ARTHUR E. BODINE
PENN YAN — Arthur E. Bodine, 82, of Penn Yan died Friday, March 20 at home.
Friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, March 23 at Weldon Funeral Home, where services will follow at 1 p.m. with the Rev. John Busch officiating. Burial will be in Lakeview Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Penn Yan Area Ambulance Corps.
Arthur was born March 28, 1926, the son of Irvin and Elizabeth Green Bodine.
He served with the U.S. Navy, was a member of the American Legion and VFW, as well as the Sheriff's Association.
He is survived by one sister, Mary (Ken) Colf, of Second Milo and a brother-in-law, Louis Reeves of Prattsburgh.
GORDON A. DAVIS
JERUSALEM — Gordon A. Davis, 88, of Italy Hill Road, Branchport, died peacefully after a brief illness on Thursday, March 19, 2009, at home with his loving family by his side.
Friends and family may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 23, and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, at the Townsend-Wood Funeral Chapel, 201 E. Elm St., Penn Yan, where his funeral service will immediately follow at 1 p.m., with the Rev. Barbara Gifford officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at Branchport Cemetery in Branchport.
Gordon was born January 23, 1921 in Jerusalem, to Howard and Harriett Oswald Davis. Upon graduation from Penn Yan Academy Class of 1938, he went on to attend the Elmira Aviation Ground School. Shortly thereafter, he went on to serve his country in the Army Airforce as a Flight Engineer during WWII. During his tour, he had many opportunities to travel and circumnavigated the globe from 1942 to 1945. As a man of great integrity and pride, he took over the family farm when he came home and continued to keep it flourishing by growing oats, grass seed, grapes and raising cattle until recently.
While farming, he also went on to work as the Facilities Manager at Camp Seneca Lake for the Jewish Community Center of Rochester, from where he retired after 20 years of dedicated service.
Gordon is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Jane (Prosser) Davis; daughter, Sally Davis, son-in-law, Doug Amey and son, Mark Davis. Also surviving are his beloved grandchildren, Susannah Parkman, Felicia and Jeff Hilton; Lyndsy Blaisdell; Markie Davis; and great-grandchildren, Garrett and Levi Hilton. He is also survived by his sister, Jean Charles and her children Ralph, Ellen and Lincoln, all of whom he shared a special bond with. He was predeceased by his brother, Carleton in 2006.
Friends and family may sign the guestbook at www.townsendwoodfuneral.com
LOUISE H. FINGER
DRESDEN — Louise H. Finger, 85, of Dresden died Sunday, March 22, 2009.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in her memory to the Dresden United Methodist Church, Dresden, NY 14441.
Louise was born in Penn Yanon April 24, 1923, the daughter of the late Milford and Flossie Yentzer Daines. She graduated from Penn Yan Academy in 1940. Louise married her husband, John H. Finger on Feb. 14, 1942. Louise lived all her life in Dresden and spent many years working in the Dresden and Penn Yan School system.
Louise is survived by her children, Terry (Beverly) Finger of Jefferson, Ohio, Marshall Finger of Winter Park, Fla., and Mitchell (Maureen) Finger of Windham, Maine; grandchildren, Jeffrey Finger, Denise (Harvey) Rettburg, Pamela (Mark) Hobbs, Michelle (Frank) Fioritti, Terry (Sally) Finger Jr., Andrea (Bill) Myers, and Joanne (Joshua) Relyea; 14 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Doreen Finger of Himrod; sister, Barbara Fredericksen of Penn Yan; sister-in-law, Catherine Jensen of Penn Yan; and many nieces and nephews. Louise was predeceased by her husband, John H. Finger in 2004; her son, John ‘Rick’ H. Finger Jr. in 1993; and her sister, Lillian Gelder in 2006.
Family and friends may sign the guestbook at www.townsendwoodfuneralchapel.com
DEFORREST W. JENSEN
CANANDAIGUA/ PENN YAN — Deforrest W. Jensen, 78, passed away unexpectedly, Monday, March 16, 2009. There will be no calling hours. A committal service will take place at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Happiness House, 731 PreEmption Road Geneva, NY 14456, or the Ontario County Art Council 65 S. Main St. Canandaigua, NY 14424.
Deforrest was born Sept. 12, 1930, in Penn Yan and was a son of Fred and Christine (Lund) Jensen. He graduated from the Penn Yan Academy in 1949 and served in the U.S. Army for two years. Deforrest married Charlotte Cleveland in 1953. He worked as an engineer for the American Can Company in Geneva for 37 Years. Deforrest was one of the founders of Happiness House in Geneva. He was an avid hunter and belonged to the Fayette Hunting Club. Deforrest was also a member of the Penn Yan Moose Club.
He is survived by his son, Leif Jensen of Canandaigua; daughter, Charlotte (fiancé, John) Jensen of Rochester; sister, Berdine (George) Van Sickle and brother, Kendall (Marion) Jensen all of Penn Yan; many nieces, nephews and dear friends.
He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Charlotte; brothers, Harold, Maurice, Russell, Fred, Gifford, and sister, Olline Moore.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Palmisano Funeral Home, Inc.
Online condolences for the family may be sent through www.palmfh.com.
GLADYS B. KIKKERT
HALL- Gladys B. Kikkert, 81, passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at her home in Hall.
Friends called from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 21 at the Kenneth J. Perkins Funeral Home in Gorham. A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 22 at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Hall. Burial was in Little Church Cemetery, Town of Seneca.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Union Congregational United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 56, Hall, NY 14463.
Gladys was the daughter of the late Frank and Mildred Osterkamp Burgess. She was a graduate of Gorham High School, Class of 1945. She was employed by Shuron Optical and The American Can Company in Geneva. She married George W. Kikkert in 1948 and became a homemaker.
