Eugene Leydecker

Carlisle- Eugene R. Leydecker, 84, of Little York Road, died Thursday, January 30, 2014, at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

Born July 1, 1929 in Buffalo, NY, he was the son of the late Leo and Thelma (Brace) Leydecker. Thelma died when Eugene was three years old, so he was raised by his father, his late paternal grandmother, Anna (Winter) Leydecker, and stepmother, Mary (Hefren) Leydecker, who predeceased him in 1999.

Eugene proudly served his country beginning with his enlistment in the US Army in 1948 until his honorable discharge in 1952. In 1956, he re-enlisted and joined the US Navy, completing thirty years of active and inactive service upon his retirement in 1981. Throughout his career, Eugene served in the Korean Conflict with the 720 Military Police Battalion and on various aircraft carriers as an Air Traffic Controller and Radar Controller during the Viet Nam Conflict. During his years of service, he moved to the California area and upon retirement, he was employed by the FAA as an Air Traffic Controller at Palmdale Airport Plant 42 in Palmdale, CA (assembly location for the L-1011, the B-1 and B-2 Bombers, and the NASA Space Shuttles) and at other FAA facilities. Eugene received numerous decorations throughout his military career, including the Korean Conflict Medal with 5 Bronze Stars, Viet Nam Conflict Medal, numerous Good Conduct Medals and National Defense Medals.

He was a commercial pilot with a passion for flying, as well as a self-taught piano player, and he loved to play golf. Eugene moved in 2003 to Carlisle, to live with his daughter and family.

Eugene was predeceased by his loving wife, Fumiko Y. Leydecker, whom he married Oct. 10, 1948 and she passed on March 7, 2003; his brother, Robert B. Leydecker, Sr., who died March 21, 2003; two nieces: Bonnie McPheron and Beverly Poush and grandson, Gary Wood.

Survivors include his three children: Laura (Gene) Hoyt of Carlisle, Richard (Isabel) Leydecker of El Paso, TX, and James (Sally) Leydecker of Reno, NV; three sisters: Sandra (John) Maciejewski of Amherst, Barbara (Ed) Kaczmarek and MaryPat Mulqueen, both of East Aurora, NY; six grandchildren: Joseph Leydecker of Reno, NV, Valerie (Arturo) Vazquez of El Paso, TX, Erika (Abel) Torres of El Paso, TX, Bill (Selina) Wood of Shingletown, CA, and Mike (Gloria) Torma of Reno, NV, Cory Wood of Virginia City, NV; five great-grandchildren: Andrew Vazquez of El Paso, TX, Gabriel Torres of El Paso, TX, Victoria Vazquez of El Paso, TX, Forrest Wood of Shingletown, CA, and Cody Wood of Virginia City, NV; his sister-in-law: Toshiko Tanaka of Chiba City, Japan; five nephews: Ikuo Tanaka and Hisao Tanaka, both of Tokyo, Japan and niece Ryoko Tanaka of Chiba City, Japan, Robert B. (Karen) Leydecker, Jr. of Henderson, NV, William E. Leydecker and Barry A. Leydecker, both of Las Vegas, NV; several great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as his special childhood friend: Thomas (Karen) Sheehan of Monkton, MD, and members of the Fraire family of El Paso, TX.

A private graveside service will be held in the spring at Cobleskill Rural Cemetery with full military honors. There will be no calling hours.

Memorial contributions may be made to Carlisle Volunteer Rescue Squad, PO Box Drawer B, Carlisle, NY 12031 or Leatherstocking Honor Flight, PO Box 621, Cobleskill, NY 12043.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill, and Palmer & Shaylor Funeral Home, Middleburgh.