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Joseph K. Sprague
NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. — Joseph K. Sprague, 99, of 1081 Palm Ave., North Fort Myers, Fla. and formerly of Sidney, passed away peacefully Thursday, Dec. 11, 1997 in Cypress Manor, Fort Myers, Fla.
Joseph was married to Florence Sargent in 1923 at Oneonta. She predeceased him Feb. 27, 1966.
For several years Mr. Sprague was a precision grinder for the E.C.D. of Bendix in Sidney. He retired June 30, 1966.
For the past several years, Jeseph made his home in Florida.
He is survived by his companion of several years, Virginia Shattuck of North Fort Myers, Fla.; a sister, Eva Hunt of Oneonta; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Graveside funeral services will be held in the spring at the Oneonta Plains Cemetery in Oneonta.
Arrangements are under the direction of the C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney.
Randolph B. Welden
RICHFIELD SPRINGS — Randolph B. Welden, 82, of 67 East James St., died Thursday, Jan. 1, 1998 in Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown.
Randy was born Oct. 8, 1915 in Oaksville, the son of the late Herbert E. and Grace Bissell Welden.
A lifelong Richfield Springs resident, he was a graduate of Richfield Springs High School and had attended Clarkson University.
An honorably discharged U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he proudly served with the 16th Infantry Division — "The Big Red One" — in Germany.
He was first married to Anne Budka on Aug. 1, 1937 in Richfield Springs. She preceded him in death on Aug. 28, 1995. On Dec. 31, 1996 he married Zaida Cole Whipple in Richfield Springs.
For over 45 years he owned and operated R.B. Welden Heavy Equipment, retiring in 1994. He was a member of the Hugick, Purcell and Shepard VFW Post in Richfield Springs and the Ilion Elks Lodge 1444.
Surviving him are a son, Herbert Welden of Ilion; one daughter, Gail and her husband John Walrath of East Springfield; six grandchildren; five great-grandsons; and a daughter-in-law, Martha Welden and son-in-law, Jerry Patterson, both of Richfield Springs.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 11 a.m. in J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 5 West James St., Richfield Springs.
Mr. Welden will be placed in the J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home Private Vault to await burial in Lakeview Cemetery later this spring.
Calling hours will be Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Richfield Springs Emergency Rescue Squad. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Norma J. Galvin
ONEONTA — Mrs. Norma J. Galvin, 73, of Oneonta, died Jan. 1, 1998 at the A.O. Fox Nursing Home.
Mrs. Galvin was born May 24, 1924 in Oneonta to Clyde and Jessie (Burdick) Conrow.
Norma was married to Roger Dales of Long Island and her second marriage was to the late Charles Galvin.
Norma was an avid jazz pianist and entertained residents regularly during her 12 years at the nursing home. She was a member of "The Ascots," a jazz and contemporary-music group. Norma was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta.
There will be a service to celebrate the life of Norma J. Galvin, Saturday, Jan. 3, 1998 at 2 p.m. at the A.O. Fox Nursing Home. Her pastor, the Rev. Marie E. King, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta, will officiate. Norma touched many lives with her amazing and gentle spirit. She was blessed with incredible love and care by her family and friends during a most courageous battle with Parkinson's disease.
Mrs. Galvin is survived by her devoted family, mother, Jessie Conrow; daughter and son-in-law, Judith and Larry Ancewicz; sister and brother-in-law, Alma and Mel Crosby; a niece, Cheryl and Robert Harder; and a nephew, Jerry Jeff and Susan Walker and their families.
Mrs. Galvin will be cremated and there will be a graveside service at the Oneonta Plains Cemetery in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Norma's name to the Activity Fund at the A.O. Fox Nursing Home, 1 Norton Ave., Oneonta, N.Y. 13820; The Parkinson's Foundation or the First Presbyterian Church, 296 Main St., Oneonta, N.Y. 13820.
Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home, Oneonta and Otego.
