Hometown Oneonta - The Otesgo-Delaware Dispatch: IN MEMORIAM

Nellie C. Cole, 85; Former
Chief Clerk Of Family Court

SIDNEY – Nellie C. Cole, 85, of Sidney, passed away on Monday, March 1, 2010 at Bassett Hospital.
Nellie was born on Jan. 13, 1925 in Oneonta, the daughter of the late Clarence Joseph and Rose (Decker) Oliver. She married Irving W. Cole on October 14, 1944 in Oneonta. He predeceased her on Sept. 20, 1998.
Nellie grew up in the Oneonta area and graduated from the Oneonta High School, class of 1943. She obtained her AA Business Degree from the Delhi Agricultural and Technical College. She and her husband owned the former Buster Hyzer Dairy Farm. She worked for 25 years in Delhi, first as a Legal Secretary to the Honorable Richard H. Farley. Upon his election to a Delaware County Judgeship, she became Chief Clerk of the Family Court of the State of New York, a position she held until her retirement in 1987.
She was an avid quilter and has shown many of her quilts in area shows. She was an active member of the TriTown Piecemakers of Sidney and a member of the National Quilters Association. She was also a member of the Community Bible Church in Franklin and former member of the Women of the Moose #502 in Sidney. She was a volunteer for the Sidney Hospital Guild and the Delaware Valley Humane Society.
Nellie received many honors and awards. She was the Hospital Guild Volunteer of the Year in May, 2001, she was the Sidney First Lady of the Year in April 2003, she was the Republican Citizen of the Year 2007, was a member of the Delaware County and Sidney Republican Committees.
Nellie is survived by her three children and their spouses, Barry W. and Marie Cole of Sidney, Barbara Ritchey of Sidney and Janice and Donald Mushtare of Worcester, Massachussetts.
Nellie was predeceased by her parents, her husband and a brother, William Oliver.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 5, at the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home, 625 Main St., Franklin with Rev. Robert Goldenberg, Pastor of the Circle Drive Alliance Church in Sidney, officiating. Interment will be in the spring in the Ouleout Valley Cemetery in Franklin.
Arrangements are by the Kenneth L. Bennett Funeral Home, Franklin.

Mary Magruder Tompkins, 85;
World War II Veteran, Avid Traveler

ONEONTA – Mary Magruder Tompkins, 85, of Ballston Spa, passed away Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at home supported by her loving family.
Born in Syracuse, N.Y., she was the daughter of Robert and Deborah Magruder. Mary grew up in Syracuse and graduated from Nottingham High School. Mary proudly served in the U.S. Navy WAVES during WWII in Washington D.C., where she achieved the rank of Petty Officer Third Class in the Intelligence Division. She married Percy “Tommy” Tompkins in 1947, and together enjoyed 62 years of love, family, friendship and travel.
For much of her adult life, she lived in the Otego and Oneontaarea, where she served as Past Matron of the Eastern Stars and Past President of the Otego Fireman’s Auxiliary, and was active in both the Otego and Oneonta Methodist Churches. Mary was co-owner of the Otego Hardware store for several years while at the same time assisted in managing the Town of Otego affairs as Town Clerk. For three years she and “Tommy” managed The Sidney Senior Village. Upon retiring, Mary and “Tommy” traveled the United States in their RV taking in all the sights and sounds of the country they both loved.
Mary was passionate about volunteering; she prepared meals at Oneonta’s Saturday’s Bread, and knitted blankets for premature babies. She enjoyed watching many sports and was often seen at local sporting events. Mary was recently active in the Malta Ridge Methodist Church and the Senior Citizens Association in Ballston Spa.
Mary is survived by her husband and best friend, Percy “Tommy” Tompkins, her five sons; James (Debra) of Rockwall, Texas, Kenneth (Jana) of Westminster, Colorado, Kevin (Joanne) of Quinton, Virginia, Bruce (Lorraine) of Manlius, N.Y., and Brian (Laurene) of Ballston Spa, N.Y., thirteen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, her sister Jane Anderson of Cummings, Georgia, and her brother John Magruder of Onondaga Hill, N.Y.
A memorial service will be at 6 p.m. Friday, March, 5, at the Lester R. Grummons Funeral Home.

Mary V. Powell, 94;
Family Woman

ONEONTA – Mary V. Powell died peacefully late Monday afternoon, Feb. 22, 2010 in the place she most loved – her home of 63 years at 18 Maple St., Oneonta.
Mary was born April 3, 1915 in Shalichi, Poland to Fyodor and Wiera (Zedick) Sakowich. At age 13 she traveled alone from Warsaw to New York to join her mother and stepfather, Phillip Pasko in Oneonta. Mary attended Mitchell Street School and went on to get her license as a hairdresser. She married Fred N. Powell on Nov. 23, 1946 in St. Mary’s Church, Oneonta.
As a young woman Mary loved to draw. Later in life she used her artistic talent to create vibrantly colored hooked rugs and intricately crocheted tablecloths, curtains, table runners, and doilies. She loved to read and especially enjoyed putting old Tuco jigsaw puzzles together. Mary loved traveling the back roads around Oneonta and Cooperstown, and spending time at her daughter and son-in-law’s camp at Arnold Lake.
The greatest joy of Mary’s long life was her unconditional love of her family and the creation of a loving home. She was a wonderful cook and seamstress. Mary was a lover of nature and enjoyed watching the birds and squirrels near her home. She had a green thumb and was frequently asked to restore health to ailing house plants.
Mary is survived by her five children: Mary, Rose Anne and husband, Bud Pirone, Betty, Chris, Fred and wife, Sue Powell; her grandchildren, Ana and Heather Powell; her beloved sister, Anna and husband, Donald Cooper; her niece, Mary-Anne Ross; her nephew, Phillip Cooper and his wife, Tina and their daughter Emily; her step-grandchildren, Patty Pirone (Orson Moon), Kim Baskin (Walter), and Mike Pirone; her step-great grandchildren, Hannah, Sam, and Sadie Baskin and Lila Pirone-Moon.
Mary was predeceased by her mother, father, stepfather, her brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law, and her beloved husband of 47 years.
Mary was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the Rosary Society. A mass of Christian Burial was celebrated there Friday, Feb. 28.

Friday, February 26, 2010