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Rolph M. Karker
COBLESKILL — Rolph M. Karker, 57, of Bush Street, died Wednesday, May 25, 2005, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
Mr. Karker was born June 4, 1947, in Stuttgart, Germany, the son of Lewis E. and Gerda (Reich) Karker.
Rolph was a 1965 graduate of Richmondville Central School and a 1967 graduate of Erie Tech in Buffalo.
He was a veteran of foreign war, serving in the United States Army from 1968 until receiving an honorable discharge in 1973.
Since 1971, he was an optician in this area. In 1980, Rolph became a cancer survivor of melanoma. It was then that he began his highly successful practice at Karker Optical in Cobleskill.
A dedicated husband, father, son and brother, he was an active volunteer in numerous community organizations. In giving back to the community, Rolph helped, with his wife, Linda, to create Make a Child’s Christmas Wish Come True. It was through this organization that he was known as the "True Santa."
Rolph’s hobbies include golfing, bowling, fishing and being an avid biker. He was also a member of the Blues Society.
Survivors include his wife, Linda L. (Falzarano) Karker, whom he married Nov. 6, 1971; his children, Justin and Tammy Karker, and their daughter, Devon, of Durham, and Sarah Karker of Richmondville; a brother, Jurgen Karker, his wife, Holly, and their children, Brad and Kyle, of Skaneateles; three brothers-in-law, Tom Falzarano and wife Martha and their children, Joy, Carin and Gina, of Buffalo, Claude Falzarano and wife Ellen and daughter Spencer of Albany, Michael Falzarano and wife Lori of Bakersfield, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Dawn Falzarano of Richmondville; his father and mother-in-law, Lorenzo and Thelma Falzarano; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 30, 2005, at the Cobleskill United Methodist Church, Chapel Street, Cobleskill. Officiating will be the Rev. Laurel Phillips, the Rev. Michael Falzarano and the Rev. Gary Edmister.
Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at the Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill. Burial will be in Richmondville Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Make a Child’s Christmas Wish Come True, care of Bank of Richmondville, P.O. Box 40, Cobleskill, NY 12043.
Vera Mandzuk
COOPERSTOWN — Mrs. Vera Mandzuk, 80, of Cooperstown went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 26, 2005, at her home.
She was born May 13, 1925, in Prague of the now Czech Republic.
Mrs. Mandzuk led a quiet, unassuming life and wanted to go home in the same manner.
She is survived by her husband, John L. Mandzuk; her daughter and son-in-law, Janet A. and Bill Gibson; and her grandson, Will Gibson and his fiancee, Emily Broe.
In respect of her wishes, there will be a private church service at the convenience of her family. Burial will follow in Fly Creek Valley Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to Catskill Area Hospice Hope Foundation, 1 Birchwood Drive, Department FH, Oneonta, NY 13820 or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Charles W. Welch
BUTTERNUTS — Charles Wesley Welch III, 86, of the town of Butternuts died Thursday, May 26, 2005, at his home.
He was born Nov. 28, 1918, in Pennsylvania, the son of Charles W. Welch Jr. and Inza Anna (Mead) Welch.
He served his country during World War II in the United States Army.
He married Linda Keene on Jan. 1, 1965, in the Presbyterian Church in Gilbertsville. He had been employed at the South New Berlin Central School as the head custodian and had also worked at Webb & Sons in New Berlin for many years. In his younger years he had operated his own dairy farm and logging business. He had resided in the Butternut Valley since 1945.
He is survived by his wife, Linda of Gilbertsville; a son, John Wesley Welch of Gilbertsville; a daughter, Marie June and her husband, Daniel Sheldon, of South New Berlin; three granddaughters, Dawn Sheldon, Angelica Welch and Sandy Miner; and two grandsons, James Miner and Benjamen Sheldon. He is also survived by a sister, Genevieve Dzuibek of Norwich; a brother, David Welch of Red Creek; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by a sister, Lawanda Hurlburt, and two brothers, Carl and Gene Welch.
Calling hours will be held from noon until funeral service time at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at the Johnston Funeral Home in Morris, with the Rev. Gerald Bovee of the First Baptist Church of Mount Upton officiating. Burial will follow in the Brookside Cemetery in Gilbertsville.
Funeral arrangements are by the Johnston Funeral Home of Morris.
Francis O’Donnell
ELMIRA — Francis E. O’Donnell, 62, of Elmira died Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at Arnot Ogden Medical Center.
He was born April 12, 1943, in Oneonta, the son of Edna and Frank O’Donnell.
Francis is survived by his four daughters, Coleen and Bobby Francis of Ohio, Lisa and Christian Byam of Elmira, Darlene and Brian Frank of Otego and Denise O’Connell and spouse Malcolm Morse of Norwich, and one son, Dennis O’Donnell of Otego. He is also survived by his two sisters, Edna and Larry Brandenburg of Oneonta and Molly Parks of Mooresville, N.C.; 12 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his mother, Edna O’Donnell, and his father, Frank O’Donnell.
