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Andrew E. Skinner
WORCESTER — Andrew Elwyn Skinner, 94, passed away Saturday, June 18, 2005, at his home.
He was born May 19, 1911, in Cooperstown, the son of Elmon J. and Alice (Mackey) Skinner.
Mr. Skinner married Mary Empie in 1935 in Worcester. She predeceased him March 26, 1986.
Mr. Skinner was a lifelong area resident. He was a graduate of Worcester Central School, class of 1928. He also graduated from Hamilton College and Simmons School of Embalming in Syracuse.
In 1934, Mr. Skinner went to work for his father as a funeral director at the E.J. Skinner Co. Funeral Chapel in Worcester. He owned the funeral home and served the people in the Worcester area for 61 years, retiring in 1995.
He was a member of the Worcester United Methodist Church, where he served as a trustee and was on the Financial Committee. He was on the Board of Directors for the Bank of Worcester for 10 years and the Key Bank for six years. Mr. Skinner was a charter member of the Worcester Rotary Club.
He had a great passion for baseball, hunting in Canada, and his cats and dogs.
He is survived by his daughter, Christine Ten Eyck of Oneonta; and a grandson, Mike, and his wife, Jill, Ten Eyck of Worcester; two nephews and their wives, Jim and Michelle Empie of Worcester and John and Debbie Empie of Auburn; and special friends, Richard and Shirley Wright of Worcester.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Sonia Smaila.
Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2005, at the E.J. Skinner Co. Funeral Chapel in Worcester.
The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2005, at the Worcester United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jane Pykus officiating. Interment will follow in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Worcester.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Worcester Emergency Squad, PO Box 191, Worcester, NY 12197.
Arrangements are by the E.J. Skinner Co., 155 Main St., Worcester.
Dorothy Benjamin
WEST EDMESTON — Dorothy F. Benjamin, 81, of West Edmeston went home to her Lord on Sunday, June 19, 2005, at MIB Hospital with her family by her side.
She was born April 28, 1924, in Cooperstown, the daughter of Owen W. and Iva Mae (Richards) Fassett.
She married Farron P. Benjamin on June 25, 1942, at her family home in East Springfield.
Dorothy retired from her position as postmaster after 34 years of service. Also during that time period, she operated a beauty salon from her home for 16 years.
Dorothy and Farron traveled every state of the union and Canada. They both were loyal to their country, Farron serving in World War II and Dorothy traveling with him to his base assignments.
During high school, Dorothy played softball and basketball. In her later years she knitted, played golf and was a major Yankees fan.
Her husband of 63 years, Farron; her children and their spouses, Ben and Judy Benjamin, Donna Palmer, James and Rose Benjamin and Jeffrey Benjamin; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren, survive Dorothy. Also surviving are her siblings and spouses, Homer and Evelyn Fassett, Erma and Leland Vunk, Kenneth and Julie Fassett, Velma Armstrong, Kermit and Irene Fassett, and Myron and Madeline Fassett.
Her son, LaVaun Farron Benjamin; her brother and sister-in-law, Ervin and Gertrude Fassett, predeceased her.
Funeral services for Dorothy will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2005, at the West Edmeston Baptist Church with Pastor Don Buck officiating. A reception will follow the service at the church Parish House. Calling hours for Dorothy will be from noon until 3 p.m. before the service.
Interment will be private in the Springfield Center Cemetery.
Donations may be made in Dorothy’s memory to the West Edmeston Baptist Church.
Funeral arrangements are by the Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home, Edmeston.
Alan C. Graham
NEWBURGH — Alan Clark Graham, 84, of Newburgh passed away peacefully at home Wednesday, June 15, 2005.
The son of Sidney and Estella Hall Graham, he was born Nov. 12, 1920, in Herkimer.
He married Dorothy Buel on Dec. 28, 1942.
A decorated World War II veteran, he flew 20 combat missions in Europe as a B-24 pilot in the 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He received a bachelor’s degree and a MBA from Syracuse University and worked in business management for 41 years for the Atlantic Richfield Company, Africa Inland Mission, the Kings College and Senior Citizens Apartments in Bridgeport, Conn. He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 1420 in Newburgh.
