John Rea Crofoot

Formerly of Middletown, N.Y.

John Rea Crofoot, born July 14, 1925, son of Robert Rea & Louie Higby Crofoot in Constableville, N.Y., entered into rest May 28, 2005 after a long battle with Multiple Myloma.

John graduated Constableville High School in 1943 and joined the US Navy in October 1943 serving on LST 629 in the Pacific. He returned in April of 1946. He married the late Jean Gleasman. They had a son, Dennis John Crofoot and a daughter, Rosemary Crouse. Jean died of Cancer December 28, 1954. In October of 1956 he married Rose Bickford officiated by Father Edward Goulet at St. Joseph's Church, Boonville, N.Y. They had a daughter, Nancy Crofoot and three sons: Steven Michael, Douglas Paul and John Richard.

John worked thirty-six years for General Telephone in Boonville, Johnstown and Middletown, N.Y. He retired in 1987. John was a past lector at St. Joseph's Church in Middletown. Also, he was past President and District Governor of the Middletown Lions Club serving in 1985-1986; also a past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus; a former President of Middletown Little League; a Scout Master in the Cub Scouts. John was also active in the Palm Harbor, Fla. Lions Club, the Salvation Army, and the Elks Club and American Legion in Middletown as well as a volunteer fireman.

John is survived by his devoted wife, Rose Bickford Crofoot, at home; his sons, Dennis Crofoot and his wife Debbie of Boonville, N.Y.; Steven Crofoot and his wife Andrea of Pine Bush; Douglas Crofoot and his companion Dawn Boehlke of Haines Falls, N.Y.; and John Crofoot and his wife Karen of Montgomery, N.Y. Two daughters, Rosemary Crouse and her husband Gerald of Boonville, N.Y. and Nancy Crofoot of Newtown, Conn. In addition, a brother, Donald Crofoot of Port Leydon, N.Y., eleven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson and several nieces and nephews.

He was pre-deceased by his first wife, Jean Gleasman; brothers Gerald, Paul, Robert, and his sisters Betty Jean Crofoot, Marjorie Donelly, and Johanna Merriam and sister-in-law Lottie Crofoot.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 1, at the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home on 26 Grove Street, Middletown from 6-9 p.m. Also a service by the Middletown Lions Club at 7 p.m., followed by the Knights of Columbus at 7:30 p.m. and a wake service at 8 p.m. conducted by Deacon Richard Trapani.

A second visitation will be held at the Trainor Funeral Home on 143 Schuyler Street in Boonville, N.Y. on June 2, from 6-9 p.m. A wake service will also be conducted.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on June 3, at St. Joseph's Church in Boonville at 10 a.m. Father Donald Karlen and Father David Orzel will officiate.

Burial will be in the Constableville Rural Cemetery, Constableville, N.Y.

A family statement reads: "John was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He served his community and fellow man more so through his actions rather than by his words. And most of all, he was a faithful servant of God. May God Bless him. We love you!"

Memorial contributions can be made to either St. Joseph's Church, 149 Cottage Street, Middletown, NY 10940 or St. Joseph's Church, 110 Charles Street, Boonville, NY 13309.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, 26 Grove Street, Middletown, NY 10940, (845) 343-2142 and Trainor Funeral Home, 143 Schuyler Street, Boonville, NY 13309, (315) 942-2233. For directions or to send a condolence, visit www.connellfuneralhome.com