Obituaries: 12/27/05

Eugene Louis Curtis

PLATTSBURGH AND ALBURG, VT. -- Eugene Louis Curtis, 67, a native of Alburg and a longtime resident of the Schuyler Falls, N.Y., area, died Thursday afternoon, Dec. 22, 2005, in the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh.

Born in Alburg, Vt., on March 12, 1938, he was the son of the late Asa and Eva (Therrien) Curtis. He attended schools in Alburg as well as Brigham Academy in Bakersfield. For several years he owned and operated E&G Sand & Gravel and Apple Orchard in Schuyler Falls, N.Y. Gene was a member of Laborers Local Union 1120, working at the Big Thompson Tunnel Project in Kremmling, Colo., and various other construction projects throughout the western United States.

Gene leaves his wife of 38 years, Eileen Jackson Curtis; four children, William Curtis of Naperville, Ill., Marcia Yando of Alameda, Calif., Patrick Curtis of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Michael Curtis of Baltimore, Md.; six sisters, Beverly Stevenson of Moorestown, N.J., Addie Salls of North Hyde Park, Vt., Matilda Jackson of Winsted, Conn., Barbara Giuliani of Clayton, N.J., Patricia Curtis of Bakersfield, Vt., and Eva Clough of Essex, Vt.; two brothers, Asa Curtis Jr. and David Curtis, both of Bakersfield, Vt.; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Phyllis Smith; and a brother, Stephen Curtis.

Graveside funeral services and interment at the Curtis family lot in the Alburg Center Cemetery are being planned and will be announced in the spring.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Kidder Memorial Home, 89 Grand Ave., Swanton, VT 05488.

On line condolences may be directed to the Curtis family via: www.kiddermemorial

home.com

George Paul Peroni

SARANAC LAKE -- George Paul Peroni, age 80, of 78 Will Rogers Drive, Saranac Lake, and formerly of Rainbow Lake, died Friday, Dec. 23, 2005, at Uihlein Mercy Center in Lake Placid, where he had been a resident since September.

Born in New London, Conn., on Dec. 31, 1924, he was the son of Paolo and Victoia (Orazi) Peroni. George married Frances M. Mournighan July 18, 1953, in St. Peter's Church, Oswego, N.Y. She predeceased him in 1990.

Mr. Peroni attended and graduated from Paul Smiths College in 1949, North Carolina State University with a bachelor of science in forestry in 1951 and St. Lawrence University with a masters in education in 1963. Mr. Peroni was a Professor Emeritus in the Forestry Division at Paul Smiths College, where he worked from 1953 to 1995. He was a Professor of Forestry from 1953 to 1986, Academic & Transfer Advisor from 1986 to 1990 and a part time faculty member from 1990 to 1995. Prior to joining the faculty at Paul Smiths, he had been employed by Dow Chemical Company and the U.S. Forest Service.

Mr. Peroni is a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during World War II in the 82nd Airborne and 63rd Infantry in France and Germany. He was a battlefield commission officer, 2nd Lt., and was decorated with two Purple Hearts for being wounded in combat, two Bronze Stars and the Army Distinguished Service Cross for Valor. He also received four Battle Stars.

He is survived by one daughter, Patricia Peroni of Davidson, N.C.; one son, Luke Peroni of Girdwood, Alaska; and a nephew, Luke Lukoski of Hanover, Mass.

He was preceded in death by one son, Paul Peroni on Dec. 29, 1959; and by two sisters, Rose Lukoski and Neva Newcomb, both of New London, Conn.

Calling hours will take place at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home on Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, from 7 to 9 p.m. A veteran's service will take place Friday evening. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, at St. Bernard's Church, with Rev. Thomas Kornmeyer officiating. Following cremation, burial will take place in St. John's in the Wilderness Cemetery in Paul Smiths in the spring.

Friends wishing to remember George Paul Peroni may make memorial contributions to Uihlein Mercy Center or Paul Smiths College in care of the funeral home.

William Henry Wood Sr.

PLATTSBURGH -- William Henry Wood Sr., 93, of Plattsburgh, died at CVPH Medical Center on Dec. 23, 2005. He was born in Westminster, Vt., on Jan. 11, 1912, son of Charles Wood and Ethel (Butterfield) Wood.

Early in life he moved to Plattsburgh and was raised by foster parents, residing on Cumberland Head. He attended Plattsburgh High School and told many stories of crossing the ice on Lake Champlain to get to school. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in November 1943 and served his country for four years in the active army, serving in World War II in Burma and India. He retired in 1972 after a total of 26 years service. He retired as Sergeant E-7. He was extremely proud of his service and that his sons followed in his footsteps, including serving in his own reserve unit.

