Paul J. Mele of North Branch, a retired motorman for the New York City Transit Authority with 33 years of service, died Friday, February 20, 2004, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. He was 81 years of age.
The son of the late Donato and Isabella LoRusso Mele, he was born August 26, 1922, in Astoria.
A World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, he participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. Mr. Mele was a life member of the H. Russell Kenyon Post No. 5808, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Callicoon, and a member of St. Mary's Church in Obernburg. His wife is the North Branch columnist for the Sullivan County Democrat.
Mr. Mele is survived by his wife, Loretta Long Mele, at home; a sister, Mary McMullen of Flushing; and 20 nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Monday at St. Mary's Church in Obernburg with Father Gus Richardson and Father Ignatius Smith officiating.
Burial was made in St. Mary's Cemetery in Obernburg.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Church, Obernburg, N.Y. 12767.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville.

Margaret Ann Woodard of South Fallsburg, a former employee of Imperial Schrade in Ellenville and a longtime resident of South Fallsburg, died Friday, February 20, 2004, at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. She was 72 years of age.
The daughter of the late Jordan and Sarah Brooks Poole, she was born June 7, 1931, in Elizabeth City, N.C. She was the widow of Artrice Woodard.
Mrs. Woodard was an active member of the First Baptist Church of South Fallsburg and was a member of Chapter #74, Order of the Eastern Star, South Fallsburg. She spent the last few years of her life in Monticello.
She is survived by three sons, Artrice O.K. Woodard Jr. of White Lake, Ricky T. Woodard of South Fallsburg and Wayne O. Woodard of Jackson, Tenn.; three brothers, Jordan Poole Jr. of South Fallsburg, Booker Poole of New Jersey and George Poole of Brooklyn; a sister, Katherine Nixon of Monticello; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at the First Baptist Church of South Fallsburg with the Rev. Anthony Black officiating.
Burial will be made in the Rock Ridge Cemetery in Monticello.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of South Fallsburg or to the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 74, both at South Fallsburg, N.Y. 12779.
Funeral arrangements were made by the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home in Monticello.

Lawrence Tyler of Woodbourne, a lifelong resident of Sullivan County and the retired owner of Liberty Natural Foods, died Saturday, February 21, 2004, at his home. He was 55 years of age.
The son of Edwin and Mary Brigham Tyler, he was born August 5, 1948, in Callicoon.
He is survived by his wife, Orra Bell Tyler, at home; a son and daughter-in-law, John and Sharon Tyler of Bristol, R.I.; a daughter, Kimberly Tyler of Middletown; his parents of Youngsville; two brothers, Robin Tyler of White Sulphur Springs and James Tyler of Amherst, Mass; a sister, Carol Robisch of White Sulphur Springs; two grandchildren, Michael and Samantha Tyler; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Services were held Monday at the Stewart-Murphy Funeral Home in Jeffersonville.
Burial was made in the Hillside Cemetery in Damascus, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Oncology Unit at Catskill Regional Medical Center, Harris, N.Y. 12742 or Hospice of Orange and Sullivan, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, N.Y. 12550.

Charles J. Murtagh of Bloomingburg, a retired brick layer with Local 34 in New York City, died Friday, February 20, 2004, at the Horton campus of the Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown. He was 96 years of age.
The son of the late Charles and Bridget O'Reilly Murtagh, he was born March 1, 1907, in Dublin, Ireland. He was the widower of Kathleen Murtagh.
Mr. Murtagh was a communicant of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bloomingburg.
In a family statement, it was said, "Charles was loved and respected by so many people. He made an impression on everyone he met. He will be deeply missed and always cherished."
He is survived by a son, Jerry Murtagh, and his companion, Carol Doolittle of Bloomingburg; two daughters and a son-in-law, Marjorie M. and David Cooke of Clifton, Va., and Theresa A. Lambert of New City; three grandchildren, Jennifer L. Hughes of Ellenville, Gerard C. Murtagh and his wife, Karen, of Bloomingburg, and Timothy B. Cooke of Clifton, Va. ; a daughter-in-law, Donna Murtagh of Middletown; and several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Monday at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bloomingburg with Father Raymond Bagdonis officiating.
Burial was made in the Bloomingburg Cemetery.