Alma B. Roberts
COOPERSTOWN — Mrs. Alma B. Roberts, 95, of Cooperstown passed away at her home Thursday, Jan. 1, 1998. Mrs. Roberts was born Jan. 6, 1902 in Schenevus, the daughter of Horatio P. and Helen (Thompson) Becker.
Mrs. Roberts graduated from Schenevus High School in 1920 and then graduated as a teacher from Oneonta Normal School. She taught school at Catskill and Scotia for several years. Mrs. Roberts married Lyle Edgar Roberts on June 26, 1926 in Schenevus. They then moved to Newcombe, where Lyle was superintendent of schools for 35 years. After his retirement in 1960, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts moved to Cooperstown.
Mrs. Roberts was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, the Otsego Chapter DAR, Women's Club since 1960 and the M.I.B. Hospital Auxiliary.
Alma is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Margery and Roger Witherell of Chatham, Mass.; one grandson and his wife, David C. and Suzanne Witherell of East Harwich, Mass.; two great-grandsons, Jesse Lyle and Lee Henry Witherell of Belfast, Maine; a sister-in-law, Myra (Mrs. Richard) Jensen of Sarasota, Fla.; and a niece, Anne Jensen of Spokane, Wash.
She was predeceased by her husband Lyle on Sept. 29, 1991.
A memorial service for Mrs. Roberts will be held Monday, Jan. 5, 1998 at 8 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown with the Rev. Judith Ray officiating.
At the request of the family, there will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send contributions to the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown in her name.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown and Milford.
Charles Schoen Jr.
STAMFORD — Charles A. Schoen Jr., 71, of 6 Hobart Road, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997 at his residence.
He was born April 7, 1926 in Brooklyn, the son of Charles A. and Anna V. (Flood) Schoen Sr.
Charles was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving on LSD landing ships. For the past eight years he lived in Stamford, moving there from Buchanan. He worked for Consolidated Edison in Indian Point as a stationary engineer for 32 years until his retirement in 1978.
He is survived by a sister, Jean A. Beierlein of Stamford; a brother, Arthur L. Schoen of Liverpool; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, 1998 at the Hall Funeral Home, 142 West Main St., Stamford with the Rev. Elliott Oakes, pastor of the Stamford United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in the Pinelawn Cemetery in Farmingdale.
Friends may call at the Hall Funeral Home at their convenience Sunday afternoon and evening from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at which time the family will be in attendance.
Memorial contributions may be made in Charles' memory to the R.A. Robinson Emergency Squad, Main Street, Stamford.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Hall Funeral Home, Stamford and Grand Gorge.
Harold John Hait
JEFFERSON — Harold John Hait, 70, of Jefferson, died Jan. 3, 1998 at his home. Mr. Hait was born Feb. 4, 1927 on Roses Brook in Hobart, the son of John E. and Florence (Atwater) Hait. He married Margie Miller on Sept. 29, 1951 in Stamford.
He graduated from South Kortright Central School in 1945 and received a degree in agriculture from Cornell University in 1948. Harold and Margie moved to Jefferson in 1953 and owned and operated Har-Mar-Lyn Farm receiving numerous awards for high herd production. He was an artificial breeder for NYABC Eastern A.I. for 34 1/2 years.
He was a former clerk to the Board of Education and served as a member of the Jefferson Central School board for over 10 years, former BOCES board member at the time of the planning and construction of the Northern Cartskills Occupational Center in Grand Gorge. He was the committee treasurer for the Jefferson Boy Scout Troop for 32 years. He was an active member of Gideons International and currently president of the Schoharie County Gideon Camp.
He was a member of the Jefferson Senior Citizens, and elected assessor for the town of Jefferson, past chairman and member of the Property Tax Grievance Board. Harold was very active in the formation of the Jefferson Baptist Church. He was a trustee of the West Jefferson Cemetery.
