Calvin's Obituary 

Calvin (Todd) Murphy Jr., age 79, passed away peacefully at home at with his wife and Bright Star aid bedside.

Calvin was born in Grand Rapids Michigan July 3rd 1947 to Calvin and Verna Murphy. He attended Ottawa Hills High School, joined the Army at age 17, after graduating he headed off to boot camp and then was sent to Vietnam where he served from 1965 to 1967.

He was proud to have served his country and equally proud of the unit he served with “”C”” Battery 1st Battalion 44th Artillery, where he was an automatic weapons crewmen on the Twin 40 Dusters. Calvin worked many years on construction as a heavy equipment operator, and a wild land fire fighter in the Western Mountains.

Calvin was very proud of his family history in North West Michigan. He was a descendant of two families that homesteaded here in the early 1860's.

Being the last of his family to live in the area, Calvin enjoyed working with the Benzie and Leelanau county historical Society preserving the area’s history. It meant a lot to him to preserve historical information for future generations.

Calvin was a longtime advocate for the veterans and worked hard in making sure their benefits were protected. He was involved in projects for the Gold Star Mothers and Families, educating the public on the meaning of mothers and families that lost a loved one in war or after war, and his last mission was honoring the POW/MIA's of Michigan which sparked an annual event in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

Calvin was a member of several organizations including life member of Bear Creek VFW Post 6333, was past post commander of Post 6333, Sons of American Revolution, Camp 444 Sons of the Union Veterans and Rolling Thunder Michigan Chapter 4.



Surviving are: his wife, Starla; daughter, Marisa; granddaughter, Jasmine; mother, Verna; sister, Shelley; brother, Bryan; nieces and nephews, two step daughters and several step grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by: father, Calvin Murphy Sr.; brother, Dr. Robin Murphy; and brother, Garrett Murphy; and step-son, Joe Lancour.

Memorial services will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Bethany Lutheran Church, in Kaleva. Visitation will take place from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM on Friday, August 21, 2026, at the Terwilliger Funeral Home, in Kaleva, and from 10:00 AM until the time of service at the church on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to: Bear Creek VFW Post 6333 or the Joe Lancour Memorial Scholarship Fund.

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Daniel A. Falls Obituary

Daniel Allen Falls, age 70, of New Columbia, PA, was called home by his heavenly Father on August 14, 2025.

Born July 18, 1955, in Lock Haven, PA, to Russell A. and Hazel (Bridgens) Falls, Dan was the oldest of six children. He began his educational journey at Avis Elementary School and was proud to have graduated from Jersey Shore High School (1973), where he played trumpet in the band, sang in the Concert Choir, and was on the wrestling team.

After high school, he attended Williamsport Area Community College (WACC) and earned an Associate degree in Electrical Engineering.

In 1976, Dan enlisted in the US Army, where he obtained the enlisted rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6). In 1981, he was invited to join the Pershing Missile Family at the United States Army Field Artillery Center at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he began his Warrant Officer career. He was a recognized expert in Theater Missile Defense and was requested by name and assigned to the Pershing Operational Test Unit (POTU) in Heidelburg, Germany, as a member of the JCS directed Program. During the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, he proudly served as a Deputy Chief of a US Government (USG) On-Site Inspection/Escort team providing advice and assistance to NATO nations during inspections and eliminations. He traveled to the Soviet Union (Russia) where his expertise has been praised in monitoring Soviet compliance with the INF treaty.

After the Pershing Missile System was eliminated in 1987, Dan retrained as a Land Combat Missile Systems Technician. He was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division (Big Red 1), which deployed to Iraq and fought in Operation Desert Storm in 1991. During his Army career, Dan was assigned to multiple US installations, as well as to West Germany, South Korea, and Iraq. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service. At the time Dan retired from the Army in 1997, he had been promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4).

After military retirement, Dan began a second career in education. During this transition, he received his Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from Baylor University. He served in the Rosebud-Lott School District in central Texas, first as a high school special education teacher, then as the principal of Rosebud-Lott Intermediate School, and finally as the principal of the Falls Education Co-op Alternative School.

Upon retirement from education, Dan became a Service Officer for the American Legion, serving first in Waco, Texas, then in central PA, as a Mobile Service Officer, traveling hundreds of miles each month to meet with and assist disabled veterans and/or their widows, ensuring that they received just and proper compensation and benefits for their injuries while serving their country. His third career retirement was in 2020.

