The Rev. Richard T. Hotzler
The Rev. Richard T. Hotzler of Pond Eddy died on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, at the Castle Point VA Medical Center, Wappingers, N.Y. He was 85.
Son of Charles and Ada Smith Hotzler, he was born Sept. 18, 1930, in Maspeth, N.Y.
He served with the Army during the Korean War with Cold War Occupation Forces in West Germany. After serving more than five years of military service, he was first employed by Dean Phillips Stores in Port Jervis. He then worked at Modern Homes Corporation, leaving as general foreman of production, when the corporation moved to Dearborn, Michigan. He was employed by the US Rail-Mail Service and was transferred to the Monticello Distribution Center when the rail-mail was terminated. At Monticello, he attained various positions, retiring as Postmaster after 37 years. He was appointed to the position of Code Enforcement officer for the Town of Lumberland ,retiring after 18 years. He also served as a member of the town planning board and the Town of Lumberland Cemetery Committee.
He was a lifelong member of the Pond Eddy United Methodist Church. He served the Eldred Congregational Church as a lay speaker and then served as Pastor of the church for 43 years. He was a charter member and two-time president of the Lumberland Lions Club and Lumberland Seniors. He was a life member of the American Legion Post #1363, Eldred, N.Y., the Roosa-Fleming V.F.W. Post #161, Port Jervis, the Port Jervis Lodge of Elks, #645 B.P.O.E. and the AARP.
He will be sadly missed by his wife of 62 years, Irmgard Durr Hotzler; his daughters, Karin Obolewicz and her husband, David, of Bow, N.H., Susan Hotzler of LaGrangeville, N.Y., and Heidi North and her husband, Jim, of Gilbert, Ariz.; his grandchildren, Jason Meehan and his wife, Jenny, Nicole Carino and her husband, Davie, Laura and Ryan Obolewicz and Lucas North; great grandchildren, Anthony and Eva Carino, Landon and Jocelyn Meehan; brothers, Butch Hotzler and his wife, Ginny, of Canton, N.Y., and Harry Hotzler and his wife, Bette, of Melbourne, Fla.; his sister Eileen of Milford; his sisters-in-law, Ilse Schafer and her husband, Heinz and Herta Herbold, all of Germany; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held Nov. 27 at the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Port Jervis. Funeral services were held Nov. 28 at the Eldred Congregational Church, Eldred, N.Y., with the Rev. Sue Storms officiating. Interment followed with military honors at Glen Spey Cemetery, Glen Spey, N.Y. Memorial contributions may be made to the Eldred Congregational Church, 31 Bruce St., Port Jervis, NY 12771; or to the Lumberland Vol. Fire Dept., 5000 County Rt. 31, Glen Spey, NY 12737.