Our Obituaries

Thelma Helen Hunter Sharp, age 87 of Port Jervis, NY, passed away on the beautiful spring morning of April 22, 2014 in Port Jervis, NY.  Thelma was born on May 28, 1926, the daughter of the late  Eugene Barton Hunter and Alice Theresa  Turner Hunter.  Thelma was a devoted wife to her late husband Thomas A. Sharp, whom she lovingly cared for during his five year battle with leukemia.   She was the loving mother of  Penny Sharp,  Kathleen Sharp-Green and her husband Michael,  and  to her son Ross Sharp.  She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her two brothers,  Ross and James Hunter.  Thelma attended the Hope Evangelical Free Church in Matamoras. She enjoyed her daily walks along the Delaware River well into her eighty plus years.  We are very thankful to her dear friends John and Liz Benson for their   friendship and the boundless love they expressed for Thelma.  Miss Ann Cloud will always be in our hearts.  We would like to send our heartfelt thanks to her good friends Sam and Bob Schlage, she was blessed to have  them.  We would also like to thank Sherry Wood, her nurse on the 4th floor at Bon Secours Community Hospital, and the countless friends Thelma made throughout her lifetime.  Private services will be held at a later date.  Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of donor's choice.  Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY.  For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family visitknight-auchmoody.com.

Lois DeRose, 79, of Sparrowbush, NY passed into heaven on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Bon Secures Hospital surrounded by her loving family.  Lois was born on January 29, 1935 in Paterson, NJ.  She was the daughter of late Floyd and Laura (Honeychurch) Babcock. Lois was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.  She was an active member of the Sparrowbush United Methodist Church.  Along with her sister Judy, she was a long-time and very successful demonstrator for the Friendly Home Toy Party Company. She was also employed by the Port Jervis Bakery and AAI Jewelry Associates. Lois was predeceased by her beloved husband of almost 60 years, Herb DeRose on October 20,2012.  She is survived by her sons: Dennis and his wife Carla of Middletown, Gregory and his wife Susan of Sparrowbush, Keith and his wife Holly of Sparrowbush and Brian and his wife Kathy of Slate Hill; her beloved daughter Laurie DeRose-Leotaud and her husband Arnold of Allen, TX; her 9 grandchildren: Mireille (Fabian) Esponda, Michelle (Joe) Schaniel, Michael DeRose, Nicole DeRose, Kristi, Joe & Ashley DeRose and Amber & Antonio Leotaud;  her 4 great grandchildren: Zoe, Lucas, Diego and Michael; her sisters: Judy Hoover of Port Jervis and Susan (Dana) King of Circleville; her brother Floyd Babcock, Jr. of Sparrowbush, her aunt Ethel Kronk and many beloved in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and her two faithful feline companions, Missy & Mona. The family will be receiving friends from 2-4 & 7-9 on Monday, April 28th at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E.Main St.,Port Jervis, NY.   A celebration of her life will be at 11:00am on Tuesday, April 29th at the funeral home.  Rev. Amy Garrett will officiate.  Interment will be private at the Pine hill Cemtery, Sparrowbush, NY

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Lois' name to the Sparrowbush United Methodist Church. P.O. Box 596, Sparrowbush, NY 12780. Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc.,154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY.  For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family visitknight-auchmoody.com.

