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James S. Kent
WALTON — James S. Kent, a lifelong Walton resident, died Monday, April 28, 2003, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City. He was 73.
Mr. Kent was born Dec. 15, 1929, in Walton, to Ralph J. and Lillian Salton Kent.
He received a bachelor's degree in music at Ithaca College in 1951. He served as a staff sergeant in the Air Force during the Korean conflict.
In 1953, he married Ann Burrhus in Walton, who survives at home.
In 1955, he joined his father in the business that became R.J. Kent and Son in Walton, which he continued to operate after his father's death in 1957, until his retirement in 1999.
James Kent was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Walton where he served as organist for more than 20 years and as a trustee. He was a longtime member of the Walton Chamber of Commerce, served on the Delaware Valley Hospital Board of Directors, acted as treasurer for Boy Scout Troop 36 for more than 25 years and as a member of its board and was pivotal in the renovation of the William B. Ogden Free Library in the 1990s.
One of Mr. Kent's passions was music. At the age of 16, he became the organist for the Delaware Co. Men's Choir. He was the organist at the Walton Congregational Church for 13 years and was a member of the Board of the Catskill Symphony Orchestra.
Besides his wife of 49 years, Ann, he is survived by his sons, David, from Falmouth, Mass., Stephen, from Woodland, Calif., and John and wife, Leslie, from Hayward, Calif.; a sister, Kathryn Kent of Goshen; and five grandchildren.
Friends may call Friday, May 2, 2003, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Lyon Bros.-Way, Inc. Funeral Home, corner of North and Delaware Streets, Walton.
The funeral service will at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2003, at the United Presbyterian Church, corner of East and North Streets, Walton, with the Rev. James F. Martin officiating. Burial will be in Walton Cemetery.
Contributions to William B. Ogden Free Library in the name of James S. Kent would be appreciated.
Robert W. Lafler
COOPERSTOWN — Mr. Robert W. Lafler, 73, of Cooperstown died early Tuesday morning, April 29, 2003, at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown.
He was born in the town of Stark on Aug. 25, 1929, a son of the late Roswell M. Lafler and Marguerite Bigelow Lafler.
As a young man, Robert grew up on his family farm with his parents and siblings in VanHornsville.
He graduated from the East Springfield High School in 1947. He attended Boy's State before graduating at Cornell University.
Bob married Julia Ann Rich Lafler on Aug. 25, 1965, at the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Cherry Valley.
After his graduation he worked for the Dairyman's League Milk Plant in Richfield Springs. He then went on and worked for the Fred McGown Company, where he learned his trade of plumbing and heating. Later he purchased the former Jim VanAlstine Plumbing, Heating and Electric Building in Cherry Valley, of which he began his own business, Lafler's Plumbing, Heating, Electric and Hardware. He owned and operated this business for 33 years. He enjoyed his trade where he met many, many people throughout the county.
He worked for the Cherry Valley and VanHornsville Central Schools servicing their boilers and doing repairs.
Bob was a past member of the Pierstown Grange and the Cherry Valley Rotary Club, as well as the Cherry Valley Fish and Game Club.
He also had been the town of Cherry Valley Santa Claus on Christmas Eve for 47 years. Bob looked forward to this year after year.
Bob was a member of the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Cherry Valley and he worked on the Annual Labor Day Church Barbecue for many years. We are sure that the Fassetts in Springfield remember the early corn picking parties.
Bob loved to tell tales of his famous "Adirondack Pancake Mix" of which he served to many a guest at his Saints Rest Bed and Breakfast. As well as to his family and friends. Bob was also noted for "overbrewed" coffee. You never knew if you were going to have a fresh cup or one that he had saved from the day before. We will all miss this.
He was a devoted husband and father.
Bob is survived by his loving wife, Julia Ann of Cooperstown; his daughter and son-in-law, Colleen and William Kubenberger of Hartwick; two sisters, Marjorie Ostrander of Warren, and Elizabeth Ashe of Utica; many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, Joseph and John Lafler; a sister, Alfreda King; and his dog, "Checkers."
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2003, at the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Cherry Valley, with the Rev. Kenneth Swain officiating. Committal and burial services will follow at the Springfield Center Cemetery in Springfield Center.
The family will be present for calling hours at the Tillapaugh Funeral Home in Cooperstown, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 2, 2003.
Expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial contributions may be made to the Cooperstown Emergency Squad, P.O. Box 1, Cooperstown, NY 13326.
The family wishes to thank the At Home Care Nursing staff, Debra, Lois and Cathy and our special friends, Lynette and Marilyn, who have given Robert and his wife, much support during his illness.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Tillapaugh Funeral Service in Cooperstown and Milford.
Ruth Steenburgh
CHERRY VALLEY — Major Ruth Steenburgh, retired, 92, passed away Monday, April 28, 2003, at Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown.
She was born Nov. 13, 1910, in Cherry Valley, the daughter of George and Christina (Blumenstock) Steenburgh.
A lifelong Cherry Valley resident, she was a graduate of Cherry Valley School, Class of 1930. She attended nursing school and graduated Hudson City Hospital and Bellevue Hospital, New York School of Nursing in 1934. She worked at Albany Medical Center and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, New York City.
At the beginning of World War II she served in the Army Nurse Corps until her retirement in 1961. Her services included: South West Pacific, Korean Campaign, Japan and Germany, decorations awarded include, WWII Vic Med,; AS PAC, Am Camp Med; MSU Piaque; 3 o/s bars; Korean Svc Med; PUC; Phil Pres Cit; UN Svc; Nat Def Svc Med; AOM (Jap). She was the first Army nurse who retired from the Army as major at West Point. She also received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Service.
After retirement she worked briefly at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home, Cooperstown.
She was a member of St. Thomas Church, Cherry Valley, Whiteman Hall Snyder Post 1360 American Legion, Retired Officer Association, and was a founding and Charter Member of the Cherry Valley Emergency Squad. She was very active in establishing the Cherry Valley Emergency Squad and was the Captain for several years.
She was a volunteer for the Cherry Valley Museum and Meals on Wheels.
Survivors include a nephew and his wife, Gerald and Josephine Steenburgh; grandnephews, Gregory, John and Jerry Steenburgh; grandniece, Elizabeth Steenburgh Coleman; a nephew, Christopher Baralus; great-nieces, Christine Jaskalowski, Sandra Shibilski, Susan Bulman; and great-nephews, James and William Baralus.
She was predeceased by two brothers, Walter and Frederick Steenburgh, two sisters, Mable Cook and Elizabeth Chamberlin.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 5, 2003, at St. Thomas Church, Cherry Valley. Burial will follow in the Cherry Valley Cemetery, with military honors.
Calling hours will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, 2003, at the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley.
In lieu of flowers contributions in Ruth's memory may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements are by the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley.
Margaret B. Cheesboro
PENFIELD — Margaret B. Cheesboro, 94, of Penfield, and formerly of Bainbridge, entered into rest on Saturday, April 26, 2003, at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester.
She was born July 3, 1908, in Holland Patent, the daughter of the late George and Clara Evans Blust. Margaret was the eldest of eight children.
On Nov. 27, 1935, she married Henry J. Cheesboro, in Oxford. He predeceased her on Dec. 30, 1988.
Margaret taught junior high math for 40 years at the Bainbridge-Guilford Central School.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge, for over 50 years. She relocated to Penfield, from Bainbridge in 1996.
She is survived by two daughters and son-in-law, Nancy Williams, New Hartford, and Sally and Gary Printy, Rochester; six grandchildren, Jacqueline Williams-Lifka and Robert, Harrisonburg, Va., Yvette Cummings and Noel, Macedon, R. Todd Gregoire and Carolyn, Macedon, Mark Gregoire and Tina, Penfield, Barry Gregoire and Denise, Macedon, and Nicole Crosby, Newark; two sisters and brothers-in-law Edith and Orval Hughes, Albuquerque, N.M., and Jean and Fred Ruffrage, Barneveld; 10 great-grandchildren, Jason, Tracy, Shannon, Tiffany, ElleMartel, Jamie, Nathaniel, Remy, Christopher and Autumn; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 3 from the First Presbyterian Church, Bainbridge, with the Rev. Katherine Evans, pastor officiating. Burial will be held in the Greenlawn Cemetery, Bainbridge.
Friends are invited to call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 2, at the C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney.
Memorial gifts in her name may be directed to the Bainbridge-Guilford Alumni Association, the Bainbridge Emergency Squad or to the Genesee Regional Home Care Association-Hospice Program.
