Community

Carl E. Vail Jr.

Former Southold resident and Riverhead business owner Carl E. Vail Jr. died Oct. 12 in Micco, Fla., after a short illness. He was 88.
He was born May 17, 1922, in Southold to Carl and Inez (Robinson) Vail. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a first lieutenant and piloted a B-24 bomber. He was awarded the Army Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters for meritorious service.
On Dec. 8, 1944, he married Mary Reinhart, and the couple settled in Hampton Bays.
After the war, Mr. Vail went into business with his father at Vail Motor Corp. in Riverhead, a Buick, Pontiac, GMC car dealership. He rose to the position of president and dealer before retiring in 1982.
According to his family, Mr. Vail was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Predeceased by his wife in 1979, he is survived by his children Donna Monoogan of Lake Tahoe, Calif., Diana Ruffini of Rifton, N.Y., Carl III and Walter, both of Cutchogue, and Joseph, of Riverhead; sisters Virginia Bard of New York City and Mary Hart of Southold; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Private cremation was held.

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