Obituaries

ITHACA - Phyllis C. "Connie" Johnson, age 91 of Oxford and formerly of Canastota, died Thursday evening at the New York State Veteran's Home in Oxford. Mrs. Johnson is the wife of the late Jake Johnson, who died September 20, 2005. Survivors include several nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

Friends and family may call Monday at 9:00 a.m. until time of 11:00 a.m. Funeral Service at the Herson Funeral Home, located at 110 S. Geneva Street, Ithaca. The Rev. Nathaniel Wright will be officiating. If desire, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer Association . 

ITHACA - Henrietta Stramba, age 88 of Ithaca, died Thursday evening at Cayuga Medical Center. Mrs. Stramba was born in Candor and was the wife of the late Wassil Stramba. Prior to her retirement, she was a cafeteria worker with the Ithaca School District. While working at Kresge Department Store many years ago, she earned the nickname of "Chevy."

Survivors include her two sons, Joseph Michael Stramba and James Harry Stramba; a daughter, Catherine Elizabeth Stramba.

 

ITHACA - Carol Butler, age 53, of Ithaca, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 at her home in Cayuga Heights.

Dwan R. Margeson, of 316 Munson Rd., passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 23, 2009, at the age of 55.

ITHACA - Ralph E. Thorpe, age 68 of Ithaca, NY died Sunday morning at Cayuga Medical Center. Ralph was born in Ithaca, the son of the late Howard and Loreen Thorpe.

Ralph was a Vietnam Veteran in the U.S. Air Force from 1959 to 1965, after which he spent some time in California and ventured into owning his first business. He later returned to Ithaca and began his involvement with buying and selling properties. Throughout this time to present, he formed Cayuga Property Management. He was also the owner of the State Street Bargain House. Ralph will always be remembered by many for founding the Ithaca Clock Museum. He was well known for his random acts of kindness, for his amazing likeness to Santa Clause, as well as his love for clocks.

ITHACA - Mae A. Wright, age 92, of Ithaca, formally of New Smyrna Bch., Fl., died Saturday, September 12, 2009 at the Cayuga Medical Center.  Born in Wishaw Scotland in 1916, she immigrated to the U.S. in 1925. She was the daughter of the late William and Mary Smillie. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles Jr. Wright; a son, Gilbert Wright; a granddaughter, Lindsay Wright; a daughter-in-law, Sue Wright and five brothers and sisters.

She survived by her daughter Nancy (John) Mackey of Locke; her two sons, Steven (Sheree) Wright of Boca Raton, and Jim Wright of Ann Arbor, MI; daughter-in-law, Nancee Wright of Mound, MN; a daughter, Karen (Brian) Peters of Gillette, WY; 19 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

PALM CITY, FL - William C. Raab of Palm City, FL, died peacefully at Treasure Coast Hospice Inn on Saturday, August 15, 2009.

Mr. Raab is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Ann; four loving children, Jean (Kirk) Tranka, James (Mary, his companion) Raab, William (Heather) Raab and Cindi Johnson; three grandchildren, Robert (Mackenzie) Jewell, Christina (Rob, her companion) Jewell and William Raab; his sister, Marlene Brooks and two nieces and their families. Bill was predeceased by his parents, William and Ida and a brother, Donald.

 

ITHACA – Mary E. Coolbaugh, age 84 of Ithaca, died Thursday afternoon at Cayuga Medical Center. Mary was born in Wappinger Falls, a daughter of the late Frank and Grace Delario.
 
Mary worked side-by-side with Charlie on the farm through the years. She enjoyed canning and feeding the wildlife on her property; A true lover of animals. She retired from Cornell University after 32 years as a custodian.

Leighton (Lee) D. Teeter, age 88, died on August 25, 2009 at Beechtree Care Center in Ithaca.

Born March 9, 1921 in Lansing, NY, he was the son of the late Clyde E. and Ethel Teeter, Sr., and the husband of the late Helen (Stevenson) Teeter, who died in 1970. After high school graduation Lee proudly served his country during WWII as part of the US Army 14th Armored Tank Division. He was a member of Lansing Lodge #774 F&AM. Lee was previously employed by National Cash Register of Ithaca before moving to Fairport, NY, where he was employed by Xerox Corp. for 14 years, retiring in 1981.

 

Laverna A. Whittier, age 88, passed away Tuesday evening, August 25, 2009, at her daughter's home on Drake Rd.

Born in Hunts Corners, NY on December 6, 1920, she was a daughter of the late William and Zola (Root) Shattuck. Laverna spent many years as a nurse's aide at Tompkins County Hospital, retiring in 1976. She was a member of Senior Citizens, a charter member of the Lansingville Ladies Auxillary, and a lifetime member of the NYS Grange.  She enjoyed spending her winters in Florida and her summers in Lansing. 

 

Perry James Mudge, 89, of Virgil Road, Dryden, NY, went unexpectedly home to his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, August 25, 2009.

 

Perry was born January 19, 1920 in Solon, NY, a son of the late Ralph and Gladys Cook Mudge. Raised on the family farm in Cincinnatus, at the young age of 17, he was placed in the position of running the farm after his father's death. He did this with much success before moving to Dryden to run his own farm. He married Patricia Munson and they spent the next 63 years on the farm on Virgil Road. She passed away May 28, 2009. An Electrician by trade, he was employed with Pall Trinity, for over 30 years, prior to retirement.

Caleb Chaires, age 71 of Ithaca, died Monday morning at Lakeside Nursing Home, Ithaca. Caleb was born in Tallahassee Fl., the son of the late Caleb and Ruby Chaires Sr. He attended Ithaca High School and was a Korean War Veteran. Prior to his retirement, he worked as a laborer with NCR in Ithaca for 38 years.