There will be a graveside committal service at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, 2005, in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.
Albert W. Kump
ONEONTA — Albert William Kump, 78, of Oneonta passed away Thursday, May 26, 2005, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital.
He was born Sept. 15, 1926, in Long Island City, the son of Matthias and Louise (Matzelle) Kump.
Albert served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II in the Pacific Area.
For a period of 17 years, before retiring, Albert was an ironworker affiliated with Local 580 out of New York City, and before that he worked for Republic Aviation on Long Island.
He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church. He was an avid golfer and won many tournaments. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting.
He is survived by his three sisters, Elizabeth Kump of Oneonta, Mary Hayward of Delhi and Madeline and her husband, George Seger, of Oneonta; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
There will be no visitation.
A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 28, 2005, in St. Mary’s Church, Oneonta, with the Rev. Steven Moore, associate pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Emmons, at a later date.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Department FH, Oneonta, NY 13820-1319.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Ruth D. Hendricks
MIDDLEFIELD — Graveside services for Ruth Diamond Hendricks, 85, who passed away Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, will be held in the Roseboom Cemetery, Roseboom, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, 2005, with the Rev. Lyman Johnson officiating. Burial will follow.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley.
William J. Parys
STAMFORD — William J. Parys, 79, of Stamford passed away Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at Fox Hospital in Oneonta.
Bill was born in the town of Roxbury on June 13, 1925, son of the late Peter and Florence Moore Parys. He attended schools in South Gilboa, Grand Gorge and Stamford. He served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. Upon honorable discharge from the Navy, Bill worked on the Abe Sofer farm for more than 20 years. He was then employed by Catskill Craftsmen in Stamford until his retirement. He was a member of the VFW Stamford Chapter No. 3292 and Sacred Heart Church in Stamford.
Bill is survived by his brothers, Louis and Ruth Parys of Horsham, Pa., and Leo and Charles of Stamford; his sisters, Marguerite Stanton of Prattsville, Julia Pickett of Grand Gorge, and Mary and Al Orlowski of Valatie; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bill was predeceased by his companion, Clara Misner, and his brother, Jerome.
Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, at the Hall Funeral Home, 40 Main St., in Stamford.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, at Sacred Heart Church in Stamford with the Rev. Michael Cournoyer officiating.
Burial will be later.
Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Stamford Emergency Squad or the Stamford Fire Department.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Hall Funeral Home, Stamford, under the direction of William A. Tari.
Flossie M. Yerdon
CHERRY VALLEY — Mrs. Flossie M. Yerdon, 93, passed away Thursday, May 26, 2005, at Otsego Manor. She was born Sept. 4, 1911, in Warren, the daughter of John and Grace (Whyland) Kane.
She was married to George Yerdon Sr. He predeceased her.
A graduate of Cherry Valley Central School and Oneonta State Teachers College, she taught in a one-room school for two years at East Hill, Spencer District No. 22, from 1931 to 1933, when the school closed. She made $27.50 a week. She raised her family, helped with office work in the family business and was noted for cooking many meals, knitting mittens and crocheting many afghans. She liked to read and be with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include sons, George Jr. and his wife, Lillian, of Cherry Valley, David and his wife, Sharon, of Cherry Valley, Everett and his wife, Delores, of Roseboom, Roger and his wife, Helen, of West Winfield, and Alan and his wife, Connie, of Cherry Valley; a daughter, Kathryrn and her husband, William Lane, of Cherry Valley; 14 grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; four step-great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; six step-great-great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Besides her husband, George Sr., she was predeceased by a daughter, Marjorie Grace, two brothers and three sisters.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 31, at the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley, with the Rev. Lyman Johnson officiating.
Calling hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, May 30, at the funeral home.
Burial will follow in the Middlefield Cemetery, Middlefield.
Contributions in Mrs. Yerdon’s memory may be made to the Otsego Manor Activities Department or Catskill Area Hospice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley.
Lyle U. Reynolds
COOPERSTOWN — Lyle U. Reynolds, 88, of 306 Beaver Meadow Road, Cooperstown, died Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown.
Lyle, a lifelong resident of Cooperstown, was born at home in the town of Middlefield on Sept. 11, 1916, the son of Ira and Mary (Utter) Reynolds. Lyle completed his high school education at Cooperstown High School with the class of 1946 after the war.
Lyle enlisted in the United States Army in early 1941 and served his country in the South Pacific Theater. He received a number of awards for his service, among them the Philippine Presidential Unit Badge, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1945.
