Obituary of John M. First

JOHN M. FIRST Allegany, NY-- John M. First of 27 Colonial Village died Monday (November 3, 2003) in his home following a brief illness. Born November 8, 1931 in Huntington, Indiana he was the son of Donald J. and Gladys R. Martin First. On May 12, 1956 in Huntington, IN he married F. Modine Cambron who predeceased him August 10, 1993. Mr. First was a former longtime resident of Huntington, IN where he attended Union High School and was a member of the Huntington First Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the Korean War having served with the US Air Force from 1951 until 1959. He retired from the Olean City School District in 1993. He was a member of the Allegany American Legion Post 892, the Cuba VFW Post 2721 and the !AmVets Post of Cuba. He was also a member of the Olean BPOE #491, the Bradford, Pa. Eagle’s Aerie #2433 and was a past member of the Allegany Fire Department. Mr. First will be remembered as a man with many friends and whose greatest satisfaction came from helping others. Surviving are 4 sons James Rainwater of Ehrenberg, AZ, Robert (Ellen) Rainwater of Savannah, GA, John D. First of Ocoee, TN and Larry (Sharon) Rainwater of Markle, IN; 3 daughters Judy Atchison of Port Charlotte, FL, Flossie Euline Sanford of Fayette, AL and Susan Depelteau of Manchester, NH; 20 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; 1 sister Lou Ann (James) Brand of Ruskin, FL; 1 brother Bill B. (!LanDona) First of Allegany; several nieces and nephews and a companion Pat Studd. In addition to his parents and wife he was predeceased by a son Floyd Rainwater; a brother Donald W. First and a sister Betty Vollmar. Friends will be received today from 2-4 & 7-9pm in the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean. Funeral services will be held Friday (November 7, 2003) at 5:00pm in the funeral home. The Chaplain of the American Legion in Allegany will officiate, followed by full military honors. Burial will be in Allegany Cemetery.