Ruth E. Haak, age 76, passed away Saturday, April 12, 2014 at the home her daughter, Susan Peters in Shohola, Pennsylvania. Ruth was born on May 1, 1937 in Bethlehem, PA, the daughter of the late Alvin H. and Florence Brown Dreisbach. Ruth was a retired elementary school teacher with the Minisink Valley School District. She was pre-deceased by her husband, George W. Haak, a retired Minisink Valley high school teacher, and her twin brothers, Alvin and William Dreisbach. She is survived by her daughter, Susan and her husband Scott Peters of Shohola, PA, and her son, Morgan Haak and his wife Diane of the Town of Minisink, her grandchildren, Kirsten and Eric Peters, Samantha Haak and several nieces and nephews. Ruth resided in The Villages, Florida from January thru May, where she made many wonderful friends and enjoyed golfing, walking, biking and the great outdoors. Spending June thru October at her Montana residence, Ruth was a co-founder of the WOW's (Women of the Wild) Hiking Club in the Madison Valley area of Montana for the last 28 years. The WOW's are a women only hiking club with several hundred members ranging in age from 7-89. Ruth was inspirational in her love of life and nature and formed lifetime friendships with her WOW hikers. She will be loved and missed by family and friends, remembered fondly for always saying "enjoy each God-given day, and take good care of each other," and thought of often as she is hiking new trails in heaven. Services will be private. Cremation will take place at MacLennan Hall Crematory, Milford, PA. Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. For information or to send a condolence note to the family visit knight-auchmoody.com.

James A. Cherry, III, age 71 of Matamoras, Pennsylvania, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at Bon Secours Community Hospital, in Port Jervis. He was born on November 7, 1942, in the Bronx, NY, to the late James A. Cherry, II and Susan Hurley Cherry. Jim proudly served our country during the Viet Nam War, with the U.S. Navy. Shortly after retiring from teaching in the Dryden School District in Dryden, NY he and his wife moved back to the Tri-State area. In addition to being a well-loved teacher for many years, Jim was a talented writer, photographer, artist, and webmaster and created many websites for local artists, Team Ashburn Synchronized Skating in Ashburn, Virginia, and St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, of which he was a member. He was also a member of the American Legion and a past member of the Lions Club. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Marie C. Trovei Cherry. He is also survived by his son, James A. Cherry, IV and his wife, Jennifer of Ashburn, Virginia; his granddaughter, Bella; his brother, Thomas Cherry and his wife, Margo of Penfield, NY; sisters-in-law, Joyce Curtis and her husband, Robert of Matamoras; and Susan Krause and her companion, Bruce Mungoven of Matamoras; nephews, David Cherry and his wife, Ajia; Robert Curtis and his wife, Tammy; and Kenneth Krause, Jr.; and his great nephews, Samuel and Daniel Curtis. Visitation will be heldMonday, April 14, from 4-7 PM at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at St. Joseph's R.C. Church, Matamoras, PA. Rev. James Walsh will be the celebrant. Interment will follow with military honors at St. Mary's Cemetery, Port Jervis. Jim's wishes were that donations be made to The Wounded Warrior Project (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/) in lieu of or in addition to flowers. Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family visit knight-auchmoody.com.

Patricia D. Horn age 84 of Sparrowbush, NY, passed away, Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at home.  She was born on March 25, 1930 in Port Jervis, NY, the daughter of the late Percy and Nettie Cronk Gilson.  Pat worked as an assembler for Kolmar labs, Inc. in Port Jervis, until her retirement.  She married Percy C. Horn, Jr., who pre-deceased her. Pat is survived by her sons, Percy  E. Horn and his wife Marie of Sparrowbush, and Phillip Horn and his wife  Pamela of Livingston, Texas, her seven grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Her sister-in-law Patricia DeGroat of Elizabethtown, Penna.  She was pre-deceased by her son  John Horn.  Services will be private at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home,  154 E. Main St., Port Jervis.  Interment will take place at Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush, NY.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Port Jervis-Deerpark Humane Society, Route 209, Port Jervis, NY 12771.  Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY.  For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit knight-auchmoody.com.