Bertha Fisher
ONEONTA — Bertha Fisher, 79, of Oneonta died after a lengthy illness, Tuesday evening, April 29, 2003, at the A.O. Fox Nursing Home in Oneonta.
She was born Dec. 9, 1923, in Bradley, the daughter of Ben and Alvira (Everitt) Krum.
She married Frank Fisher Jr., of Walton on Dec. 24, 1951.
She grew up in Bradley, on the Krum family dairy farm. Bertha and Frank owned and operated a food market in Walton in the 1970s. They moved to Oneonta in 1980, at which time they owned and operated the Country Tavern on Route 28, in the town of Delhi.
She is survived by her husband, Frank, of Oneonta; one daughter, Debra Fisher of Davenport; two sons, Frank and his wife, Sue Fisher of Oneonta, and Dennis and his wife, Candy Fisher of Unadilla; five grandchildren, Maraya and Jada Fisher, Chanda and Aza Hoyt and Stephanie Mackillip; two brothers, Harold and Harvey Krum; and several nephews, nieces and cousins.
There will be no calling hours.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 3, 2003, at the Lewis-Hurley Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St. in Oneonta, with the Rev. Judy Thistle, chaplain at A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, officiating.
Contributions may be made to the Catskill Area Hospice, 542 Main St., Oneonta, N.Y. 13820.
Arrangements are by the Lewis-Hurley Funeral Home in Oneonta.
Mary Ellen (Mel) Galloway
AUSTIN, Texas — Mary Ellen (Lane) Galloway, 49, of Austin, Texas, died Thursday, April 17, 2003, at her home.
Mary was born March 6, 1954, in Sidney, N.Y., daughter of Joseph C. and Anethma R. Lane of Unadilla, N.Y.
She graduated from Sidney Central High School, Sidney, in 1972, and earned her B.S. degree in computer graphics from Southwest University, Texas, in May 2002.
She was predeceased by her husband Greg Galloway, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Island.
Mary is survived by her mother, Anethma Lane, Oneonta, N.Y.; brothers and sisters-in law, Ronald and Nancy (Carey) Lane, Georgia, James and Jean (Teale) Lane, Rhode Island, G. David and Ann (Lent) Lane, Oneonta; sisters and brothers-in-law, Judith and Guy Easton, Sidney, Linda and Jose Moiron, Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., Lori Reigles, Hancock, N.Y.; many nieces, nephews, cousins, special friends, Richard Walker and Dick Barndt, Austin, Texas; and many friends who became family; and her faithful dog, Lucy.
Mel was artistic, talented and had many interests and accomplishments in her life. She had a profound impact on many and was an inspiration to all who knew her.
A celebration of her life service was held Monday, April 21, 2003, at 10 a.m. at 3311 Perry Lane, Austin.
The family requests no flowers. Contributions may be made to the local humane society, Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78759, or the local American Cancer Society.
Ruth D. Trinkino
ONEONTA — Ruth D. Trinkino, 84, of Oneonta passed away at her residence on Tuesday, April 29, 2003.
She was born Feb. 8, 1919, in Oneonta, the daughter of John and Minnie (Bird) Houck.
She married Don Trinkino on June 21, 1941, and he predeceased her on May 9, 1990.
Over the years she worked for Bresee's Department Store, Gabriel Harris and Oneonta Bus Lines.
Ruth was a member of the Elm Park Methodist Church, and the Neil Diamond fan club. She was a former member of the Oneonta Federated Garden Club, Oneonta Country Club, and Fox Hospital auxiliary.
She is survived by two children, Bonnie Kiraly and her husband, Carlton of Otego, and Trudy Trinkino of Front Royal, Va.; a sister, Vivian Miller of Oneonta; six grandchildren, Melanie Amirault, Michael Maben, Jeffrey Maben, Julie Kunz, Sean Fuller and Kimberly Timms; two stepgrandchildren, Andrew Kiraly and Janice Hall; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Helen Houck of Oneonta; as well as several nieces, and two close friends, Eleanora Vieweg and Maggie Papa.
She was predeceased by a brother, Linus Houck.
A service to celebrate the life of Ruth D. Trinkino will be held on Friday, May 2, 2003, at 11 a.m. in the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home, Oneonta, with the Rev. Dr. Lyle Linder officiating. Burial will follow in the Oneonta Plains Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Catskill Area Hospice.
Arrangements are by the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home in Oneonta.