Dan accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at age 13, and was baptized, but realized later that he only had “head knowledge” about salvation. In October 1993, while stationed in South Korea, he rededicated his life to Jesus and to serving and honoring Him. At the time of his passing, he was a member of the First Baptist Church of Milton, PA, and was actively serving Jesus in several capacities. His family and friends know that Dan would encourage all of those who aren’t Christians to believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose victorious over death to provide us with eternal life if we accept this gift of salvation.

Dan greatly enjoyed trout fishing, playing golf, and staying at his brothers’ cabins enjoying banter and laughter around a fire ring. He was a gifted singer, and people loved sitting in front of him at church and listening to his wonderful voice!

In addition to his parents, Russell and Hazel Falls, Dan was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, Douglas and Sarah Cather of Lebanon, TN, and his brother-in-law, Raymond Schoonover.

Dan is survived by his wife, Millie Cather Falls, his son, Justin Seth Falls, his daughter, Andrea Falls Stow, his granddaughter, Lyric Stow (fiancé Dallas Dotson), and his grandson, Wesley Stow, as well as by his brothers, David (Virginia Engdahl) Falls, Dana (Leslee Mattas) Falls, and his sisters, Cheryl Schoonover, and Amber Falls LaMey (Keith), and Candace Falls Peck, and many beloved nieces and nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews, and his loving dog, Bonnie.



The family has entrusted the Rearick-Carpenter Funeral Home, 1002 Allegheny St., Jersey Shore, PA, with his arrangements. According to Dan’s wishes, the final services will be private.

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Thomas Alva Pridell's Obituary

Passed away on September 5, 2017 at age 71. Tom is survived by his wife of 20 years, Debbie Pridell; several nieces and nephews; special friends, Gene (Anne) Simes; childhood friend, Pastor Cartic Carpenter; many other close friends.

Tom proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps, during Vietnam. He was a proud commander of DAV, Chapter 4 in Canandaigua, NY. Tom was National Chairman for Veterans Supporting Veterans and a member of OFFE.

Tom's memorial service will be held on Monday (September 18) at 11 AM at Calvary Chapel Macedon, 1704 Wayneport Rd., Macedon, NY 14502. A graveside service with military honors will be held on Monday (September 18) at 2 PM in Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may kindly be directed to your nearest Humane Society or to OFFE.org. 

Fr. Elmer's Obituary 

Father Elmer W. Heindl, a decorated World War II Army chaplain and the oldest priest of the Diocese of Rochester, died July 17, 2006, at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. He was 96.

A native of Rochester, Father Heindl was born on Flag Day, June 14, 1910. He attended St. Andrew's and St. Bernard's seminaries in Rochester and was ordained June 6, 1936, by Cardinal Edward Mooney. He celebrated his first Mass the next day at Rochester's Corpus Christi Parish, and less than two weeks later he became assistant pastor at St. Mary Parish in Dansville. He left Dansville in 1937 for an assignment as assistant pastor at St. Alphonsus Parish in Auburn, and in 1939 he left Auburn to take on the same position at St. Andrew Parish in Rochester.

In February 1942 he became a chaplain in the U.S. Army, and in July of that year shipped out to the Pacific Theater, where he witnessed heavy combat yet remained unscathed. He often risked his own life to minister to wounded or dying comrades, and he was awarded an honorary Purple Heart, a Silver Star and a Bronze Star. He was also one of only 19 World War II chaplains to earn a Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second-highest combat medal.

Father Heindl, who achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel, later received a Legion of Merit Medal, and in 2005 received the Distinguished Service Award of the Combat Infantrymen's Association.

After his return to the United States in 1945, Father Heindl served as a chaplain at Rhodes General Hospital in Utica, N.Y., and Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. He returned to his home diocese in 1948 to become assistant pastor at Rochster's St. Mary Parish. In 1951 he moved to assistant pastor at Holy Trinity Parish in Webster, and in 1958 he became pastor at Scipio Center's St. Bernard Parish as well as its mission parishes, St. Hilary in Genoa and St. Isaac Jogues Chapel in Fleming.

In 1960 Father Heindl became pastor of St. Theodore Parish in Gates, where he remained for a year before taking on the pastorates at St. Patrick Parish in Cato, St. Thomas Parish in Red Creek and St. Joseph Parish in Weedsport. In 1980, at the age of 70, he retired and took up residence at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Greece.

Father Heindl opted to live at St. Charles because many of his family members belonged to that parish, and it was important to him to remain close to his family, said Father Edward Palumbos, who was pastor at St. Charles from 1992-2001. Father Heindl kept in close contact not only with his family members, but also many veterans and people he'd met through his ministry. In fact, this communication was so important to him that he once set up his own toll-free phone number, Father Palumbos added.

