Kenneth Austin Van Scoy Sr. of Hampton Bays died on October 3 at Stony Brook Medical Center. He was 87.
Mr. Van Scoy was born in Southampton in 1928 and grew up in Squiretown, fishing the waters of Squires Pond and Peconic Bay. He graduated from Hampton Bays High School in 1945, and later studied electrical engineering at Union College. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1946 with dreams of becoming a pilot. While a medical issue kept him from realizing that dream, he proudly served his country during World War II with the occupation forces. He later re-enlisted with the U.S. Air Force, receiving many medals, including the Bronze Star, for his accomplishments in the field of military communications. He served in Vietnam and retired in 1976. He retired for the second time from the United States Postal Service in Merrifield, Virginia.
In 1990, Mr. Van Scoy returned to his hometown of Hampton Bays, where he worked as a bus driver for the Riverhead School District for 10 years until health issues required that he retire.
He met the love of his life, Ginny, while deployed in Germany. They recently celebrated 65 years of marriage.
He is survived by his wife, Ginny (Rosenberg); children, Claudia Hidey and husband Raymond of Ohio, Kenneth A. Van Scoy Jr. and wife Pamela of Virginia, Linda Terchunian and husband Dean of Riverhead, Virginia Van Scoy of Massachusetts and Trish Huff of Massachusetts. He is also survived by four sisters, Lorna Reding of Plattsburgh, Sheila Dingley of Saratoga Springs, Jane Van Scoy and Joan Van Scoy of Florida; 12 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A wake was held on Monday, October 12, at the J. Ronald Scott Funeral Home in Hampton Bays, followed by a memorial service with Air Force honors.
on Oct 9, 2015