranca and became an Adirondack 46’er on her husband’s 56th birthday.

Elizabeth volunteered for Reach for Recovery at CVPH Medical Center and Eye Care for the Adirondacks. She also became a docent at the SUNY Plattsburgh Art Museum. Her interests included traveling, oil painting, quilting, knitting and reading.

Elizabeth was predeceased by her husband in 1981; and three infant children, William, Kenneth and Christopher.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Dr. Robert and Evelyn Heins of Plattsburgh, N.Y., and Gregory T. Heins and Karen Haas of Boston, Mass.; one daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Ranieri Rotelli of Keeseville, N.Y.; a ward and her husband, Joanne and Jamie Badger of Boyd, Texas; seven grandchildren, Erika Heins and Luke Sydow of Duluth, Minn., Cheryl (Heins) and Seth Karpel of Naugatuck, Conn., Craig Heins of Plattsburgh, Matthew Heins of Atlanta, Ga., Catherine Heins of Stanford, Conn., Jackie (Rotelli) and Eric Young of Syracuse, N.Y., Chris and Julie Rotelli of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and one great-granddaughter, Meagan Karpel of Naugatuck, Conn.

A memorial service will be held at the family’s convenience.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friends of the Library, c/o Barbara Riley, 225 Champlain Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

The R.W. Walker Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements.

CHAMPLAIN — Orel Roland Bechard, 87, of Champlain passed away peacefully Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, at Birchwood Nursing Home in Burlington, Vt., surrounded by his loving family.

Orel was born Sept. 4, 1916, in Champlain, N.Y., son of the late Napoleon and Josephine Bechard.

He married his love, Rita Martin of LaColle, Canada, on Aug. 15, 1940. They shared 63 wonderful years together.

He is survived by his wife Rita; and their three daughters, Therese and her husband Michael Laurin of Burlington, Vt., M.J. and her husband Bill Hyduke of Colchester, Vt., Denise and her husband, Andy Kreller of Atlanta, Ga. He leaves behind nine grandchildren, Daniel and Shelley Laurin of Champlain, David and Myrna Laurin of Colchester, Vt., Lisa and Craig Emmons of Grand Isle, Vt., Kim and Brian Grenon of Colchester, Vt., Tanya and Dave Carter of South Burlington, Vt., Karen Duncan, Jamie Robbie and Aimee Kreller. Orel also leaves behind 16 great-grandchildren, Patrick, Stephen, Nicole, Ashley, Zoe, Derek, Veronica, Taylar, Macie, Brittany, Tim, Asia, Bradley, Claira, Ashley and Courtney. He also leaves behind his brothers and sisters, Arther, Robert, Gerard, Agnes, Irene, Gabe, and Francoise. He precedes his other children, Madeline, Therese, Louise, Nicole, Andre and Orel’s twin brother, Lionell.

He was dearly loved by his family and friends and will always be remembered for his big smile and his warm heart. He will be greatly missed by everyone who’s life he has touched.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Rouses Point. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Thursday, at St. Mary’s Church in Champlain.

Elizabethtown — Richard L. Wilkins (Commander U.S. Navy - J.A.G., retired), 73, died Nov. 16, 2003, at Elizabethtown Community Hospital, in Elizabethtown, N.Y., after a long illness.

He was born April 23, 1931 in Providence, R.I., son of S. Everett and Cornelia (Fletcher) Wilkins.

He graduated from Brown University in 1953 and Boston University Law School in 1956. After enlisting in October of 1956, he served as a lawyer and judge in the Navy until June of 1980, including duty in Vietnam in the period after the Tet Offensive. Although retaining a lifelong love of Rhode Island and membership in the Providence Athenaeum and University Club, he retired to family property in the hamlet of New Russia in the Adirondacks. He spent much of his long retirement climbing mountains and attained the distinction of being an Adirondack 46’er, a Northeastern 111’er and having climbed the one hundred highest peaks in New England. In recent years he sang in the choir and served as a trustee of the United Church of Christ (Congregational) in Elizabethtown.

He leaves his sister, Miss Cornelia Wilkins of New Russia; cousins; and many devoted friends.

A memorial service will be held at the United Church of Christ (Congregational) in Elizabethtown at 10 a.m. on Nov. 22, 2003. He will be buried in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence, R.I. , in a private service.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the church.

Plattsburgh — Joseph Elmer LaPorte, 71, of Smith Street, Plattsburgh, passed away on Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, at his home.

He was born in Plattsburgh on Sept. 7, 1932, son of Creswell and Roseanne (Rougeau) LaPorte.

Joseph attended St. John’s Church in Plattsburgh and was a self employed truck driver. He enjoyed fishing and camping.

Joseph is survived by his wife, Rose Mary (Taylor) LaPorte of Plattsburgh; three sons, Joseph LaPorte and his wife Lucia of West Chazy, John LaPorte and his fiancé Diane of Albany, Mark LaPorte and his wife Mary Ellen of Plattsburgh; a daughter, Belinda McKenna and her husband Patrick of Peru; two brothers, Michael LaPorte of Plattsburgh and William LaPorte of Plattsburgh; two sisters, Jane Newell of Plattsburgh and Helen Sherman of West Chazy; 14 grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Joseph was predeceased by his parents, Creswell and Roseanne (Rougeau) LaPorte; a great-grand-daughter, Tia Nicole Ducharme; and a grandson, Stephen Joseph Edward LaPorte.

Calling hours will be Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. from Brown Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kris Lauzon, pastor of St. John’s Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Plattsburgh.

Donations in his memory may be made to American Diabetes Association.

Gerald E. Thomas, 75, of Cold Brook Road, Vermontville, died Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

He was born in Fort Covington, N.Y., on Nov. 24, 1927, the son of Archie and Rhoda (Burke) Thomas.

Calling hours will be held at Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. The funeral service will be held Friday, Nov. 21, 2003, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Reverend Daniel Shumway, pastor of the Pilgrim Holiness Church officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery in Vermontville.

Hadwin Harold Ellsworth, 84, of the Spencer Road, Burke, N.Y., died Monday, Nov. 17, 2003, at the Franklin County Nursing Home in Malone, N.Y.

He was born in Burke, N.Y., Dec. 27, 1918, the son of the late Fay and Rada Williams Ellsworth.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 1 to 1:45 p.m. in the Bruso - Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with his brother-in-law, Donald Yeddo and his nephew, Rev. Paul Rowley officiating. Burial will be in the Burke Center Cemetery in Burke.

Sister Aline St. Denis, OP, 86, of Newburgh, N.Y., died Nov. 17, 2003.

Born Mary Jeanne St. Denis on July 19, 1917, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late John Henry St. Denis and Nathalia Demers St. Denis.

Visiting will be on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2003, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Dominican Sisters of Hope Convent Chapel, 320 Powell Ave, Newburgh and on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003 from 9 to 10:45 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Dominican Sisters Cemetery.

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

Copyright 2003, Plattsburgh Publishing Co., Plattsburgh, NY,  Division of Ottaway Newspapers, Inc., Campbell Hall, NY. The information you receive from Press-Republican Online is protected by the copyright laws of the United States. The copyright laws prohibit any copying, redistributing, retransmitting, or repurposing of any copyright-protected material.