C. Powel “Chet”‘s Obituary Queensbury — C. Powel “Chet” South, 88, of Queensbury, passed away at home on March 21, 2019, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Born June 25, 1930 in Phillipsburg, NJ, he was the son of the late Chester C. and Harriet (Smith) South. As a young man, Chet was a movie projectionist at the Rialto Theatre in Glens Falls.
It was there where he met his beloved wife of 61 years, Jeraldine, who worked the Rialto’s candy counter. They ultimately married in 1949 and settled in Queensbury. Also in 1949, Chet joined the U.S. Navy Reserves.
For almost 20 years he served as a Metalsmith and Shipfitter aboard Submarine Tenders that supplied and repaired our nation’s submarine fleet at sea. Chet was employed by the Duplex Construction Co. for 45 years, starting as a laborer and ultimately serving as the firm’s Vice President. He supervised countless construction projects in our region including the One Washington Street building in Glens Falls, the South Wing expansion at Glens Falls Hospital, the Native Textiles Plant in Queensbury, and the Es County Nursing Home in Elizabethtown.
As a life-long member of the First Baptist Church of Glens Falls, Chet served as a Deacon, Church Moderator, Youth Group Leader, and member of the Board of Christian Education. Chet was also a trained Lay Minister who in times of need would fill the pulpits of community churches throughout the Adirondack region. Chet was a proud 66-year member of the Queensbury Central Volunteer Fire Department.
Over the years, he served as Queensbury Central’s First Assistant Chief, President, Chaplain, and in 2018 he was recognized as an Honorary Chief. Chet was also a member of the Hudson Valley Firemen’s Association, the Firemen’s Association of New York, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, the New York State Association of Fire Chaplains, and was a past-president of the Lower Adirondack Firemen’s Association. Chet also served as an elected member of the Warren County Board of Supervisors and was a former secretary for the Warren County Republican Committee.
Chet was also an avid fisherman, canoeist, nature photographer and woodworker. Above all, he enjoyed camping with his family and close friends. His love for the outdoors lives on in his children, grandchildren, and generations of Baptist Youth Group members.
Besides his parents, Chester was predeceased by his loving wife of 61 years, Jeraldine (Duckett) South, two sisters, Eunice Morrell and Caroline Mosher, a brother, Eugene South, and a great-granddaughter, Julliette Saunders. Survivors include one daughter, Nancy Mead and her husband, William, of Hudson Falls; two sons, Powel J. “PJ” Hoch-South and his wife, Amy, of Ridgefield, Wa. and James Alfred South and his wife, Traci Torrence, of Uniontown, Pa.
; two sisters, Catherine Evans and her husband, Carl, of Hartford, NY and Eloise Clarke of Ocala Fl. ; four granddaughters, April South-Bannin of Texas, Violet Sims and her husband, David, of Medina, NY, Maggie Hoch-South of Ridgefield, Wa. and Annie Hoch-South of Ridgefield, Wa.
; one grandson, Matthew Powel South of Uniontown, Pa. ; six great-granddaughters and four great-grandsons; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Also surviving Chet is his sister-in-law, Marijane Melton of Queensbury, and her sons, Kevin Melton and Chris Melton, who helped him dearly and made sure he was able to stay in his home after his health began to fail.
Friends may call upon the family from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 29, 2019, at Queensbury Central Volunteer Fire Company, 17 Lafayette St., Queensbury, with a brief service being performed by the Queensbury Vol. Fire Co. and an association of others. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, at the First Baptist Church of Glens Falls, 100 Maple St., Glens Falls, with the Rev.
Stephanie Schneider officiating. The Rev. Lamont Robinson will also speak as the past chaplain of the Bay Ridge Volunteer Fire Company.
Interment will follow at the Pine View Cemetery, Quaker Rd. , Queensbury. Friends may join the family afterwards at the Queensbury Central Vol.
Fire Co. for refreshments. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chet’s memory to the Queensbury Central Volunteer Fire Company Fire Prevention Program, 17 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY 12804, or the First Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 100 Maple Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801. Chet’s family wishes to extend a sincere thank-you to his home health aides, Tammy Incramona Michele Wood, Barbara Woodard, Kelly Russell and her dog Shyanne, and his Hospice Nurse, Vicki Goodspeed, who took such good care of him until the Lord brought him home.
We also thank all of the firefighters and church members who have been an endless of love and support through this difficult time. Condolences may be sent directly to Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury, NY or through www. bakerfuneralhome.com.
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