Thomas F. Stetson, 72, of Fountain Valley, Calif., formerly of Ilion, passed away on Monday, Oct. 10, 2005, at Hoag Memorial Hospital, Newport Beach, Calif., after a long illness. He was born April 19, 1933, in Watertown, the son of Carl W. and Agnes (Flanders) Stetson. Tom was a graduate of Adams Center High School and Herkimer County Community College. Mr. Stetson served from 1956 until 1965 in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force Reserve. On Aug. 27, 1955, he was married to Anna Mae Edgar at the First Presbyterian Church of Ilion. At one time Tom owned and operated Dodge's Dairy of Ilion. Mr. Stetson was later employed as a corporate tax auditor at Mohawk Data Science Corp. of Herkimer (MDS) for 14 years. Most recently he was a senior field auditor at the Indiana Department of Revenue for 13 years. Tom was a member and former deacon and elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Ilion. He was also a member and former treasurer at the Ilion Elks Lodge 1444. He resided in Ilion for many years until moving to Huntington Beach, Calif., in 1986. Survivors include his wife, Anna Mae; two sons and one daughter-in-law, Craig T. and Roberta Stetson of Pleasonton, Calif. and Scott V. Stetson of Stow, Ohio; three grandsons, Tyler, Troy and Matthew Stetson; one brother and sister-in-law, David and Joyce Stetson of Sun Lakes, Ariz. and one sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and John Smith of Casa Grande, Ariz.; several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his brother, Richard F. Stetson on Dec. 12, 2001. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Applegate and Day Funeral Home, 102 West St., Ilion, with the Rev. Victor McKusick, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Ilion, officiating. Burial will be in the North Columbia Cemetery with full military honors. Calling hours are Friday, Oct. 14, from 4-7 p.m. at the Applegate and Day Funeral Home. The Ilion Elks Lodge 1444 will conduct its ritualistic service at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ilion Ambulance Fund. Donation envelopes are available at the Applegate & Day Funeral Home, Ilion. For directions to the funeral home, click the facilities link above.