Fay A. Lynn, age 58 of Johnson, New York passed away Saturday April 5, 2014 at the Orange Regional Medical Center, Middletown, NY. She was born on May 28, 1955 in Port Jervis, NY, the daughter of the late George T. Brundage, Jr. and Kathryn Waycie Brundage, who survives. Fay was the retired former owner of Fay's Deli in Slate Hill. She married David K. Lynn, Jr., who survives at home. Fay is also survived by her mother, Kathryn Brundage of Johnson, her two sons, David K. Lynn, III and hiswife Sandra of Westtown, and Brad T. Lynn and his wife Danielle of Johnson, her two sisters, Donna Yennie of Port Jervis, and Kathy Jones and her husband Arthur "Hooty" of Port Jervis, her five grandchildren, Owen, Shania, David, IV, Brandy and Trevor, her brother-in-law, William Yenni and his wife Zita of Matamoras, two sisters-in-law, Cheryl Balch and her husband George of Sparrowbush and Valerie Lynn of Cuddebackville, several nieces, nephews and a host of friends. Visitation will be held Wednesday, April 9, from 3-7 PM at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. Cremation will take place at MacLennan Hall Crematory, Milford, Pennsylvania. Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family visit knight-auchmoody.com.

Lena Ketcham, age 92 of Port Jervis, NY, went home to be with the Lord peacefully on Saturday, April 5, 2014. She was born on February 21, 1922 in Port Jervis, the daughter of the late Michael and Fanny Terillio Sarro. Lena was a retired teachers assistant for the Port Jervis School System. She volunteered for the Port Jervis Salvation Army Corp.and was a Girl Scout Leader for many years. She was a member of the Branch in the Vine Ministry, Shohola, PA. Lena married Robert J. Ketcham who pre-deceased her. She is survived by her daughter, Emilie Ketcham O'Dea of Matamoras, PA, her grandchildren, Matthew O'Dea and his wife Pamela, Maribeth O'Dea, and Robert and Daniel Ketcham, her three great grandchildren, Emma Lena Smith, Raegan, and Reed O'Dea, her daughtger-in-law Kathleen Ketcham, several nieces and nephews including her special niece Nancy Dunn. She was pre-deceased by her son, Jeffrey R. Ketcham and her two brothers, Leonard and Thomas Sarro and her sister Emily Dunn. Lena was a loving, caring Mother and Grandmother, who will be sadly missed. Friends may call Tuesday, April 8 from 5-7 PM at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 9, at 11 AM at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. Rev. Gary Decker will officiate. Interment will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery, Matamoras, PA. Memorial donations may be made to the Port Jervis-Deerpark Humane Society, Route 209, Port Jervis, NY 12771. Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. For information, directions or to send a condolence note to the family, visit knight-auchmoody.com.

Joan M. Runnalls age 82, a life time resident of Oakland Valley, Cuddebackville, NY passed away, Saturday, April 5, 2014 at her home. She was born on December 3, 1931 in Sparrowbush, NY, the daughter of the late Morgan and Ella Decker Mosher. Her step-father was the late Harold Decker. Joan retired from Agway Corp. as a bookkeeper in Middletown, NY. She is survived by her son, Lawrence Runnalls and his wife, Jeannie of Las Vegas, NV, and her daughter, Donna Grippo and her husband, Frank of Vernon, FL. She is also survived by her sister, Phyllis Garms of Port Jervis, NY; her grandchildren: Jesse Runnalls and his wife, Theresa, Brian Runnalls and his wife, Monica, A1C Zackary Grippo and his wife, Jamie and Kara Grippo;her great grandchildren: Audrey Gagnon and her husband, Peter, Glenn T. Runnalls, Alexander Runnalls and Jacob Grippo;her great great grandson, Brandon Gagnon; her beloved grand puppy, Teddy Grippo and several nieces and nephews. Joan was predeceased by her former husband and the father of her children, Glenn A. Runnalls; her brothers: Edward A. Mosher, Morgan "Richie" Mosher, Walter "Linkie" Mosher, and Doris "Diddy" Edwards and her sister-in-law, Phyllis Glover. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8th at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc., 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY. Funeral Services will follow at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home with Rev. Nancy Vonderhorst officiating. Interment will take place at Rural Valley Cemetery, Cuddebackville, NY. Joan's family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Robert Dinsmore, Dr. Mehjabeen Alam and Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 121 Executive Drive, New Windsor, NY 12553 or to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550. Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Inc.; for information, directions, or to send a condolence note to the family visit knight-auchmoody.com.