John Townsend Oliver, a Poughkeepsie Resident, Dies at 85

John Townsend Oliver died at the age of 85 on December 31, 2015 at his home in Poughkeepsie.  
John was born in Somers Point, New Jersey on July 13, 1930, the son of the late John and Ann Oliver.

He was a former member of the Wappinger Falls United Methodist Church and currently a member of the Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church.

John served his country in the United States Army. He then went on to work for IBM inPoughkeepsie where he had a successful career for over 40 years, retiring as a project manager.

John is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years Ida Oliver; loving children David Oliver of Poughkeepsie and Donna Oldfield and her husband Thomas of Shirley MA; his cherished grandchildren CPT Jason T. Oliver and his wife Katie, Rachael Oliver and fiancé Matthew Martin, and Tamera, Thomas, Samantha and Alexandra Oldfield; two loving great grandchildren Cadence and Charles Oliver; treasured cousin Shirley “Gee Gee” Van Nosdall; his dear sister Marge Martin and several nieces and cousins.

John will always be remembered as loving and devoted to his family.  He was a very caring husband, father, grandfather and friend who was always there for everyone.  Whether making the weekly deliveries from the church to Second Hand Rose, driving a neighbor to the bus stop in the early morning hours, helping an elderly friend and neighbor with his household finances or simply helping neighbors clean snow off their car and move them for the plows, he could be depended on to help those around him when the need arose.

Friends may call on January 7, 2016 from 4-8pm at Parmele Auchmoody & Schoonmaker Funeral Home, 110 Fulton Ave, Poughkeepsie.  A Funeral Service will be held on January 8, 2016 at 10am at Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church, 2381 New Hackensack Road,Poughkeepsie.   Interment will follow in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery with Military Honors.

Donations can be made in John’s memory to Hudson Valley Hospice Foundation, 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 or

Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church

2381 New Hackensack Road

Poughkeepsie, NY 12603-4260.