Erling J. Pedersen

He was born August 11, 1923 in Tottenville, Staten Island, N.Y. to the late Johannas and Kirsten Pedersen. Pete attended Tottenville High School. After High School Pete proudly served his country during WWII from 1943-1945 stationed in Iceland. He was a riffle marksman and worked in the motor pool. After the service, he worked in the ship yards in Perth Amboy, N.J. He married Catherine Frances O’Keefe on July 9, 1949. They were married 62 years.

They moved to East Meredith in 1949 where Pete started a garage business with his father know as Pedersen & Son. He retired and closed the business at the age of 70.

He will always be remembered for always helping anyone that needed help and for the Christmas Partys held at the garage. Pete enjoyed sports, hunting, he was an avid bowler, and enjoyed playing cards (the day always started with a few hands of solitaire). In retirement he enjoyed sitting in his screen room for hours. Pete was very community minded. He helped build and maintain the town T.V. line. He was a member of the East Meredith Fire Dept. for over 51 years. Pete also helped build the East Meredith Fish & Game Club and the VFW in Davenport. He was member of the American Legion in Delhi for 61 years. He also served on the Charlotte Valley School Board for several years.

Pete is survived by his daughters Frances Epps (Paul Critti) of East Meredith, Catherine Quackenbush (Donald) Cherry Valley, Maureen Young (Thomas) Schwabishall, Germany; his grandchildren, Nicole Epps (Richard) Brovetto, Michelle Epps (Joe) Muller, Jon (Valerie) Sobers, Kirsten Sobers (Brandon) Lundy, D.J. (Amanda) Quackenbush; great grandchildren Taylor Liesening & Samuel Muller, Nicole, Jessica and Brandon Lundy, Jon and Catherine Sobers, Michael and Brianna Quackenbush as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife Catherine and sisters Minnie Tataka and Alice Craig and great grandchild Destiny Hope Sobers.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, March 28, 2019 from 6 -8pm in the Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main Street, Oneonta at which time the family will be in attendance. Funeral services will be held Friday March 29, 2019 at 1pm in the Bookhout Funeral Home with Rev. Stephen Fournier officiating.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Pete’s memory to East Meredith Fire Dept., East Meredith Fish & Game Club, American Legion in Delhi or to the N.Y.S. Veteran’s Home (Activities Dept.) Also, a special thanks to our angel Frances Midgley for all the TLC she gave Pete and his family.