EVA BARBARA (BABETTE) ECKARDT

DELRAY BEACH, FL — Eva Barbara (Babette) Eckardt, a former resident of Highland Lake, NY and a resident of Delray Beach, died on Thursday, May 5, 2005. She was 95.

The daughter of Margaretha Baldauf, she was born October 8, 1909 in Dankenfeld, Bavaria, Germany. She emigrated to the United States in 1929 and lived in Brooklyn, NY until 1950.

On October 31, 1937 she married Albert Eckardt, forming a devoted union until his passing in 1986. The family moved to Highland Lake in 1950 where Eckardt was employed by Kolmar Laboratories in Port Jervis until 1972. In 1994 she moved to Guilderland, Albany County and in September 2004 she moved to Delray Beach.

She is survived by two daughters, Marie Bosch Herman of Delray Beach FL and Olga Winsor Frederick of Altamont; three grandchildren, Albert Bosh of Eldred, Valerie Winsor and Kristina Sutherland of Altamont; two great-grandchildren, Sara Vosh of Boca Raton and Matthew Bosh of Orlando, FL; and several nieces and nephews in Germany.

She was predeceased by her husband; a grandson, Daniel Bosch of Eldred; two brothers, Albert and Hans Baldauf of Germany; and two sisters, Luise Hager of Germany and Marie Schuch of New York City.

Interment of her cremains will take place at a later date at the Eldred Cemetery in Eldred.

DONALD J. DIEHL

DAMASCUS, PA — Donald J. Diehl, a resident of Damascus and a lifelong area resident, died on Wednesday, May 11, 2005 at home. He was 77.

The son of the late Fred and Rugh Sutliff Diehl, he was born October 7, 1927 in Damascus.

He was a retired dairy farmer and a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served during WWII. He was a member of the American Legion, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the National Rifle Association.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Juanita Hocker Diehl, at home; two daughters, Bonny Dubson and her husband Ira of Damascus and Inez Rickard and her husband Bert of Honesdale; two sons, W. Donald and his wife Eileen and Louis F. and his wife Jule, all of Damascus; one brother, Robert Diehl; eight grandchildren, Matthew Salzameda, Jason and Chris Rickard, Greg and Nicole Diehl and Ryan, Adam and Eric Diehl; one great grandson, Noah Salzameda; one step granddaughter, Michelle Tyler; one step great granddaughter, Victoria Tyler; and several nieces and nephews.

Services were held on Saturday, May 14 at the Rasmussen Funeral Home in Narrowsburg.

Interment is in the Conklin Hill Cemetery in Damascus, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Damascus Volunteer Ambulance Corps, P.O. Box 63, Damascus, PA 18415.

ROBERT F. FERRY, SR

POND EDDY, NY — Robert F. Ferry, Sr., a resident of Pond Eddy, died on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 at his home. He was 69.

The son of the late Robert and Alice McElroy Ferry, he was born October 3, 1935 in Orange, NJ.

He worked as a dispatcher for the Narrowsburg Lumber Company in Shohola, PA until his retirement. He was a member of St. Ann’s RC Church in Shohola and an Army veteran, having served in Korea.

A family statement said: “Richard loved his family and his horses. He also enjoyed his part-time bartender position of many years at Rohman’s Hotel in Shohola.”

He is survived by his wife, Sally McGarry Ferry at home; his son, Robert F. Ferry Jr. and his wife, Zoe of Pond Eddy; four daughters, Leanne Fraccio and her husband Andrew of Barryville, Colleen Couturier and her husband Robert of Shohola, PA, Tracy E. Witkowski and her husband Mark of Greenville Township, and Lorraine Ferry of Pond Eddy; and ten grandchildren, Robert Michael, Kelly Anne, Brenda and April Ferry, Maxwell Luke and Grace Sallyanne Fraccio, Sydney and Lukas Couturier, and Sam and Molly Witkowski.

Services will be held on Friday, April 29 with a Mass of Resurrection at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ann’s R.C. Church in Shohola, PA with Reverend Thomas J. Petro officiating.