He served as an officer of many farm organizations. He loved bird watching and making maple syrup with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, three sons and daughters-in-law, Lynn and Terry Hait of Jefferson, Russell and Peggy Hait of Jefferson and Norman and Diane Hait of West Oneonta; beloved grandfather to 11 grandchildren, Tammy Hait of Jefferson, Tabitha (Hait) and Carl Mummenthey of Oneonta, Michael, Matthew and Meghan Hait of Jefferson, Melissa (Hait) and Dan Thompson of Virginia Beach, Sarah and Brian Hait of Jefferson, Colleen, Amy and Kevin Hait of West Oneonta; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Martin and Vera Hait of Hobart and Herbert and Mary Hait of Hobart; one sister, Frances Darrah of Milford; mother-in-law, Emor VanDusen of Jefferson; brothers and sisters-in-law, Katherine Hait of Hobart, Florence Jordan of Oneonta, Thayer and Joan Miller of Kerhonkson, John and Alice Miller of Bainbridge, Patty (Miller) and Rodney Klafehn of Laurens; several nieces and nephews, and many friends.
He was predeceased by a son, Warren Thomas Hait in 1980 and by four brothers, Kenneth, Leslie, Clayton and Donald Hait.
Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998 at 11 a.m. from the Jefferson United Methodist Church with the Rev. Charles Gockel and Rev. Waylen Bray officiating. Calling hours are today from 2-4 p.m and 7-9 p.m. The family will be in attendance in the evening at the Mac Arthur Funeral Home, Hobart. Burial will take place in the spring in the West Jefferson Cemetery, West Jefferson.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Gideons International Schoharie County Camp, P.O. Box 103, Sloansville, N.Y. 12160.
Arrangements are by the MacArthur Funeral Home, Hobart.
Margaret Heydecker Foreman
NORTH GRANBY, Conn. — Margaret Heydecker Foreman, an avid traveler and proponent of international student exchange programs, died Sunday afternoon, Jan. 4, 1998 at her home in North Granby, Conn., after a long illness. She was 79.
In September, she was awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Hartwick College in Oneonta, which cited "her efforts in beautifying the campus and encouraging the study of diverse cultures."
The college, where Mrs. Foreman had been an honorary trustee since 1996, also acknowledged that she had "played a key role in the development of several international programs." With her late husband, Charles Foreman, a longtime trustee, she helped the college start the Foreman Institute of Creative Arts.
Mrs. Forman was born in Mount Vernon, the daughter of Wayne Darlington Heydecker and Ethel Cochrane Heydecker. She attended public schools, graduating from Mount Vernon High School, where she played French horn and drums in music groups. As a teenager, she also loved riding horses and sailing with her father on Long Island Sound.
She attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., where she majored in history and was on the dean's list.
After her marriage in 1942, she and her husband lived in Mount Vernon and later, Pelham Manor, where they raised their two children.
Mrs. Foreman was active in the American Field Service, an international student exchange program; in Kappa Kappa Gamma, her college sorority; the Girl Scouts; as a troop leader for many years and as stage manager for numerous theatrical productions. She also was a lifelong gardener and an enthusiastic amateur astronomer.
In recent years, she and her husband lived in North Granby and were members of the Simsbury United Methodist Church, Connecticut.
She is survived by her daughter, Judy Foreman of Cambridge; her son, Willian Heydecker Foreman of Ludlow, Vt; and three grandchildren.
A memorial service will be announced.
Shirley Lee Ashley
BROWNVILLE — Shirley Lee Ashley, 49, of Brownville died Friday at 6:50 p.m. following surgery at Crouse-Irving Memorial Hospital in Syracuse.
Born March 19, 1948 in Oneonta, she was the daughter of Everett and Doris Wright Jester. She graduated from school in Otego and later graduated from Albany Business College.
She married Thomas B. Ashley Oct. 11, 1969 at St. Mary's in Oneonta. The couple lived in Albany for three years and moved to West Plattsburgh until 1978 when they moved to their present home in Brownville.
