Published: 6/3/05

1922 - 2005

Plattsburgh — Jonathan Merrell Allen, M.D., 82, of University Place, Plattsburgh, died at CVPH Medical Center on June 1, 2005, with his wife Grace and son Peter by his side.

He was born in Plattsburgh, N.Y., on June 21, 1922, the fifth son of Benjamin and Cornelia Hagar Allen. ("Just another boy" - poor Mrs. Allen!) Jon is a direct descendant of Major John Addoms and was related to Ethan Allen. His ancestors settled the family farm in Peru, N.Y., in 1788. His roots are here. Jon attended the Normal Practice School in Plattsburgh for most of his elementary grades. He was the very last person to exit the front entrance of the Normal School at the time it was burned in 1929. During the rebuilding of the school, he attended the Broad Street School where he took special delight in playing Scrooge in the play "A Christmas Carol." He attended Plattsburgh High School where he was a champion tennis player; and a member of the National Honor Society and the Junto Club Scholarship Society. Upon graduation he received the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award for excellence in math and science and attended Williams College on the Francis Lyon Stetson Academic Scholarship. He also volunteered for the Naval Reserve V-1 Program. He was awarded a bachelor of arts degree from Williams College and promoted to the rank of LT.j.g. Naval Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves.

He enrolled at Albany Medical College on the 'Year-round Medical Program' and received an MD degree in June 1946. For his internship training, he went to the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., for one year; after which he attended the Aviation School of Medicine at Pensacola, Fla. He served as a Flight Surgeon at Quonset Pt., R.I.; at Norfolk Naval Station, Norfolk, Va.; and on board the USS Mindora and the USS Kearsage - both aircraft carriers of the Atlantic Fleet. He was also attached to COM AIR LANT as an Auxiliary Medical Officer. After discharge, he attained a residency in general surgery at Blain Hospital, Detroit, Mich., as well as post-graduate courses in related medical studies at Wayne University. After two years he transferred his surgical residency training to St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Detroit which included a nine month full-time course of study in the basic sciences of surgery at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor - one of only two such programs offered in the United States.

He returned to his hometown of Plattsburgh in 1953 where he practiced general surgery with the Senior Surgeon, Dr. A.B. DeGrandpre for 20 years. He was on the surgical staffs of the Champlain Valley Hospital, the Physicians Hospital and after they merged, on the staff of the CVPH Medical Center. He was a member of the Clinton County Medical Society, NY State Medical Society, American Medical Society and the International College of Surgeons. He had several papers published in major medical journals, including one which contributed to the advancement of burn-shock therapy world wide. Dr. Allen held clinic from the office in his home for over 30 years. His patients sought out his services night or day and often rewarded his efforts with special wild treats: venison, ice perch, leeks and berries. He continued to practice medicine in Plattsburgh until his retirement in 1982.

Jon was an inventive thinker. He innovated new surgical approaches to vascular access in kidney dialysis and a method of controlling bleeding of the esophagus. His hobbies were equally ground breaking. On the family farm he built a dam and trout pond and during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he built an underground fall-out shelter. He designed an ice boat, using old ice skates as runners and a discarded nylon parachute for a sail and sailed it on Lake Champlain for a number of years. In 1975, he built and operated a solar greenhouse on Cumberland Head. He also designed a 100 percent passive solar-heated underground structure affectionately named "The Massive Passive" by his family. He called his hobbies "projects" and often enlisted the help of his extended family. "Plenty of tools for everyone" was his enticement to join in the fun.

Jon always enjoyed travel and after his retirement traveled extensively throughout the world with his equally adventurous wife. He always looked forward to coming home to his beloved "North Country." To him this was "God's Country." His special interests included: hunting, fishing, hiking, motorcycling, ice boating, scuba diving, solar energy projects, buying raw land and planting it with trees, investing in the stock market, identifying birds by their calls, singing silly songs and reading about World War II and Revolutionary War history.

Jon married Grace Evelyn Howard in 1948 and they raised four sons, David, Paul, Peter and Jonathan. He is survived by Grace; three sons and their wives, Paul and Vicki of Pocatello, Idaho, and their children, Nathan, Kirsten and Jordan, Peter and Eileen of West Chazy and Jonathan and Melanie of Brookline, Mass.; a daughter-in-law, Susan Allen Greene of Saranac and her children, Timothy and Tiffany of Utica and Christine and Charles of Saranac. He is also survived by two brothers, Fuller and his wife Margaret of Plattsburgh and Frank of Excelsior, Minn.; and a sister, Carlene Raper of Burlington, Vt. He is predeceased by one son, David of Saranac; and two brothers, Paul of Peru and Luther of Montreal. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their children.

He had a lifelong passion for learning and established the Allen-Howard Scholarship Fund in 1962. This fund has contributed to the advanced education of 50 students to date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Rev. Ball Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund at the United Methodist Church, Plattsburgh or the American Cancer Society.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, June 3, 2005, 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 Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church.

Burial will follow in the Riverside Cemetery.

Keeseville — Patricia A. Loya, 61, of Margaret Street, Keeseville, died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh, following a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born in Plattsburgh, May 11, 1944, the daughter of Philip and Julia (Spooner) LaBounty.

She was employed for 30 years at the Evergreen Bank. Following retirement, she owned and operated Margaret Street Redemption Center.

Patricia enjoyed visiting casinos, gambling and caring for her flower garden, but her true love was her grandchildren. She was a loving mother, grandmother, sister and was always willing to help anyone in need. She will be greatly missed by those who knew her.

