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Susan D. Walrath
EDMESTON — Susan Decker Walrath, 45, of Angel Hill Road passed away on Thursday morning, Jan. 16, 2003, in Bassett Healthcare, Cooperstown.
She was born on Feb. 2, 1957, in Herkimer, beloved daughter of James C. and Joan M. Wright Decker. A lifelong area resident she was a graduate of Richfield Springs High School.
For 12 years she worked as a residential aide for Pathfinder Village in Edmeston, retiring in 1999.
She had lived in Edmeston since 1989. On June 14, 2001, she married David B. Walrath in Edmeston.
Sue was happiest when she was surrounded by her many friends and family, especially her six grandchildren. She will always be remembered as a loving, caring and hopeful person.
Surviving besides her husband, David, of Edmeston; and parents, James and Joan Decker, of Richfield Springs; are two sons, David J. and his wife, Joy Nicolosi of Edmeston, and Michael A. Nicolosi of Oneonta; a stepdaughter, Jessica and her husband, Patrick Baker, of Cooperstown; two brothers and their wives, Jason S. and Natalie Decker of Richfield Springs, and James C. and Sharon Decker of Colorado; two sisters, JoAnne Llewellyn of Ilion, and Linda M. and her husband, Douglas Knapp, of West Winfield; six grandchildren, David J. Nicolosi III, Joshua Evan Nicolosi, Justin Nicolosi, Aeris Nicole Nicolosi, Alaina Marie Nicolosi, Caitlin Isabella Baker; nieces and nephews, Kelly Ann and Jayce Ann Decker, Leann and Felicia Decker, Stacey Lynn Spoor, Tamara Lynn Zoller, Jessica Lynn Knapp, John, Jessica, Jeffery, Jacob and Melissa Llewellyn.
The family will be present to receive relatives and friends in J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James St., Richfield Springs on Monday from 5 until 8 p.m.
Services for Mrs. Walrath will be private and at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations may be made to the Bassett Healthcare Cancer Center or the Catskill Area Hospice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Marguerite Hughes
HOBART — Mrs. Marguerite G. Hughes, 80, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, at the home of her son after a short illness.
She was born Sept. 20, 1922, in Hobart, the daughter of Lloyd and Martha (Whitney) Simmons.
Her first husband, Donald Marquit, predeceased her. On Aug. 16, 1974, she married Edward E. Hughes. Mr. Hughes passed away in May of 2001.
Mrs. Hughes is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Leila Marquit, New Berlin; and daughter and son-in-law, Rosemary and Roger Harris, Canton; grandchildren, Kyle and her husband, Koji Kubota, Middleton, Mass., Kevin Harris, Waltham, Mass., Michelle and her husband, Dale Persons, Debbie and her husband, Joseph Gould, and Terri and her husband, Keith Cross.
She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Megan Persons, Todd and Kristyn Gould, and Kelsey Kubota; a sister, Viola Lane of Wildwood, Fla.; and nieces, nephews and cousins; her friends, Freda Adams of New Berlin and Hildegard Britton of Croton.
Marguerite is predeceased by two sisters, Edna Johnson and Ruth Many; and a brother, James Simmons.
A longtime resident of the Hobart area, Mrs. Hughes worked at Traxler's Five and Ten, Collins Diner and Audiosears, retiring from there.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at the First United Methodist Church of New Berlin, with the Rev. Beverly Butler, pastor officiating.
After the service, friends are invited to come to the Marquit home.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care Inc., 542 Main St., Oneonta, NY 13820.
There will be no calling hours. Burial will be in Locust Hill Cemetery, Hobart, in the spring.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the MacArthur Funeral Home, Hobart.
Louise E. Rubberdt
ONEONTA — Mrs. Louise Elisabeth Rubberdt, 91, of Oneonta died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, at the Robinson Terrace Nursing Home, Stamford.
She was born June 14, 1911, in Frankfurt on the Maine, Germany, the daughter of Albert and Louise (Krieger) Kunkel.
