Donald Francis Byrne, 98, a 20-year resident of Poughquag and formerly of Jamaica, Queens, died on April 6, 2016 at the NYS Veterans Home in Montrose.

Born in Queens on February 18, 1918, Donald was the son of James and Annie O'Neill Byrne. Donald proudly served our country as a U.S. Army Sgt. in the Pacific during World War II and completed a 22-year career in law enforcement as a decorated Detective First Grade for the City of New York Police Department. In the 1970s, he owned and operated IBI Security in New York City.

In the 1920s, Donald was in big demand to take his four siblings to the movies because he was the only one old enough to read the silent movie captions. In 1946, his first day on the job as a patrolman, Donald chased down a thief stealing fur coats and arrested him by jumping on the running board of the car and wrestling the vehicle to a stop. On the job, he was a relentless investigator and even helped deliver a baby. Donald was a talented pitcher and catcher and held a lifelong interest in baseball.

Donald was predeceased by his wife, Gladalyn Richter, who died on September 9, 1987. He is survived by his children and their spouses, Dale and Otto Miranda of Stuyvesant, and Donald and Melinde Byrne of Bedford, NH; his grandchildren, Otto and Lori Miranda, Dawn and Gary Thayer, Jean and Glenn Dauenheimer, Douglas Byrne, Meaghan and Anthony Bove, and Deirdre Byrne; his great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Justin Spano, Paige Dauenheimer and Katie Dauenheimer; his sister, Eileen Christman; and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, April 13 from 2 to 4pm at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction followed by a service at 4pm. Interment will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Oneonta at the convenience of the family. Memorial donations may be made to the Beekman Rescue Squad, PO 568, Poughquag, NY, 12570. Please visit www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.