Lawrence Percy Van Etten

Lawrence Percy Van Etten passed away on December 22, 2007 at the age of 80. Lawrence was born in Schenectady on July 3, 1927, the eldest son of Percy and Mary (Matula) Van Etten. He interrupted High School to serve as a machinist's mate, third class for one and one half years in the Navy at the end of WW 2, and then returned to graduate from Draper High School in 1945. He continued service with the Naval Reserve through 1955. Lawrence was employed by the General Electric Company for 38 years as a Steamfitter. He married Barbara Montgomery, his wife of 56 years in 1951. They built a home on the farm where she had grown up on Upper Gregg Road and lived there until his death. Lawrence joined his brothers, George (Buddy) and James Montgomery in raising beef cattle on the small family farm for a number of years. He was a member of the Plotterkill Volunteer Fire department for over 40 years, faithfully serving his community. Lawrence enjoyed his family life, traveling, fishing and many other outdoor activities. Other favorite activities included western dancing with the former Hix n' Chix square dance group and memberships with the Young at Heart Seniors in Rotterdam and the Hourglass Seniors in Princetown. In recent years, he was an active member of the Hudson Adirondack Daylily Society and the Capital Hudson Iris Society. A special event was the annual Van Etten Family reunion held at his brother's home in Berne where he recorded yards and yards and years and years of fun on video tape of the ever growing family. Lawrence is survived by his very loving wife and family-Barbara, his wife, their son Robin Van Etten ( Sandra) of Rotterdam, their daughter Elizabeth Anne White ( George) of Williamsburg, Va, their precious grandchildren Christine and Brett Van Etten of Rotterdam, his brother George Van Etten ( Janice) of Berne, his sisters Elizabeth Van der Snoek of Boston, MA, Ida Saburro ( Fred) of Rotterdam and Mary Clark of Holbrook, MA, his brother in law Buddy Montgomery, his sister in law Donna Montgomery, nephew Ryan Montgomery and Ryan's family Druid, Lila and Molly of Rotterdam as well as several other nieces and nephews. Larry also leaves many dear friends in his life that will miss him. Funeral Services will be Thursday 11AM at the Bond Funeral Home Broadway and Guilderland Avenue Schenectady. Relatives and Friends are invited to attend. A calling hour will be Thursday morning 10-11AM prior to the service. Inurnment will be Fairview Cemetery in Princetown in the spring. Contribution's can be made Lawrence memory to the Plotterkill Volunteer Fire Department 3985 Putnam Road Schenectady, NY 12306 or to the Schenectady County Library 99 Clinton Street Schenectady, NY 12305.