Obituary of Austin Monlea

Austin Monlea, 93, passed away peacefully Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Ellis Hospital with his loving family at his side. Born December 30, 1917, in Howe Caves, NY, he attended Schenectady High School (Trade School) and served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Avery Island in the South Pacific. He was involved in Operation Crossroads, the testing of Able & Baker Atomic Bomb tests in 1946. He was honorably discharged shortly thereafter. Austin worked as a supervisor for Schenectady International where he retired in 1985 after 37 years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who also camped and traveled throughout the U.S. He married Ruth Good Monlea in 1937; Ruth passed away in 2000. He is survived by a son, Ramon Austin Monlea and his wife, Eleanor of Schenectady; a daughter, Judy Gonzales of Durham, CT; seven grandchildren, Raymond Monlea (Christine), Melinda Rockenstyre (Dwayne), Michelle Monlea, Christopher Monlea (Bridgett), Paul Gonzales, Jr. (Cherri), Michael Gonzales (Erika) and Jill Fontanella (Joseph); also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Erica, Micala, Ramon, Austin, Zachary, Dwayne and Jules. Funeral service Tuesday morning at 11 at the Daly Funeral Home, 242 McClellan St. An hour of visitation will precede the service from 10 to 11. Interment, St. Josephs Cemetery, Schenectady. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , 262 Danny Thomas Pl., Memphis, TN 38105. Many thanks to the doctors and nurses on the heart wing at Ellis.