Oliver Thomas Champion, a Newburgh Resident, Dies at 94

Oliver Thomas Champion was born July 2, 1922 in New York City’s Bellevue Hospital to Helen Eaton and Thomas Champion. Six-months later, the family moved to Brooklyn so that Oliver’s father could be closer to his job at Brooklyn Cooperage, Inc.

God blessed Oliver with a keen ear for music. By the time he could walk, Oliver began to bang on the family upright piano. He was able to pick out tunes he had heard on the radio or at church with one finger by the time he began school. Oliver’s formal education began at Public School 35, Brooklyn. He later graduated from Boys High School. He began work at R.H. Macy & Company as one of the first African-Americans to work on the selling floor.

Oliver was called to military service when World War II began and he joined the United States Navy in 1943. After his boot-camp training at the Naval Station in Great Lakes, Illinois, he was shipped off to Mare Island Naval Yard in Vallejo, California where he built, assembled and repaired naval ships and submarines. While at Mare Island, a recreation center was built. Oliver joined the rec center and was later recruited by the officer in charge of activities, Chief Smith. Once a month, Chief Smith was in charge of securing a U.S.O. show for the base. But when the performers were not able to attend the shows, the Chief would round up local talent. Champ, as he was called on the naval base, became part of the talent pool.

The base Chaplain heard about “Champ’s” talented escapades and would often call upon him when music was needed for the Chapel.

After serving one year at Mare Island, Oliver Champion was called for active duty to the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. Champ was fortunate to be assigned to the Logistic Support Company with the first African-American Naval Officers. But on his way over to report for duty, Japan surrendered and the war ended. After 16 months of service at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands, Champ returned to Lido Beach, Long Island in the United States where he received an honorable discharge as Yeoman 3rd Class, United States Navy.

As a civilian, Oliver found work at Abraham Strauss Department Store and later, E.J. Korvette’s on East 44thStreet, New York City. As Assistant Manager, he was twice named Employee of the Month but found the retail business too confining for a young man. He preferred a 9-to-5 job with weekends off.

Oliver enrolled in a training program hosted by IBM where upon completion of a 6-month course, he would be hired as a field representative at a city health institution to teach data processing. He was assigned to Kings County Hospital, Brooklyn. Oliver remained at Kings County Hospital as a Buyer and later Purchasing Agent.

It was at Kings County Hospital in 1972, that Oliver met and courted Valburg Marquis. The two were married on June 30, 1974 at the Barbizon Plaza Hotel on Central Park South in New York City. Twenty years later, both Oliver and Val retired from Kings County Hospital. They later moved to Newburgh, New York where they spent 27 of their happiest years together. Val took up tap-dancing and was an active member of the Newburgh Tappers, a dynamic group of senior performers. Oliver sang with a local singing group comprised of talented seniors who also toured the region. Valburg Marquis Champion preceded him in death in 2006.

Left to cherish his memories are his nieces and nephews Gail A. Marquis of Jersey City, New Jersey, Audrey Smaltz of New York, New York, James C. Rice, Jr. and Toni Rice of Brentwood, California, Stephanie D. Rice of Jersey City, New Jersey, Leon C. Marquis of St. Albans, New York, Joan H. Marquis and Ruth E. Marquis, Ph.D. both of Portland, Oregon; sister-in-law, Lorraine Marquis Rice and brother-in-law, James C. Rice, Sr. both of Cumming, Georgia; close friend and confidant, Dr. William Griffin, DDS and a host of relatives and friends.

The family will be present to receive friends on Thursday August 25, 2016 from 1-3pm at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Avenue, Newburgh, NY which will include a Memorial Service at 2pm in the chapel of the funeral home followed by a full military internment at the Orange County Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, 111 Craigville Road, Goshen, NY 10924.