"His friends from the military could call him at his expense so that they wouldn't be out of touch," Father Palumbos said, noting that while he lived at St. Charles, Father Heindl would often carry on phone conversations with friends around the globe until the early morning hours.

While he was at St. Charles, Father Heindl also was a member of the Monroe County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 307 and the Freeman-Allen American Legion Post No. 1156, and was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus.

In 1993, St. Charles opened an early childhood development center and named it Heindl House because the priest was so fond of children, said Father Palumbos, who is currently pastor of Church of the Assumption in Fairport. Children and adults alike felt comfortable with Father Heindl, he recalled, due in part to his easy, genuine smile that quickly put people at ease.

"He was a wonderful gentleman 96 years young, and he maintained his zest for life and enthusiasm for ministry right to the end," Father Palumbos said. "His favorite saying was, 'I'm just here to serve in any way I possibly can,' and he meant that with all his heart."

Father Heindl is survived by his brothers and sister-in-law, Frank, Robert and Elizabeth Heindl, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased by his sisters, Helen Haughwout, Irene Frank and Eleanor Clemson.

Father Heindl's funeral Mass was to be celebrated July 22 at St. Charles Borromeo Church, and interment was to be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery with full military honors.

Contributions in Father Heindl's memory may be made to St. Charles Borromeo Church, 3003 Dewey Ave., Rochester, NY 14616.

Final Salute for Young Marine

By Herman Archunde

Warsaw Area News Service

WILLIAMSON — Snow mixed with rain fell gently over Lake View Cemetery yesterday as lance Cpl. Richard Malone was laid to rest.

His flag-draped casket banked with flowers rested, protected from the wetness, under a green canvas canopy. A small group of friends and the family shared the meager shelter, heads bowed, as the Rev. William J. Gaynor, pastor of St. Mary’s of the Lake Church, read the brief Roman Catholic prayer for the dead.

The prayer ended and a Marine officer in full dress uniform barked a command. Several feet away five marine sergeants raised rifles toward the gloomy sky. Three times the rifles cracked in unison. Then in the silence that followed, “taps” sounded its rich and lovely call.

Thus the U.S. Marine Corps offered its final salute to Cpl. Malone, the sixth Williamson serviceman to die in Vietnam.

Cpl. Malone died March 20. Two days before on his 19th birthday anniversary he was shot accidentally by “another person,” said Marine officials.

He had been in Vietnam one year to the day on his birthday anniversary.

“Taps” trailed away at last on a long, quavering note, and two Marines stepped forward under the canopy. They removed the flag from the casket, folded it in a tight triangle and presented it to Capt. Irwin Topper of Detroit, Mich., officer in charge of the Marine honor guard. He took the flag and placed it in the hands of Cpl. Malones’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Malone of 392 Pound Road, saluted, turned, and walked away.

There was a brief pause before someone in the group stirred. Then they all began walking slowly through the mud and wet grass toward their cars. Someone sobbed, once.

The service was over. Another serviceman had come home.

3rd Battalion, 11th Marines 1st Marine Division San Francisco, California

March 24, 1969 

Mr. and Mrs. Leroy S Malone 392 Pound Road Williamson, New York 

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Malone, 

It is with deepest sympathy and regret that I write you concerning the recent death of your son, Lance Corporal Richard Lee Malone, U. S. Marine Corps, nan March 20, 1969. His loss is a source of personal grief to me since I considered Richard an excellent marine as well as a fine young man. 

On the evening of March 18, 1969, at approximately 8:00 P M Richard and a friend were in their quarters at the battery Position, located approximately nine miles south west of Danang, in Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam. While checking their rifles before going on sentry duty, the other Marine's rifle discharged accidentally and wounded Richard in the abdomen. A Corpsman came to his aid immediately and within minutes he was then to the Battalion Aid station where he was attended by a doctor. He was then evacuated by helicopter to the first Medical Battalion Hospital in Danang at 8:40 P M. Although everything possible was done to save Richard, his wound proved too severe, and he died at 9:05 A M on March 20, 1969. Richards death came shortly after receiving the last rites of his faith from Catholic Chaplain Lieutenant G E Powell, U S Navy. 

It may comfort you to know that Mass will be said for Richard on March 28, 1969, at our battery position. It will be attended by the Battalion Commander, myself and Richards TT!..■ 

Richard's friendly manner, good sense of humor and devotion to duty have won for him the respect and admiration of his seniors and contemporaries alike. We in the battery hope the knowledge that your son is keenly missed and that we share your sorrow will, in some measure, help alleviate the suffering caused by your great loss. 

If I may be of any assistance to you, please do not hesitate to write. 

Sincerely, James E Murray First Lieutenant, U S Marine Corps Commanding