Obituary of Alfred W. Skeets

Alfred W. Skeets, 91, Wellington, FL formerly of Lockport, NY passed away early Sunday am September 27, 2015. He was born October 10, 1923 and lived his whole life in Lockport until about 4 years ago. He met Mildred Louise Kelsch at a St. Patrick's Day Dance in 1946 and married her May 25, 1946. He enlisted in the US Air Force in 1942, trained in South Carolina and was deployed to Australia as a member of the 500th bomb squadron, called the Rough Raiders. He flew 39 missions in the Pacific as a flight engineer in a B-25 bomber during WWII. The majority of the missions were over Guam and the Philippines. He earned many medals, i.e., Purple Heart, Good Conduct, American Defense, US Presidential Unit Medal and others. He was a member of St. Mary's Church, Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus. He also belonged to the Screwball Club. After the war he worked at Bell Aircraft and had various other jobs. He enjoyed woodworking and doing various crafts with his wife; renovating his home that was built in 1946, fishing, boating, and his faithful friend, and his cat Buttons. Alfred was predeceased by his wife Mildred on August 14, 2009. Alfred is survived by his three daughters, Linda (Daniel) Kilroy of Shrewsbury, MA, Darlene Chase of Lockport, and Patricia (Raymond) Duffy of Naples, FL; grandfather of Thomas (Meredith) Kilroy, Rev. Patrick Kilroy, Susan (Michael) Kilroy-Ames, and Timothy (Stephanie Kaye) Kilroy; great grandfather of Abigail Kilroy Ames, Clara Woods Ames, and Ryan Patrick Kilroy. Relatives and friends may call Friday, Oct. 9th from 9-10 AM in Prudden & Kandt Funeral Home, 242 Genesee St., Lockport. A Mass of Christian will be celebrated Friday, Oct. 9th at 11 AM in All Saints Parish, 76 Church St., Lockport. Internment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visit www.pruddenandkandt.com.