Gene R. Fanton

Wellsville, NY - Gene R. Fanton, 82, of 3355 Madison Hill passed away on Wednesday, August 3, 2016 at home following a long illness. He was born March 14, 1934 in Wellsville, the son of the late Raymond and Marian (Wells) Fanton. On May 16, 1954 in Wellsville, he married Mary Lou Horn who predeceased him on October 30, 2013.

Gene was a 1952 graduate of Wellsville High School. He was a 20 year veteran of the U. S. Navy during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He served aboard the USS Jeffers, USS George Clymer, USS Dale and the USS Dixie. Gene and Mary Lou formerly owned and operated The Belvedere Restaurant, he later worked for a brief time at Turbodyne Corporation in Wellsville and then became a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service in Wellsville for 13 years, retiring in 1990. He was a member of the Morrison Hayes Post 702 American Legion, Frank B. Church Post 2530 VFW, the Wellsville Moose Lodge # 601, the Wellsville Elks Lodge # 1495 and the former Christian Temple in Wellsville. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his family, he was an avid the Buffalo Bills fan, and he loved his animals, especially Tippy his dog and Missy his cat. The extended family was very happy that Gene and Mary Lou purchased the Horn homestead for their residence.

Gene was a loving father to three sons, Gene Fanton Jr., Carl (Kim) Fanton of Wellsville and Jim (Ann White) Fanton of Belmont, 15 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, two sisters, Beverly “Bunny” Rahr of California and Dorothea “Dottie” Heers of Wellsville, a sister-in-law, Shirley (John) Giopulos of Wellsville, several nieces & nephews and his caregiver, Margaret Hirt. He was predeceased in addition to his parents, by a son, Bill Fanton, a grandson, Carl Fanton Jr., a great grandson, Michael Fanton and a sister-in-law, Cate Horn Tomah.

Friends are invited to visit the family on Monday, August 8th from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. The funeral will be Tuesday, August 9th at 11:00 am in the Christian Temple / First Congregational Church at the corner of Maple Avenue and Fassett Street in Wellsville with Rev David Potts presiding. Burial, with military honors will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Please consider memorial donations to the SPCA Serving Allegany County. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.