Lyle L. Ernst

West Leyden - Lyle L. Ernst, 82, of Main Street and husband of Arlene, passed away on Tuesday, January 6, 2009, at Sunset Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Boonville after a long illness. Lyle was born in Rome on September 25, 1926, to Roy D. and Nora Schoff Ernst. He grew up in West Leyden, where his parents operated a garage on Main Street. Lyle graduated from West Leyden High School with the Class of 1944. On September 12, 1944, he entered the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater of WW II. Throughout his service he was stationed on the USS LST-530. Lyle was honorably discharged as a Motor Machinists Mate 2nd Class on June 28, 1946. Lyle retuned to West Leyden, where he worked as a mechanic with this father in the operation of the Ernst Garage. He was also employed as a bus driver and janitor at West Leyden Central School. He later worked for several years as a mechanic at Bartell Machine Shop on Elmer Hill Road in Rome until he retired in 1987. Lyle was united in marriage with Arlene Lauber on June 28, 1952, at St. Peter's Church in Rome. After their marriage the couple settled on Route 26 near Ava, where they lived before moving to their present home on Main Street in West Leyden. Mr. Ernst was a member of St. Mary's Nativity Church, West Leyden, the West Leyden Fire Department, the West Leyden Fish & Game Club, Charles J. Love Post American Legion, and the Harland J. Hennessey Post V.F.W., both of Boonville. Lyle and Arlene greatly enjoyed traveling. They had visited Switzerland three times, and had also traveled to Ireland, England, Hawaii, the Canadian Rockies, and many locations in the United States. Lyle will be fondly remembered for his kind spirit and terrific sense of humor. In addition to his wife, Lyle is survived by two sons and one daughter-in-law, Kim D. and Donna Ernst, Holland Patent, and Scott F. Ernst, West Leyden; one daughter and son-in-law, Diana and Ted VonMatt, Lee Center; five grandchildren, Megan and Mike Ahrens, Manhattan, Montana, Hans W. Ernst, Holland Patent, Jason R. VonMatt and his wife, Miranda, Heidi Sorensen, and Jared R. VonMatt, and his wife, Andrea, all of Lee Center; and one great grandson, Troy VonMatt. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Nativity Church, West Leyden, where the Reverend Lawrence Marullo, pastor, will officiate. Spring interment will be in West Leyden Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday 2-4 & 6-9 p.m. at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., 143 Schuyler Street, Boonville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Center at Albany Medical Center, c/o Albany Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 8928, Albany, NY 12208 (for research on Alzheimer's Disease) or to Sunset Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Resident Activities Fund, 232 Academy Street, Boonville, NY 13309. Lyle's wife and family wish to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to their neighbors, Jerry and Karen King, and to Patty King, who have been like an extended family to Lyle throughout his illness, and also to the entire staff at Sunset Nursing Home for the compassionate care given to Lyle.