Thomas W. Witchey

WAPPINGERS Thomas W. Witchey, 83, from the Town of Wappingers, died March 31, 2005 at home. Born in Manhattan, N.Y. on September 24, 1921, he was the son of William W. Witchey and Agnes Waters. He was the former owner of Witchey Gas and Service Station, Wappingers and had been a truck driver for Gillnick Trucking. Thomas retired in 1990. Thomas was a local resident of Wappingers and also lived in Clifton Park. He was the cousin of Staff Sgt. Frank Witchey who was the most widely known bugler who sounded Taps at the Grave of the Unknown Soldier. In the Army Air Corps, Thomas was an aerial engineer, served in the search and rescue unit in Canada and Alaska and received the Good Conduct Medal. He was a communicant of St. Mary's Church in Wappinger Falls, N.Y. Thomas was an avid hunter, sportsman and traveler who visited every state in the United States. He was predeceased by two wives, Eleanor Forbes, who died in 1950, and Katherine Szaruga, who died April 2001. Survivors include two grandsons, David T. Witchey of Fishkill, N.Y. and Scott P. Witchey of Wappingers, N.Y.; a great-grandson, Christopher Thomas of Wappingers, N.Y.; daughter-in-law, Patricia Witchey of Wappingers, N.Y. and several cousins. A funeral service will take place Wednesday, April 20, 2005 at 11 a.m. at Saratoga National Cemetery. Arrangements by Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 12603. (845) 452-0460. www.doylefuneralhome.com