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Harry A. Draffen
EAST GREENBUSH — Harry A. Draffen, 80, of 66 Craver Road, died suddenly at Albany Medical Center Hospital after being stricken at his residence.
Born in Grand Gorge on Nov. 24, 1920. He was the son of the late Sam Draffen and the late Myrtie Chamberlin Draffen.
He was the widower of the late Ruth Fasoldt Draffen. He was the father of one son, the late Kenneth Paul Draffen.
Survivors include two daughters, Susan Jean Draffen Long Barnard and Amy Ruth Draffen McKie Martson, both of East Greenbush. He is also survived by sons-in-law, Wayne R. Barnard and John Jay Marston. He is also survived by many close friends and nieces and nephews.
He was a graduate of Grand Gorge High School. Mr. Draffen was employed by the New York Telephone Co. as a lineman for 34 years before retiring from the company in 1985. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
He was a World War II veteran, who served in the Army under Gen. George S. Patton as a sergeant in the infantry.
Harry was an accomplished pilot and loved to fly, after teaching himself to take off and land in a small farmer's field at the age of 17 in Grand Gorge.
He loved people and was always there to offer a helping hand. One of his favorite pastimes, besides flying, was playing country and western songs on the guitar. He began playing the guitar at 13 years of age on a guitar presented to him by his parents.
He was the brother of the late Mary Walters, Freida Sickler, Etta Elliott and Ellen Beck.
Calling hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, 2001, at the W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home at 1700 Washington Ave. in Rensselaer, and friends and relatives are invited. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday from the funeral home. Reception will be held at his home immediately following the service.
Donations in his memory may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church in Rensselaer, Memorial Fund, 34 Broadway, Rensselaer, NY 12144 or the American Heart Association, 440 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205.
Paul O. Meadows
ONEONTA — A memorial Mass for Paul O. Meadows, who died Sept. 18, 2001, in Oneonta, will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 15, 2001, at St. Mary's Church on Walnut Street in Oneonta, with the Rev. Paul Roman, pastor, as celebrant.
A reception will follow at St. Mary's Parish Center (the former St. Mary's School) across the street from the church. All are welcome.
Dorothy M. Page
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Dorothy M. Page died on Sept. 7, 2001, in a Virginia Beach Hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident the previous week.
She was born to Alfred and Pauline (Elwood) Page of Fly Creek, N.Y., on July 28, 1921.
She graduated from Cooperstown High School in 1938, and from Binghamton City School of Nursing in 1943 as a registered nurse.
During her nursing career, she worked in hospitals, doctors' offices and her beloved Camp Hunt. After 35 years of service in several departments at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, Dorothy retired in July 1984 and moved to Grand Junction, Colo., to be near her daughter.
She attended the Church of Christ and devoted herself to the service of others (especially children) at church, camp, school, theater groups and nursing homes throughout her retirement.
She was an avid reader, swimming medalist, game player and beloved friend.
After many happy years in Colorado, she moved to Virginia Beach, Va., on July 14, 2001.
She is survived by her daughter, Kathy, and son-in-law, Michael, Applebee of Virginia Beach, Va.; sister-in-law, Betty Page of Cooperstown, N.Y.; nieces, Donna Archey and Bonnie Ives; nephew, Rob Page; great-nieces and nephews; one great-great-nephew; and cousins.
She was predeceased by her parents; and brother, William Page.
Funeral services and burial were held in Virginia Beach.
Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Hunt, Hubbardsville, N.Y. 13355.
John J. Kanser
ONEONTA — John J. Kanser, 83, of Oneonta, died on Monday, Oct. 8, 2001, at the A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital.
He was born July 25, 1918, in Blanford, Ind.
He married Mary Potanko on Nov. 24, 1945.
He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1941 to 1945 during World War II.
John worked as a carpenter for many years in the area.
He was a member of the United Carpenters & Joiners Local Union.
He was also a member of St. Mary's Church in Oneonta.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Kanser of Oneonta; his two sons, Albert Kanser of New Lisbon and Robert Kanser of Richmond, Va.; two daughters, Mrs. Barbara Tessitore and her husband, Richard, of Emmons and Cynthia Kanser of Clifton Park; several grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
There will be no formal calling hours.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, Oct. 12, 2001, at 10 a.m. in the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, with the Rev. Paul Roman, pastor of St. Mary's Church presiding. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Emmons.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Red Cross, 400 Main St., Oneonta, N.Y. 13820 or to the charity of one's choice.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta.
Lee Jay Terry
Johnson CITY — Lee Jay Terry, 90, of Melondy Hill Road and The Kirby House in Afton, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2001, at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City.
He was born April 6, 1911, son of the late Jay and Emma Terry in Afton.
Lee married Kathylein D. Thomson on Nov. 11, 1936, in Afton. She predeceased him on Dec. 4, 1989.
Mr. Terry was employed as a machinist for E.C.D. of Bendix in Sidney. He retired in 1973. After retirement, Lee was the caretaker for Eastside and Glenwood Cemeteries in Afton.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bainbridge.
