Patricia M. George

Wellsville, NY - Patricia M. George, 67, of 215 E. Dyke Street, died unexpectedly on Saturday, July 8, 2017 shortly after arrival at Jones Memorial Hospital. She was born on July 15, 1949 in Lockport, the daughter of the late Charles and Dorothy (Willie) Oswald.

Pat was a graduate of Lockport High School and Niagara Community College, where she received a degree in Art. She was formerly employed at Dresser-Rand Corporation in Wellsville for 25 years and Alfred University for 15 years; retiring on June 1, 2015. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church. She was a gifted artist and used her talent in her ink drawings, flower garden, quilting, sewing, and crafts. She enjoyed reading, walking; and loved traveling to South Carolina to visit her daughter and her family. She was a giving person who loved the Lord and studying the Bible.

She is survived by her longtime companion, Roger D. Mallory, her daughter, Christine (John) Ressler of Fort Mill, SC, two beloved grandchildren, JP and Brooke, two sisters, her twin, Phyllis Zielinski of Rock Hill, SC and Pamela (Gary) Craig of Wilson, NY, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased in addition to her parents by a brother, Michael Oswald.

A private service is being planned for a later date. Please consider memorial donations to Catholic Charities. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com. 

Raymond C. Cornelius

Scio, NY - Raymond C. Cornelius, 82, of 4849 Wadsworth Hill Road, died on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at his home. He was born March 23, 1935 in Wellsville, the son of Reginald B. and Charlotte (Millen) Cornelius.

Raymond was raised in the Wellsville area. He was formerly employed by Joyce Pipeline, James Dean Body Shop, and Dave Faulkner Construction. For a time owned and operated his own body shop in Scio and later retired from Dresser-Rand Corporation in Wellsville. He was a member of the I.A.M. Moore Lodge Local 1580. He was an avid horseman, and enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, and farming.

He is survived by one son, Reginald K. (Sharon) Cornelius of Wellsville, two daughters, Sheila Udeski of Ulysses, PA and Andrea (Wayne) Thayer of Wellsville, four stepdaughters, Betty (Leon) Chalker of Scio, Bonnie Spenser of California, Marylou (Richard) Kemp of Friendship and Joann (Dennis) White of Scio, a number of grandchildren, great grandchildren, step grandchildren and step great grandchildren, one sister, Shirley Prevost of Woodbridge, VA, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Lelia Cornelius, a son, Michael Cornelius, a stepson, John Brown, and a brother, Leroy Cornelius.  

A private graveside service will be held at Fairlawn Cemetery in Scio on Monday, July 10, 2017. Please consider memorial donations to any charity of the donor’s choice. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Douglas O. Layman

Scio, NY - Douglas O. Layman, 52, of 5035 Snowball Hollow Road, passed away on Tuesday, July 4, 2017, at home surrounded by his family. He was born May 5, 1965 in Wellsville, the son of Thomas and Donna (Ward) Layman Sr. 

Doug was raised in Friendship and Scio and attended the Friendship Central School. He was a “Jack of All Trades” and for many years was employed as a mechanic for Wes Cline in Belmont. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and gardening.

He is survived by his mother of Scio, two children, Mellissa Hugar of Rochester and Gregory Layman of Georgia, seven grandchildren, two sisters, Judith (Gordon Hadsell) Layman of Belmont and Darlene (Gary) Gilliland of Bolivar, three brothers, Thomas (Mary) Layman Jr. of Belfast, Robert Layman of Scio and Jeffery (Nicole) Layman of Cuba, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father in 2008.

A memorial service and burial in Knights Creek Cemetery is being planned for a later date. Please consider memorial donations to the Roswell Park Memorial Fund. To leave online condolences, please visit embserfuneralhome.com.

Herbert W. “Herb” Howe III

Belfast, NY - Herbert W. “Herb” Howe III, age 43, passed away on Monday, June, 26, 2017, at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester as a result of injuries sustained in a logging accident. He was born in Buffalo to Herbert W. “Sonny” and Gladys Jean Young Howe II. On July 15, 2012 he married Tara Howard who survives him.