Survivors include his son, Dana Caleb Richardson; a step-daughter, Tara Richardson; special friend, Charlotte J. Richardson; two cousins, Melvin (Jennifer) Scott and Brenda Greenridge. He is predeceased by his brother, David Chaires.

ITHACA - Charlotte E. Stahl, age 100 of Ithaca, died Thursday morning at her home while under Hospice care. Mrs. Stahl was born in Lodlowville, a daughter of the late Arthur and Charlotte Buckingham.

Mrs. Stahl was always proud of being a teacher in the one room school house in Groton. She was a member of the New York State Retired Teacher Assn., where she received a Certificate of Appreciation on October of 2002. She was also a member of the GFWC New York State Federation of Woman's Clubs where she earned a Silver Certificate for her years of dedicated service to the club. Mrs. Stahl spent several hours as a hospital aide where she took the book cart around to the patient's rooms. Later, when she was unable to serve in this position, she knitted hundreds of little caps for new born babies at the hospital.

ITHACA - Margaret (Meg) Green went to be in the presence of her Lord and Savior on August 6, 2009. She was born on August 16, 1920. Meg graduated in 1942 from Ithaca College's School of Music. She was predeceased by her husband, Edward, and a brother, Bill Tuttle. Her immediate survivors include her brother, Robert Tuttle of Venice, FL, and three daughters, Barb (Joe) Hillebrandt of Ithaca; Marsha (Jim) Whitehouse of Albion, MI; and Peg (Phil) Jablonski of Long Beach, CA. While in Ithaca for the past nine years, Meg enjoyed her quilt group at Longview and concerts at Ithaca College. She was able to spend her last two years as a part of the Clare Bridge family.

Private interment will be on Long Island at a future date. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6

McLean, NY - Elizabeth E. "Betty" Tanner, age 94, of 21 Stevens Road, McLean, NY passed away Saturday, July 25, 2009 after a lengthy struggle with heart disease.

She was born November 23, 1914 in Oneida, NY, the daughter of Howard and Nettie Cassidy Lewis. Betty graduated from Oneida High School and the Cortland Memorial Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse and worked in that profession for forty years, retiring in 1976. Betty was an active communicant of Holy Cross Church, Dryden, for many years. She was also a former member of several local clubs and groups. Betty was married for fifty-two years to Frederick Tanner of McLean. Mr. Tanner died in 1990.

Brooktondale, NY - James K. Bailey, age 65 of Grove School Rd., Brooktondale, NY, passed on to his Lord and Savior on February 17, 2009 at the Hospicare Residence, Ithaca, NY.

Born June 28, 1943 in Odessa, NY, he was the son of the late Leon R. And Rena Blake Bailey. In addition to his parents, Jim was predeceased by his sister, Janice Chambers and brother, John Bailey. He is survived by his many friends and family in the Brooktondale, Slaterville, Ithaca and Buffalo areas.

Wilma C. Demeree, age 80, of Ithaca, a retired Registered Nurse who prior to her retirement worked for Dr. Augostini in Ithaca, died Saturday afternoon at Lakeside Nursing Home. She was born in Garrettsville, the daughter of the late William N. and Goldie F. Deming. Mrs. Demeree enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and caring for her husband and family.

Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Kenneth W. Demeree Sr.; five children, Nancy Harrington, Timothy (Kathleen) Harrington, Karen W. (Tom) Sargent, Kenneth W. “Bucky” (Paula) Demeree Jr., and David T. Demeree; a brother, Roger (Nikki) Deming; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her brothers.

NORTH LANSING - Robert Thomas Tyrrell, age 79, of 180 Sharpsteen Road, Locke, NY, passed away Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at home following a lengthy illness.

Bob was born on the family farm on Indian Field Road in Genoa, NY January 30, 1930. He was the seventh of eleven children born to the late Philip and Margaret Murray Tyrrell. He attended Genoa Central School and on ValentineÕs Day, 1948 he married the former Irene Eva Sharpsteen. They began their married life on Indian Field Road working on the farm. In 1954, they moved to their present home where Bob continued to farm along with the parents he gained through marriage, Edgar and Elsie Sharpsteen; while at the same time working for the Town of Lansing Highway Dept. In 1958 he was one of the founders, charter member and first President of the North Lansing Fire Company.

 

Ithaca- Donald W. Smith, age 74 of Ithaca, died Wednesday morning July 8, 2009 at his residence, per his wishes and surrounded by his loving family. He fought cancer with determination, courage and a positive attitude, inspiring us to face life’s challenges in a similar manner.

Mr. Smith was born in Ithaca, the son of the late Nestor & Myrtle B. Smith. Prior to retirement, he was a machinist at Emerson Electric for 28 years and a foreman at Ithaca Gun for 15 years. He enjoyed doing yard work and tending to his beautiful rose bushes. He was a graduate of Ithaca High School, Class of 1953.

Charleston, SC - Linda Lee Ann Luke, age 56 of Charleston, SC and formerly of Ithaca, died Saturday July 4, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, SC. Linda is the daughter of the late George N. and Eleanor Park.

Survivors include her daughter, Tracy (Nick) Brown and her son, Robert J. Padgett; a step-son, Matthew (Brittany) Padgett; three grandchildren, Austin Brown, Brianna, and Michael Padgett; three brothers, David (Kathy) Park, Timothy (Rhonda) Park, and Stephen (Cheryl) Park; a sister, Lori (Bob) Combs, Vicki (Kim) Hillyard; several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Charles Padgett Jr.; a son, Charles Padgett III; a daughter, Tabitha Padgett; a grandson, Nicholas Brown.