WORLD War II combatant Lindsay Poy, who became a well-known bookmaker, has been celebrated as a devoted family man who was also a "larrikin at heart".
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The Albury resident died on Friday aged 97 and a funeral before a small audience, due to the COVID lockdown, was held on Tuesday at the Lester and Son funeral home in North Albury.
His nephew Lindsay Poy delivered a eulogy, noting how his late father Roy and his uncle agreed to name their sons after each other upon their return from war.
"It was very confusing, even for family, and you always had to clarify whether you were talking of Uncle Lindsay or young Lindsay, Uncle Roy or young Roy," Mr Poy said.
"Uncle Lindsay even said to me that when I was elected president of the Albury SS&A Club, the only reason that I got elected was because the SS&A members thought they were voting for him."
The late Mr Poy was born at Chiltern, the youngest of five boys and four girls.
He bumped his age up from 17 to 18 to join the army and while on Tarakan island he suffered severe shrapnel wounds when a Japanese booby trap exploded.
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While convalescing in Melbourne, Mr Poy met his future wife Hazel and they moved to Albury.
They ran the Little Red Hen cafe near the Commercial Club in Dean Street, while Mr Poy was building up his business as a bookmaker, which saw him set up his stand at racecourses across the Riverina and North East Victoria.
Mr Poy's brother Roy and son Roy were also satchel swingers, making for some confusion for punters.
"Lindsay was a quiet man, a compassionate man, a gentleman to be admired and looked up to," his nephew told mourners.
"He was loyal, honest, so gentle and kind and never a harsh word to be said to or about anyone.
"He was a devoted son, husband and father."
Niece Faye Poy said her uncle was a "larrikin at heart", recalling how he would say "gee, she's a good sort" as he admired women passing by while being pushed in his wheelchair.
She wrote a book about his army life and told of how he hopped aboard a train to return to Kapooka army base from Albury and was told he had to jump when the locomotive slowed.
Mr Poy refused and authorities did not end up discovering why the train stopped.
Grandchildren described Mr Poy as being a gentle soul with a heart of gold.
He was married to Hazel for 72 years before her death in 2017.
They had two children Roy, who died in 2008, and Kay.
Mr Poy also had six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