Herb was a long time resident of the Belfast Area who had worked for Union Drilling which was bought out by Side Winder Drilling. He had always loved logging and later started his own company called “Second Time Around Logging”. Herb was a hardworking man who loved to spend one on one time with the kids. He had a deep voice with a booming laugh and was often the life of the party. Herb will be remembered as a man who had deep love for his family and especially for his wife Tara.

Survivors include his wife Tara, his mother Jean Snyder (Howe) of Belfast; 3 stepsons, David (Nikkie) Green of Wellsville, Joshua Howard of Belfast, and Nathan Hunt of Belfast; 2 step daughters, Daphne Hunt of Wellsville, and Joslin Hunt of Belfast; 3 step grandchildren; David Jr., Jayden, and Ashlyn Green; 2 brothers, Lance (Valerie) Snyder of Lancaster, and David (Jaime) Snyder of Dade City, FL.; 2 sisters, Mrs. Pat (Connie Ann) Argentieri of Alden, and Diane Howe of Buffalo; his mother in law Glenna (Jack) Clark of Andover and their families; several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Herb was predeceased by his father, Herbert and his sister, Rose Marie.

Friends are invited to call on Saturday, July 1, 2017 from 11 am to 2 pm at the Cross Town Alliance Church on Highland Avenue in Wellsville. The funeral service will take place following the calling hours at 2 pm in the church. Burial will follow in the Knights Creek Cemetery and memorials in Herb’s name may be made to the SPCA serving Allegany County. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

Bertha B. Muench

Livonia, NY- Bertha B. Muench, a former resident of Scio, NY, passed away on June 24, 2017 at Conesus Lake Nursing Home.  She was born December 7, 1923, the daughter of the late John E. and Mildred I. (VanHorn) Buzzard, Sr.  In 1942, she married Ralph S. Muench, who predeceased her in 2002.

Bertha was born in Friendship, NY, where her father owned the Chevrolet dealership.  She had a keen mind and enjoyed reading, word challenges, and crossword puzzles.  She employed the dying art of letter writing and was known for her faithful remembrance of birthdays and special occasions. A person of varied talents, Bertha was seldom idle and regularly learned new skills, taking classes in quilting and even chair caning.  Bertha’s greatest joy came through her interactions with people.  She was a warm, social person whose capacity for love and friendship spanned both age and relation. Her smile was genuine and her arms were open. 

Bertha was a Nutrition Site Manager in Alfred, NY for many years with the Office for the Aging.  After raising her family of 8 children on Grand Island, NY, she retired to Scio, NY where she worked for the US Postal Service as a rural route deliverer.  She was a member of St. Joseph’s Altar & Rosary Society, the Schoolhouse Quilters guild, and the 20-20 Investment Group.  

She is survived by seven children, Albert H. (Linda) Muench of Friends Lake, NY; Mary T. “Tess” Hoyer of Belmont, NY; Frances A. Russell of Newton Falls, OH; Elizabeth M. Bill of Crystal Lake, IL; Dr. Jean Muench (Capt. Bruce Kinney) of Snellville, GA; Angela M. Dunham of Wellsville, NY; and Richard E. Muench (Susan) of Livonia, NY; a brother, Harry E. Buzzard of Rochester, NY; and three sisters, Viola B. Mix of Tallahassee, FL; Ruth E. Kensinger Jr. of Kissimmee, FL; and Mary Ann Fanton of Panama City, FL. She is also survived by her 19 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to her parents and husband, Bertha was predeceased by her brother, John E. Buzzard Jr.; sister, Lois H. Stillman; son, Joseph E. Muench; and her granddaughter, Jenny Bill Mahaffey.

Friends are invited to call on Thursday, June 29th from 5-8 PM at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville, NY.  A funeral Mass will be held on Friday, June 30th at 11:00 AM at the St. Joseph’s Oratory in Scio, NY.  Bertha will be buried next to her son, Joseph, at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be made to the Allegany County Office for the Aging or any charity of the donor’s choice.  To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com

Pauline Goldsmith King

Allentown, NY - Pauline Goldsmith King, 84, of 1624 White Hill Road died on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at Manor Hills in Wellsville. She was born on July 29, 1932 in Rushford, the daughter of Paul H. and Mary L. (Luckey) James. On August 22, 1951 she married Kenneth R. Goldsmith who predeceased her. On February 14, 1998 in Allentown she married Donald E. King who survives.

