Obituary of John J. McCourtney

JOHN J. MC COURTNEY GOSHEN, NEW YORK John J. McCourtney, 91, of, Goshen, NY, died with his beloved family at his side Sunday, April 5, 2009 at Elant at Goshen. John was born August 4, 1917 in Elmira, NY the son of John and Mary (Duffy) McCourtney. He was the widower of Esther Schadt McCourtney. John served in the U.S. Air Force during WWII and Vietnam, was a garage manager at the Orange County Department of Public Works in Goshen, NY; past Captain and 70 year member of the Dikeman Engine and Hose Co.; member of Elks Club #1097 of Middletown, NY; American Legion Post #151 of Middletown; Catholic War Veteran Post #1923 of Goshen; past member of Jackson Hunting Club of Monticello, NY and for the past 40 years usher at St. John the Evangelist Church in Goshen. John started his career as an auto mechanic at Goshen Buick Company and his greatest thrill was to work on Billy Martin's car who later became the manager for the New York Yankees. John also worked at various garages in and around the Goshen, Florida and Pine Island areas such as the Roe Drew Garage. In his early years, he was an avid motorcyclist driving Indian brand motorcycles. John was the first proprietor of the Shell gas station in the late fifties which was located at the corner of Green Street and Greenwich Avenue in Goshen. He later became the owner of "Ma Betchers Bar and Grille" in Hamptonburgh where he acquired many long time friends. John started working for the Orange County Department of Public Works in Goshen in 1959 as an auto truck and heavy equipment mechanic. He went on to become the Garage Manager there until he retired in 1984 after 26 years of service. John was a true Patriot who loved serving his country and fellow man. He also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves from 1963 through 1968. His time serving as a Staff Sergeant with the Air Force Reserves was some of his proudest moments. He flew many military missions in and out of Vietnam during the war. He was a Loadmaster on the C119 "Flying Boxcar" aircraft attached to the 904th Airlift group headquartered out of Stewart Air Force base in Newburgh, NY. He later became a Loadmaster aboard the C124 "Globemaster" aircraft attached to the 336th Military Airlift Squadron also headquartered out of Stewart Air Force base. During the seventies, John maintained the large clock in the bell tower of the First Presbyterian Church on the square in Goshen. He always made sure that the clock kept accurate time and was set for the daylight savings time periods for the residents of the village of Goshen. John was a great storyteller, and enjoyed making his grandchildren laugh at his stories. One of his favorite stories was telling how he and a pilot friend buzzed his wife Esther's house in Amity before they were married with a double winged bi-plane almost knocking the chimney off the house. He also told the grandchildren how he would heat up a can of soup on the exhaust manifold of a car's engine so that he had something to eat while repairing the vehicle. He would also tell the children how he was called "professor flash" in school. John and his wife Esther always enjoyed their large garden in the summer with their young grandchildren. He is survived by his son, John A. McCourtney and wife Barbara of New Hampton, NY; daughters, Nancy Fusco and husband Ronald of South Carolina, Monica Kalleberg and husband Harold of Goshen, Maryann Lauster and Husband Hank of South Carolina; brothers, Bernard McCourtney of New Windsor, Joseph McCourtney of Goshen and Hugh McCourtney of New Jersey; sisters, Monica VanBuren of Middletown, Patricia Stiller of Goshen, Maureen Glebocki of Goshen and Bernadette Morse of Long Island, NY; 7 grandchldren, Melissa McCourtney and companion Daniel Brown and John J. McCourtney, Kristopher Kalleberg and wife Amy, Scott and Ryan Kalleberg, Darryl Lauster and wife Kristin and Neil Lauster as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many other family and friends. The family would like to express their gratitude to the wonderful staff of Elant in Goshen, Arden Hill Hospital, the Visiting Angels and Unlimited Care. They would also like to thank Dr. Alvin Viray. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 8, 2009 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the Donovan Funeral Home, Inc., 82 South Church St. Goshen. Funeral Mass will be Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 11:00 am at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church, 71 Murray Avenue, Goshen. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery, Goshen, NY. Contributions may be made to the Dikeman Engine and Hose Co., Dikeman Drive, Goshen, NY 10924 or a charity of one's choice Arrangements under the care of the Donovan Funeral Home Inc., Goshen, NY. For directions or to leave the family a personal condolence, please visit donovanfunerals.com