Interment will be at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Shohola, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lumberland Ambulance, P.O. Box 91, Glen Spey, NY 12737-0091.

WALTER L. ‘MUDCAT’ MCCONNELL

MILFORD, PA — Walter L. “Mudcat” McConnell, a resident of Milford and a lifelong area resident, died on Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at Newton Memorial Hospital in Newton, N.J. He was 72.

He was born October 10, 1932 in Port Jervis, N.Y.

He owned Walt’s Auto Sales in Port Jervis and he was a member of the Port Jervis Country Club. He was a bowler and sponsored several leagues as well as playing and sponsoring softball teams. A graduate of Matamoras High School, he was a former owner of the West End Tavern and former manager of the Colonial Inn.

A family statement said: “Walt was a great person… all class. He never thought of himself. He would always put everyone first.”

He is survived by his spouse, Theresa and her children, Joseph Senese of Dingman’s Ferry; Anne Mabee of Sparrowbush, NY, and Ralph Sense of Pine Bush, NY; four grandchildren, Joseph Senese, Jr. or Milford, Ralph Sense of Pine Bush, Zachery Roach of Port Jervis and Jonie Senese of Glen Spey; also his cats, Little Cat and Snowball.

Services were held on Saturday, May 14 at the Gray-Parker Funeral Home.

Cremation was at the H.G. Smith Crematory in Stroudsburg, PA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of Port Jervis/Deerpark in Stroudsburg, PA.

IOLA MEYERS

KENOZA LAKE, NY — Iola Meyers, a lifelong resident of Kenoza Lake and a former resident of Jeffersonville, died Tuesday, April 19, 2005 in Brooksville Florida. She was 78.

The daughter of the late Philip and Elizabeth Schafer Reum, she was born in Beechwoods at the family homestead on April 10, 1927.

She worked in insurance for many years and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Jeffersonville.

A family statement said: “Iola enjoyed her family, traveling, snowmobiling and camping.”

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Warren H. Meyers, at home; a sister, Bernice Krantz and her husband Donald of Callicoon; two daughters, Gale Meyers of Jeffersonville and Tracey I. Heller and her husband, Arthur of Jeffersonville; a son and daughter-in-law, Lynn W. and Liz Meyers of Sacramento, CA; four grandchildren, Michele L. Hallenbeck and her husband Joshua of Westminster, CO, Aaron W. Heller of Jeffersonville, Kelly J. Girard and her fiancé, Patrick Kiah of Aurora, CO, and Andrew W. Girard of Astoria, Queens; two great-grandchildren, Matthew Paul and Ana Iola Hallenbeck of Westminster, CO; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Interment was private.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hernando Pasco Hospice, 1114 Chatman Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34601.

LEON ROBE

COCHECTON CENTER, NY — Leon Robe, a resident of Cochecton Center and a 30-year area resident, died on Saturday, May 14, 2005 at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale. He was 93.

The son of the late Edward Robe, Sr. and Alvina Wanner Robe, he was born May 17, 1911 in Hagenthal-leBas, Alsace-Lorraine.

He was a retired stonemason and landscaper and a lifelong member of the Bergen County Sportsman Association Branch 7. An honest and hard-working man, Robe was a loving father, husband, grandfather and great-grandfather.

A family statement said: “His true delight lay in using his natural talents and love of natural materials to beautify the world around him. Throughout his years of work, the many beautiful trees, flowing shrubs and roses he so caringly planted now grace many back yards and landscapes. He truly left this world a much prettier place than he found it.”

He was survived by his wife of 70 years, Ethel at home; one daughter, Leona Willis and her husband Stephen of Jeffersonville; one son, Charles Robe of Liberty; and six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a daughter, Lorraine Barkley and by four brothers and two sisters.

Services were held on Tuesday, May 16 at the Rasmussen Funeral Home with the Reverend Mary Bryant officiating.

Interment will be in the Laurel Cemetery in Cochecton Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cochecton Ambulance Corp, the Lake Huntington Fire Department, or you may plant a tree in his honor at your favorite location.