Filkins, Clyde L.

Birth

Clyde L. Filkins was born in Berne on July 9, 1919, the son of the late Fred Hazael and Nettie F. Filkins (née Skinner). His sister was:

• Doris F. Filkins

Military

He served in the United States Army during World War II in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and in central Europe. Mr. Filkins received the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theater Ribbon, the European African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Ribbon.

He also received the Bronze Star, the Infantry Combat Badge, the New York State Prisoner of War Medal, and the United States Army Prisoner of War Medal, said his nephew, Donald LeBuis.

Occupation

Mr. Filkins retired after working for the post office in Westerlo as a rural postal carrier. He was a charter member of the Westerlo Volunteer Fire Company and a former member of the Town of Westerlo Rescue Squad.

Mrs. Boomhower recalled her uncle’s involvement in the community and the respect he garnered because of his dedication to his work as a postal worker and his years of service with the Westerlo Volunteer Fire Company. "A lot of people knew him and were acquainted with him," she said.

"He was very prompt," she said, adding that she could "set her clock" by his visits. "I knew that my mail would be here 20 minutes after 12," she said.

Death

Clyde L. Filkins died at the Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albany on Feb. 17, 2007.

Obituary

Clyde L. Filkins

WESTERLO — Clyde L. Filkins, a decorated World War II prisoner of war who worked as a postal carrier and served with the local fire company, died at the Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albany on Feb. 17, 2007.

He was 87.

Mr. Filkins was born in Berne on July 9, 1919, the son of the late Fred Hazael and Nettie F. Filkins (née Skinner).

He served in the United States Army during World War II in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and in central Europe. Mr. Filkins received the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theater Ribbon, the European African Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Ribbon.

He also received the Bronze Star, the Infantry Combat Badge, the New York State Prisoner of War Medal, and the United States Army Prisoner of War Medal, said his nephew, Donald LeBuis.

He was a P.O.W from 1944 to 1945 and was an active member of the American Ex-P.O.W Association. He was also a member of the Cub of the Golden Lion Association, a group of soldiers from the 106th Infantry Regiment, said Mr. LeBuis.

Both Mr. LeBuis and Marlene Boomhower, Mr. Filkins’s niece, spoke of their uncle’s silence about his experiences during World War II.

"He was overseas only a few weeks before becoming a prisoner of war," she said.

Mr. Filkins became a prisoner of war on Dec. 19, 1944, "in the first few days of the Battle of the Bulge," and escaped on April 11, 1945, said Mr. LeBuis.

"He was one of the ones who came home and was ready to get on with his life," Mrs. Boomhower said. "He did not talk about his experiences and we all respected that," she said.

"I’ve always wondered about it, but I will never know," Mrs. Boomhower said.

There was only one occasion, said Mr. LeBuis, when Mr. Filkins shared his experiences with him about his time overseas during the war. During that time, he said, Mr. Filkins shared details with him he had never shared with his wife, Margaret.

Mr. Filkins retired after working for the post office in Westerlo as a rural postal carrier. He was a charter member of the Westerlo Volunteer Fire Company and a former member of the Town of Westerlo Rescue Squad.

Mrs. Boomhower recalled her uncle’s involvement in the community and the respect he garnered because of his dedication to his work as a postal worker and his years of service with the Westerlo Volunteer Fire Company. "A lot of people knew him and were acquainted with him," she said.

"He was very prompt," she said, adding that she could "set her clock" by his visits. "I knew that my mail would be here 20 minutes after 12," she said.

"He had a somewhat dry sense of humor," said Mr. LeBuis, and added that his uncle had a deep laugh. He was known as, and took pride in, being a "do-it-yourselfer," said his nephew. He was a "practical problem-solver," said Mr. LeBuis, adding that his uncle grew up during the Great Depression, and learned to solve problems quickly.

Mr. Filkins’s father ran an auto-repair garage in South Berne, where Mr. Filkins spent a lot of his time, said Mrs. Boomhower.

"He loved cars". He took good care of cars — his mother’s and his own," she said. His garage was organized in his own way, she said. Taking care of cars, she said, and taking care of his mother was a big part of his life. Mr. Filkins, she said, took care of his mother since his late teenage years, when his mother became a widow.

Mr. Filkins enjoyed playing cards, snowmobiling, and camping, said Mrs. Boomhower. He took several trips, vacationing in Florida and Montana, she said.

"He was a very big presence in my life, at my home," she said. "He was just a fine man."

Mr. Filkins is survived by his wife, Margaret "Peg" Filkins (née Storm); nieces and nephews, Janice Bassler, and her husband, Fred, of Berne; Robert LeBuis, and his wife, Roberta, of Barneveld (Oneida County); Marlene Boomhower, and her husband, Dennis, of Westerlo; Donald LeBuis, and his wife, Donna, of Mokena, Ill.; Charis Cummings, and her husband, Dennis, of Wilton (Saratoga County); Dennis LeBuis of Selkirk; Lee Crosier of East Berne; Richard Storm, and his wife, Wendy, of Clarksville; and Raymond Storm, and his wife, Karen of East Berne.

Mr. Filkins is also survived by several grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and great-grandnephews.

His sister, Doris LeBuis, and niece, Diane Chamberlain, died before him. He is survived by Diane’s husband, Merritt Chamberlain.

A funeral service was held Tuesday at the Cunningham Funeral Home in Greenville (Greene County). Spring interment with military honors will be held at the Westerlo Rural Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the South Berne Congregational Church, the Westerlo Reformed Church, or to the Town of Westerlo Rescue Squad.

— Tyler Schuling

Altamont Enterprise - February 22, 2007

Additional Media

Sources

---