Joseph D. Scholar

Joseph D. Scholar, Jr, 85, of Kingston, died Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. He was born May 28, 1926 in Rome, NY to the late Joseph D. Scholar Sr. and Kathryn Daniels Scholar.


He was married to Jacqueline Coughlin Scholar

Joseph served his country as a US Navy "Seabee" during WWII in the Pacific Theater and China from 1944 until 1946. He saw action at Saipan and Okinawa in 1945 and was awarded two Purple Hearts for wounds he suffered. After returning home he joined family business, J. Scholar, Inc, an appliance store in Kingston for 60 years.

Joseph was active in the Kingston community and volunteered in many organizations. He was past president of the Uptown and Central Business Associations, he was a member of the NY Urban Renewal Authority for 5 years, and of the Kingston Community Development Authority where he served as chairman for 5 years. He was a past board member of the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce, he was a charter and life member of the Bushkill Rod and Gun Club in West Shokan where he also served as secretary, a past president of the Lion's Club of Kingston and was honored to receive the Lion of the Year Award. He was a past president of the Kingston Lion's Civic Center, past Zone Chairman and Cabinet Secretary of Lion's International District 20-0, he received the Melvin Jones Fellow award in 1994 and the Monarch Award in 1998 for 55 years of service. He was the founder and past commander of Navy Seabees Veterans, Kingston NY Island X9, a life member of the Navy Seabee Veterans of America, service officer and life member of the Disabled American Veterans of Ulster County Post 156 where he served as commander for five years. He was a life member of Joyce Schirick Post #1386 VFW in Kingston, he was a member of the China-Burma-India Veterans Association, a member of the Phoenicia American Legion.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Debra Albright, Lesley McDermott, David J. Scholar and E. J. Scholar, a sister, Peggy Mirick of Holden, MA, grandchildren, Alicia Levine and her husband Joshua, Ean McDermott and his wife Erin, Kyle McDermott, Devin McDermott and his wife Kristin and Shane McDermott of San Francisco, 7 great-grandchildren as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Entrusted to the care of Luke Keyser, A. Carr & Son Funeral Home, 65 Lucas Ave, Kingston, NY 12401 where friends may call on Tuesday from 2-4 & 6-9 pm. The officers and members of Joyce Schirick Post # 1386 will gather for a service ritual at 7pm at the funeral home.

The procession will form at 9am on Wednesday at the funeral home and then proceed to St. Joseph's RC Church where at 10am a mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated with Father Frank Damis, officiating. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery with military honors provided by Joyce Schirick Post # 1386 VFW.

Light a candle in memory of Joseph at www.CarrandSonFuneralHome.com