She married William A. Rubberdt on June 21, 1936, at the Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Oneonta. Mr. Rubberdt predeceased her on March 13, 1992.
Louise lived her childhood in Frankfurt on the Maine, before coming to the United States in 1929. After she had arrived, she lived in the New York City area until 1936, at which time she moved to Oneonta. After moving to the Oneonta area she worked as a housekeeper in several area private homes. She then worked at Oneonta Family Cleaners for more than 30 years.
She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Atonement since 1936.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Lou Hesse of Fairview, N.J.; three granddaughters and their spouses, Colette V. Hesse of Fort Lee, N.J., Yvonne and Robert Fassett of Teaneck, N.J., and Simone V. and Michael Pietrunti of Ramsey, N.J.; two great-granddaughters, Olivia and Brittany Pietrunti of Ramsey, N.J.; as well as several nieces and friends.
Louise was predeceased by her sister, Gertrude "Trudy" Jenkins.
Funeral and committal services will be held on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oneonta, with the Rev. Paul Messner officiating. Calling hours will be offered on Sunday from 1 p.m. until service time.
Burial will be in the spring at the Oneonta Plains Cemetery, Oneonta.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, Northeastern New York Chapter, 1717 Central Ave., Suite 105, Albany, NY 12205 in loving memory of Louise Elisabeth Rubberdt.
Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home, Oneonta.
George H. Smith
PITTSFIELD — George H. Smith, 78, of Pittsfield died Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2003, at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
He was born Aug. 31, 1924, in Exeter, the son of Albert and Rena (Wright) Smith.
He married Ellen M. Sowles on Aug. 15, 1947, at the Sand Hill Methodist Church in Unadilla.
Georges' last place of employment before retiring was at Chase Nursing Home in New Berlin.
George was family orientated, always providing for his family. He practiced being a good Samaritan to his neighbors. In his free time he would tinker outside either with his lawn mowers, lawn or garden.
George is survived by his wife, Ellen; his five children and their spouses, Brenda and Robert Rivenburgh, Marlene Raastad and her finance, Teddy Tripp, Donna and Charles Foree, Lyle and Terry Smith and Luanne and Billie Hamby; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; his brothers and their spouses, Edward and Genevieve Smith, and Earl and Jean Smith; his sisters, Helen Reed, Norma Wiltse and her husband, Edward.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home, Edmeston, with the Rev. Jeff McLadden officiating. Calling hours will be from noon until 2 p.m. prior to the service on Sunday.
Interment will be in the spring at Sand Hill Cemetery, Unadilla.
Contributions may be made in George's name to either the Pittsfield Emergency Squad, the American Diabetes Association, or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements by Houk-Johnston-Terry Funeral Home, Edmeston.
Leona J. 'Lee' Swift
AMBLERVILLE — Leona J. "Lee" (Kott) Swift of Amblerville passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 17, 2003, at Valley View Manor Nursing Home in Norwich.
Born April 11, 1931, in Great Meadows, N.J., she was the daughter of Joseph and Julia (Wicki) Kott. She spent her early years in Great Meadows and graduated from Hackettstown, N.J., High School. Following her schooling she worked at several jobs before her marriage.
On Sept. 12, 1953, in St. Peter and Paul's Church in Great Meadows, she married Kenneth W. Swift, who survives. Lee began raising her family and also helped in the family businesses at Stewart's Root Beer Stand in Washington, N.J., and the Swift Brothers leather business. After moving to Amblerville in 1972, she was a certified nursing aide, caring for several local people.
She was an avid gardener and was well-known for the vegetables and pumpkins she sold at her roadside stand next to her home.
She was a member of St. Paul's Church in Norwich and of the Fortnightly Study Group, a civic group in South New Berlin.
Lee is survived by her husband, Ken, of Amblerville; and two sons and their wives, Kevin and Julie Swift of South New Berlin and Joseph and Martha Swift of Sarasota, Fla.; two daughters, Kathy Swift of Norwich and Susan Carr and her husband, Dennis, of Oneonta; nine grandchildren, Kristin and Ryan Deady, Christopher, Zachary, Matthew and Colte Swift and Josh, Chad and Chelsea Carr. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
She was predeceased by two brothers, Walter and Joseph Kott, and a sister, Mildred Cox.
