HUDSON FALLS – Donald W. Fountaine Sr. , of Hudson Falls
passed away Tuesday, September 17, 2019, choosing to join the love of his life
Alice, whom he has missed so much these last 13 years. “Froggy”, as so many of
his friends referred to him, ended his battle with Alzheimer’s at the Slate
Valley Center in Granville, New York, and joined the many friends and family
that have gone before him
He was born on November 29, 1937 to Marion E. (Myott)
Fountaine and Adelard Fountaine of Whitehall, the second of 5 children.
He graduated from Hudson Falls High School before going on
to serve his country across the globe. October 19, 1955, he began a 21 year career
in the Air Force. Just prior to his duty in Vietnam, he attended the wedding of
his cousin Ann Marie Bernard and her husband-to-be, Tom Reed, where he met his
future wife. (Thanks to them) On August 24, 1968, he married Alice Marie Paige
of Barre Vermont, beginning a thirty-eight year union that would last until her
death in 2006. She was the love of his life. It was amazing how many people commented
on how he glowed whenever he was around her. He was assigned many stations
including Australia, England, Vietnam, and a three-year stopover in Japan,
which his family was lucky enough to be part of. In Japan, he met two of his lifelong
friends, Cathy and Chief, who showed him the ropes while stationed in Japan and
I am sure have made the preparations for my dad to join so many of his family
and friends up there. He retired from the Air Force in 1976 at the rank of
Technical Sargent. He took great pride in the six hours he spent in a rice
patty in Vietnam, as well as all of the fine young men he signed into the Air
Force as a recruiter. He bought his home in Hudson Falls , New York where he
and his wife raised their four children, Bobby, Donny, Scotty, and Katy-Lynn.
He went on to a 23-year career at Finch Pruyn in several
positions, but primarily as a traffic coordinator. When he was not working, he
was busy with his kids, coaching their little league games with Pat Morton,
transporting his daughter to her many gymnastic practices and meets, no matter
how distant, and rooting on his son’s athletics. In between, there was always time
for apple picking at Hicks, attending the balloon festival with Katy Lynn,
fishing with his boys or random trips for a fallen tree alongside the road that
would supply many full fireplaces with good wood in the fall and winter. In his
more recent years on many nightly rides, he would often look out of the car at
a new fallen tree and say “I wish I had my saw, that’s some good wood”.
After his retirement from Finch in 1999, he found great pleasure
in spending time with his wife, running for rolls and making deliveries for
“Uncle Scooters”, and frequenting the many golf courses in the area with Ronny
and Charlie. Following the death of his wife, he became the rock who kept his
family together, he continued the Sunday family dinners and he was always there to support his children
and his grandchildren, whom he adored, at their many events including soccer
games, moving-up ceremonies, musicals and anything else they were involved in.
He chopped wood throughout his life. He viewed it as his constant exercise. He
was the hardest working guy, always rushing from Sunday breakfast after church
with “things to do”, which usually meant helping out his neighbors (the Breens,
the Mary’s, Kay), his Aunt Gen or working beside his son Donny in the garden.
He was a great believer in his God and his country. Every
vacation he took, the first concern once they arrived was the location of the
closest Roman Catholic church. His faith and attendance for Sunday mass was an
absolute in his life, until the last six months when he could no longer
physically do it.
In addition to his
wife and parents he was predeceased by his sisters, Pat Campbell and Sandra Lee
Lewis. Several friends and family await him. Ron and Pat, Charlie and his Nancy,
his brother-in-law Eddie, and Aunt Gen; make sure to give him a proper welcome.
He earned it and will be missed.
Left to cherish his memory are his children, Robert and his
love and rock, Wendy Janes, Donald Fountaine Jr. and his wife, a devoted
daughter-in-law, Kelly, his son and chief chef, Scott Fountaine, and his loving
daughter Katy Lynn Fountaine Fuller and her partner Mike Young; his precious
grandchildren who brought him so much joy, Alyssa Marie, Donald III, and Karah
Fountaine, Emma Alise and Gabriel Fuller, as well as Magyn Fuller, her fiance’
Brandon Manney and their daughter Isabella Manney; his siblings Martha Ann
Searleman and her husband Sandford, David Fountaine and his wife Helen, his
brother-in-law Clifford Lewis, his brother-in-law Gerald Paige and his
sister-in-law Roberta Proulx along with many special nieces and nephews.
We cannot begin to express the sorrow that we feel, as he
was truly a man of honor and utmost character who loved deeply. Our lives are
forever changed. He was an exceptional father, the most loving father-in-law, a
cherished Papa and a true friend. We will hold on to our memories, carry on our
traditions and take some comfort in knowing that our Mom and Dad, our Meme and
Papa, have reunited.
We would like to thank life-long family friend and pie
maker, Pat Tallon (Mrs. T.), dad’s good friend Linda Denton, and Aunt Mary for
their friendship and support. We would also like to extend a special thanks to
Joanne, Kristen, and Cindy for all you did these last months showing our dad
caring, sensitivity, and understanding.
Thanks also to Nurse Practitioner Elaine Williams and all the staff at
Hudson Falls Internal Medicine for the years of caring and patience shown to
our father. Lastly, thank you to the staff at Glens falls Hospital, Slate Valley
Center, and Father Tom for enabling our father to pass on at peace and in comfort.
The family invites friends and family to call from 4 pm to 7
pm at the Carleton Funeral Home Inc.,68 Main Street in Hudson Falls on Friday
September 20, 2019.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 am on Saturday
September 21, 2019 at St. Mary’s/ St. Paul’s Church on the park in Hudson
Falls.
The Rite of Committal will be held following the mass at
Union Cemetery in Fort Edward.
In lieu of flowers, at their father’s request, Mr.
Fountaine’s family has suggested donation’s be sent to the American Cancer
Society, 1 Penny Lane , Latham, Ny 12110.
