JAMES FRANCIS "DIGGER" GILPATRIC

JAMES FRANCIS "DIGGER" GILPATRIC of Kingston, NY died January 12, 2019 at the age of 89. He began his career as a fourth generation funeral director and mortician by working at his grandfather's firm, the James M. Murphy Funeral Home in Kingston. Following the death of his grandfather, Jimmy took over ownership of the firm in 1954 and in 1972, it was renamed Gilpatric-Murphy Funeral Home. In 2009, the funeral home was acquired by Harry VanVliet IV, who renamed the firm to the Gilpatric-VanVliet Funeral Home, and moved it to the Town of Esopus, NY where Jim continued as an adviser. He graduated from the Renouard School of Embalmers in 1950.