Funeral services for Lee will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003, at 3 p.m. from the Wilson Funeral Home in Norwich. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.
Burial will take place in the spring in Riverside Cemetery in South New Berlin.
Contributions in memory of Lee may be made to the South New Berlin Emergency Squad, South New Berlin, NY 13843.
Messages of condolence may be sent to the Swift family at: wilsonfh.com.
Rosemarie Hitchcock
MEREDITH — Rosemarie A. Hitchcock, 72, passed away Friday, Jan. 17, 2003, at Bassett Healthcare in Cooperstown.
She was born on Nov. 13, 1930, in Queens, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Barna) Gartner.
She married Charles Hitchcock on April 5, 1953, in Middle Village. He predeceased her on Sept. 18, 1994.
She attended the St. James Episcopal Church in Oneonta and was involved with the Meridale Women's Club.
Rosemarie enjoyed sewing, quilting, painting and doll collecting. She also loved woodworking and refinishing wooden furniture.
She is survived by her daughter, Andriann (Hitchcock) Harris and her husband, Robert, of Sterling, Va.; her three sons, David Hitchcock and his wife, Sandra, of North Franklin, Richard Hitchcock and Shawn of Interlaken, and Douglas Hitchcock and Rita Szczesh of Meredith; her seven grandchildren, Matthew Hitchcock, Jessica Deboer, Angela Hitchcock, Shanna Hitchcock, Michael Hitchcock, Ashley Hitchcock, Nicole Hitchcock; and two great-grandchildren, Taylor Hitchcock and Martine Hitchcock. Her brothers, Richard Gartner of Bovina, Michael Gartner of Kingston, Edmond Gartner of Kentucky, Joseph Gartner of Florida, and John Gartner of Kentucky; and many nieces and nephews. Also, her very special friends, Ginny and Alice.
A brother, Robert Gartner, of Long Island predeceased her.
Funeral services will be on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, at 11 a.m. in St. James Episcopal Church, Main Street, Oneonta, with the Rev. Robert Haskell officiating.
Friends may call today at the Bookhout Funeral Home, 357 Main St., in Oneonta from 7 to 9 p.m., at which time the family will be in attendance.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dialysis Unit for Social Events, attention: Mary Sellers, 1 Associate Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820 in memory of Rosemarie Hitchcock.
Arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Oneonta.
John C. Whiteman
CHERRY VALLEY — Mr. John (Jack) C. Whiteman, 83, passed away Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, at The Meadows, Cooperstown.
He was born July 18, 1919, in Cooperstown, the son of Charles G. and Anna (Yerdon) Whiteman.
He married Marian Lucy Page on Nov. 1, 1940, in Middlefield.
Mr. Whiteman attended Cherry Valley School and was a farmer most of his life. He also worked as a caretaker at the A.P. Whitehead Estate.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cherry Valley and the Dairyman League for many years.
Besides his wife, Marian Whiteman, of Cherry Valley, he is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Ernest C. and Karen Whiteman, Robert F. and Fern Whiteman and Allen R. and Wendy Whiteman, all of Cherry Valley; six grandchildren. Kenneth, Richard, B.J., Heather, Scott, Lindsay; five great-grandchildren, Brianna, Savannah, Richie, Melanie and Kyle; 14 nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and -nephews; and several great-great-nieces and -nephews.
He was predeceased by half-brothers, Jesse, William and Clifford Graham, half-sisters, Mary Bromford and Stella Stokes.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, in the First Presbyterian Church, Cherry Valley, with the Rev. Ron Fralick, pastor, officiating.
A calling hour will take place from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service time at the church.
Cremation will take place at the Leatherstocking Crematory Inc., Cherry Valley. Burial will be in the spring in the Middlefield Cemetery, Middlefield.
