Published: 2/2/05

Potsdam, N.Y. — Lawrence Morton House, Potsdam, passed on at his home on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, with family members in attendance.

Born May 17, 1919, in Malone, N.Y., he was the second of three sons born to Morton Pollard House and Lois Lawrence House.

Following graduation from Bayside High School, Long Island, Mr. House worked at National City Bank in New York City for four years and attended the American Institute of Banking for two years. He joined the National Guard 207th Coast Artillery element of the 7th Regiment in 1939 and was subsequently accepted into the Army Air Corps aviation cadet program after the outbreak of World War II. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in 1943 and trained as a fighter pilot, but was transferred to B-17 training due to a greater national need for heavy bomber pilots. Assigned to the 447th Heavy Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force, Lt. House served as B-17 co-pilot on bombing missions out of Rattlesden, England, over enemy - occupied territory on the European continent. His plane, the "Solid Sender" was shot down by anti-aircraft fire on his 12th mission, on Feb. 25, 1944; after bailing out with the rest of the 10-man crew, he was captured by German forces and spent 14 months as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft 1 in Barth, Germany, on the Baltic Sea. About two weeks into his internment, he was joined by boyhood friend and fellow Malone native George Pond, who arrived with a group of new POWs. 1st Lt. House was liberated in May 1945 by Russian forces and returned to the United States, where he was honorably discharged in August of that same year, having earned two Air Medals and the Purple Heart.

Mr. House joined his father in business at Plattsburgh News Co., Plattsburgh, N.Y., and on Dec. 8, 1945, married Sally Robinson at St. James Episcopal Church, Upper Montclair, N.J.

Mr. House eventually became president of Plattsburgh News Co., a distributor of newspapers, magazines and paperback books in Clinton County. He later opened three retail book stores, named "The Book House," in Plattsburgh, Malone and Potsdam. After selling Plattsburgh News Co. and the retail stores, Mr. House re-acquired the Plattsburgh Book House in Plattsburgh Plaza, doubling its size in the course of managing it for another 10 years before selling it again when he retired.

While in Plattsburgh, Mr. House was involved in numerous civic, community and government activities. A member of the Rotary Club since 1947, he served as director of the Plattsburgh club and remained active in Rotary throughout his life. He served as chairman of the Plattsburgh Civil Service Commission, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce and president of New Industries for Clinton County and was a member of the Clinton County Historical Society. A lifelong member of the Republican Party, he was treasurer of the Plattsburgh City Republican Committee and a Clinton County Committeeman. He was appointed by then-Gov. Nelson Rockefeller to the Lake Champlain Bridge Commission and was named chairman. Inspired by the crucial support received from the American Red Cross during his time as POW, Mr. House became active in the Clinton-North Essex Red Cross chapter and served as chairman.

Mr. House served as Master of Clinton Lodge 155, Free and Accepted Masons and was a member of Shrine - Oriental Temple, Troy, N.Y., Plattsburgh's Norco Shrine Club and the Scottish Rite of Burlington, Vt. He was also a member of Plattsburgh Lodge of Elks 621, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, American X-POW- Association, 8th Air Force 447th Heavy Bomb Group Association and was a charter member of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Recreational activities led to his service as member of the National Ski Patrol and member/former president of Plattsburgh's Beartown Ski Area.

In 1981, the Houses relocated to Malone, moved into the Crooks family home at the corner of Milwaukee and Pearl Streets, and engaged in numerous community activities. Mr. House continued his association with Rotary international as an active member of the Malone club, including a term as president and received a Paul Harris Award. He was a life member of Malone Lodge of Elks 1303, and served as president of the Malone Zoning Board of Appeals Commission. He was a life member and frequent player at Malone Golf and Country Club. A camper at Lake Titus his entire life, his active participation in the Lake Titus Protective Association included service as Association President. Mr. House was life member and president of the Franklin County House of History and contributed many hours of volunteer work there and at the Almanzo Wilder Farm. He was a charter member and president of the Almanzo Wilder Association. The recent rebuilt barns there were dedicated to Mr. House. He also served as president of the Morningside Cemetery Association.

In 2003, Mr. and Mrs. House moved from Malone to Potsdam. Mr. House's short time in Potsdam was spent working with his wife and daughters compiling articles, pictures and stories about Lake Titus, an effort that will culminate in a book on the lake's history to be published this spring.

