Obituary of Edith M. Noeltner

Edith "Edie" Minch Noeltner, 81, of Noeltner Road, Town of Glen, NY passed away peacefully at home on May 20, 2011 surrounded by her loving family following a long illness. Born December 17, 1929 in Amsterdam, New York, Edith was the daughter of the late Warnick and Lillian Berry Minch. A life long area resident, she graduated from Fultonville High School and then earned both a bachelors and masters degree from the New York College for Teachers, Albany, NY. Her 40 year career began at Cobleskill Central School as a health teacher, followed by private tutoring and substitute teaching. Edith retired from the Fonda-Fultonville Central School in 1991 where she taught high school mathematics. She continued to be very dedicated to her alumni by being treasurer of the Fultonville High School Alumni Association for 28 years and a class councilor for SUNY Albany Alumni Association. She also belonged to the Upper Montgomery County Retired Teachers Association. Edith was very active in the community. A life long member of the former Fort Hunter United Methodist Church and the Fonda- Fultonville United Methodist Church, she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, played piano and organ, participated in the church women's society and helped with countless church suppers and functions. Edith was involved in 4-H with the youth, Farm Bureau, and Deborah Glen Study Club. The community remembers Edith for her endless hours of service in the emergency medical field. She was a charter member of the Fonda- Fultonville Volunteer Ambulance Corps FFAVAC where she held the office of president, vice- president, corps-captain and treasurer. Edith was also on the board of directors and was an emergency medical technician. She and her husband responded to emergences for thirty four years until the dissolvement of the ambulance corps in 2002. Edith then continued to volunteer for the American Red Cross as part of the National Red Cross Disaster Team, which included helping at Ground Zero. She was also a member of the former Montgomery County Emergency Medical Services Council and currently was a board member of the Greater Amsterdam Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Edith received several awards for her dedication and service to the community. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Alumni Association of the State University of New York at Albany in 2000. Edith and her husband received the Hannay Reels Rescue Squad Workers Award from the American Red Cross of Northeastern New York, Hometown Hero award in 2002 and the Fonda-Fultonville Lions Club Community Service Award in 2003. Edith was not only a volunteer in her own community but volunteered across the country by belonging to the State Park and National Forest Campground Host Program. She and her husband were campground host in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Alaska. They also enjoyed RV traveling for pleasure. Other hobbies included baking, sewing, tole decorative painting, gardening and interior decorating. Edith was united in marriage to Kenneth A. Noeltner on June 28, 1952. In addition to her loving husband, survivors include a son, Robert Bonnie Noeltner of Glen; three daughters, Linda Donald Bare of Glen, Betty George Whitney of the Town of Providence and Susan Jack Summerfield of Glen; four grandchildren, Bobbi Jo Jason Holmes, Bryan Noeltner, Ryan Summerfield, and Matthew Whitney and one great grandson, Evan Holmes. She is also survived by a brother, Robert Dorothy Minch of Charlotte, NC; a sister Betty Wilson Hitchcock of Clinton, TN and several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents Edith was predeceased by her brother Kenneth Minch and step-mother Wavel Minch. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2011, at 11:00 am at the Jackson & Betz Funeral Home, 15 Main Street, Fultonville with the Rev. Nancy Pullen and the Rev. Chris Hamm officiating. Burial will follow at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Tribes Hill, NY. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 4 to 7 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Edith's memory to the Glen Volunteer Fire Department, 134 Auriesville Rd., Fultonville, NY 12072 or to the American Red Cross of Northeastern NY, 33 Evert Road, Albany, NY 12205.