William L. DeLapp, 87, of 145 Hillside Ave in Oswego, NY, died Thursday November 8 ^th , in Florida. He was surrounded by his family.

Mr. DeLapp was born in New Haven, NY on September 24, 1931. He was the son of the late William W. and Evelyn (Holden) DeLapp.

He started school at the Mexico Academy, which he attended from 1937 to 1942. He moved to Oswego, NY in 1942, and was schooled in Kingsford Park School until 1947. He worked as a busboy at the Pontiac Hotel, and worked at the Flexo Wire Co. until 1948.

In 1948, he went into the US Army, and trained at Camp Pickett, VA with the 17 ^th Airborne until April of 1949, when he was sent to the occupation of Japan. He served in the 507 ^th Anti-Aircraft Artillery until the Korean War started on June 25, 1950. He was re-trained and sent to Korea in September of 1950 with the 25 ^th Infantry Division, 35 ^th Infantry Regiment. He rotated home to Oswego in November of 1951. He re-enlisted in 1952 and served in Germany with the 66 ^th Armored Battalion, 7 ^th Army in Baumholder, Germany. He served as a Tank Commander with the 510 ^th Tank Battalion in Manheim, Germany until 1956, after which he worked at Sealright in Fulton.

He married the former Margaret Scharf on November 23, 1957. Mrs. DeLapp died on January 1, 2014.

He has four children, William (Cindy Pascarella) of Oswego, Cherie (Jon Brandhorst) of Colorado, Jay of Syracuse, and John (Theresa McConnell) of Oswego; 4 siblings, Richard DeLapp, Mary Stevens, Patricia Kandt, and Peggy Pryor; 8 grandchildren, Noelle, Johnny, Sydney, Casey, Jamie, Jessica, William, and Rachael; a great-grandchild, Riley; and many neices and nephews.

He was predeceased by brothers Robert DeLapp and Donald DeLapp; and sister Larita Yerdon.

Mr. DeLapp was a City of Oswego firefighter from April of 1958 to June of 1984. His hobbies were wood carving caricatures, hunting, fishing, travel, and riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles to and from South Dakota and Florida. He was a life member of Wind and Fire Motorcycle Club, a life member and past commander of American Legion Post 268, a life member of VFW Post 5885, and a life member of the BPOE Lodge 271, all of Oswego.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 Wednesday, at the Church of the Resurrection, 120 West 5 ^th Street in Oswego.

Calling hours will be held from 3:00 to 7:00 Tuesday, at the Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home, 112 East Second in Oswego.

Contributions in his memory can be made to the DAV at www.dav.org .