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Rita L. Cunningham
UNADILLA — Rita L. Cunningham, 64, of Unadilla died Friday, Aug. 21, 1998, at her home.
She was born, July 16, 1934, in the Bronx, the daughter of George and Florence Cunningham.
She had been a resident of Unadilla since 1983 and previously lived in the Bronx.
She is survived by her husband, Joseph A. John of Unadilla; a son and daughter-in-law, Joseph and Tara Cunningham of Pittsfield, Mass.; a daughter, Sonia Rivera of Norwich; a sister, Ellen Cunningham of the Bronx and 11 grandchildren.
She was predeceased by a brother, George Cunningham.
Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family.
There will be no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Catskill Area Hospice, Oneonta.
Funeral arrangements are by the Westcott Funeral Home, Unadilla.
Graden W. Decker
HOLIDAY, Fla. — Graden W. Decker of Holiday, Fla. and formerly of Afton died on Aug. 21, 1998, at his residence in Holiday, Fla.
He was born on March 5, 1921, in Danville, the son of Dewey and Catherine (Robert) Decker.
He married Marion Riley on Jan. 14, 1947, at the McClune United Methodist in McClune.
Before starting the Afton Golf Course he farmed for numerous years in Afton.
In 1963, he started and developed the Afton Golf Course and ran it until 1972. From 1972 to 1981, he ran the North Shore Golf Course in Cleveland. He was also a World War II Navy veteran and a member of the American Legion Post No. 197 and the V.F.W. Post No. 10167 in Holiday, Fla.
He is survived by his wife, Marion of Holiday, Fla.; four daughters, Barbara Decker of Waverly Hall, Ga., Debra Poyer of Tacoma, Wash., Peggy Close of Oneonta and Mary Decker of Little Falls; three sons, Larry Decker of Spring City, Tenn., Mark and his wife, Diane Decker of Little Falls and Graden Decker of Holiday, Fla.; 16 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three brothers, Dewey Decker of Deposit, Sherland Decker of Afton and Jack Decker of Hoginsville, Ky.; five sisters, Florence Conners of Afton, Betty Teal of Bainbridge, Bernice Hartz of Deposit, Helen Cline of Sebring, Fla., and Joanne Neer of Deposit.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Dorothy Memorial Home, 121 Main St., Afton.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Wayne Burnett officiating.
His wishes were to be cremated and his ashes spread over the Golf Course he so much loved.
William J. Grady
COOPERSTOWN — William J. Grady of Cooperstown died Saturday, Aug. 22, 1998 at The Meadows.
Bill was born on Jan. 7, 1910, in Nashville, Tenn., the son of Silas and Sara Grady.
He attended the University of Michigan and Vanderbilt Unversity.
He moved to Cooperstown in 1945. Mr. Grady was a well-known restaurateur in the Cooperstown area, having been the owner at various times of The Doubleday Restaurant, The Hickory Grove Inn and The Cabin Drive-In. He also was an owner and operator of the Red and White Market in Cooperstown. Following his retirement, Bill divided his residence between Cooperstown and West Palm Beach, Fla.
Bill was an active member of the Cooperstown Volunteer Fire Department, the Chamber of Commerce, the Walter D. Eggleston Post No. 7128 Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Clark F. Simmons American Legion Post No. 579, having served his country in the European Theater during World War II.
Mr. Grady married Kathryn Kraham on Sept. 26, 1942, in Glen Cove, Long Island. She predeceased him on Nov. 4, 1965.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Pamela and John Karwan of Columbia, Md.; his son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Patti Grady of Cooperstown; three grandchildren, Juli Karwan and Matthew and Christopher Grady as well as by several cousins, who reside in the Nashville, Tenn. area.
Father John Roos of St. Mary's Church Our Lady of the Lake in Cooperstown will officiate at a memorial service to be held at the Tillapaugh Funeral Home in Cooperstown on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998, at noon.
The family will be in attendance prior to the service from 10 a.m. to noon to receive friends.
A private burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Index.
Those who wish may, in lieu of flowers, make a donation to the Activities Fund of The Meadows, 140 county Highway 33 W, Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326 in Mr. Grady's memory.
Arrangements are under the direction of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown and Milford.
Ward D. Kirkland
BAINBRIDGE — Ward D. Kirkland, 90, of Bainbridge passed away Saturday, Aug. 22, 1998, at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, Oneonta.
Ward was born June 24, 1908, to the late Lewis and Linna Riley Kirkland in Oxford.