Because of family illness, it is requested that there be no flowers sent; contributions in Mr. Whiteman's memory may be made to the Edmeston Emergency Squad, Edmeston, NY or the Cherry Valley Emergency Squad, Cherry Valley, NY.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley.
Leigh A. Babcock
EXETER — Leigh A. Babcock, of Truman Road, died from a stroke on Jan. 12, 2003, in Little Falls Hospital. Previously he had been at the Folts Homes, Herkimer.
Mr. Babcock was born Feb. 28, 1917, on the family farm, "Speckle Acres," in the town of Exeter, the son of the late Warren L. and Ada Itina Curtiss Babcock. A lifelong resident and dairy farmer in the town of Exeter, he was also a member of the Schuyler Lake Kingdom Hall Congregation of Jehovah's Witness since 1942.
His favorite hobbies were gardening and bee keeping, in which many of us shared in his sweet works.
In 1943, he married Martha Pine, who preceded him in death in 1983. On April 21, 1984, he married Gertrude Naylor, who survives him to this day along with several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was predeceased by his brother, Gerald, in 1994, and his sister, Sylvia (Babcock) Holdridge, in 2002.
There are no calling hours. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003, at 2 p.m. in the Schuyler Lake Kingdom Hall Congregation of Jehovah's Witness.
Memorial donations may be made to the Schuyler Lake Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses or the Schuyler Lake Fire Department.
Funeral arrangements are with J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James St., Richfield Springs.
William P. Armour
UNADILLA — Mr. William P. Armour, 88, of Butternut Road, Unadilla, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, at A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta.
Bill was born in Jersey City, N.J., the son of David and Alice (Plenderleith) Armour, in 1914. He married Helen B. Gifford on Sept. 6, 1941, in Masonvile.
For many years Bill and Helen owned and operated a dairy farm in Unadilla. Bill also worked at Scintilla/Bendix, retiring in 1980. Bill was a member of the Unadilla Friends Church (Religious Society of Friends — Quakers) and had been a member of the Unadilla Grange for more than 70 years.
Bill is survived by his wife, Helen, and children, Theodore Armour and his wife, Susan, of Edgewater, Md., Larry Armour and his wife, Tigi, of Unadilla, Bruce Armour and his wife, Cindy, of Morgantown, Ind., and Jayne Morenus and her husband, Jim, of Ocklawaha, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends and relatives at the Westcott Funeral Home Inc., 123 Main St., Unadilla, for calling hours only on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2003, from 4 to 7 p.m.
A memorial service is planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care Inc. or to the Unadilla Friends Church.
Funeral arrangements are by the Westcott Funeral Home Inc., Unadilla.
Clifton `Jim' Cook
MILFORD — Mr. Clifton "Jim" Cook Jr., of Milford, died Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002, at Bassett Healthcare.
Jim was born in Cooperstown on July 14, 1919, a son of Clifton and Marie (Roberts) Cook Sr.
He graduated from Milford High School. He was a veteran of World War II and played in the Army Band.
He married Theodora Peeters, who predeceased him on March 18, 1999, on May 14, 1959, in Afton.
Jim and his family have been area residents his entire life. He worked as a carpenter. His last employment was with Kountry Kitchens in Oneonta.
He was a member of the Milford Fire Department and Emergency Squad for more than 30 years. Jim enjoyed his later years spending time with his grandchildren and listening to Big Band music.
He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Keith Ackerman of Milford, Martha and Don Tambasco of Leesburg, Fla., and Debbie and Mike VanDusen of Otego; a son and daughter-in-law, Harry and Joyce Empie of Rochester; a sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Deanne Winsor; five grandchildren, Hannah and Emily Ackerman, Patty, David and Ken Robinson; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Jan 21, 2003, at 11 a.m. at the Tillapaugh Funeral Home in Milford with the Rev. Robert Kazinski, pastor of the Milford United Methodist Church, officiating.
Burial will be in the Milford Cemetery in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial contributions may be made to the Milford Emergency Squad and Fire Department at P.O. Box 359, Milford, NY 13807.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown and Milford.
