Ronald H. Couture

HANCOCK -- Ronald H. "Cooch" Couture, 66, of 76 Birch Grove Road, died at home on Thursday after a battle with renal cell carcinoma.

Born in Pittsfield on Nov. 13, 1938, son of Henry F. and Emma F. Briere Couture, he was a graduate of the former Notre Dame elementary school and a 1956 graduate of St. Joseph's Central High School.

Upon graduation from high school, he served in the Air Force in South Dakota, Japan and Florida. After leaving active service, he was a member of the 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Force Base, where he served as a senior loadmaster on C-123 aircraft missions all over the world.

Mr. Couture worked at General Electric Co. in transmission programs as a steel fabricator, welder and senior inspector during a career that spanned more than 28 years. For 13 of those years, he was assigned to the tank shop working on the Bradley Fighting Vehicle. He retired in October 1994.

A self-taught musician, he fronted a band called the Lamp-Lighters, which played regularly at the Italian American Club and at the Dalton VFW, among other venues. He played guitar and keyboard.

He achieved his longtime dream to fly when he obtained his private pilot's license and flew solo in 1988.

Mr. Couture was a communicant of the former Notre Dame Church in Pittsfield, where he attended Mass for more than 60 years. He more recently attended Immaculate Conception Church in New Lebanon, N.Y.

He was a member of the GE Quarter Century and Pensioners' clubs, and a former member of the musicians' union in Pittsfield. He enjoyed skiing and traveling. He also enjoyed home remodeling, working around his yard and riding his motorcycle.

He leaves his wife, the former Rosemary T. Ennis, whom he married in Pittsfield on Sept. 15, 1961.

Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Air Force Lt. Col. Thomas J. Couture of Great Falls, Mont.; three daughters, Deborah J. Hutton of Hancock, Claudine D. Morrison of Pittsfield and Tracey L. Mosegard of Peru, two grandsons and five granddaughters.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- Services for Ronald H. "Cooch" Couture, who died at home on Thursday, Aug. 25, after a courageous battle with renal cell carcinoma, will be held Saturday, Aug. 27, at 9 a.m., from DERY FUNERAL HOME, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Church, Route 20, New Lebanon, N.Y., celebrated by the Rev. John Close, pastor, and the Rev. Earl A. Herbert, pastor of the former Notre Dame Church, Pittsfield. Burial will follow in the Cemetery of the Evergreens in New Lebanon. Calling hours will be today from 4 to 7 p.m., at the funeral home, 54 Bradford St., Pittsfield, Mass. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Couture may be made to HospiceCare in the Berkshires in care of the funeral home. Mr. Couture also leaves his daughter-in-law, Lynda; his sons-in-law, Doug Hutton, Eric Mosegard and Carl Morrison; his five granddaughters, Keily and Kerry Couture, Haley Mosegard, and Kendylle and Kaitlyn Hutton, and two grandsons, Holden Mosegard and John Couture. He was predeceased by his brother, PFC John F. Couture, a paratrooper with the 82nd Army Airborne Division who was killed in action in Germany on Nov. 3, 1944, during World War II.