Obituary of Walter Trepashko

SALISBURY CENTER - Walter Trepashko, 84 of 137 State Route 29A, Salisbury Center passed away Monday, December 29, 2008 at Faxton St. Lukes Rehabilitation Center, Utica. He was born on August 6, 1924, Manhattan, NY the son of Fred and Pauline (Zwirko) Trepashko. He was graduate of New York City Schools he later received his undergraduate degree from the Pratt Institute, New York and his Master Degree in Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, NY. Mr. Trepashko was a veteran of World War II, serving with the US Navy. He entered the service on May 4, 1943 in the Bronx, NY, where he served as a Naval Aviator and was subsequently injured in the crash of a "PBY Catalina" aircraft in 1944 and was Honorably Discharged as a Seaman First Class on November 10, 1944 at the US Naval Hospital, San Diego, CA. On September 17, 1947 he was united in marriage to the former Phyllis Sutton. She predeceased him in April of 2004. Mr. Trepashko was employed as an engineer at one time by the Mobil Oil Company and the Lorillard Tobacco Co. He was last employed for 20 years by the US Treasury Department in Manhattan retiring in 1993. Upon his retirement in 1993 he relocated to Salisbury Center where he continued to use his engineering skills to assist the Town of Salisburys Covered Bridge project, as well as the building of the Ayers Animal Shelter, Sprakers, NY He has been very active over the years in animal care and rescue, as well as operating his own rescue service along with his companion Gloria at their home in Salisbury Center. He is survived by his companion Gloria Shell, Salisbury Center, 2 sons Walter Trepashko, Jr. and his wife Carol, Altadena, CA and Dr. Donald W. Trepashko, MD and his wife Nancy, Glenview, IL, Glorias daughter Cathy Hess, Dolgeville, 2 of Glorias sons Andrew Shell, Dolgeville and Charles Shell and his wife Christine, Newton, NJ, 3 grandchildren Ella Trepashko, William Trepashko and Tanya Trepashko, 2 great grandchildren Gabriel and Orion, Glorias 5 grandchildren Amanda Weiderman and her husband James, Jonathan and Nicholas Hargrave, Marie Palmisano and her husband Mark and Michael Shell. He also leaves his 11 beloved dogs. He was predeceased by a brother Nicholas Trepashko. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 8, 2009 at 11:00 am from the Holy Family Parish Church, Cor. of Main & John St.s, Little Falls where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Anthony Ligato. Interment will take place in St. Bridgets Cemetery, Town of Salisbury in the spring where full military honors will be accorded. Relatives and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Chapman-Moser Funeral Home, Inc., 42 N. Ann Street, Little Falls on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 from 3-6 pm and to attend the funeral services Thursday morning. In lieu of flowers it is the wish of the family that contributions in memory of Mr. Trepashko be considered to the Herkimer Co. Humane Society, PO Box 73, Mohawk, NY 13407, the Community Animal Program (CAP), 15 Jackson St., Little Falls, NY 13365 or to the Helping Animals Live Organization (HALO), 72 N. Ann St., Little Falls, NY 13365 Envelopes are also available at the funeral home for this purpose.