Published: 5/5/05

NEW BERN, N.C. — Major Floyd J. Thayer, 64, formerly of Plattsburgh, died Sunday, May 1, 2005.

A Salvation Army Officer, Major Thayer served in the Salvation Army for 27 years, mostly in northern New England prior to his retirement in 1997. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and had served as a paramedic and firefighter in Plattsburgh.

Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Pollock-Best Funeral Chapel with Captain Barry Lewis, officiating. Burial will be at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, N.Y., at 1 p.m. Monday, May 9, 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Betsy Thayer of New Bern; two sons, Floyd Craig Thayer of New Bern and Theodore James Thayer of New Bern; and one daughter, Bonnie Thayer Smith of Wilmington, N.C.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to your local Salvation Army.

Arrangements by Pollock-Best Funerals and Cremations of New Bern.

MINEVILLE — Robert J. Simpson Sr., passed away May 2, 2005, at home with his family at his side after a long battle with cancer.

He was born Dec. 3, 1943, in Mineville, N.Y., the son of the late Raymond and Mary (Ryan) Simpson.

He served in the Army Reserves and worked at A.P. Reale for 30 years, starting out as a laborer, advancing to foreman and retiring as an OSHA safety inspector, winning the D.O.T. award for safety. He later served the town of Moriah as highway superintendent for two terms.

On Dec. 12, 1964, Robert married Ruth Marie Perry, having three children, Robert (Rob) Jr., Sherlene and Scotty Joe.

Survivors include his wife, Ruthie; two sons, Rob and Bridget of Texas and Scott and Tammy of Tennessee; and Sherlene and fiancé Clint Barrows of Crown Point; eight grandchildren, Quinn and Patrick Simpson, C.J., Jared and Brooke Feith and Nathaniel, Alec and Marissa Simpson; three brothers, George (Bud) and Georgia of Scotia, Richard and Mary Ellen of Schroon Lake and Steve and Sally of Mineville; and three sisters, RaeMarie and Dick Gero of Schroon Lake, Caroline and Larry Stephens of Florida, and Donna and George Savage of Schenectady; brothers and sisters-in-law, Wanda and Ray Weston of Phelps, Betty and the late Eddie Genier of Witherbee, Alberta (Bert) and Tracey Sprague of Mineville, Carlene and Mike Wojewodzic of Mineville, Rae and Mike Genier of Mineville, Donna and Donnie Sherman of Moriah, Carl (Chip) and Barb Perry of Moriah, Sharlene and the late Kim Joiner of Witherbee, Jim and the late Sherlene Boyea of Moriah, Rick and JoAnn Perry of Witherbee, Darlene Perry and her companion Dan Vanderhoof of Port Henry, Dorene Laware and her companion Kevin Sharrow of Witherbee and Dennis Perry and his companion Erin Smith of Mineville; and several nieces and nephews.

Robert enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was also a skilled wood-worker.

His last project, built with his grandson, was a lit cross symbolizing his generosity to the community at Christmas time, which was re-lit by his family as a tribute to him hours after his passing.

Calling hours will be on Wednesday, May 4, 2005, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Harland Funeral Home in Port Henry. Funeral services will be Thursday, May 5 at the Moriah Methodist Church at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Autism Society of America (1-888-244-8875).

SOUTH PLATTSBURGH — Charles L. Orem, 72, of Route 22, South Plattsburgh, died peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by his family, Monday at the CVPH Medical Center.

He was born in Delight, Md., on April 25, 1933, the son of Stanley and Evelyn (Zimmerman) Orem.

Mr. Orem was a U.S. Air Force, Korean Veteran. After retiring from the Air Force, in 1964, he was a bartender at "Brodi’s," "The Office Bar" and several other area bars for over 27 years. He was also the project manager for Oneida Building Supply for seven years and then worked for Wells Communications for several years retiring due to illness in 1998. In the last few years he has been a greeter at Wal-Mart, a job that he greatly enjoyed.

Mr. Orem was an avid Baltimore Orioles and NASCAR fan for many years. Chuck was a very active amateur radio operator after having completed a course by the ARRL in amateur radio and theory. He then took the FCC exam for his novice license and received it in 1982 as N2EBN. He then later upgraded to general class and received a new license as KA2PIM. After practicing morse code to increase his proficiency he took the test for advanced class and became licensed as KD2AJ, which is the call sign that he kept until he would become silent key. Chuck became a member of the Champlain Valley Amateur Radio Club in 1982 and would become president in a few short years. In 1983, he became a member of the Rag Chewers Net and the New York State Phone Traffic Emergency Net. Chuck received the CVARC's Ham of the Year award in 1985 and became the ARRL Emergency Coordinator in 1987. He quickly became a pioneer in the advancement of amateur radio digital communications. Chuck had set up an successfully operated and amateur radio bulletin board service from his house until it was moved to Clinton Community College in 1992, received an award from the CVARC for outstanding contribution to digital communications. In 1993, Chuck took a course by the national weather service in skywarn weather spotting with the help of others, set up a radio at their office in Burlington, Vt., allowing radio operators to give instant reports directly affecting the weather forecasts and warnings for the North Country. In 1994, Chuck was the third recipient of the prestigious Loyal Lecuyer Achievement Award, In 1996, he was awarded a life membership in the CVARC. Chuck was best known in the North Country for his dedicated work for the formation of the Northern New York, section of the ARRL and received the CVARC Merit award in 2002. KD2AJ, SK, May 2, 2005.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, the former Patricia Milliette; one son, Charles E. (Chip) Barnaby and his wife Phyllis of Plattsburgh; one sister, Shirley Bosley and her husband Charles of Reisterstown, Md.; two grandchildren, Brandon and Heather Barnaby; two nephews, Kevin and Mark Bosley; and two nieces, Dian Hicks and Bonnie Bosley.

Calling hours will be held Friday, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home chapel, burial will be in Mt. Carmel Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial donations, in his memory may be made to the FitzPatrick Cancer Center.

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

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