Oliver Dyer Higgins

EAST GREENBUSH, NY/ RENSSELAER COUNTY, NY -Oliver Dyer Higgins, 87, of Washington Ave. Hampton Manor, died January 15, 2008 at Evergreen Commons Nursing Home. He was born Oct. 8, 1920 at home in Mapleton, ME to the late Orin and Mona Greenleaf Higgins.     He was raised in Mapleton, ME and graduated from Mapleton High School and airplane mechanic school at Roosevelt Field, Long Island. He worked as an Airplane Mechanic in Maryland, LaGuardia Field and Mississippi. He joined the Navy in 1942 and began his Naval Aviation training at Siena College in Albany. While there, he met his future wife at the Albany YMCA and on June 25, 1944 he was married to Grace Pearsall at St. Mary’s Church Clinton Heights, NY. His pilot training ended at Pensacola, FL in 1944. He was selected to receive additional training as a marine, learning to fly the F4U Corsair. He was stationed in the 5th Marine Division in the Hawaiian Islands and was later stationed in Japan during the Occupation. He was reactivated for service in 1951 for the Korean war. He volunteered for helicopter training and later evacuated the wounded from the front lines of battle in Korea to field hospitals. He obtained the rank of major in the Marines and was awarded the commendation metal pendant, the Bronze Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross medals. Mr. Higgins spent most of his career as a self-employed carpenter, building and remodeling many homes in the area. He loved deer hunting, wood working, playing cards, canoeing, and participating in outdoor activities with various family members. The family would like to thank the staff of Evergreen Commons Nursing Home for the care they provided Oliver during his stay.
    Predeceased by his brothers Cleo, Haywood, Jack and Toby.
    In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Gail Higgins of Anchorage, AK, Gerald Higgins of Stevensville, MT and Joyce (Michael) Ermer of Olean, NY; six grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
    Relatives and friends were invited to attend his funeral Friday 10:00 a.m. from the Rockefeller Funeral Home, 165 Columbia Tpk., Rensselaer. Interment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. Friends called Thursday from 5-7p.m. in the funeral home. Contributions may be made to Bruen Rescue Squad, 1116 Red Mill Rd., Rensselaer, NY 12144.