Obituary of Milton E. Makinson

Milton Ernest Makinson - (92) of Paramus, NJ, died in his sleep on May 21, 2016 from aspirational pneumonia. Born January 10, 1924 in Beedeville, Arkansas, his family then moved to Damascus, Ark. He was a survivor of the 1927 Great Flood, having been rescued from the rooftop of his home during the middle of the night. A 1942 graduate of Southside High School in Bee Branch, Ark. and a 1971 cum laude graduate of Marist College, with a BA in Mathematics, Mr. Makinson enlisted in the US Navy and served his country during WWII. He was a Tin Can Sailor, and a "plank owner" of the USS McLanahan. He worked for Sperry-Rand Corp on Long Island for 5 years and then for IBM of Poughkeepsie, and Kingston, NY for about 25 years until his retirement in 1989. Mr. Makinson lived in Salt Point, NY for over 36 years. He married the former Lillian Verba on August 27, 1958 in Williston Park, NY. They were avid square dancers. In addition to his loving wife of 57 years, Lil, Mr. Makinson is also survived by three of his children Linda Asaro of Oakland, NJ, Lewis Makinson of Loudonville, NY and Jean Makinson of Salem, Mass. He is also survived by a sister, Neva Ballard and a brother, Homer B. Makinson, both of Arkansas. He leaves behind a great-grandson, five grandchildren and thirteen nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Homer E. Makinson and Buna Little Makinson and a brother, Austin L. Makinson. He was also predeceased by his first wife, the former Mildred Cooper, and a son James, who died in 2001. The family will receive loved ones and friends from 4:00 - 7:00 pm on Sunday, June 12 at Gifford's Funeral Home of Richmond, Vt. A funeral is planned for 11:00 am on Monday, June 13 at Gifford's, with burial immediately following at Riverview Cemetery of Richmond. Arrangements were made by the Oakland Memorial Home of Oakland, NJ.