Pauline was raised on a dairy farm in Rushford and was a 1950 graduate of Rushford Central School. She attended Buffalo State College and graduated from LaSalle University in Chicago with a degree in Interior Design. She was an interior designer in New York and Pennsylvania for 30 years. She also was an instructor of Interior Design at Niagara University. 

She enjoyed music and played the trombone for her high School band, and in 1944 she joined the Rushford Concert Band. She was a charter member of the Rushford Historical Society and in 2006 she founded the “Band Room” at the Historical Society Building in Rushford. She toured for 13 years with the Bergholz Blasapelle for October Fest all over the United States, Canada and Europe.

Surviving in addition to her husband are five children, Ann Celeste (Dane) Ererton of Watkins Glen, Vance (Bonnie) Goldsmith of Homosassa, Florida, Beth Goldsmith of Allegany, Paul “Jamie” Goldsmith and Lance “Ric” Goldsmith both of Arcade, seven grandchildren, Simon, Amber, Terra, Sophia, Neil, Madison and Jillian, two step daughters, Mary Liz (Steve) Lewis of Andover and Anne Marie King of Allentown, a brother, David James of Cookeville, Tennessee, as well as one niece and one nephew.  

A reception is being planned and will be announced at a later date. Please consider memorial donations to the Allentown United Methodist Church. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.

UPDATE: Friends are invited to a memorial dinner on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at noon, at the Allentown United Methodist Church. A graveside service will follow at the family cemetery on White Hill. Please consider memorial donations to the Allentown United Methodist Church. To leave online condolences, please visit embserfuneralhome.com.

Paul Michalegko

Eri, PA - Paul Michalegko, age 97, formerly of Genesee, PA, passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at UPMC Hamot.   He was a resident of St. Mary’s at Asbury Ridge.  Paul was born November 16, 1919 in Betula/Keystone, McKean County, PA.  He was the third child of Demetrius and Anastasia (Holowczak) Michalegko. 

Paul graduated from Tionesta High School where he excelled in basketball and baseball.  Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1940.  While stationed in Rhode Island, the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred.  After being transferred to the West Coast, he was deployed to the South Pacific where he served in World War II, and engaged in battles at Guadalcanal, Bougainville and New Caledonia.  He was honorably discharged with a rank of Sergeant.

Following his discharge, he relocated to Genesee, PA.  In 1948, he married his wife Barbara Costello of Wellsville, NY.  They were married for 58 years at the time of her passing on June 29, 2006.  Paul was retired from the Air Preheater/Combustion Engineering of Wellsville, NY.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Barbara, he is preceded  in death by brothers John, Peter and Charles, and two sisters Anna Cimpritz and Maria Michalegko. 

Paul is survived by seven children, Paula Michalegko (Charles Guagliardi), of Erie, Pamela, of Arlington, VA, Richard (Maria), of Lyndon Station, WI, David, Joseph (Cheryl), Susan (Bob Anderson), and Joan Todd (William), of Erie; eight grandchildren: Adam, Ian, Dino, Nicole, Timothy, Shannon, Kiaran and Alina; and nine great grandchildren: Julian, Vincent, Paulina, Alex, Mikayla, Keegan, Mira, Austin and Kiera. He is further survived by his brother Nicholas and his wife Judy of Safford, AZ. 

Paul was a life member of the Genesee Valley Rod and Gun Club as he enjoyed trout fishing. He was a member of the American Legion.  Paul was an active member of Sacred Heart Church for 65 years, where he served as an usher until the age of 94. 

The family would like to extend their deepest thanks and appreciation to the staff at St. Mary’s at Asbury Ridge, for their unfailing care and concern for Paul.  Special thanks to Kayla, who could always make him smile.

There will be no visitation per Paul’s request.   A funeral mass will be conducted at Sacred Heart Church, Genesee, PA on Saturday, June 24th at 10:00 a.m. followed by burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wellsville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Erie Home for Children and Adults, 226 E. 27th, Erie, PA 16504. Local arrangements are under the direction of the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home in Wellsville.

Send condolences at www.Burtonfuneralhome.com.