Mr. Wood was a plumbing and heating salesman for 40 years before retiring from E.J. Monroe to devote his time and energy to full time volunteering. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Plattsburgh for over 70 years and served as a deacon and trustee as well as superintendent of Sunday Schools. He was a life member of the Military Retirees Association, the Elks Club and the American Legion. He was one of the first volunteers for the Hospice Program in Clinton County in 1984, and served as an active volunteer for over 20 years. He gave countless hours to public speaking on Hospice, fundraising for Hospice and serving as a Hospice Board Member, as well as working directly with patients and families.

At the age of 83 he was named 1995 United Way of Clinton County's Distinguished Citizen Award for his volunteering in his church, the Elks Club and Hospice. One article written on Mr. Wood said, "Bill Wood exemplifies volunteering at its finest. With unflagging commitment, energy and humor, he teaches us all how to live life generously and wholeheartedly."

Bill married Jewel Catherine Smith of Yonkers, N.Y., in 1941 and together they raised five sons and two foster daughters. He later cared for three foster sons. He is survived by five sons, William H. Wood Jr. and his wife Carlene of Cincinnati, Ohio, Leonard D. Wood and his wife Joanne of Peru, N.Y., Richard S. Wood and his wife Jill of Keeseville, N.Y., John L. Wood of Brighton, Mich., and Robert G. Wood of Plattsburgh, N.Y. He also leaves nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

He is predeceased by his brother George of Westminster, Vt.; and his daughters-in-law, Bonnie Wood and Lynn Wood.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 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 Wednesday, Dec. 28th, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in the spring.

Donations in Mr. Wood's memory may be made to Hospice of the North Country, 43 Durkee St., Plattsburgh, NY 12901 or to the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 27, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

Susan Lund Pond Mills

WOODVILLE, R.I. -- Susan Lund Pond Mills, beloved wife of Henry A. Muller of Woodville, R.I., went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005. Director of User Technologies for IBM, she was born in Malone, N.Y., on Jan. 2, 1949, the second child of George K. Pond and Mildred (Lund) Pond (deceased).

Her primary and secondary education was at St. Joseph's Academy in Malone, N.Y. She was an honors graduate of Brown University, Class of 1970; then taught for four years at Chatham Hall in Virginia and Central High in Providence. She earned her MBA at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She joined the IBM marketing division in 1977 and had been a branch manager in Boston and Providence as well as serving as marketing manager for Central and South America.

Susan was past president of Wrentham, Mass., Historical Society and a current member of the Hopkinton Conservation Commission.

In addition to her husband, she leaves a daughter, Julie and son-in-law Andrew Silver and granddaughters Sophia and Caroline of Canton, N.Y.; and her son, Nathaniel Mills of Troy, N.Y.

Her siblings are Stephen K. Pond, High Point, N.C.; Mrs. Timothy (Ellen) Montgomery, Melbourne, Fla.; Timothy Pond, Malone, N.Y.; Mrs. David (Kathleen) Goodwin of Houston, Texas; Mrs. Rob (Anne Madeleine) Lawson of Roanoke, Va.; and Andrew Pond of Massachusetts. In addition, she has 18 nephews and nieces; and three stepchildren, Linda, Diane and Edmund Muller.

Funeral arrangements are through St. Mary-Murphy Funeral Home on Main Street, Malone, N.Y., with calling hours on Tuesday, Dec. 27th, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and a funeral Mass at Notre Dame Church, Malone, N.Y., on Wednesday, Dec. 28th, at 10 a.m. She will be interred in the Pond Family plot at the Notre Dame Cemetery in Malone in the spring. A memorial service will also be held in Westerly, R.I., at the Dunn's Corners Community Church at a time yet to be determined.

Contributions may be made in Susan's memory to the American Cancer Society or Dunn's Corners Community Church, 221 Post Road, Westerly, R.I.

Deaths:

CAROL WILL BROWN, 65, of Hague, died Dec. 25, 2005, at the Glens Falls Hospital.

She was born Oct. 21, 1940, in Cohoes, N.Y.

Calling hours will be Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Wilcox & Regan Funeral Home, Ticonderoga. A funeral service will take place Thursday, 11 a.m., at the Putnam United Presbyterian Church of Putnam Station. The Rev. Sharon K. Weber, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at the family plot of the Valley View Cemetery of Ticonderoga at a later date.

CHRISTINE A. BENJAMIN WOOD, 57, of Lyon Mountain, died Dec. 25, 2005, at the CVPH Medical Center in Plattsburgh.

Arrangements were incomplete Monday evening at the Lyon Mountain Funeral Home.