Eleanor Beams of Liverpool, a retired bookkeeper in a legal office in Rochester, died Tuesday, February 17, 2004, at the Crouse-Irving Memorial Hospital in Syracuse. She was 80 years of age.
The daughter of the late Vincent and Margaret Lybolt McDowell, she was born February 1, 1924, in Fallsburg. She was the widow of Ivan Beams who died December 10, 1998, after 52 years of marriage.
A former resident of Hobart, Mrs. Beams was a member of the Hobart United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women of the church. She served on the Hobart Village Board, volunteered at the Stamford Hospital for many years and was an active member of the Stamford-Hobart Inner Wheel.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Doloris Beams of Pennellville; a brother, Elmer McDowell of Ashburn, Va.; a granddaughter, Amy Myers, and her husband, David, of Jamesville; and two great-grandchildren, David Myers and Rebecca Myers.
Services were held Monday at the Hobart United Methodist Church with Pastor Richard Elder officiating.
Burial will be made in the spring at the Locust Hill Cemetery in Hobart.
Memorial contributions may be made to R.E.A.C.H., P.O. Box N, Hobart, N.Y. 13788.

Marie Theresa Cassidy of Grahamsville, a retired clerk for the Sullivan Correctional Facility in Woodbourne and more recently a switchboard operator for The Pines Hotel in South Fallsburg, died Wednesday, February 18, 2004, at the Seelig Division of the Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris. She was 67 years of age.
The daughter of the late James and Rose DelSalvo Panarella, she was born April 26, 1936, in Brooklyn.
She was the widow of Edward Cassidy.
A devout Catholic, she was a member of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Woodbourne.
In a family statement, it was said, "Marie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She had a great heart and it was always open to those who she knew needed love. She will not only be missed by her family, but also by those who loved her."
Mrs. Cassidy is survived by two sons, Edward and his wife, Judith Cassidy, of Michigan and Michael Cassidy of Grahamsville; four daughters, and sons-in-law, Barbara and William Bertholf of Divine Corners, Cathy and David Oniffrey of Pound Ridge, Mary and Pravin Singh of Grahamsville and Theresa and Arnold Akerley of Neversink; 11 grandchildren, Christopher, John, Benjamin, Nicholas, Stephanie, Patricia, Caroline, Joseph, Mathew, Emily and Joshua; and a sister, Grace Alpin of Long Island.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Saturday at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Woodbourne with Fr. John Lynch officiating.
Interment was made in the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery in Liberty.
Memorial contributions may be made to Divine Mercy Association of Marion, Stockbridge, Mass. 01263-0004.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Colonial Memorial Funeral Home in Woodbourne.

Sol Gitlin of Studio City, Calif., a former longtime manager of Sullivan County Glass and Carl Arfa's Paint and Decorating stores for many years and a longtime Monticello resident, died on Friday, February 20, 2004, at his home. He was 77 years of age.
The son of the late Sadie and Louis Gitlin, he was born and raised in Monticello.
Mr. Gitlin graduated from Monticello High School, attended Alfred University and was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. As a musician, he led his own combo and played many of the hotels and bungalow colonies during the height of the summer resort era.
Mr. Gitlin was a member of Temple Sholom in Monticello where he sang in the choir and taught Hebrew School classes.
He is survived by his wife, Marion Gitlin, at home; two brothers, Murray Gitlin of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Max Gitlin of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; a daughter, Debbie of Oak Park, Calif.; a son, Richard Gitlin and his wife, Judy, of Nyack; four nephews, Jeffrey, Alan, Jay and Bruce; and a niece, Lynn.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday at the Mt. Sinai Mortuary in Glendale, Calif.
Burial will be made in a military cemetery in Riverside, Calif.