ALTAMONT — Beth and Sylvester Schiltz, a loving couple, both died this month.

“They enjoyed many things together, including feeding the birds and growing flowers,” said Mr. Schiltz’s daughter, Donna Schadow.

Beth M. Schiltz died on Saturday, March 4, 2023. She was 81.

Sylvester Anthony Schiltz died at Albany Medical Center on Sunday, March 26, 2023, after a short illness. He was 93.

“Beth passed away peacefully 45 years to the day after her beloved mother Ethel Hunsdon Moody,” her family wrote in a tribute. “With her children, Jeff and Jenn, at her side, Beth entered the kingdom of heaven after a brief illness at Albany Medical Center.

“Beth was born on Sept. 26, 1941 in Ticonderoga, New York to John and Ethel Moody. She grew up in the country hamlet of Chilson with her sister, Lois, and many Hunsdon cousins and friends.

“Beth was a fourth-generation attendant of the Methodist Chilson Chapel. She graduated from Ticonderoga High School and Cobleskill College. There she was a member of the Alpha Lambda Phi sorority and active in the theater group, graduating with a business degree.

“She moved to Albany with her college girlfriends, started a family, and formed many lifelong friendships. She had two children — Jeffrey Michael and Jennifer Michelle Gregory.

“She worked at Capital Region Board of Cooperative Educational Services in Colonie until retirement, was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars ladies’ auxiliary, and attended regular services at the Altamont Reformed Church.

“She loved her birds and flower gardens and she loved a good visit. She played guitar and piano by ear and loved to sing, play, and listen to country music.”

Mr. Schiltz was born on Aug. 20, 1929 in Minnesota to Carl and Elizabeth (née Schroer) Schiltz.

“His love of farming was evident when he moved in and ran his Aunt Babe’s farm at the age of 15,” his family wrote in a tribute. “Sylvester joined the Air Force in 1950 and served four years during the Korean War stationed in Tokyo, Japan.

“Syl was very proud of his time in the service. For many years, he was very active and held many titles in the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post. In 2015, he was part of the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Being able to see the Korean Memorial was a cherished memory for him. 

“In 1954, Syl moved to the Albany area and raised six children with his first wife, Betty. He worked for Willis Oakes Heating and Air Conditioning for many years. In 1962, Syl built and moved into his home.

“In the early 1970s, he started his own plumbing/heating/cooling/electrical business. He was the beloved and trusted plumber for the village and had keys to most everyone’s home. He loved and was very involved in the Altamont community and gave of his time and help to many volunteer organizations, including the VFW and the Fairview Cemetery.

“Syl loved many things: hunting, fishing, building an ice shanty, making wine, gardening, canning, and feeding and watching the birds. His love for reading and learning continued all throughout his life. His knowledge and expertise were vast and he loved to share his knowledge. He was kind, patient, and giving of himself to everyone.”

Sylvester Schiltz and Beth (née Moody) Gregory married on July 28, 1984, so would have been married for 39 years in July. They lived in the house Mr. Schiltz had built on Gun Club Road. He raised her two children as his own.

“She had a full and rich life with her beloved Sylvester,” Mrs. Schiltz’s family wrote. “They loved being together, comforted and truly happy and content with each other’s company. Their bond was a beautiful thing to witness and something we should all strive for.”

Her family concluded the tribute by quoting the title of Dolly Parton’s song, “I will always love you.”

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Sylvester and Beth Schiltz are survived by their children: Donna Schadow, Jim (Suzanne) Schiltz, Douglas Schiltz, Jeffrey (Jacqueline) Gregory and Jennifer (Scott Warren) Gregory; and daughter-in-law Deb Schiltz.

They are also survived by their grandchildren, Jessica (Brian) Altman, Kristen (Carl) Hatt, Stephen (Courtney Flora) Schiltz, Andrew Schiltz, and Devon Schiltz, and by their great-grandchildren, Levi Altman, Logan Hatt, Eva Hatt and Stephen Schiltz.

Mrs. Schilz is also survived by her sister Lois (Bill Vinzant) Gunning and her nieces and nephew Shane (Lynn) Gunning, Shari (James) O’Bryan, and Meghann Daly — a registered nurse at Albany Medical Center, “who supported and gave of herself in so many ways during Beth’s recent stay there,” her family wrote.

Her parents, John and Ethel Hunsdon Moody, died before her.

Mr. Schiltz “will be greatly missed by sister-in-laws, Lois Gunning and Lois Schiltz,” his family wrote. “He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.”

His sons — Stephen Schiltz, Joseph Schiltz, and Charles Schiltz — died before him, as did his brothers, Marvin, Anthony, Al, Jake, and Don, and his sister, Annie.

Calling hours for both Sylvester and Beth Schiltz will be at Fredendall Funeral Home in Altamont on Sunday, April 2, from 1 to 3 p.m.

A celebration-of-life service and burial will follow at a later date.

Memorial messages may be left at www.altamontenterprise.com/milestones.

Memorial contributions in honor of Mrs. Schiltz may be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, The Dollywood Foundation, 111E Main Street, 2nd Floor Sevierville, TN 37862 https://imaginationlibrary.com/ or to Chilson Community Founders Association, Inc., care of Elise McClintock, Treasurer, 934 Route 9N, Ticonderoga, NY 12883.

Memorial contributions in honor of Mr Schiltz may be made to Leatherstocking Honor Flight, Post Office Box 621, Cobleskill, NY, 12043 or online to https://leatherstockinghonorflightny.org/donations.