Surviving are brother Gordon and Angela House, Plattsburgh; daughter Martha and John Charlebois, Potsdam; retired Coast Guard Captain James and Dolly House, Charleston, S.C.; and daughter Helen and Thomas Pahler, Potsdam. Grandchildren are Cary Charlebois, Boston Mass., Jackson and Sarah Charlebois, Lindsay Charlebois, Heidi Pahler, Elisabeth Pahler and Julia Pahler, all of Potsdam, Jefferson and Ginger House, Huntersville, N.C., and Kathryn House, Marietta, Ga.; and daughter-in-law Christine House Kennedy, Naples, Fla. Several nephews and nieces also survive.

Mr. House was predeceased by a son, Stephen, in 1985; and older brother, Harry Sherburne House IV, in 1992.

Mr. House was a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston, Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Red Cross, the Almanzo Wilder Association, Burke N.Y., or Hospice & Palliative Care of St. Lawrence County. There will be no visiting hours; a memorial service is being planned for this coming summer at Morningside Cemetery in Malone.

Arrangements are with the Garner Funeral Home in Potsdam, N.Y.

CHAMPLAIN — Lucy Dominy, 90, of Champlain passed away Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born April 29, 1914, in Mooers Forks, the daughter of Joseph Sr. and Emma (St. Andrew) Lapan.

Lucy was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Henry Dominy who died April 26, 1974; two brothers, Joseph Lapan and John Lapan; and three sisters, Ethel Hebert, Elanor Begore and Melvina Barber.

Survivors include two sons, Robert Dominy and his wife Anne of Edgewater, Fla., and Fred Oliver and Shirley Dominy of Winterhaven, Fla.; three daughters, Doris Deso and her husband Joseph of Champlain, Gloria Sosa of Morrisonville, Gladys Marie Reyome and Erizel of Plattsburgh; three sisters, Belina Mesic of Champlain, Rita Govin of Champlain, Shirley Morrison of Champlain; several grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be Thursday, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Champlain. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Church in Champlain.

COOPERSVILLE — Della Cote, 95, formerly of Coopersville passed away Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

She was born June 6, 1909, in Ellenburg, N.Y., the daughter of John and Ida (Nichols) Young.

She was a lifetime resident of Coopersville. She was a resident at Meadowbrook Nursing Home for two years.

Della was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, the Ladies of St. Anne, an administrator for JCEO and worked with the Christmas Bureau.

Her parents; her husband, Lawrence Cote; one brother, Andrew; and three sisters, Clara, Dora and Georgine, predecease Della.

Survivors include one son, Stephen Cote and his wife Nell of Newport News, Va.; two daughters, June Matott and her husband Alfred of Champlain and Sister Bonita Cote, Daughter of the Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Littleton, N.H.; two brothers, Francis Young of West Chazy and John Young of Tucson, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Calling hours will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Clark Funeral Home in Champlain. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Church in Coopersville.

Memorial donations may be made to the local fire departments or St. Anne's Shrine.

JEAN M. VELEZ, 82, of Lake Shore Road, Port Henry, recently of Montcalm Manor, Ticonderoga, died Monday Jan. 31, 2005, at the Moses Ludington Hospital, Ticonderoga.

She was born Feb. 8, 1922, at Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of John R. and Madeline (Stansby) Roach.

Calling hours will be held Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Harland Funeral Home, Port Henry. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Roger A. Dutko, 18, of Anderson Road, Beekmantown, died on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005, at his home.

He was born in Plattsburgh on May 19, 1986, son of Donald A. and Susan K. (Thompson) Dutko.

Calling hours will be Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Plattsburgh. A funeral service will be held Thursday evening at 6 p.m. from Brown Funeral Home Chapel in Plattsburgh. Burial will be later in the year in Independence Cemetery in Saranac.

Ernest F, Downer, 77, of the Mercy Nursing Home, Watertown, N.Y., and formerly of Ogdensburg and Malone, N.Y., died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, at the nursing home.

He was born in Burke, N.Y., May 4, 1927, the son of the late William and Bessie Marshall Downer.

Calling hours will be Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Bruso-Desnoyers Funeral Home in Malone. A funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel, with the Rev. Tom Davis officiating. Burial will be in Morningside Cemetery in Malone in the spring.

WILLIAM SEMBRIE of Bonnieview Road, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, at his home.

He was born July 14, 1943, in the Bronx, the son of Alfred and Isabelle (Lewis) Sembrie.

There will be no calling hours or services at this time.

Memorial services will be announced at a later date.

Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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Press-Republican, 170 Margaret St., P.O. Box 459, Plattsburgh, NY 12901

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