Margaret George
ONEONTA — Memorial services for Margaret George, 87, who passed away Feb. 8, 2003, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 3, 2003, at the First United Presbyterian Church (the Red Door Church) in Oneonta, with the Rev. Douglas Gray officiating.
The family will be receiving friends at a reception following services at the church.
Arrangements are by the Lewis-Hurley Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St. in Oneonta.
Veronica Grozina
ONEONTA — Memorial services for Veronica Grozina, 87, who passed away Jan. 30, 2003, will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, 2003, at the Hartwick Cemetery in Hartwick, with the Rev. Laverne Saxer officiating.
Arrangements are by the Lewis-Hurley Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St. in Oneonta.
Erma R. Hughes
HARTWICK — Committal services for Erma R. Hughes will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2003, at 11 a.m. in Hartwick Cemetery, Hartwick. Erma passed away on Dec. 30, 2002.
Arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Oneonta.
Shirley E. Bell
WORCESTER — Graveside committal services for Shirley E. Bell will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2003, at 2 p.m. in Maple Grove Cemetery, Worcester. Shirley passed away on Nov. 26, 2002.
Arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Oneonta.
Stewart Bennett Nichols Sr.
PALMYRA, Va. — Stewart Bennett Nichols Sr. of Palmyra, Va., passed away April 30, 2003, at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital in Richmond.
Born in Walton, N.Y. on Dec. 22, 1923, he was son of Albert and Edith Nichols and Charles and Nellie Bennett Hoyt of Walton.
He was married to Anna Belle Terry of Palmyra, Va. (formerly of Walton) on May 31, 1947.
Mr. Nichols was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Glenn Hoyt and a sister, Marion Baldwin.
He graduated from Walton High School in 1942, and was a dairy farmer on the Nichols Farm on Kerr's Creek for 40 years prior to retirement in 1986.
He served for 23 years as Delaware County Chairman of the ASCS; several years as president of the local Dairylea Milk Association and as a committeeman on the Walton Cooperative Fire Insurance Company.
Mr. Nichols enjoyed being a square dance caller and playing in the Delaware Valley Boys round and square dance band for many years prior to moving to Virginia.
He was an avid fan of the New York Mets baseball team and the University of Virginia Women's basketball team, and was a member of the Cunningham United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Anna; two daughters, Nancy Nichols Lewis and her husband, James of Hadensville, Va., and Carol Nichols Callahan and her husband, Stewart of Richmond, Va.; one son, Stewart (Rusty) Nichols Jr. of Palmyra; two granddaughters, Shea Callahan and Kelsi Callahan; one sister, Margaret Mclaughlin; eight nephews and one niece.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, 2003, at the Cunningham United Methodist Church, with interment to follow in the church cemetery. The Rev. Emerson Shelton will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Cunningham United Methodist Church, 5436 Ruritan Lake Road, Palmyra, VA 22963.
Sheridan Funeral Home of Kents Store is in charge of arrangements.
Clark H. Fisher
WILLIAMSTOWN, Vt. — Clark H. Fisher, 88, most recently of Williamstown, Vt., and formerly of Franklin, N.Y., passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2003, at the Central Vermont Hospital in Berlin, Vt.
He was born in the town of Davenport, N.Y., on May 21, 1914, the son of Homer and Mary (Carney) Fisher.
He married Doris Pierce on Dec. 12, 1942, in the River Street Baptist Church, Oneonta, N.Y.
Clark served in the U.S. Army, Seventh Armored Division, during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 as a Tech Sergeant.
From 1967 to 1979, he was a truck driver for the Town of Franklin.
Clark was a life member of the Meredith Baptist Church, and a member of Franklin American Legion Post 1689.
He is survived by his wife, Doris Fisher, of Williamstown, Vt.; his children, Robert C. Fisher and his wife, Barbara, of Clifton, Va., and Nancy Guild and her husband, Michael, of Williamstown, Vt.; a sister, Elizabeth I. Fisher of Holland, N.Y.; two grandchildren, Kori Taylor of Williamstown, Vt., and Dawn Smith of Houston, Texas; and two great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A military graveside service, conducted by Franklin American Legion Post 1689, will be held at noon on Saturday, May 3, 2003, in the Ouleout Valley Cemetery, Franklin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin Emergency Squad.
Arrangements are by the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home, Franklin.
