Charles Edward “Eddie” Gillette

CHARLES EDWARD “EDDIE” GILLETTE

HORNELL-Charles Edward “Eddie” Gillette, 79, of 2 East Main St., passed away Tuesday morning (March 4, 2008) at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Bath, after a long illness.
Born in Springfield, Mass. on Feb. 1, 1929, he was the son of the late William and Marie Hartwick Gillette. He was married to the former Marilyn Fisher, who predeceased him on Jan. 18, 2003, after 48 years of marriage. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his sister, Dorothy Gillette.
A resident of Hornell for most of his life, Eddie graduated from Hornell High School with the class of 1946 and served with the U.S. Army from 1950 until his honorable discharge in 1952. From 1952 to 1956 he was a member of the Army Reserve.
Before his retirement he was employed as purchasing agent for the Morrison-Knudsen Co. in Hornell.
Eddie was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Hornell and served as the Sunday School Basketball coach for the church for more than 20 years. He also coached for the Hornell Grasshoppers for about 15 years.
A member of the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440 in Hornell for more than 50 years, he was also a 32nd. degree Mason.
His family includes his four sons, Jeffrey (Faye) Gillette, Andrew (Cheri) Gillette and Thomas (Debbie) Gillette all of Rochester and Stephen (Angie) Gillette of Hornell; his daughter, Ellen (Michael) Ramirez of Hornell; his 16 grandchildren; his sister, Loranca (Thomas) Padgett of Elmira; also his nieces, nephews and his devoted caregivers, Brenda Fronk and Linda Burdett.
Calling hours are from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell, where a funeral service, with military honors, will be held following calling hours at 8 p.m. Thursday, with the Rev. David Kilgore officiating. Private committal services and interment will be held at the convenience of his family at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to the Bath V.A. Palliative Care Dept., V.A. Medical Center, Bath, NY 14810. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.