He served in the United States Army from 1942-1945.
Ward married Vera Margaret Clark on Sept. 1, 1945 in Winchester, England.
He was a member of Lodge of the Elks No. 2175, Sidney, V.F.W. No. 3529 of Afton and past owner of the Garden Food Store in Bainbridge.
Ward is survived by beloved wife, Peg Kirkland of Bainbridge; sister, Irene Goodfellow of Yellow Springs, Ohio; sister-in-law, Dr. Robin Goodfellow of Albion, Mich.; two brother-in-laws, Dr. James Goodfellow of Enon, Ohio and Dr. Donald Goodfellow of Lyndhurst, Ohio and three grandnephews and five grandnieces.
He is predeceased by brothers, Carlton and Fred Kirkland.
Funeral services were private and at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bainbridge Emergency Squad or the American Cancer Society, 57 Front St., Binghamton, N.Y.
Mary Elizabeth Schebesta
MARGARETVILLE — Mary Elizabeth Schebesta, 82, of Margaretville died Aug. 22, 1998, at the Mountainside Residential Care Center in Margaretville.
She was born June 24, 1916, in New Kingston, the daughter of Richard and Susan Butler.
She married Rudy Schebesta of Andes on April 21, 1944. He predeceased her in June 1971.
A lifelong resident of Delaware County, she owned and operated the Dunraven Grocery Store and gas station for more than 36 years from her home on Route 28, Dunraven.
Mary enjoyed baseball and at one time sponsored a very successful team in the Margaretville Softball League. She was a member of Saint Margaret's Episcopal Church in Margaretville.
Survivors include two sons, Roger of Roxbury, Russell of Margaretville; daughter and son-in-law, Rhoda and Dan Drumm of Schenectady; daughter, Linda and grandson, Jon of Margaretville. Also, one brother and sister-in-law, Lloyd and Sandy Butler of New Kingston, several nieces, nephews and long-time friends.
Funeral services are 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998, at the Hynes Funeral Home, Margaretville with the Rev. Ray L. Donahue officiating.
Burial will follow in the Andes Cemetery.
Friends may call at their convenience today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Catskill Area Hospice, 542 Main St., Oneonta, N.Y. 13820 or Saint Margaret's Church, Kelly Corners, N.Y. 12455.
Funeral arrangements by the Hynes Funeral Home, Margaretville.
Eleanor R. Skinner
WORCESTER — Eleanor R. Skinner, 86, of Worcester died Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at The Meadows in Cooperstown.
She was born May 29, 1912, in Cleveland, Ohio, the daughter of Frank and Joanna (Urajnar) Podpadec.
She married William F. Ten Eyck in March of 1933; he died in September of 1949. She then married Maynard B. Skinner in June of 1962, he died in March of 1975.
Ellie attended the Richmondville Central School. In 1955, she moved to Worcester from East Worcester, then in 1995, Ellie moved into The Meadows in Cooperstown.
Ellie worked at Top's Glove Company from 1950 to 1969. She was then employed at Astrocom for five years, retiring in 1974.
Ellie was of the Catholic faith and enjoyed crocheting and antiques.
She is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Jean W. Patton of Kingston and Linda D. and Jon Karker of Worcester; two step-daughters, Virginia O'Connor of Worcester and Kathleen Frase of Cobleskill; one daughter-in-law, Janet Ten Eyck of Pasadena, Calif.; four grandchildren, Stephen D. Patton of Pleasant Hill, Calif., Lori L. Lehenbauer of Worcester, Michael F. Ten Eyck of Worcester and Michelle L. Patton of Walnut Creek, Calif.; three great-grandsons, Scott C. and Timothy P. Lehenbauer of Worcester and Tyler A. Patton of Lake Tohoe, Calif.; two sisters, Helen Mattice of East Worcester and Dorothy Podpadec of Mount Upton; three brothers, Edward Podpadec of Liverpool, Joseph Bobnick of Worcester and Victor Bobnick of Schenectady and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by two sons, Donald F. Ten Eyck and Richard D. Ten Eyck and her twin sister, Wilma Podpadec.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998, at the E.J. Skinner Co. Funeral Chapel, 115 Main St., Worcester with the Rev. Paul Messner, pastor of the Zion/St. John's Lutheran Church in Sharon Springs and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartwick Seminary, officiating.
Burial will follow at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Worcester.