He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Ronald Rohrbaugh of Sterling, Va., Doris and David Bamford of London, England, and Lisa Terry and Chris Bryden of Unadilla; son, Donald Terry of Tucson, Ariz.; three sisters, Priscilla, Evelyn and Marie; 12 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
His son, Jay, and brother, Clarence, predeceased him.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Oct. 12, 2001, at the First Baptist Church of Bainbridge at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Sundar Samuels, pastor, officiating.
Friends may call from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel at 21 Main St. in Sidney.
Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery in Afton.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Afton Emergency Squad.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers, Inc., Sidney.
Edna E. Wayman
SUMMIT — Edna E. Wayman, 87 years, of Enid Road, Summit, died Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2001, at her home.
Mrs. Wayman was born July 20, 1914, in Unadilla, daughter of Morton and Edna Loveland Ream.
She had lived in Summit all of her adult life. And with her late husband, Earl Wayman, who died in 1989, had operated a dairy farm and Wayman's Water Well Drilling Co.
Mrs. Wayman was cofounder of the Cobleskill Office for the Aging and the SCAAP Outlet. Mrs. Wayman had also been employed as a receptionist and clerk at Story House Corp., Charlotteville.
She was a former president of the Richmondville Central School Parent Teachers Association.
Survivors are sons and daughters-in-law, Lynn and Louise Wayman, Summit, Larry and Betty Lou Wayman and Oakley and Betty Ann Wayman, both of Middleburgh, and David and Barbara Wayman, Delanson; daughters and sons-in-law, Dorlian and Charles Johnson, Delanson, Susan and David Croinex of Crossville, Tenn., and Sally Wayman of Warnerville; a sister, Emily Zanghi of Rockville Center, Long Island. Also survived by 22 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted Saturday, Oct. 13, 2001, at 10 a.m. at the Summit Methodist Church, Summit, with the Rev. Robert Hundermann officiating. Friends may call at the Robert A. Guffin Funeral Home, 1 Chapel St., Cobleskill, Friday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Memorials to the Summit Fire Department and Rescue Squad will be appreciated.
Sven R. Rahmas
CHARLOTTE — Sven Reinhold Rahmas, 89, of Charlotteville, died Thursday, Oct. 11, 2001, at Eden Park Nursing Rome in Cobleskill.
He was born in Malmo, Sweden, on Oct. 12, 1911, the son of Jans Persson and Anna Froda (Jepson) Persson.
In Sweden, he worked as a candy salesman and eventually as a private entrepreneur until the outbreak of World War II. In his youth, he was a motorcycle racer and a professional soccer goalie.
He emigrated from Sweden through Nazi Germany traveling with Raoul Wallenburg to Italy and then on to America. In America, he traveled across the United States and took up residence in California, working for the movie star Mary Pickford.
Later he moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked in bridge construction. He then lived in Little Neck, Long Island, N.Y., where he and his wife established an import-export firm called Ramborn Co. and a manufacturing company called Little Neck Manufacturing. He moved to Charlotteville in 1951, after becoming lost on a trip and discovering the hamlet.
In 1951 he (along with his wife, Sigrid) founded Story House Corp. A book bindery with a revolutionary new process for prebinding children's books that eventually evolved into an equally revolutionary process for binding paperback books into hard cover books with a clear plastic cover preserving the original cover of the book.
He and his wife, Sigrid, bought and refurbished a building that had once been an inn a century earlier at the four corners in the center of Charlotteville. Since then, Story House has expanded its operations to other buildings in Charlotteville and has continued to distribute bound books to schools and libraries across the entire United States.
Although the business has been managed in recent years by his sons, he remained active in the business as chairman of the board of directors until his death.
His wife, Sigrid (Johnson) Rahmas, who he married in 1943, died on Sept. 4, 1995.
Survivors include three sons, D. Steve Rahmas, Stanley Nils Rahmas and Sigurd Carl Rahmas; six grandchildren, Stanley John Rahmas, Erika Leigh Rahmas, Michael James Rahmas, Stephen Matthew Rahmas, Kristofor Carl Rahmas and Jessica Jean Rahmas; three daughters-in-laws, Judith Richter-Rahmas, Janet (Basso) Rahmas and Pamela (Wall) Rahmas.
A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, 2001, at the Charlotteville Cemetery, with the Rev. Charles Gockel officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Charlotteville Fire Department, Main Street, Charlotteville, NY 12036.
Arrangements are by E. J. Skinner Co., Main St., Worcester, N.Y.
Edgar J. Handy
SHARON SPRINGS — Edgar J. Handy, 83, passed away Thursday, Oct. 11, 2001, at Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown.
He was born Jan. 7, 1918, in Leesville, Sharon Springs, N.Y., the son of Freddie and Esther (Ottman) Handy.
On Dec. 26, 1942, he married Armandine LaVallee in the Presbyterian Church, Cherry Valley, N.Y. She survives.
