Obituary of Vernon E. Field

Vernon E. Field "lifelong Allegany resident and dairy farmer" Allegany, NY-- Vernon E. Field of 3211 W. Five Mile Rd. died Monday (March 7, 2005) in The Pines Healthcare Center, Olean. Born July 27, 1916 in Allegany he was the son of Charles C. and Lillie F. !McIntosh Field. On October 7, 1950 in Bolivar, NY he married Jean Marie Delaney who predeceased him January 27, 1996. Mr. Field was a 1934 graduate of Allegany High School and was employed for Potter Lumber Company from 1934 until 1941. He enlisted in the US Army and served during WWII until his discharge in 1946. He then served with the Army Reserves until 1969. He continued working part time for Potter Lumber Co. and also operated a dairy farm on the family homestead for years until his retirement. In 1978 he enrolled at JCC, taking courses over ten years until he earned an Associate in Humanities degree in 1988. He had a special interest in writing which, in later years, he spent a great deal of time as a member of the Enchanted Mountains Creative Writers. He researched and wrote several books about local history including Potter Lumber Co., plus he published an autobiography and wrote countless poems which appeared in local publications. He was a member of the NYS Maple Producers Association and after his retirement he continued making maple syrup until 1994. Additional memberships included the Allegany American Legion, the Allegany Area Historical Association, the NRA and Sixty Plus Club of Allegany. He was a FFA alumni, a member of the Olean Rod and Gun Club and a member of the Civil War Roundtable. He was a former member of the Grange, the Eastern Milk Producers Association and the Cattaraugus County Farm Bureau. He held the political position of Trustee, District 4 and served on the Tax Grievance Board as well as having served as an ASC town committeeman. Surviving are 3 daughters Joyce (Walter) Rouba of Trenton, NJ, Gloria (Jan) Sluyter of Bolivar and Karen (Vince) Streif of Madison, WI; 4 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and a sister-in-law Joan Delaney of Bolivar. In addition to his wife he was predeceased by a great grandson Colton Richter in 1995; 1 brother Howard Field in 1988 and 2 sisters Helen Bennett and Florence Lockwood Brain. Friends will be received today from 7-9pm and Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9pm at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean. Funeral services will be held Thursday (March 10, 2005) at 11:00am in the funeral home. Rev. James Mitchell, pastor of the Five Mile Baptist Church in Allegany, will officiate. Burial will be in Allegany Cemetery. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Allegany Area Historical Society P.O. Box 162 Allegany, NY 14706.