Obituary of Robert Cronkhite

Robert Cronkhite, 86, of Peter Lane, passed away Friday, January 26, 2007 at St. Mary?s Hospital in Amsterdam. He was born July 22, 1920, son of the late Robert Bruce and Anna Kavanaugh Cronkhite. Robert was a life long resident of Amsterdam. He worked as a welder for ALCO in Schenectady before joining the U.S. merchant marines during WWII. Following his discharge, Robert went to work as a welder for General Electric in Schenectady, retiring in 1982. Robert married the former Ruth Paton on January 18, 1948 in Amsterdam, she predeceased him in 2004. He was a communicant of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Tribes Hill. Robert was a Ham Radio Operator and belonged to the American Radio Relay League. Survivors include a son, Robert Bruce Cronkhite of Amsterdam; a sister, Marjorie Pelky of Schenectady; a grandson, Robert Daniel Cronkhite and his wife, Kelly of East Greenbush and a great-granddaughter, Alyssa Cronkhite. Several nieces and nephews also survive him. Besides his parents and his wife, Robert was predeceased by a son, David Cronkhite, in 2001 and a brother, Walter Cronkhite. Funeral services will be at 9:00AM on Monday, January 29, 2007 at Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, NY 12010. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00AM at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Tribes Hill with Fr. Patrick Gallagher, OSM Conv., celebrant. The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Robert?s memory may be made to Catholic Charities of Montgomery County, 1 Kimball Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010, or the Salvation Army, Market Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010.