A lifelong area resident, and a 1937 graduate of Sharon Springs High School, member and past president of the Sharon Springs Central School Alumni Association, Mr. Handy was a master sergeant in the 42nd Engineers, United States Army. In May of 1941, he was sent to Camp Shelby and on Dec. 7, the unit was sent to Alaska. He then served in the Pacific, Philippines and Luzon during WW II.
He had owned and operated Sharon Springs Garage, which his father started in 1904. He retired in 1981, and the garage in 1985 moved to state Route 20 and is now operated by his son, David, and son-in-law Robert Spohn.
He was a member and past master of Sharon Springs Masonic Lodge No. 624; John L. Lewis Royal Arch Masons, Cobleskill; Otsego Commandery No. 76 Knights Templar, Cypress Temple, Albany; Sharon Springs Rotary; charter member and past president of Sharon Springs American Legion; Town of Sharon councilman; and justice of the peace for several years.
Besides his wife, Armandine LaVallee Handy, of Sharon Springs, he is survived by a daughter, Constance Handy Spohn and her husband, Robert, of Cobleskill; two sons, David Edgar Handy and his wife, Elizabeth Boyle Handy, Douglas James Handy and his wife, Barbara Bucciferre Handy, all of Sharon Springs; three grandchildren, Bradford Thomas Handy, Renee Reed Handy and Mason Douglas Handy; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his parents, Freddie and Esther Handy; two sisters, Helen Kinfield and Margaret Swartout; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, Oct. 15, 2001, at 11 a.m. in the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley, with Pastor Lyman Johnson officiating. Burial will follow in Sharon Cemetery, Sharon Springs.
Calling hours will take place on Sunday, Oct. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m., with a Masonic service at 8 p.m.
Contributions in Mr. Handy's memory may be made to the Sharon Springs Rescue Squad, c/o of the Sharon Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Sharon Springs, NY 13459 or to the Transport Van Radiation Unit of the Louis Hager Cancer Research Center, One Atwell Road, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley, N.Y.
Jeanne L. Shaw
MEREDITH — Jeanne L. Shaw, 76, of County Highway 14, Meredith, passed away Friday morning, Oct. 12, 2001, at Wilson Memorial Hospital, Johnson City.
She was born Feb. 10, 1925, in Binghamton, the daughter of Walter E. and Bernice M. (Signor) Fuller. She married David W. Shaw on Jan. 27, 1946, in Delhi.
A lifelong Delhi area resident, she attended Delaware Academy and later the State University College of Technology at Delhi.
A homemaker all of her life, Jeanne was a member of the Meredith Baptist Church where she was a trustee for many years and currently a deaconess. She also taught Sunday school at the Delhi Methodist Church and later at the Meredith Baptist Church.
She was a foster mother for many years and enjoyed quilting, being elected to the Catskill Mountain Quilters Hall of Fame. Jeanne was also a 4-H club leader, volunteered at the Spring Lake Missionary Society and the Delaware County Historical Society.
Surviving besides her husband are a son, Lawrence E. Shaw of Delhi; two daughters, Patricia (David) Cronk and Marcia L. Shaw; and two grandchildren, Cheryl M. Lucas and John Scott (Annemarie) Cronk, all of Lehigh Valley, Pa.
She was predeceased by a sister, Wilma F. Scutt.
Friends are invited to call Sunday, Oct. 14, 2001, at the Hall & Peet Funeral Home, Delhi, where the family will be in attendance from 7 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted at the Meredith Baptist Church on Monday, Oct. 15, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Mitchell Bush officiating.
Burial will follow at the Paige Cemetery in Downsville.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jeanne's memory to the Meredith Baptist Church.
Arrangements are entrusted to Robert A. Peet and son, Delhi.
Janetta L. Peck
MASONVILLE — Janetta (Lee) Peck, 69, of Masonville, passed away Friday, October 12, 2001, at her home.
She was born Nov. 23, 1931, daughter of the late John and Gladys (Bonker) Lee in Cannonsville, N.Y.
Janetta married Ken Peck on Sept. 15, 1951, in Deposit.
She was employed by Keith Clark of Sidney until she retired.
Mrs. Peck was a member of the Eastern Star, as well as the Gilbertsville Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband Ken Peck of Masonville; three sons and daughters-in-law, Greg and Nancy of Sidney, Lewis and Terry of Sidney Center and Ed and Theresa of Unadilla; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kaye and Sante Silvestri of Rotterdam, Maureen and Louis Paveglio of Unadilla; 21 grandchildren; and one great-grandson; two sisters, Dixie Charles of Deposit and Judy Liberati of North Carolina, formerly of Binghamton; a brother, Walter Lee of Mamaroneck, N.Y.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was predeceased by a son, Alan; a brother, Wilfred Lee of Deposit; and Harriet Lee of Sidney.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Oct. 15, 2001, at the C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney, at 2 p.m. The Rev. Randolph C. Palada of the Gilbertsville Baptist Church will officiate.
Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Burial will be in Masonville Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Masonville Emergency Squad or Catskill Area Hospice, 542 Main St., Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements are by C.H. Landers Inc. in Sidney.
