Robert W. Finkle

Robert W. Finkle of Esopus Ave., Ulster Park died Monday, August 27, 2007 at his home. He was 87. He was born in Kingston on October 4, 1919, a son of the late Elwood Finkle and Ethel Dooley Finkle Winklemann. A US Army/Air Corps veteran of WW II, he served in the European Theater of Operations with the 15th Air Force as a Nose Gunner on a B-24 Liberator Bomber in Italy. He was shot down over Vienna and captured in Hungary as a P.O.W. He was later liberated in Germany. A decorated veteran, he was awarded a Purple Heart and EAME Service Medal among others. A longtime Kingston resident, he married Adeline A. 'Lee' Berardi on September 15, 1940. They lived on Wall Street, West Hurley from 1949 – 1962 and then moved to Ulster Park. He loved the Catskill Mountains and was an avid hiker, hunter and fly fisherman. He loved snowshoeing the mountains, hunting snowshoe rabbits with his beagle hounds on the high peaks As a tool and die maker, Mr. Finkle worked for Electrol in Kingston for 15 years and then I.B.M. in Poughkeepsie and Kingston for 25 years. He retired in 1981 as a manager of product cost estimating. An active parishioner at Sacred Heart Church, Esopus, Mr. Finkle ministered as lector and server; He was a Life Member of the Kingston Counil #275, Knights of Columbus, the Klyne Esopus Historical Museum and the West Esopus Landowners Association. He was a member of the American Legion, Post #1298 and the V.F.W., Joyce-Schirick Post #1386. He was a former parishioner at St. John’s Church, West Hurley. Two brothers Harold and Donald Finkle, two sisters Arlene Raible and Ruth Fattarino all died previously. Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Adeline A. 'Lee' Finkle, one step-sister Constance Matthews of Saugerties; many nieces and nephews. Reposing at the Simpson - Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. on Thursday from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Sacred Heart Church, Route 9W, Esopus on Friday at 10:00 AM. Interment, with military honors by Joyce - Schirick Post 1386, V.F.W., will be in Mt. Marion Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Hospice Foundation, Inc., 34 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401 or to a charity of your choice.