OSWEGATCHIE — William H. "Pete" Chambers, 78, Oswegatchie, formerly of Gouverneur, died Wednesday at Clifton-Fine Hospital, Star Lake.
Mr. Chambers was a maintenance worker for Gouverneur School District for several years, and owned and operated the Craft Shop on Main Street, Gouverneur, and the B&W Arco gas station, Philadelphia. He was a general laborer and drove shipments to sites for Northern Star Silo, Gouverneur, was a maintenance worker for Wanakena State Ranger School and used his Gouverneur home as a newspaper distribution center for the Watertown Daily Times.
Born Nov. 17, 1929, in Ogdensburg, son of Joseph Henry and Ellan Annie Brown Chambers, he attended a one-room schoolhouse and later earned his general equivalency diploma.
He married Elizabeth Jane "Betty" Johnson on March 26, 1954, in Moss Point, Miss. The couple lived on East Main Street, Gouverneur, for many years, and moved to Oswegatchie in 1985.
Mr. Chambers served in the Air Force during the Korean War as a strategic control officer, and the Vietnam War and was awarded a certificate of recognition for service during the Cold War for promoting peace and stability. He was honorably discharged and retired from the military on Nov. 1, 1970.
He earned his private piloting license and flew his first solo flight on June 11, 1961, in Villers, France.
He enjoyed camping, fishing, woodworking, computers, spider solitaire and amateur radio as a general class operator, call sign KB2WIR.
Surviving besides his wife are two daughters and their husbands, Christine M. and Paul S. Martin, Oswegatchie, and Barbara Ellan and Larry Johnson, Port Deposit, Md.; two sons and their wives, William J. and Donna, Gouverneur, and Robert A. and Wanda, Abingdon, Md.; a sister, Mary, address unknown, 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in Oswegatchie Cemetery with the Rev. Merton E. Parks, Oswegatchie Baptist Church, officiating.
There will be no calling hours. Arrangements are with French Funeral Home, Edwards.
Donations may be made to Star Lake Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 22, Star Lake, N.Y. 13690.