Moving to Newburgh in 1966, Alan and his family worshipped at Moulton Memorial Baptist Church for more than 12 years and previously worshipped at Chapel Hill Community Church, Oak Street Baptist Church and Leptondale Bible Church. He served as a church deacon, church treasurer and sang in the choir. He lived and died a faithful witness to the saving grace of Jesus and in service to man and God. His personal life verse was Philippians 1:21: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
Alan is survived by his wife, Dorothy; son, Alan Clark Graham Jr. and his wife, Barbara; daughter, Jeanne Estella Graham; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, John and Larry; and two sisters, Virginia and Ina.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. today, June 20, at the Cunningham Funeral Home, 4898 SR 81, Greenville.
Friends and relatives may call at the funeral home from 12 to 1 p.m. before to the service.
Interment will follow in the Manorkill Cemetery, Manorkill.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at Moulton Memorial Baptist Church, Old Little Britain Road, Newburgh.
Donations may be made to the Moulton Memorial Baptist Church, PO Box 2715, Newburgh, NY 12550; African Inland Mission, PO Box 178, Pearl River, NY 10965; or the American Air Museum, PO Box 97055, Washington, DC 20090.
Eva R. Fuller
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Eva Rockwell Fuller, 76, wife of the late James Richard Fuller, died in her Myrtle Beach home March 17, 2005, with her family by her side.
She was born April 21, 1928, in Highmount, a daughter of the late Stephen and Lelia Greene Rockwell. Her family moved to Fleischmanns, where she grew up.
She married James Richard Fuller on Sept. 28, 1946. She worked many years for the New York Bell Telephone Company, as well as with the Fleischmanns Theatre, The Cindy Style Shop, Belleayre Ski Shop and often volunteered to support the cancer society and other fund-raising organizations. She was the village of Fleischmanns registrar and the court clerk.
She was a devoted wife and mother and enjoyed visits with family and grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking and baking for her family. She spent many happy hours quilting with friends in the Fleischmanns United Methodist Church and putting on church suppers. She and her husband were long-standing members of the Fleischmanns United Methodist Church.
Eva and Jim enjoyed square dancing with friends in the community and traveling with their travel trailer. They moved to Myrtle Beach after his retirement from the United States Postal Service.
She was predeceased by her husband, James, and a sister, Lelia Maxim.
Survivors include one son, Melvin Fuller and wife Deirdre of Central Bridge; two daughters, Merry Lou Wickham and husband James of Oneonta and Cathy Fuller of Myrtle Beach; one brother, Charles Greene of Rifton; four grandchildren, Jay Conklin and wife Stacy, Erica Wickham, and Maggie and Hannah Fuller; and two great-grandchildren, Amber and Josh Conklin.
There will be a memorial service at the Fleischmanns United Methodist Church, Fleischmanns, at 11 a.m. Friday, June 24, 2005, with the Rev. Joon Lee officiating.
Burial will follow in the Clovesville Cemetery, Clovesville.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mrs. Fuller’s name may be made to the Fleischmanns United Methodist Church. Fleischmanns, NY 12430, or the Regency Hospice, 11943 Grand Haven Drive, Suite A, Garden City, SC 29576.
The E.B. Gormley Funeral Home in Phoenicia is assisting the family.
Robert Edward Ash
MILFORD — Robert Edward Ash III, 71, of Milford died Monday, June 13, 2005, at Otsego Manor in the town of Otsego.
Mr. Ash was born Aug. 8, 1933, in Cranford, N.J., the son of Robert E. Ash Jr. and Ethel (Conklin) Ash.
Mr. Ash attended Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, and served in Germany in the United States Army. Mr. Ash was a retired electrician and was a member of Local Union 102 of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (I.B.E.W.) of Paterson, N.J.
He married Joan E. Kindred in 1955, and they were the parents of three children, Kathleen Louise Cortese and Peggy Eileen Albert, both of South Plainfield, N.J., and Robert Edward Ash IV of Franklin, Tenn.
His wife predeceased him in 1980, and he was also predeceased by a great-grandchild.
On April 4, 1981, Mr. Ash married Lynn Keating Fries, the mother of Eileen Catherine Williams of Springdale, Ark., Pamela Tamsen Herbst of West Windsor, N.J., and Thomas Eric Fries of Odessa, Fla. Other survivors include 13 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Mr. Ash was an active member of Zion St. Johns Lutheran Church in Seward and Sharon Springs.
He had lived in this area since 1991.
A funeral service was at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 16, 2005, at Zion St. Johns Lutheran Church, Church Street, Seward. Friends called at the church from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday, before the service.
