Willard R. White, 98, of Oneida Valley/ Sherrill

ONEIDAVALLEY/SHERRILL >> Willard R. White, 98, formerly of Oneida Valley and Sherrill, died Thursday, April 13, 2017, in the Martin Luther Home, Clinton, following an extended illness.

Born on March 3, 1919, in Verona, he was the son of Alfred and Flora Esch White. Willard grew up in Churchville and graduated from Verona High School, Class of 1936, where he served as class treasurer and historian and attended Aero Industries Technical Institute, in Los Angeles, graduating in 1940.

On May 4, 1943, he married Anastasia “Nettie” Shandro in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Nettie died on Aug. 21, 2004.

From 1940 to 1946, Willard was employed with the Curtiss Wright Corporation, in Buffalo and served as the service engineer for Curtiss Wright, assigned to the United States Air Force in the United States, Canada, Alaska and India during World War II.

In 1946, Willard and Nettie established the farm equipment business, White’s Farm Supply in Oneida Valley. He was a lifelong member of S. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Verona, serving as treasurer for 25 years; a charter member of Kanon Valley Country Club, serving on the board of directors for several years; a member of the Curriculum Advisory Committee for SUNY, Cobleskill; chairman of the Town of Lenox Zoning Board of Appeals; and chairman of the Citizen Advisory Committee for the Madison County Board of Supervisors.

Willard was a member of the Oneida Rotary Club, serving on the board of directors and as president from 197576, originated the club’s annual Pancake Days, was a Paul Harris Fellow and was awarded the club’s Roses to the Living award in 1988. He also was a member of the Oneida Elks Lodge No. 767 BPOE.

He was an active member of the New York Farm Equip- ment Dealers Association, serving on the board of directors, and as its president in 1974.

Willard was a loyal and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a mentor and friend to many and will be missed by all.

Surviving are his two daughters, Patricia (Rodney) Nestle of Verona and Arlene (Michael) Hornyak of Canastota; his three sons, Dale A. White of Oneida, Arthur W. (Roberta) White of Waterville and Douglas A. White of Canastota; his 10 grandchildren, Jeffrey (Lillian) White, Gregory (Valarie) White, Stephen (Katy) White, Michael Ball and Kelly, Karen (Ronald) Gregory, Nicholas White, Alexander (Dina) White, Ashley White, Megan and Sarah Hornyak; two step-grandsons, Chris Slifka and Rodney Nestle Jr.; eight greatgrandsons, Alec and Garrett Gregory, Philip White, Allen and Robert White, Owen and Henry White, Jayden White and one great-granddaughter, Anabelle White. Besides his loving wife, Nettie, he was predeceased by his sister, Evelyn Goings in 2014 and his two daughters-in law, Carol Smith White in 2004 and Debra Murray White in 2016.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Monday from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Verona, with the Rev. Katie Yahns, pastor, officiating. Interment will be made in St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery. Friends may call at the church, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, prior to the service. Contributions, in his memory, may be made to the White Memorial Fund at St. Peter’s, 4897 Old Oneida Road, Verona, N.Y. 13478.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Campbell-Dean funeral Home, Inc., 260 Main St., Oneida.

To leave a message of condolence, please visit www. campbell-dean.com.

CAMPBELL-DEAN FUNERAL HOME, INC.

Oneida