Harry Erlo Capron

Boonville- Harry Erlo Capron, 92, of Boonville, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, the 2nd of November, surrounded by family. He was the son of Erlo Barnes Capron and Susie Clark Capron. He was born in Boonville on July 5, 1921. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister Bernice Hayes (William), and his brother Norman Capron, and his brother in-law Bud Larrivey. He is survived by his wife Jean Capron, his children John Capron (Gloria) of Modena, NY; William Capron of Portland, OR; David Capron (Donna) of Romulus, MI; Susan Capron Davis (Thom) of Chicago, IL; Bruce Capron (Barbara) of Westernville, NY; Marjorie Capron Mahaffy (John) of Boonville, NY; and Andrew Capron (Joyce) of Canton, GA; fourteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. Surviving siblings include his sister Eleanor Zeigler (Robert), brother Clint Capron (Betty), sister in-law Marleen Capron, sister in-law Marjorie Larrivey, and several nieces and nephews. He completed high school in 1939, where he was a competitive small bore shooter, and would compete at Camp Perry, Ohio in the Civilian Military Training Camps program, firing the 1903 Springfield at 1000 yards, and test firing the prototype M-1. Additionally, in his youth, he hunted and fished the North Lake and Boonville Gorge areas. Harry served in the US Army Air Corps, 7th Air Force, in the Pacific Theater, as a Tail Gunner on the B-24 Bomber "Galvanized Goose," completing 30 combat missions, plus many reconnaissance and support missions. He would leave the service as a Staff Sergeant, decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross as a result of aerial combat in which the three bomber formation he was assigned to was engaged by approximately 40 Japanese Zeros. He was credited with one confirmed kill and one probable. He was awarded the Air Medal five times, and was the last surviving member of his flight crew. Following his military service, he married Jean Flint of Harrington Park, NJ on September 22, 1945. This union has lasted 68 years. He began his working career at Revere Copper & Brass prior to his military service. After his military service, he worked at Willard Press in Boonville as a printer. He later worked as a carpenter and a guard at Griffiss Airbase. He and his family lived on the Millers Woods Road in Boonville until 1964 when he purchased the farm on the Jackson Hill Road from which he and Jean would retire and relocate to their current home in the village. Harry served the Boonville community as Assessor and Town Councilman, and participated in a number of local government education programs. He so loved this community. He was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Harland J. Hennessy Post 5538, and the American Legion. He was a 70 year member of the Boonville Fire Company, an organization he was so very, very proud to be a member of. He was a General Class Amateur Radio Operator with the call sign of WA2OFK, and one of the founding members of the Boonville Amateur Radio Club. He was also an active personal computer user. He was also a weather watcher for two local TV channels. The family would like to especially thank Bambi Freeman for her thoughtfulness and support. They would like to also thank Dave Pritchard and the Boonville Fire Company and Ambulance Corp and Hospice and Palliative Care for their kindness, support and generosity. His Funeral will be Wednesday at 11:00 A.M. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville, where Rev. Sean Patrick O'Brien will officiate. Interment will follow in Boonville Cemetery, where members of Charles J. Love Post American Legion Post 406, Harland J. Hennessey Post 5538 V.F.W. and the Tun Tavern Marine Corps League, all of Boonville will render Military Rites. Calling hours are Tuesday 6-8 P.M. and Wednesday 9:30 A.M. until the time of the funeral at the funeral home. Members of the Charles J. Love American Legion Post 406, Harland J. Hennessey Post 5538, and Tun Tavern Marine Corps League will meet at the funeral home in a group on Tuesday for a service at 7:00 P.M. and members of Boonville Fire Co. will meet in a group on Tuesday for a service at 7:30 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to The Boonville Ambulance Fund P.O. Box 164, Boonville, NY 13309. For an on-line message of sympathy, or to share a memory of Harry, please go to www.trainorfuneralhome.com