Obituary of Kenneth F. Talmadge

Kenneth F. Talmadge Sr., 79, of Country Club Lane, Ft. Johnson, passed away Sunday morning, July 10, 2005 at St. Mary?s Hospital. He was born in Amsterdam, one of two sons of Merle and Hazel Putman Talmadge on July 22, 1925. A lifelong resident, he graduated in 1944 from Wilbur H. Lynch High School. He then joined the US Army and served in France, Germany and the Asian and Pacific Theater. He was awarded the Middle Eastern Service Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and World War II Victory Medal. Upon his discharge, he was a corporal in the engineers regiment. Prior to his wartime service, he worked for the Mohawk Carpet Mills. Ken later went into the G.E. apprentice program, and then worked for the former Ekblom & Dunbar Chevrolet in Amsterdam. He was self employed in the automotive service industry for thirty years and taught MDT mechanics course at Lynch High School. He worked in transportation for the City of Amsterdam as a bus driver and also was a driver for the Noteworthy Company. He retired in 1991 from the Greater Amsterdam School District as supervisor for buildings and grounds. Active all his life, Ken was a member of the National Ski Patrol, a leader for the Boy Scouts of America and its Order of the Arrow, a member of the Saddle Horse Assoc., and for many years a volunteer for the Century Club?s Festival of Trees. He was an avid motorcyclist, and loved to travel across the country. He had a passion for reading, especially interested in Civil War History. He was married to the former Irene Gawron who predeceased him in 2001. On June 14, 2003 he married the former Elaine Hogaboom-Ko. In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his children; Kenneth F. Talmadge Jr. Cindy Shepard of Amsterdam; Thomas E. and his wife Cathy Talmadge of Westport Conn.; Gail Talmadge Wager of Amsterdam; step children: Andrew W. Ko of Seattle Wash.; Timothy A. Ko and his wife Brenda of Oneida Lake, Monroe, NY; Stephen O. Ko of Seoul, Korea; and Suzanne E. Ko and husband Patrick Knight of Brooklyn; his brother: Donald Talmadge of Amsterdam as well as grandchildren: Mark Talmadge, Rebecca Wager, Carolyn Talmadge, Dillon Wager, and Andi E. Ko ; a niece, Marsha Richard also survives. Services will take place Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Tuesday from 4-7 pm prior to the service. Interment will take place privately Wednesday at St. Stanislaus? Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Amsterdam Community Cancer Program or the Century Club of Amsterdam, both in care of the funeral home.