Edward Edgar Haungs

SHARON— Edward Edgar  Haungs of Ithaca, N.Y., died May 30, 2007, at Cayuga Medical Center. He was the husband of the late Marion Haungs.

He was born in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, N.Y. on Aug. 6, 1911, to the late Christina (Parker) and Charles Haungs. When he was very young, his family moved to East Elmhurst, in Queens, N.Y., where he resided until he reached adulthood.

His childhood was spent during the days when the New York City borough of Queens was a collection of small towns. Mr. Haungs was an avid swimmer and he passed many happy days in the waters of Flushing Bay.

Life became very different for him when he became a Boy Scout. His leader owned a large farm near West Halifax, Vt., where he would take the boys camping every summer for three weeks. Through the tutelage of his leader, Mr. Haungs’ intellectual interests had their genesis. He began his lifelong interests in all forms of literature, history and nature.

Mr. Haungs graduated from Newtown High Scool in 1929. He immediately joined his older brother and father in the family business of sheet metal manufacturing. A few years later, he married Marion Schemering.

In 1942, he was approached by a customer with an offer of a new kind of job. Through the War Industries Training Act from the government, he taught adults the basics of metal layout and cutting.

Following the war, Mr. Haungs continued teaching, but this time it was for high school students. With an able assist from his wife, he also began reproducing Early American antique lighting from sheet metal. This became an avocation that eventually turned into a small but successful business, especially during his retirement years.

Mr. Haungs’ first love was always for Vermont, and his teaching schedule enabled him to have time off to build a small cottage there. His family was able to enjoy this place for many  years and presently continues to do so.

After his retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Haungs moved to Sharon. They were extremely happy there and kept very busy with family activities and in the Sharon Garden club, the Free Forum  and the Congregational  Church. Mr. Haungs also helped as a member of the Sharon Library Committee, where he reviewed books for them to purchase.

Following his wife’s death in 1999, Mr. Haungs moved to Ithaca to be near his daughter and her family. He loved his life at Longview in Ithaca, where he participated in writing classes at Ithaca College. He enjoyed musical activities such as the intergenerational choir, the concerts and playing  his harmonica at social events.

Mr. Haungs is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Gene Battaglini of Ithaca; his son-in-law, Robert King of Long Island, N.Y.; his sister Christine of Atlanta, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Robert Jack King of Bennington, Vt., Janet King of Scottsdale, Ariz., Louise Swislosky of Flushing, N.Y., Elizabeth Owen of Lehigh Acres, Fla., Christine Rosenberger of Montgomery, N.Y., Susan Carelli of Baldwinsville, N.Y., and Kathleen Owens of Sauquoit, N.Y. ; and 16 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by a daughter, Elizabeth, in 1985; his brother, Raymond; and his sister Edna.
    He is also survived by his many friends at Longview, especially Martha  Hart and a beloved caregiver, Rebecca Wilkinson.

There will be a tribute to Mr. Haungs at an event to be scheduled in a few weeks time at Longview.

Memorial donations may be made to Longview, 1 Bella Vista Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850. The Bangs Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.