The committal service was at 11 a.m. Friday, June 17, 2005, at Lake Nelson Memorial Park, Piscataway, N.J.
Memorial contributions may be made to Zion St. Johns Lutheran Church PO Box 151, Sharon Springs, NY 13459.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill and Palmer & Shaylor, Inc. Funeral Home of Middleburgh.
Esther E. Dixson
SIDNEY — Esther E. Dixson, 89, of Sidney and formerly of Unadilla passed away Friday, June 17, 2005, at the nursing care facility of The Hospital, Sidney.
She was born March 24, 1916, in Worcester, the daughter of the late Clarence and Betsy (Silvernail) Strain.
She had been a resident of Unadilla most of her life and was a graduate of Unadilla Central School and a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church of Unadilla.
Esther is survived by her son, Wren A. Dixson, and his fiancee, Gina Mazoyer, of Tucson, Ariz.; her sisters, Marion Moore and Beverly Dewey, both of Unadilla; her grandchildren, Mark Dixson of Owego and Valerie Thompson of Candor; her sisters-in-law, Kathleen Strain of Unadilla and Maude Strain of Lynchburg, Va.; and also several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by her son, Charles Dixson, and her brothers, Charles Strain and Gordon Strain.
Private graveside services will be at the convenience of the family in Evergreen Hill Cemetery, Unadilla.
There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fellowship Baptist Church, Unadilla.
Funeral arrangements are by the Westcott Funeral Home, Inc., 123 Main St., Unadilla, under the direction of James S. Westcott and James C. Magee, funeral directors.
Richard Blakeslee
ONEONTA — Richard J. Blakeslee Sr., 63, of Oneonta died Thursday, June 16, 2005, at his residence.
He was born Aug. 29, 1941, in Oneonta, the son of Leon and Patricia (Jackson) Blakeslee Jr.
Dick worked at Hartwick College for many years until his retirement in 2004.
He enjoyed collecting coins, baseball cards, woodworking and working on the computer.
Dick is survived by his son, Richard J. Blakeslee Jr. of Rochester; his mother, Patricia Blakeslee of Goodyear Lake; his three granddaughters, Sierra and Miranda Blakeslee of Jefferson and Amanda Blakeslee of Binghamton.
He was predeceased by his father, Leon Blakeslee Jr.; and his brother, Ronald D. Blakeslee.
Calling hours will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, 2005, at the Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oneonta.
A private graveside service will be held in the Oneonta Plains Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Hartwick College, West Street, Oneonta, NY 13820, in loving memory of Richard J. Blakeslee Sr.
Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Oneonta.
Donald Hotaling
BAINBRIDGE — Donald Hotaling of Route 8, Bainbridge, slipped peacefully into eternal life Monday, June 20, 2005, at The Hospital, Sidney.
He was born Sept. 27, 1922, in Sidney, the son of the late Lyman and Myrtle DeForest Hotaling.
Don worked for Scintilla of Bendix, Sidney, for 42 years. He retired Feb. 6, 1983.
He served as a staff sergeant in the United States Army. Don drove supplies in the Red Ball Express to support the troops engaged in the Battle of the Bulge.
He loved the outdoors and always had a beautiful flower garden. Hunting and fishing were favorites during his younger years. In recent years, he and his wife, Laura, enjoyed trips and vacations in and out of state.
Don is survived by his wife, Laura, and her daughters and their husbands, Sylvia and Robert VanDeusen and Roberta Meehan and Anthony DiMarchi. Also surviving are his son and wife, Paul and Lorna Hotaling, and a daughter, Patricia Whitmarsh. Don had six grandchildren: Jessica VanDeusen, Jeffrey Barnhart and wife Dawn, Stacey Dillenbeck and husband Steve, Donald Hotaling and wife Sheri, Kelly Hotaling and Tammi Hunicutt. Also surviving are his six great-grandchildren, Kyle, Dakota and Dalton Barnhart, Michael Hotaling, Heather Cruikshank and Brooke Dillenbeck. Don has one surviving sister, Doris Patrick, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
There will be no calling hours.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2005, at the East Guilford Presbyterian Church.
Burial will be at the family’s convenience in the East Guilford Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the Guilford Emergency Squad, PO Box 68, Guilford, NY 13780.
Arrangements are under the direction of the C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney.
