Obituary of Edward D. Weed

Edward D. Weed Wallkill, NY Formerly of Walker Valley, NY Edward D. Weed a lifelong resident of the area passed away on July 31, 2011 from complications with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He was 90. Born on August 31, 1920, Edward spent the better part of his life in Walker Valley where he was born and raised. A welder by trade, he worked in the Newburgh ship yards during WWII, and later became a member of Local 417 Iron Workers Union of Newburgh, NY. With his brothers, he worked nearly 20 years on various projects involving the supply of water to NYC and its Boroughs. These NY Board of Water Supply projects included the reservoirs at Merriman, Downsville, and Canonsville. He retired in 1980 and spent the next 13 years residing in Pine Bush, NY, White Lake, NY, Melbourne, Fl and Wallkill, NY. An accomplished spinner of mountain tales and Indian Lore, he was known to his family as "Soaring Eagle". He entertained many including his grandchildren and great grandchildren, about early life in Walker Valley, tales of mischievous ridge running, survival in the great depression, stories of Indian tribes in the Hudson Valley, and perhaps most entertaining, stories of his father, the legendary sage of the Shawangunk Mountains, Lewis H. "Cappy" Weed. An avid hunter and fisherman, he also enjoyed bird-watching, gardening, and riding his four-wheelers through the Iroquois Club Trails. Edward was an active member of the Shawangunk Reformed Church, and the Iroquois Hunting and Fishing Club for 38 years. He achieved a 32nd Degree membership in the Masons, and was a lifetime member of the Walker Valley Fire Company and the Historical Society of Shawangunk and Gardiner. With his wife Elaine, he assisted in the 2009 publication of the History of one-room school houses in the Town of Shawangunk. He was an active supporter of the Wallkill Historic House, and a prolific reader of Hudson Valley History. He is survived by his wife Elaine of Wallkill, daughters; Merry Ann Johansen and her husband Phil of Hertford, NC, Susan Chinich and her husband Mike of Florence, SC, sons; Edward G. Weed and his wife Frances of Lakeland FL, Dean Weed and his wife Karen of Colchester, VT; Step children Lori Schmidt and her husband Fred of Wallkill, Robert Comerford and his wife Eileen of Wallkill, and Jean Carroll and her husband Pete of Houston, TX, sisters; Evelyn Mitchell of Holden, MA, and Bernice "Birdie" Carroll of Walker Valley, 21 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and 1 great great-grandchild. He is predeceased by his first wife Ruth in 1990, parents; Lewis and Alice Weed, brothers; Jim, Eugene, and Lewis, and sisters; Lillian, Dean, and Alice. Visitation will be held on Wednesday August 3, 2011 from 2-4 & 7-9pm at the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. 1525 Burlingham Rd Pine Bush NY 12566. Funeral Services will be conducted on Thursday August 4, 2011 at 10:00am at the Shawangunk Reformed Church in Wallkill with Pastor Howard Dalton officiating. Burial will take place in the Walker Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Shawangunk Reformed Church, 1166 Hoagerburgh Road, Wallkill, NY 12589 or The Walker Valley Fire Department, PO Box 113, Walker Valley, NY or The Historical Society of Shawangunk and Gardiner, PO Box 570, Wallkill, NY. Arrangements entrusted to the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. www.wmgaganfuneralhome.com