John Duddleston

Obituary
JOHN DUDDLESTON
TRUMANSBURG - John Duddleston, 85, of 3090 Proskine Place, Trumansburg, passed away at Hospice of Tompkins County on Friday, October 27, 2006.Born in Lafayette, Indiana, John was the son of Benjamin H. and Gladys Miller Duddleston. John signed up for flying lessons in his senior year of high school, launching a lifelong love of flying.In 1942 he became a flight instructor with the U.S. Army Air Corps. Shortly after John was commissioned in 1944 he became one of the C-46 cargo plane pilots who flew "The Hump" from India to China. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Corps in February of 1946, John joined his father in the operation of Halsey Farms. He eventually became sole owner and retired from Halsey Seed Company in 1995.In retirement John and his wife, Isobel "Izzy", traveled extensively, including several cruises. One of John's favorite pastimes was keeping his lawn impeccably mowed and trimmed. He pursued his woodworking with more vigor, zipped around in his VW Bug, enjoyed time with friends and family and remained a best friend to his faithful dog, Dudley. John, in his Piper Cub airplane, logged countless hours in the beautiful Finger Lakes skies and beyond. (John often remembered his flight to California.) He was a member of EAA (Experimental Aircraft Assn.), the VFW, the Trumansburg Senior Citizens and the Arthur E. Bouton American Legion Post #770 in Trumansburg.John is survived by his wife of 65 years, Isobel Duddleston, of Trumansburg; two sons, Douglas (Carolyn) Duddleston, of Ithaca, and James (Mi-Young) Duddleston, of Okinawa, Japan; two daughters, Sandra Duddleston, of Escondido, CA, and Susan (Bob) Sullivan, of Trumansburg; three sisters, Jean Baines, of Palm Desert, CA, Julia Comin, of Trumansburg and Mary Zimmer, of Syracuse; eleven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.The family received friends on Sunday, October 29, 2006, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South St., Trumansburg. In keeping with John's wishes, Funeral Services will be private.In lieu of flowers, the family asks those considering a contribution in John's memory to kindly consider the SPCA of Tompkins County, 1640 Hanshaw Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850, the Trumansburg American Legion Post #770, P.O. Box 456, Trumansburg, NY 14886 or Hospicare of Tompkins County, 172 E. King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850.For additional information, please contact the funeral home at 1-888-534-5446 or www.ness-sibley.com.