Obituary of Dolson G Conklin

Dolson G Conklin, Jr., age 83, died Thursday, August 30, 2012. Mr. Conklin was born February 14, 1929 in Teaneck, the son of the late Dolson G. and the late Elizabeth (Theade) Conklin, Sr. He lived in Wayne. Mr. Conklin was reared in Teaneck and graduated from High School in 1947. He was awarded a four year Academic Scholarship to Paterson State Teachers College, Paterson, NJ. While at College he played basketball and tennis. In 1950 he won a Conference Championship in tennis. Mr. Conklin graduated in 1951 with a B.S, in Business Education. As a class officer, he read the graduating list and was actually the last person therefore, to graduate from Paterson State. The next year it became William Paterson College. During the William Paterson commencement in 2001, he carried the American flag. It was 50 years after his graduation. Mr. Conklin later went on for an MBA Degree from Fairleigh Dickenson University in 1961. He entered the Army in 1951 and served in Virginia and also in Alaska, with the 467th Counter Intelligence Corp. While in the service he was awarded two decorations. Mr. Conklin married Lois Beresford, of Paterson, on February 23, 1957. They had two children, Jeff Conklin and Leslie and her husband Luther Van Pelt. He was a grandfather to Jennifer, Alyssa, and Michael Van Pelt. They were the joy of his retirement. He spent every day with them after school, going to see all of their activities. Mr. Conklin was employed by the Ford Motor Company. He worked for Ford for 36 years, in the Edsel and Lincoln Mercury Divisions, holding various managerial positions. He retired in 1993. After retirement he was employed in the Tri-State Lincoln Mercury and Long Island Advertising Groups as their Executive Secretary. He and Lois loved to travel; they toured all the capitals in Europe, plus all the islands in the Caribbean and major cities of Canada and Alaska. They also visited 39 of the 50 states in the USA. Mr. Conklin's hobby was making wooden doll houses, and made some 30 and gave them to children. He also completed some 15 models of ships. In 2004, he was awarded a plaque for his continuous support of the Joseph J. Alvino Memorial Foundation by the Wayne Police. All services were private.