She is survived by two daughters, Barbara Kikkert of Hall and Pamela (John) Fenik of Waterloo; a son, James (Julie) Kikkert of Hall; four grandchildren, Nicholas and Jacqueline Fenik and Ella and Thomas Kikkert; three sisters, Audrey Jensen, Beverly Connor and Nancy (Jess) Mansur; one brother, Rodney (Lin) Burgess, one nephew and several nieces.
Gladys was predeceased by her husband, George W. Kikkert, one sister-in-law, Margaret Kikkert Palmer and two brothers-in-law, George Jensen and Ted Connor.
ROBERT H. "BOB" NEILSON
CLIFTON SPRINGS — Robert H. "Bob" Neilson, 86, of 90 Woodview Lane, died Thursday, March 8, 2009 at the Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic.
Friends called from 2 to 4 and 7 to 8 p.m Thursday, March 12 at the Cheney Funeral Home, 70 Main St., Phelps. A funeral service followed at 8 p.m. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery in Penn Yan.
Memorial donations may be made to the House of John, 14 Spring St., Clifton Springs, NY 14432.
Bob was an Army Air Corps bombardier in World War II. He was a Certified Public Accountant and an avid golfer. He was a member of the first Penn Yan Academy boys basketball team to win the Section V title in 1942.
He is survived by his loving wife, Margaret Roth Neilson of Clifton Springs; a brother, Roger (Nancy) Neilson of North Carolina; sister-in-law, Paula Washburn of Webster; niece, Laurie (Richard) Fanning of Geneva; stepdaughters, Susan (David) Ames of Henrietta and Kristen (Peter Sprigg of Maryland; three grandchildren, one great-grandchild and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was predeceased by his first wife of 54 years, Jean Washburn and their daughter, Karen Ann.
BRIGID O'REILLY
PENN YAN — Brigid O'Reilly, 95, of Rochester, died Sunday, March 15 at Keuka Comfort Care Home.
Services will be announced at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph's House of Hospitality, 402 South Ave., Rochester, N.Y. 14630 or Keuka Comfort Care Home, 35 Route 54, Penn Yan, N.Y. 14527.
Brigid was born in Ireleand on Jan. 31, 1914, the daughter of Austin and Ellen Devitt McCarthy.
She is survived by two sons, James and Robert O'Reilly; four daughters, Margaret Hayes, Mary (Neill) Joy, Eileen (David) Healy and Elizabeth O'Reilly; a sister, Margaret Nagle; six grandchildren,five great grandchildren and a nephew, Tom (Ann) McGuigan.
She was predeceased by her husband, Dennis in 1995, a daughter, Kathleen and son-in-law, Toby Hayes.
BEATRICE OVENS
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA. — Beatrice (Ovenshire) Ovens, 99, died March 17, 2009 at Life Care Center of Gwinett, Lawrenceville, Ga.
A funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family.
A life-long resident of the Penn Yan area, Bea was boarn to Lena and merlin Ovenshire of Chubb Hollow Road, Penn Yan on Jan. 31. 1910.
Bea had a good sense of humor and a sharp wit. She was a hard worker — farming, waitressing and Penn Yan boat factory, among others.
She married Chester Ovens of Chubb Hollow Road.
Bea is survived by her son, Kenneth Sr. of Penn Yan; a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Ovenshire; grandsons Kenneth Jr. of Burdett, Scott, Rodney and Jason, all of Georgia; two great granddaughters, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband Chester, a son, Merlin, a sister, Claribel Runner and a daughter-in-law, Sally.
MARIE SNYDER
PENN YAN — Marie Snyder, 89, of Penn Yan, died Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the Penn Yan Manor Nursing Home.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the Townsend-Wood Funeral Chapel, 201 E. Elm St., Penn Yan, with the Rev. David Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Second Milo Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Marie’s name to the Penn Yan Manor, 655 Liberty St., Penn Yan, N.Y. 14527 or to the Humane Society of Yates County, 1216 Rte 14A, Penn Yan, NY 14527.
Marie was born in the Town of Jerusalem on Aug. 29, 1919, the daughter of the late William and Lucy Copson Disbrow. Marie served in the US Woman’s Auxillary Air Corp during WWII and was employed as a cook at the Penn Yan Academy, Middle School, and Keuka College. She was a member of the American Legion, where she was the first woman to hold the office of Post Commander of the Disbrow-Daggett Post in Branchport. She was also a member of the Women of the Moose and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Penn Yan.
Marie is survived by her children, David P. (Diane) Titus of Penn Yan, Bruce (Sue) Turnbull of Kansas, Linda (James) Wackerow of Rochester and Marjorie (William) Groves of Branchport; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husbands, Al Fink, Mac Turnbull, Roy Titus and Ralph Snyder; brothers, Pete, Van, and George and her sister, Marjorie.
Friends and family may sign the guestbook at www.townsendwoodfuneralchapel.com
NATHAN J. WRIGHT
DUNDEE — Nathan J. Wright, 70, of Dundee passed away on Wednesday March 11, 2009 at The Robert Packer Hospital.
He is survived by his wife; Marie; mother, Bethaldo; brothers, Harold (Marie), Thomas (Johnnie), and Jack Wright; son; Hank, daughter, Kelly and grandchildren, Anthony, Nicole and Samantha.
He was a member of the Watkins Glen Moose Club, Life time member of the Dundee VFW, the Dundee American Legion, and a member of the New York State Starcraft Camper Club (The Blue Birds).
All Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial gathering at the Dundee VFW from 3 to 6 p.m. on March 28, 2009.
