Obituary of Stephen M. Bilins

Stephen M. Bilins, 91, who with his wife, lived on a farm on Opalka Road, Fort Johnson, NY, died March 31, 2011 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He was the son of Polish immigrants, John and Marcela Popiel Bilinski, who met and married in Amsterdam, NY, where he was born on October 11, 1919. In 1925 his parents purchased a small farm on the outskirts of Hagaman, NY and moved there with their then seven children. He lived there until he was drafted into the Army in May 1941. From 1938 to 1941 he worked for John and Gert Daly's Amsterdam Despatch, Inc. as a bookkeeper, typist, freight rate and billing clerk. He was a graduate of Wilbur H. Lynch High School, attended the Evening Division of the Amsterdam School of Commerce, the College Evening Division of the University of Maryland in Germany and graduated from Siena College with A B.S. in Economics, a M.S. in Education and a Masters in Business Administration. Mr. Bilins was a career army officer. In 1942, he was selected to attend the Army Ordnance Officer Candidate School and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. Ordnance Corps and assigned to an ordnance company in Camp Butner, NC. While stationed there he met Hazeline Vickers of Durham, NC. They were married April 21, 1943. During World War II, he served in the American and Asiatic Pacific Theaters and participated in the Battles of Okinawa in WWII and Korea during that war. His last military assignment was Chief of the Operations Division at the Watervliet Arsenal, Watervliet, NY. After twenty-two years of service, he retired from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In addition to his numerous service and theater ribbons with four Bronze Battle Stars, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. In 1957, his wife and family accompanied him on tour to Germany where he was assigned to an Ordnance Special Weapons Group Atomic during the Cold War with Russia. His family also accompanied him to his various assignments in the U.S., where his son Stephen was born in Durham, NC, his daughters Marcia in Hawaii and Sara in Ft. Hood, Texas. From 1965 to 1969 he was an instructor at Albany Business College. In 1969 he was appointed Chairman of the Department of Business and Criminal Justice at Schenectady County Community College until he retired in 1979 as an associate professor. He enjoyed maintaining his farm house, buildings and grounds and the camp which he built on the Sacandaga Lake. He was known for his large vegetable gardens which he and his wife maintained and harvested. Cutting firewood and mowing his lawns were also a pleasant pastime. In addition, he helped his children with their many building projects. Survivors include his wife of almost 68 years, Hazeline "Vicki"; two daughters, Marcia L. Klug Robert Broadalbin, NY and Sara E. Palmer Llewellyn II Berlin, NY; a daughter-in-law Barbara O. Bilins, Fort Johnson; nine grandchildren Katrina Monks Laurance, Reuben Shaw Katja, Kimberly Bilins, Seth Shaw, Jennifer Georgelos James, Jacquelyn McLeod Dale, Wyatt Shaw Kenna, Robert Klug and Llewellyn Palmer III; fourteen grandchildren Meya Bilins-Cruz, Alexandria and Nicholas Georgelos, Connor, Cameron, Zachary and Hunter Monks, Blake, Madisen and Alyssa McLeod, Rowan and Lydia Shaw, Cassidy Shaw and Alina Shaw. He is also survived by his godson David Jackson and many nieces and nephews. His son Stephen V. predeceased him on April 27, 1991. Two brothers Joseph and Eugene and five sisters Mildred Baker, Winifred Frieman, Bernice Jackson, Virginia Slezak and Stephanie Boguzes also predeceased him. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY. The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home on Saturday April 9, 2011 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. a service will follow immediately. Burial will be in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Tribes Hill, NY. Memorial contributions may be made to the Perth Volunteer Fire Department or the National Diabetes Foundation, both in care of the funeral home.