Obituary of Walter M. Bill

Walter M. Bill, 91, of Middletown, NY, died Thursday, March 30, 2017 at Kaplan Family Hospice Residence, Newburgh, NY. Walter was born January 9, 1926 in Jersey City, NJ, the son of William G. Bill and Edna (Schwenck) Bill. He attended Dickinson High School, NJ. He was a milk truck driver and a pin setter in bowling alleys at age 16. At the age of 18, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II in France and Germany and received a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with the 3rd Army 80th Infantry and served a year after the war ended. Returning home he worked as an Art Director and Designer of greeting cards. Next, he served at General Woodcraft Co. in North Bergen, NJ as an art director for their literature. As his advertising career progressed he was appointed the position of Executive Art Director for the Genstar Corporation in Rutherford, NJ The company moved to Dallas, TX where he spent the next 10 years with his wife Ruth Blackwell, he retired at age 62. He lived in Wood-Ridge, NJ for 50 years and then moved to Middletown, NY. Walter was a member of the Middletown Art Group and the Northeast Water Color Society. He was an exceptional watercolor artist of landscapes and traditional old homes and winner of numerous "Best in Show" awards and prizes. He is predeceased, by his wife, Ruth Blackwell, whom he married in 1950, who died in 2010. He has two children, Robin Joy Chionchio and her husband Joseph of Goshen and Holly Joy Mazzola and her husband Richard of Clinton, NJ; four grandchildren, Nicole Alicia Mazzola, Anthony Joseph Chionchio, Ria Grace Chionchio and Daniel James Mazzola; sister, Dorothea K. Benedix of Jersey City, NJ; niece, Janice Arcaro and nephew Kenneth Blackwell. He was predeceased by his brother, William Bill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Goshen Humane Society. PO Box 37, Goshen NY, 10924. www.goshenhumanesociety.org. Visitation will be Monday, April 3 from 5 to 8 pm at Donovan Funeral Home, Inc, 82 South Church Street, Goshen, NY. The funeral will be held 11:00 am on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at Donovan Funeral Home, Inc, 82 South Church Street, Goshen, NY. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Lyndhurst, NJ. Arrangements under the care of the Donovan Funeral Home, Inc., Goshen. To leave a condolence visit www.donovanfunerals.com