Horace Rickard

Cobleskill- Horace S. Rickard, 98, of Grandview Drive, died Thursday, December 16, 2010 at Cobleskill Regional Hospital after a brief illness.

Horace was born September 18, 1912 in the town of Middleburgh to Isaac "Zeke" and Elizabeth Herron Rickard. He graduated from Cobleskill High School in 1931 and spent the majority of his years living in the Schoharie County area.

Until his death, Horace very proudly had held the distinction of being the oldest remaining guide at Howe Caverns. He also worked at GLF, Niagara Mohawk, General Electric, the Connecticut Atomic Nuclear Laboratory in Middletown, CT, and entered retirement in 1975 following employment with Pratt & Whitney. Horace was a lifetime union member of IAM Lodge 1746 and a member of the International Association of Machinists.

During his lifetime, Horace was a member of several Methodist churches. He was a charter member of the Methodist Church in East Cobleskill. That membership was transferred to the First Methodist Church in Middletown, CT. Upon returning to Cobleskill in 1976, Horace became a member of the Cobleskill United Methodist Church.

Horace, also known to some as Rick or Abe, was a man who was interested in everything and one who could almost fix anything. Being a skilled welder, family and friends were often gifted with creations he made from odd assortments of items he had on hand. Those who knew Horace well also knew of his love for the daily crossword puzzles and word jumbles which were always done in ink. In his later years, especially, Horace loved to have visitors. He had a fantastic memory, a great "gift to gab", and enjoyed sharing innumerable stories and interesting anecdotes about the past, people, and history of Cobleskill and Schoharie County Region. No visit with Horace was complete without a meal shared at the Cobleskill Diner.

Horace was preceded in death by his wife, Marian Shaul Rickard in 2004, his brother, Everette Rickard in 1993, his parents, Isaac and Elizabeth, and Catherine S. Pulling, mother of his daughters.

Surviving are two daughters: Betty M. (Larry) Roush of Lakewood, NY and Karen J. (James) Murray of Dayville, CT. Also surviving Horace are four step-daughters and a step-son: Louise Bergan of Lenox, MA; Juliet (Jared) Emery of Great Barrington, MA; Claire (Robert) Sagor of Greenfield, MA; Susan (Gary) Walters of Princeton, NJ and Paul (Celeste) Bergan of St. Regis Falls, NY. Through the blending of families, Horace had sixteen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren who cared deeply for him. Horace is also survived by three nephews: Gordon, Gilbert, and Peter Rickard. Jason Rickard (son of Gilbert) and his wife, Elaine, gave birth to a little girl, Aine, in Ireland a year ago. Horace eagerly anticipated the meeting of the oldest Rickard, being himself, and the youngest, little Aine, whom he met in December.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, Dec. 28. 2010, at Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill, with Rev. Pamela Mikel Hayes of the Cobleskill United Methodist Church officiating. Inurnment will be in Cobleskill Rural Cemetery. Family and friends are also invited to a period of visitation to be held from 5 to 7 PM on Monday, December 27 at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cobleskill United Methodist Church, 107 Chapel St., Cobleskill, NY 12043 or the Cobleskill Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 451, Cobleskill, NY 12043 or to a charity of one's choice.