David A. Gonyo, 83, went into the arms of our Lord on Saturday, October 26, 2013 in Virginia Beach, VA where he lived with his loving family until his passing.

Born March 5, 1930 in Fort Edward, NY; he was the son of the late Abner D. Gonyo and Glenis Drown Gonyo.

A true patriot who loved his country, David completed the ninth grade and joined the United States Air Force from 1947-1951 and the United States Army as a PFC from 1951-1953 during the Korean War where he cooked for our troops. Forced to leave the military because of a medical disability, which was changed in 1974 to 100% permanently disabled Retired Army. He became a part-time cook in Lake George, NY during summer tourist season.

He married his one true love, the late Marion Potter Gonyo, on August 24, 1958 in Kingsbury, NY. Their love flourished for forty (40) years until her passing in 1998. They were true horticulturists who could grow almost anything form vegetables for your table to flowers in your vases. At one time, they even raised chickens. As the guardians of Deborah Lynn Potter Lind, they loved and nurtured her until she joined the Navy in 1976 after graduating Glens Falls High School. When Marion passed, Debbie and her family took David into their home. They spent fifteen (15) wonderful, glorious, loving, and truly blessed years together traveling and seeing many things. His home in Virginia is a horticulturist’s dream with a large variety of trees, flowers, vegetables, and bushes for his family to remember him by.

He and family were members of Greater Glens Falls Bible Baptist Church in Hudson Falls, NY and London Bridge Bible Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA.

Besides his parents and wife, David is predeceased by sisters, Mildred French and Cora Moses; brother, Michael F. Gonyo; and Marion’s daughter, Patricia A. Slevin.

Left behind to cherish his loving memory are Deborah L. Lind (PN1, Retired Navy) and her husband, Stephen J. Lind (PNC, Retired Navy); their son, Stephen R. Lind of Virginia Beach, VA; sister-in-law, Kathleen Gonyo of Hudson Falls, NY; and many truly blessed friends who knew him.

Funeral services were held in Hudson Falls, NY on November 19, 2013 at 11 am, at Greater Glens Falls Bible Baptist Church on 1 1/2 West Street with Rev. Guy Goodell officiating. Military Honors followed at Moss Street Cemetery in Kingsbury, NY with Hudson Falls American Legion, 72 Pearls Street as Honor Guard.

Donations may be made in David’s memory to either Greater Glens Falls Bible Baptist Church ,1 1/2 West Street, Hudson Falls, NY 12839 or London Bridge Bible Baptist Church, 2460 Potters Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23454.

Thanks and sincere and deepest gratitude go to all the people who have truly blessed our lives:

My son, Stephen, I am truly blessed that he got to know David and for being there when I needed him, through this truly unbelievable experience and my husband, Steve, support in the caring of David for all these years.

David’s nurse/good friend, Rebecca Toney, a true blessing for the past five years with our care of David.
Kathleen Gonyo of Hudson Falls, NY has been a wonderful blessing with her support during this time of sadness and confusion.

A big thank you to our neighbors and friends in Virginia/New York for the blessings they have bestowed upon us:

Doug and Anna Wise
Pete and Betty Phelps
Ron and Mona Newell
Brenda and Katie Williams
Caroline Moore
John and Leslie Davis
Tammie Kechula
Roy and Marie Buetow
Dr. A. Khan (Family Physician)
Dr. G. Palat (Pain)
Dr. A. Palet (Heart)
Dr. D. Rampona (Eye)
Guy Goodell (Pastor)
Jean Goodell
Miriam Enman (Music)
Elisa Enman
Tim Watkins (Flowers)
Cindy Smith
Janice and George Smith
Joyce Aubrey
Charlene Calvin
Kathy and Leonard Smith
Frank Basque
Victoria Palmer
Bob and Jo Steele
Lorraine Birinyi
Chuck Webster
Hudson Falls American Legion (Honor Guard)

To all the wonderful people who assisted when hope seemed a small light in the dark distance:

Mike Strickland, Steve Zittle, Bryan Nichols, and Steve Johnson of Family Choice Funerals & Cremations, 5401 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach, VA for their assistance with all the trials that I have encountered in Virginia.

Donnen S. Nikas, Paul M. Dietrich, and Mark K. Parish of Carleton Funeral Home, 68 main Street, Hudson Falls, NY 12839 for their assistance with the process in New York.

Please share a memory with the family via the Online Guestbook.

Thank you, Mr. Gonyo, for your service to our country in the United States Army and Air Force.