Published: 8/29/04

PLATTSBURGH — Sharron A. Hunkins, 54, of Cornelia Street, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at CVPH Medical Center.

She was born in San Antonio, Texas, on Aug. 26, 1950, the daughter of Howard and Mary Elizabeth (Leppert) Relation.

Sharron was a member of St. Peter’s Church in Plattsburgh.

Survivors include her husband, Bruce Hunkins of Plattsburgh; her father, Howard Relation and his wife Morena Bretz of West Chazy; two brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Joan Relation of Altona and Terry and Donna Relation of West Chazy; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her mother; a daughter, Angel Amy Tanner; and a sister, Susan Carlile.

Calling hours will be held Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at R.W. Walker Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Chazy.

Donations may be made to the Neo-Natal Care Unit at CVPH Medical Center in Sharron’s memory.

Zephyrhills, Fla. — Colonel William J. Pelton, 94, retired from the U.S. Army, of Zephyrhills, Fla., formerly of Fall River, Mass., and Chateaugay Lake, N.Y., passed away Aug. 22, 2004, in Dade City, Fla. Born in Fall River on Feb. 24, 1910, the son of William E. and Nora Staunton (Hendrick) Pelton. He was married on June 7, 1934, to the late Elsie (Bellows) Pelton of Chateaugay, N.Y. On the 28th of April 1980, he married Catherine Hebel at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

He was predeceased by his son, Peter S. Pelton. He is survived by his wife Catherine; a sister, Nora Whitters and his brother Francis Pelton; as well as his four children, William B. Pelton, Mary Agnes Murphy, Elsie McGuillicuddy and Paul Pelton, together with their spouses; there are 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. In addition, he is survived by nine stepchildren, Andrew, Robert and Stephen Hebel and their spouses, Donn and Carol Hebel, Georgeanne Entwistle, Kathy Klopcic, Barbara lanno and their spouses and Teri Mar Elia. There are 21 stepgrandchildren and 23 stepgreat-grandchildren.

Colonel Pelton was a true Renaissance man. He was an athlete, a student, a merchant, a funeral director, a social worker, a school teacher, police and licensing commissioner, as well as a school committeeman for the city of Fall River. He was well known in both city and state politics and was the founder of the Fall River Job Corps. In his military career, Mr. Pelton rose from private to colonel, having served in many units including Supreme Headquarters Europe. He was instrumental in establishing the procedure for identifying American war dead in the European and Pacific theaters, for which he received an Army Commendation Medal. In the early 1940’s he was the youngest major in the U.S. Army. He was also one of the last surviving Senior Coast Artillery Officers and Wheel Horse Gunners of the Horse Artillery. He was a graduate of both Calvin Coolidge College (now Suffolk Law School) and the New England Institute of Embalming. He held advanced degrees from Bridgewater State College and Southeastern Massachusetts University.

Colonel Pelton was past commander of the American Legion Post 118 Fall River, Mass., and a member of Post 1623 Lyon Mountain. A life member of Fall River Lodge of Elks and both the 3rd and 4th Degree of the Knights of Columbus.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 4th, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Zephyrhills. At the convenience of the family, cremated remains will be interred in the family plot in Brainardsville, N.Y. Military honors will be provided by Lyon Mountain Legion Post 1623 Firing Squad, of which he was a member.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hernando-Pasco Hospice House Building Fund, 37441 Clinton Ave., Dade City, FL 33525.

Whitfield Funeral Home of Zephyrhills, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.

Scottdale, Pa. — Stephen D. Fifield, 92, of Parker Avenue, Scottdale, Pa., passed away at 8 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004, in the Harmon House Convalescent Center, Mt. Pleasant.

Steve was born June 15, 1912, in New York City, a son of the late Frederick P. and Cora M. (Shutts) Fifield. He was married to the late Betty (Stanton) Fifield, who passed away on Jan. 9, 2004.

Steve was a retired sales representative with Duraloy Blaw-Knox, Scottdale, with over 20 years service. He was educated at the Elm Street School and graduated from high school in Plattsburgh, N.Y. He was also a graduate of Tri State University, Angola, Ind. Steve was a longtime member of St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church, Scottdale and a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving as an aerographer’s mate during World War II. He also enjoyed woodworking, photography and music.

Steve will be sadly missed by his loving family; his two sons, Robert S. Fifield of Scottdale and Richard H. Fifield and wife Judy of Lexington, Ky.; three grandchildren, Brian and Patrick Fifield and Gregory Lagana; two great-grandchildren, Carter and Maxwell Fifield; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynda F. Lagana in 1990; and a sister, Cora Grenier.

Family and friends will be received on Saturday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Robert B. Ferguson Funeral Home, 105 Spring St., Scottdale(724.887.5300/email: fergfh@alusa.net).

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 8 p.m. in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. Charles P. Martin officiating. Interment will be private.

Memorials may be made to Westmoreland Hospice, 532 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, PA 15601 in memory of Stephen D. Fifield. Love Lasts Forever!™

Caddo Mills, Texas —

Lee Joseph Welsh, 36, of Caddo Mills, Texas, passed away on Aug. 27, 2004, at 5:24 a.m. at the V.A. Hospital in Dallas, Texas, following a brief illness.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004, at Rentfrow Funeral Home, Caddo Mills, Texas. Funeral services will be held at Rentfrow Funeral Home on Monday, Aug. 30, 2004, at 4 p.m. with burial following at Caddo Mills Cemetery. Pastor Randall Bost will officiate.

Born on Oct. 24, 1967, in Plattsburgh, N.Y., the son of Theodore Welsh and Abigail (Hewitt) Welsh. On Aug. 8, 1996, he married Debra Lynn Tea in Carson City, Nev. Lee served four years in the U.S. Marines and six years in the U.S. Army as a member of the HHC 1st Battalion 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Airassault Division and participated in "Operation Iraqi Freedom." Lee was proud to serve our country.

Survivors include his wife and five children, Chantell, Chelsie, Channae, Skyler and E’Leesa, all of Caddo Mills; parents Abigail Welsh, Theodore and Linda Welsh; his sister Polly and Jim Tavernia of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; brothers Rob and Miyuki Welsh of San Jose, Calif., and Barry and Tammy Welsh of Green Coves Springs, Fla.; and stepbrother and sister Jonathan and Kerri Ubl.

Lee was a wonderful uncle and will be greatly missed by his nephews and nieces: Danny, Kolten, and K.C. Tea, Kailynn Barham, Jessica, Chris and James Foster, Dustin, Ricky, Monica and Joseph Bargmann, Sarah and Michael Tavernia, Kenny Welsh, Brittaney and Travis Wills.

Memorials may be made to The Welsh Family, PO Box 752, Caddo Mills, TX 75135.

A memorial service will take place in Plattsburgh, N.Y., at an later date.

Paul M. Stata, 73, of Cumberland Head, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2004, at his home.

He was born in Alburg, Vt., on Feb. 23, 1931, the son of Cyrus and Leda (Alguire) Stata.

Calling hours and funeral services will be held on Tuesday with times to be announced.

Arrangements are incomplete with the R.W. Walker Funeral Home in Plattsburgh.

JEANNETTE M. SULLIVAN, 86, of County Route 23, Burke, and formerly of Malone, died Friday, Aug. 27, 2004, at the Alice Hyde Medical Center.

Born May 5, 1918, in Marlboro, Mass., she was the daughter of Thomas and Laura (Burhoe) Gaynor.

There will be no calling hours. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. Francis of Assisi Church with Rev. Francis Flynn officiating. Burial will be in St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery.

Arrangements are through St. Mary-Murphy Funeral Home, Inc.

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