Robert S. Yallum

Robert S. Yallum, 79, a lifelong resident of Kingston, died Thursday, August 30, 2012, at Golden Hill Health Care Center, due to complications from Parkinson's Disease. Born in Kingston, he was a son of the late Charles & Lee Krosner Yallum. Robert (Bob) was a 1954 graduate of Syracuse University and was a US Army Veteran. Co-owner of Yallum's clothing and shoe store for 30 plus years, Yallum's opened at 12 Broadway, downtown Kingston by Morris Yallum (Bob's Grandfather) back in the early 1900's. In 1964 when urban renewal plans forced the store to be closed, they relocated to Wall Street in uptown Kingston, where Bob and his brother Elmore were co-managers. In the 1980's, Yallum's opened stores in the Hudson Valley Mall and in the South Hills Mall. In the 1990's, Bob along with his wife Scrappy, realized their dream of opening a bookstore which they enjoyed operating. A few years before retiring, Bob worked for Wellcare. In the 1970's, Bob was the President of Ulster Academy. He also held elected office as an Ulster County Legislator. During his tenure, he rescued the historic Alton B. Parker house at 1 Pearl St. from demolition which was to be replaced by a filling station. Bob was a life master in Bridge and directed games in Rhinebeck and in Kingston. For several years, Bob also served on the board of the Kingston City Library. These credentials do not take the measure of a man who contributed of his time and efforts tirelessly to the community he loved and where he lived his entire life. Bob is survived by his wife Clara "Scrappy" Yallum of Kingston, whom he married on November 5, 1979, his children, Mark Caro Yallum of NYC, Suzanne Caro Yallum of Mahwah, NJ, Patrick (Sarah) Hutton of Middletown, NY, Paula (Michael) McKinley of Demoine, Ia, Andrew (Sarida) Hutton of Pacifica, CA, Sara (Phillip) Schaffer of Greenwich, CT, a brother Elmore Yallum of Ulster Park, NY, as well as four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 2, 2012 at 12:00 noon at the Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be sent to the Friends of Historic Kingston, POB 3763 Kingston, NY 12402.