William J. Dunson

SARATOGA SPRINGS - William J. Dunson, a Saratoga Springs native, passed away Saturday, April 28, 2012, at Saratoga Hospital.
He was 97.
Born Dec. 25, 1914, in Saratoga Springs, he was the son of the late Fred W. and Anna (Patten) Dunson.
A 1933 graduate of Saratoga Springs High School, he also graduated from Albany Business College in 1936. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater with the 1st Marine Division. He participated in landing and attack operations against the enemy on Easter Sunday 1945 at Okinawa and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1945. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 30 years and served as postmaster from 1959 through 1960.
Bill had an outstanding career in the sport of horse racing for more than 40 years. He held a USTA presiding judge's license since 1957 and was clerk of the Saratoga Harness Race Course from 1960 to 1964. He later served as finish wire judge, presiding judge and state steward at Saratoga Harness, Yonkers Raceway, Roosevelt Raceway, Batavia Downs, Vernon Downs, Monticello Raceway and Buffalo Raceway.
Beginning in the late 1970s, he also served at Tioga Park and Parr Meadows, quarter-horse racing. A former presiding judge at Pompano Park, he served as an associate and presiding judge at the Meadowlands and Garden State Park, at Freehold Raceway and at Riverside Downs in Henderson, Ky.
A life member of both the Gurtler Bros. Post 420 Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Adirondack Post 70, he was an honorary member of Dominick Smaldone Post 35 ITAM.
Married in 1937 to the former Elaine Waring, who died March 12, 2010, he is the father of six daughters, Suzanne (William) Farrell of Flower Mound, Texas, Linda (Al) Macica of Stillwater, Jill (Douglas) Nichols of Tallahassee, Fla., Mary Lou (John) Luckie of Acworth, Ga., Carol (Mark) Moreau of Saratoga Springs and Lainie (Ted) Norman of Apollo Beach, Fla. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and a brother-in-law, Charles Furey.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by a brother and sister, Fred Dunson and Anna Kelly; and a grandson, Kenneth William Macica.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2012, in the Church of St. Peter, 241 Broadway, with the Rev. Neil J. Draves-Arpaia officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at the family plot in St. Peter's Cemetery on West Avenue.
There will be no public calling hours.
Memorials may be made in his name to St. Peter's Needy Association (SPNA), 241 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.
Arrangements are under the direction of William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing and Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 N. Broadway, 584-5373.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.