April 12, 2008  

FISHERS LANDING, N.Y.  —  H. . George Cupernall, 84, Arcadia Park, died Friday afternoon, April 11, at his home.

A prayer service will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 15, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., 320 John St., Clayton. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Wellesley Island.

Donations may be made in his name to T. I. E. R. S., P. O. Box 524, Clayton, N.Y. 13601 or to Hospice of Jefferson County, 425 Washington St., Watertown, N.Y. 13601.

Born April 26, 1923, in Thousand Island Park, the son of Hanley T. and Bertha Landon Cupernall, he graduated from Clayton High School.

At age 15, he was the youngest licensed river pilot on the St. Lawrence River. 

He entered the Army Air Corp on Aug. 30, 1943. He served as a pilot of a B-17, flying combat missions over the European Theater, and also was involved in the air offensive over Europe, Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon with four battle stars. He was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant on Nov. 22, 1945.

He married Mary Kittle on Oct. 25, 1947, in Clayton. She died Dec. 28, 1998.

He graduated with a B. A. in Mechanical Engineering from Clarkson College of Technology in 1949.

After Clarkson he worked as an engineer for St. Regis Paper, Deferiet, until 1960. The family moved to Massachusetts where he worked for Fitchburg Paper Co. 

In 1974, they returned to northern New York and he worked as a chief engineer for Premoid Paper Co., Brownville, until his retirement at age 65. The couple had also wintered for several years in Florida.

He was a member of F. & A. M. Chaumont Lodge #0172 and of the American Legion Colon-Couch Post 821, Clayton. 

He was an avid fisherman and boater, especially with his family. He enjoyed golf, watching NASCAR and other sports, and watching "The Price Is Right" for many years.

Surviving are a son and his wife, James E. and Darlene D. Cupernall, Fla.; a daughter and her husband, Jean M. and David R. Kenney, Clayton; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

His brother, Richard, died before him.

Obituary provided by Cummings Funeral Service and Newzjunky.com, Watertown, N.Y.