After his years of service, he returned to Cooperstown and married Eleanor M. Hubbard on May 3, 1946, in the Westville Baptist Church. He also began his lifelong vocation as a highly regarded local electrician. During his career, Lyle worked at Cooperstown Electric, Ray’s Electric, Reynolds & Gifford Inc., Reynolds Electric and, until his retirement in 1985, with Lyle Reynolds & Sons. It is fair to say there are virtually hundreds of local residents who had the pleasure of Lyle’s smile, humor and always upbeat, outgoing personality as he solved their electrical problems.
Lyle was an active community volunteer. He was a life member of Cooperstown Fire Department Company No. 2 and was a charter member of the Cooperstown Fire Department Emergency Squad. After a 17-year career, during which he responded to more than 1,000 emergencies, he was given the squad’s Certificate of Life Membership. He was also a life member of the Walter P. Eggleston VFW Post No. 7128. Lyle was a member of the Wanderers Car Club and was at one time an instructor with the Civil Air Patrol.
Lyle’s hobbies included meticulously maintaining his 1930 Model A four door sedan and his 1939 John Deere B tractor. He also loved working on all types of gas engines, reading mysteries and gardening.
Lyle is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Eleanor; sons, Steven R. Reynolds of Cooperstown and Edward L. Reynolds and his wife, Judy, also of Cooperstown; and his daughter, Nancy E. Peters and her husband, Bill, of Schuyler Lake. He is also survived by two grandsons, Brett Utter and his wife, Jennifer, of Hartford, Conn., and Michael Reynolds of Cooperstown; two great-grandsons, Nicholas Kelley and Matthew Utter, both of Hartford; two nephews, John and (Robert) Peter Reynolds; and one niece, Doris Hering. Lyle is also survived by his feline friend, Dexter.
He was predeceased by his two brothers, Gordon H. Reynolds and Robert I. Reynolds; and by his nephew, David Reynolds.
There will be a memorial service for Lyle at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, at the Cooperstown United Methodist Church with the Rev. Sundar Samuel officiating.
Burial with military honors will follow in the Hartwick Seminary Cemetery.
Following the burial the family invites their friends to join them for refreshments and the sharing of memories in the main floor chapel area of the Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests those who so desire to make contributions in Lyle’s memory to the Cooperstown Fire Department, PO Box 1, or the Cooperstown Fire Department Emergency Squad, PO Box 322, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Arrangements are under the supervision of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown and Milford.
Margaret Campbell Church
COOPERSTOWN — A graveside service for Mrs. Margaret Mary Campbell Church, 85, of Cooperstown, who died Jan. 5, 2005, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2005, in the Hartwick Seminary Cemetery with the Rev. Samuel B. Abbott, rector of Christ Church in Cooperstown, officiating. Immediately following the service, all who attend are invited to the home of Sandy and Marshall Thorne at 484 county Highway 26 for a time of refreshment and fellowship.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
Rose Mary Nightingale
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Rose Mary (Conklin) Nightingale, 71, of Nashville, Tenn., and formerly of Franklin and Otego, was surrounded by loving family as she entered into peaceful, eternal rest on Thursday, May 26, 2005.
The daughter of Kenneth and Emma (Knapp) Conklin, she was born Feb. 20, 1934, in Franklin. She graduated from Franklin Central School in 1953. Rose Mary was employed at Palmer Clarks grocery store in Franklin before her long-term employment at Burt Rigid Box for more than 20 years. She then worked for a short time at the Hampshire House in Oneonta for enjoyment.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Penny Nightingale of Mount Vision; her daughter and son-in-law, Gary and Kathi (Nightingale) Griffiths of Nashville, Tenn.; her son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Shirley Nightingale of Masonville; her grandchildren, Brian and Kristi Sutton of Lebanon, Tenn., Bob and Laura Nightingale of Syracuse, Holly Nightingale, Becki and Brandi White, all of Otego, Danna Nightingale of Mount Vision, Sue Lester of Elizaville, Kim Schmidtz of Treadwell, Kurt and Kathy Phelps of Unadilla and Tracy Phelps of Nashville, Tenn.; and her great-grandchildren, Autumn Nightingale, Anthony Joseph (A.J.) Nightingale, Jordon Ambrose, and twins, Brianna and Brooke Sutton. She is also survived by one sister, Florence (Nan) King of Port Byron; stepsisters, Azalea Miller of Sidney, John and Elizabeth Wright of Mount Vision and Virginia Curry of Coventryville; one stepbrother: Charles LeSuer of Otego; a very special friend, Emma Keyser of Otego; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents; and stepsisters, Pauline Boyd of Greene and Caroline Edwards of Franklin.
A memorial service for Rose Mary will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 25, 2005, at the Otego Baptist Church with the Rev. Craig Merritt, pastor, officiating in Otego.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ALIVE Hospice Inc., 7178 Patterson St., Nashville, TN 37203.
Crematory arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford Mortuary and Crematory of Nashville.
