Abbott L. Wiley – Honor a Deceased Veteran Ceremony

Honoring Abbott L. Wiley, held in the Legislative Chambers

ABBOTT LANSING WILEY, 1916-2017

FAMILY HISTORY:
Abbott Lansing Wiley was born on December 18, 1916 in Pittstown, New York to the late Leonard J. and Alice (Sherman) Wiley.  Abbott was predeceased by three brothers and a sister, Newton, Charles, Harold and Ellen.

EDUCATION:
Abbott attended Tomhannock Little Red School House and was a graduate of Lansingburgh High School.  He also attended the SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill for one year until his enlistment into the United States Army.

HISTORY:
Abbott enlisted in the United States Army on October 1, 1942 in Albany, NY.  After basic training he attended Officer Candidate School, where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and sent to North Africa and Italy as part of the Fifth Army.  Abbott was promoted to the rank of Captain and Battery Commander of the 347^th Field Artillery Battalion of the 91^st Infantry Division.  He saw combat during “Operation Italia” in nine Italian cities and surrounding areas.  Abbott was the recipient of the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 Battle Stars, American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.  When Abbott was honorably discharged on February 6, 1946, he earned the rank of Major and received a Bronze Star for “Valor in combat while under enemy fire.”

PERSONAL:
On October 20, 1945, Abbott married Ruth (Olney) Wiley in Watervliet, New York.  Together they had three children, Lynn (Dennis) Latham, Carol Irvine and William (Sharon) Wiley.  Abbott is also survived by seven grandchildren, Mark Schaefer, Jennifer Schaefer, William (Melissa) Irvine, Andrew Irvine, Melanie (Kevin) Lemmer, Marina Wiley and Bryan Wiley, and four great-grandchildren, Johan Lemmer, Mia Puglese, Alexander and Madeline Irvine, as well as several nieces and nephews.

WORK EXPERIENCE:
Abbott and his brother purchased a local business in Valley Falls and established Wiley Brothers Inc., a family run lumber and home hardware supply company.  In 2002, Abbott retired from his business as the President.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES/ORGANIZATIONS:
Abbott was active in local Republican politics, serving as the Town of Pittstown Supervisor, the Chairman of the Rensselaer County Legislature, Majority Office and a trustee of Hudson Valley Community College.  He was also a volunteer firefighter for the Valley Falls Fire Company.  He was a member of the Powamppokonk Rod and Gun Club in Pittstown.

Abbott was an avid outdoorsman; he enjoyed hunting, fishing, trap and skeet shooting and wood working.  He also enjoyed photography and reading history books.