Obituary of Donald Hallock

Donald Griffen Hallock, of LaGrange, died Thursday, July 10, 2014 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. He was born on January 6, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio to the late Olive G. and Harry A. Hallock. He is survived by his wife Margaret and his sons Donald A. Hallock of LaGrange and Gary G. Hallock of LaGrange. His Grandparents, Addie and Herbert Hallock and Angie and Charles Griffen, of Clinton Corners, NY, all deceased, were Dutchess County dairy farmers. Donald attended Clifton, NJ High School, graduating in June, 1942. He worked at a local auto repair shop after school and during the summer. He later became a machinist, making tools and dies for defense projects. He entered the Army in 1943, serving as a radio operator with the 65th Infantry Division in France and Germany. His company met the Russian army near Linz, Austria just before the war ended. Post war in Germany he managed the enlisted men's night club in Rosenheim, Germany. He obtained an Associate Degree in Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University, then graduated from Oklahoma State University with a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering and became a member of ETA KAPPA NU and SIGMA TAU societies. While at OSU, Don decided to take piano lessons, leading to marrying his teacher. He and Margaret Gilmore of Stillwater, OK, were married in Stillwater on August 29, 1949. They recently celebrated their 62nd anniversary. He joined IBM in 1951, heading several projects in magnetic tape and core memory. He was Manager of the Supplies Division Magnetic Tape Laboratory in Poughkeepsie. In 1967, Don and Margaret began camping in a tent camper and after 42 years and several campers they had covered all 48 lower states and seven of the Canadian provinces. They avoided heavily populated areas in favor of searching the countryside for local areas of interest. They visited 22 National Monuments and 16 National Parks. In 1998 they began a series of tours with a travel group that took them to the Kentucky Derby, the Milwaukee Circus Parade, Washington, D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival, the Natchez Pageant, Nashville Op'ry Land and the Quebec International Fireworks Competition. They took two trips down the beautiful Washington/Oregon coast. They also took trips on Amtrak to Colorado and Washing state. Don was interested in metal and wood working projects. He put together a refracting telescope, built 10 four string dulcimers, got his ham radio license and build radio equipment from war surplus parts. While in Germany he learned the rudiments of the accordion and continued the interest the rest of his life. Don loved all animals, especially cats. Donations may be made to the Animal Hospital of Wappinger's Falls, 79 Meyers Corners Rd., Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. Don wished to be cremated, with his remains to be placed in his pond or any other body of water leading to the ocean and hence spreading to the rest of the world. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 from 2:00-4:00pm at the Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. To send online condolences, please visit our website at www.doylefuneral home.com