Calling hours will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998, at the funeral chapel.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be sent in memory of Ellie to the Animal Fund, Activities Account care of The Meadows, 140 County Highway 33 West, Cooperstown, N.Y. 13326.
Funeral arrangements are by E.J. Skinner Co., 115 Main St., Worcester.
Ruth A. Burke
NEW BERLIN — Ruth A. Burke, 78, of 80 North Main St., New Berlin passed away Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown.
Ruth was born May 14, 1920, at Rockdale, the daughter of Daniel Johnson and Bessie Johnson Aldrich, and married Christopher J. Burke Sr. on Oct. 10, 1936.
During World War II, Ruth worked at a division of Scintilla at Oneonta for the war effort. After coming to New Berlin in 1946, she was involved for many years as a devoted Girl Scout leader, and director and swimming instructor for the Silver Lake Swim Club.
She was a member of the Thianderah Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. Ruth will be fondly remembered for her wonderful smile and telephone personality as she assisted her husband in the ownership and operation of the New Berlin Gazette for may years; together with her loving devotion to her mother, Bessie Aldrich at Chase Nursing Home who lived to be 104 years of age.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Christopher J. Burke Sr.; a daughter, Pat Burke Gifford of Oneonta; a son and daughter-in-law, Christopher Jr. and Linda Burke of New Berlin; a daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Dr. Paul Webb of Towanda, Pa.; six grandchildren, Kristina Behnke of Sidney, Marty Burke of New Berlin, Jonathan Burke of Beachwood, N.J., Heidi Webb and Paul Webb IV of Towanda, Pa., Elvie Smith of New Berlin; also six great-grandchildren; to all of whom she was very devoted and by whom she was loved dearly. Ruth was also survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Eleanor Burke of Norwich; sisters-in-law, Edith Seeley of Dolgesville and Dorothy Burke of Binghamton; sister and brother-in-law, Martha and James Saunders of Georgia, Fla. and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ruth was predeceased by her parents and a sister, Rose Alice Orleman of Queensbury.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Aug. 27, 1998, at 2 p.m. at the Dakin Funeral Home, 17 North Main St., New Berlin with the Rev. Stephen Reese of the Columbus Community Church, officiating.
The interment will be in the Riverside Cemetery, South New Berlin.
There will be no calling hours. Family and friends wishing to visit with the family are invited to do so at a coffee hour following the services at the home of Christopher and Linda Burke at 45 North Main St., New Berlin.
Those wishing to make contributions in Ruth's memory may do so to the Eden Project of Chase Memorial Nursing Home or the New Berlin Fire Department and Emergency Squad.
Mary A. Harrington
NEW BERLIN — Mary A. Harrington, 81, formerly of Norwich and New Berlin, passed away Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at the Chase Memorial Nursing Home of New Berlin.
She was born on Dec. 22, 1916, in Norwich, she was the daughter of Walter and Amy (Follett) Harrington.
Mary had lived all of her life in the Norwich and New Berlin area.
She was a graduate of Norwich High School and had attended the State University College of Technology at Delhi. Following her studies at Delhi Tech, she became a student at the Lowell-Ridley Business College in Binghamton.
Upon returning to Norwich, Mary was employed as a secretary in the offices of Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals for a period of 31 years until poor health forced her retirment. Following her retirement, she made her home in New Berlin with her sister, Jean Frink.
Mary was a member of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church of Norwich, and was also a member of the Girls Friendly Club. She was also a member of the Norwich Eaton Quarter Century Service Club, as well as the Col. Israel Angell Chapter NSDAR of New Berlin.
She is survived by her two sisters, Jean H. Frink of New Berlin and her twin sister, Minnie H. Ballantine of Mount Dora, Fla.; four nephews, Clifton Frink and his friend, Patricia James, and Thomas Frink and his wife, Sheila, all of New Berlin, James Ballantine and his wife, Kathleen, and Gordon Ballantine, all of Oneonta; two favorite cousins, Charles and Richard Hadley of Oneida Castle. Also surviving is a grand-niece, Mrs. Robert (Johanna) Cleveland of New Berlin and a grand-nephew, William Frink of New Berlin. Several other grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins also survive.
Funeral services for Mary will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998, at 11 a.m. from the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home of Norwich, with the Rev. Charles Taylor, Rector of St. Andrews Episcopal Church, New Berlin officiating.
Burial will follow in the Riverside Cemetery of South New Berlin. Friends may call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Chase Memorial Nursing Home of New Berlin in Mary's memory.