Survivors include her companion, Ted Clark of Keeseville; one daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Donald McBreairty Jr. of Keeseville; one son, Stanton "Stan" Loya Jr. and companion Trudy Kennedy of Peru; four grandchildren, Bryan Thomas, Meghan, Elizabeth and Kelly McBreairty; two sisters, Helen Blaise of Keeseville and Marjorie Hamms of Plattsburgh; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Rufus and Margaret LaBounty of Keeseville, Sherman and Beverly LaBounty of North Creek and Philip and Mary LaBounty of Hudson, Fla.; several nieces and nephews; and her dog, Bella.

She was predeceased by her parents; and one sister, Elizabeth LaBounty.

Calling hours will be held Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Keeseville. A funeral service will follow at 6 p.m. at the Hamilton Funeral Home with Rev. William Reamer, CVPH chaplain, officiating.

Donations in her memory may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Forest — Howard G. Stoner, 70, died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

He was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Feb. 20, 1935, the son of Howard G. and Ruth L. (Thomas) Stoner.

He served in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command for over 20 years and was a Chief Master Sergeant and served in Vietnam. He was later employed by Sheridan Iron Works in Champlain for 20 years and retired as service manager.

He is survived by his wife, Janet (Barber) Stoner of Forest; a son and daughter-in-law, Howard and Deborah Stoner of Altona; a daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and James Cairns of Mooers; and two grandsons, Christopher and Tristan Cairns.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the E.F. Drown Funeral Service in Ellenburg Depot. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday from the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in Sheldon Hill Cemetery in Ellenburg Depot.

Crown Point — Oed Ekseth, 88, of Monitor Park Road, passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at the Fletcher Allen Health Care Center of Burlington, Vt.

Born in Tromham, Norway, on June 21, 1916, he was the son of Ole and Anna (Johanson) Ekseth.

Mr. Ekseth was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in the 10th Mountain Division during World War II and retired from the U.S. Air Force after many years of service.

Oed was a resident of Crown Point since 1975 and was a communicant of the Sacred Heart Church of Crown Point.

He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Marie Ekseth, on Feb. 4, 2005.

He is survived by a sister, Ethel Rao of Bristol, Conn.

There will be no calling hours.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, June 6, at 10 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church of Crown Point. The Rev. William G. Muench, pastor, will officiate.

The Rite of Committal will take place at the family plot of the Sacred Heart Parish Cemetery of Crown Point at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home of Ticonderoga.

Saranac Lake and Aurora, Colo. — Memorial services have been set for Linda Elizabeth Oberst, 60, of Saranac Lake, N.Y., and Aurora, Colo., who died Friday, Feb. 4, 2005, at University of Colorado Hospital in Denver, Colo. She was born in Syracuse, N.Y., on Dec. 5, 1944.

Mrs. Oberst was a graduate of Syracuse Central Technical High School and was a 1965 graduate of Syracuse University and held a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Plattsburgh State University. She was a librarian in the Saranac Lake Central School District until July 2, 2002, when she retired. Linda was a highly respected member of the New York State Retired Teachers, New York Library Association, the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, Northern Chapter Bela Mu and Catholic Daughters of America Court St. Bernard 787, Saranac Lake, N.Y.

Mrs. Oberst enjoyed reading, sewing, knitting and several other arts and crafts. She was a member of St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake and a communicant of Queen of Peace Church in Aurora. She was a devoted wife and loved her family and friends.

She is survived by her husband, Deacon Fred Oberst, whom she married May 29, 1965; her daughter, Rhea Anne Oberst of Denver; and her brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Joan Stonis of Aurora, with whom Linda and Fred made their home.

Mrs. Oberst’s family will receive friends on Monday, June 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. at St. Bernard’s Church. A memorial Mass will immediately follow at 4 p.m. at the church. Local funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Saranac Lake Middle School Library Club in care of the funeral home.

WILMINGTON — Gary R. Saltmarsh, 51, of Route 86, Wilmington, died Monday, May 30, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh. He was the son of Raymond and Helen (Willis) Saltmarsh.

He enjoyed camping and helping others. He worked for 19 years for the Town of Wilmington as a heavy equipment operator. He was an active member of the Wilmington Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad and also served as commissioner.

He is survived by his wife Mary, whom he married Sept. 16, 1973, at St. Margaret’s Church in Wilmington, N.Y.; two sons and companions, David Saltmarsh and Stefanie Cassano of the Bronx and Timothy and Chelsea Lincoln of Wilmington; one sister and brother-in-law, Agnes and John Bombard of AuSable Forks; two brothers, Wayne and Cheryle Saltmarsh of Wilmington and Robert Saltmarsh of AuSable Forks; and six grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his parents, Raymond and Helen (Willis) Saltmarsh; and three brothers, Jim, Tim and Garry.

Graveside services will be held Friday, June 3, at 10 a.m. at the Haselton Cemetery in Wilmington, N.Y.

Memorials to him may be made to the Wilmington Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Wilmington, NY 12997 or the FitzPatrick Center, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

The Zaumetzer-Sprague Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Timothy E. Baker Sr., 65, of 173 Broadway, Saranac Lake, died Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at the Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake.

He was born in Springfield, Mass., on Dec. 31, 1939, the son of Timothy and Kathleen Baker.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Saturday, June 4, 2005, from 1 to 3 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Cremation will follow at Whispering Maples in Ellenburg Depot.

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