Ernest Bollin Sr.

Ernest Bollin Sr.

January 10, 1923 – June 15, 2015

92 years old

Ernest Bollin Sr. passed away quietly at home on June 15, 2015.  He was a twin born to Maude Donnelly and Ernest Bollin on January 10, 1923 in Ellenville, New York.  Ernest served in WWII with the 749 Tank Battalion during the D-Day invasion in Normandy, then throughout Northern Europe.  He was wounded but left the field hospital before being discharged to remain with his Battalion as it moved.  At the end of the war, he returned home to marry his high school sweetheart, Eula Sahler, raise a family, work as a Correctional Officer, electrician, and run Bollin’s Farm Stand in Napanoch.  Eula passed away on November 3, 2010 and he has missed her dearly. 

Ernest served as Commander of the Cook-Taylor American Legion Post, County Commander of the American Legion, Councilman for the Town of Wawarsing, Member of the Ellenville Central School District Board of Education, a Deacon in the Ellenville Reformed Church, and Director of Alternative Sentencing for the Town of Wawarsing.  For many years he placed flags on servicemen’s graves before Memorial Day services and worked to provide holiday dinners for senior citizens.

Ernest was honored as the Noonday Club Citizen of the Year in 1995 and May 11 was declared Ernie Bollin Day by the Town of Wawarsing.  He was a true humanitarian; earnest, mindful of others, benevolent, and eager to listen yet hesitant to tell you what to do.  He will be missed by his children; Ernest Bollin Jr. of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Glenn Bollin of Kerhonkson, Bonnie Muller of Middletown, Carol Donnelly of Clifton Park, eight grandchildren, one great grandchild, and so many others who he had taken under his wing during a long lifetime of service to his community and country.

Visiting will be held on Friday, June 19^th from 2-4 and 7-9pm at Loucks Funeral Home, 79 N. Main St., Ellenville, NY. A graveside service with military honors is scheduled for Saturday, June 20^th at 11am at Pine Bush Cemetery, Kerhonkson.

Donations may be made to the Cook-Taylor American Legion Post and the Hunt Memorial Preservation Committee.