Mrs. Ashley was a housewife who was active in the following organizations:
Cooperative Extension, District Leader Cornell Cooperative Extension for Jefferson County, 4-H Leaders Association of Jefferson County, Parish Council of Immaculate Conception Church in Brownville, Lecturer and Eucharistic Minister at Immaculate Conception, F.H.A of Otego and a former leader of Lucky Lion's 4-H in Brownville.
Surviving is her husband, Thomas B.; a son, Eric T., a student in Cleveland, Ohio; her parents, Mr. Everett and Doris Jester of Otego; two brothers, Everett Jester Jr. of Florida and Gary Jester of Wilkes Barre, Pa.; nieces and nephews.
A daughter, Tracy, predeceased her in March of 1988.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Johnson Funeral Home, Dexter, with a mass to follow at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Brownville. Burial will be in the spring at Evergreen Cemetery, Otego. Calling hours will be from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Donations may be made to Jefferson County Cooperative Extension 4-H Program.
Arrangements are by Johnson Funeral Home, Dexter, with local arrangements by Bookhout Funeral Homes, Oneonta and Otego.
Martha L. Avery
DELHI — Martha L. Avery, 107, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 1998 at the Countryside Care Center in Delhi.
She was born June 12, 1890 at Norr Koping, Sweden, the daughter of Lars and Emelina (Sgarling) Larson. She married Edward Nelson Avery Dec. 6, 1917 in New York City. He predeceased her Nov. 6, 1965.
She came to the United States in 1908 to Berry Brook, Ulster County. She was employed by the Jay Gould Estate and the Drexel Estate as a maid. Mrs. Avery moved to Delhi in 1920, residing on Page Avenue and later moving to 164 Main St., Delhi. She was employed for many years at the Old Delhi Hospital on Franklin Street in Delhi.
Mrs. Avery was a member and past noble grand for the former Delaware Rebeca Lodge 318, Delhi.
Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Lars and Helen Avery of Delhi; a brother, Harry Larson of Sweden; a son-in-law, Kenneth Wilson of Delhi; two grandchildren, Edward Wilson of Binghamton and Dale Ogborn of Syracuse; three great grandchildren, Stacey and Carrie Wilson of Binghamton and Rhonda Clifford of Florida; and two great-great granddaughters. She was predeceased by a daughter, Marion Wilson in 1987.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1998 at 11 a.m. at the Moxley-McCall Funeral Home, Delhi, with the Rev. Mark H. Chatterton, pastor of the United Ministry of Delhi, officiating. Interment will be at a later date in the Woodland Cemetery, Delhi.
Memorials in the name of Mrs. Martha Avery may be made to the Countryside Care Center, Delhi.
Friends may call at the Moxley-McCall Funeral Home in Delhi at their convenience.
Arrangements are by Moxley-McCall Funeral Home Inc., Delhi.
George Warren Beeching
EDMESTON — George Warren Beeching, 79, of Edmeston died Sunday, Jan. 4, 1998 at Chase Nursing Home in New Berlin.
He was born June 25, 1918 in Oriskany Falls, the son of Grant and Catherine Beeching. He married Helen Kinkaid Oct. 28, 1943 in Sioux City, Iowa. She predeceased him in 1985. He then married Joy I. Jones at home in Edmeston on April 18, 1986.
George served in the United States Army from 1942-1945. He had numerous occupations, he worked as a carpenter, plumber, farmer and grocer; but the most important job for him was being a father and providing his loved ones with care and a religious spirit always came first with him.
His is survived by his wife, Joy; his children and their spouses, Richard and Darlene Beeching, Thomas and Claudia Beeching, Steven and Susan Beeching and Jeanne and David Fry; his stepchildren and their spouses, Connie and Patrick McCarthy, Christy and Robert Schworm and James and Theresa Beeching; 18 grandchildren, five great grandchildren; his brother, Earl Beeching and his sisters,Ruth Bendura and Virginia Ford.
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1998 at 11 a.m. at the Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home, Edmeston, with the Rev. Paul Towers officiating.
Arrangements are by Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home, Edmeston.
