We Say Goodbye to Korean War Vet Bill Dover

 Today there was a service for Korean War Veteran Bill Dover at the cemetery in Calcium, NY. He was 91 years old. Mr. Dover owned and operated a small country store in the hamlet of Calcium, the place where I grew up. His daughter Nora and I are the same age, graduating together from Indian River High School in 1972. Most people in Calcium interacted with Mr. Dover in one way or another on almost a daily basis. The store was the hub of the community and he, along with his wife Angie,  became iconic figures. Outside the store and after he retired he was helpful and kind. The following obit says it all. 

I had the honor of attending Bill Dover's 90th Birthday.

William A. Dover Obituary

William A. Dover, 91, formerly of Calcium, NY, passed away on May 26, 2025, at Samaritan Nursing Home, where he had been a resident.

He was born on January 5, 1934, in Toccoa, Georgia, the son of James K. and Winnie Ruth Rickman Dover. William graduated from high school in Toccoa, Georgia, and entered the U.S. Army in March 1951. He served as a medic during the Korean War and was honorably discharged after being wounded in action on March 19, 1954. For his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.

While stationed at Camp Drum, he met Angelina Lago. The couple married on March 21, 1954, in Toccoa, Georgia. In 1963, they moved to Calcium, NY, where they owned and operated Dover’s Grocery Store for 32 years. During that time, William also worked for Loblaws for 20 years.

William was an honorary member of the Calcium Fire Department, an avid gardener, a collector of coins, and a true jack-of-all-trades.

He is survived by two daughters and their husbands: Nora M. and Mark K. Cloonan of Calcium, NY; and Cheryl A. and Francis A. Montressor Jr. of Calcium, NY; five grandchildren: Ryan Montressor, Jade and Jamie Montressor, Jerick Montressor, Gabrielle and William Mayfield, Brittany Widrick and fiancé Greg Essenlohr; and great-grandchildren Gavin, Logan, Sasha, Joseph, Aydriana, Cameron, Levi, and Brielle.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Angelina Dover, who passed away on August 21, 2023; his brother, James Ray Dover; and three sisters: Evelie Walrup, Willie Ruth McCracken, and Sally Mae Dover.

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Adventures With A Purpose search for Guy Pyke, missing since 1999

Cold case research diving team Adventures With A Purpose were in Watertown area searching for my father's cousin  Guy Pyke who vanished in April 1999.  photo by Gary Walts

Today cold case research diving team Adventures With A Purpose were in Watertown area working on the disappearance of Guy Pyke who vanished in April 1999. He was my father's cousin from Onondaga County, last seen visiting my mother in Calcium. They are searching a pond near Fort Drum this afternoon. The pond is one of about 9 bodies of water they have mapped out for sonar search.

Cold case research diving team Adventures With A Purpose were in Watertown area searching for my father's cousin  Guy Pyke who vanished in April 1999.  photo by Gary Walts

Cold case research diving team Adventures With A Purpose were in Watertown area searching for my father's cousin  Guy Pyke who vanished in April 1999.  photo by Gary Walts

Cold case research diving team Adventures With A Purpose were in Watertown area searching for my father's cousin  Guy Pyke who vanished in April 1999.  photo by Gary Walts

It's a Beautiful Summer Here In Northern NY 2022

A classic Summer sky at the home I grew up in,  in Calcium, NY Now owned by my Celebrity Brother.

The Summer of 2022 here in Northern NY so far has been absolutely beautiful. There has been little rain, (in fact we could use more) the days have been mostly sunny with blue skies displaying classic cloud formations. Humidity has been low, only 3 or 4 days I can recall where the humidity has been uncomfortable. Most daytime temperatures below 80 accompanied by gentle breezes. Some days stronger winds that I enjoy a lot. Evenings in the yard of our Chaumont, NY home have seen great displays of fireflys (or some call them lightning bugs). I'm reminded of the lyrics to the song Camelot: "In short there's simply not, a more congenial spot, for happy ever aftering than here in Camelot". 

 Richard Burton sings Camelot in 1978

Gary Walts Photo archives: Edward Labrie feed pigeons Winter 1988

Edward LaBrie feeds pigeons at his farm in Calcium, NY, on a snowy day in winter of 1988.

Edward LaBrie, Calcium, NY, feeds pigeons on a snowy day in 1988.  Photo copyright Gary Walts

Edward LaBrie, Calcium, NY,    Photo copyright Gary Walts

Edward LaBrie moved his family from Tupper Lake, NY, to the Calcium farm in 1954. He passed away in 1994. In 1997 or so I documented the family's day to day life on the farm. The Sun Magazine published  a Aa photo essay from that project in the January 2002 issue. 

Snowman and snow scene

Snowman in my neighbors yard, Chaumont, N.Y.                                                                             Gary Walts photo

Went Christmas shopping yesterday with the Better Half and in the course of it picked up our Christmas tree. I'll put up photos of that later. In the mean time the snowy tree in the field was taken in Calcium, NY at the Gracy farm. The snowman is in the front yard of one of my neighbors here in Chaumont.

Snowy tree in a field at the Gracy farm in Calcium, N.Y.                                                Gary Walts photo