Lyon, Rev. Wilfred L. 1914-2000 Morris Methodist Pastor 1952-1978

Wilfred L. Lyon
MIDDLEFIELD — The Rev. Wilfred L. Lyon, (Pastor Bill), 86, of Middlefield, died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000, at his residence.
He was born Feb. 9, 1914, in Bainbridge, the son of Alton and Mina (Chauncey) Lyon.
He was married to Martha A. (Yukl) Lyon on Feb. 24, 1946. She died in 1978.
He most recently resided in Middlefield, and before that had resided and served as pastor at the United Methodist Church of Morris from 1952 to 1978, before than in Sidney Center from 1947 to 1952, and before that in Hartwick.
He was a member of the Morris Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club.
In 1947, he helped co-founded and lead the Christian Friendship Caravan Movement, providing an invasion of friendship to all of Europe for youth and adults.
From 1978 to present he served as a much-loved volunteer at The Meadows, Chase Memorial Nursing Home, Oneonta Nursing Home and the Robynwood Adult Home. Through all of his adult life he was a well-known public speaker for church groups, Rotary Clubs, youth groups, banquets, graduation ceremonies and Grange.
He served his fellow man during World War II. During 1943 to 1944 he was a relief worker with Dust Bowl Refugees in California and 1945 a relief worker with United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in the Sinai Desert helping Yugoslav Refugees and in 1946 as a relief worker in UNRRA in Naples, Italy, helping families displaced to caves by war.
Pastor Bill is survived by a son and his wife, Thomas A. and Jean Lyon of Cooperstown; a daughter and her husband, Marcia and Arthur Waterman of Metairie, La.; grandchildren, Thomas W. and his wife, Janine Lyon, of Roseboom, Sarah Lyon and Will Brigham of Angel Fire, N.M., and Sara Waterman and Anna Waterman of Metairie, La.; and three great-grandchildren, Ketura and Elijah Lyon and Slade Brigham.
He was predeceased by his only sibling, Thelma Palmer; and a granddaughter, Kelly Ruth Lyon.
Memorial services will be held Sunday, Sept. 24, 2000, at 2 p.m. in the United Methodist Church in Morris.
There will be no calling hours and interment will be private.
There will be a fellowship time immediately following the memorial service.
The family requests no flowers, but those who wish may make a contribution in Pastor Bill's memory to the Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care Inc., 542 Main St., Oneonta, N.Y. 13820 or the Middlefield First Responders, 225 Rezen Rd., Middlefield, N.Y. 13450.
Funeral arrangements are by the Johnston Funeral Home of Morris.

Published in The Daily Star on Sept 22, 2000.


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Olds, Erford W. 1920-2001 Lifelong Resident of Morris NY

Erford W. Olds
OXFORD — Erford W. Olds, 81, formerly of Morris, died May 14, 2001, at the New York State Veterans' Home in Oxford.
He was born on Feb. 15, 1920, in Norwich, the son of William and Edna (Hackett) Olds.
Erford was a lifelong resident of Morris and owned and operated a large dairy farm until his retirement.
He was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II, stationed in Biloxi, Miss.
He was a member of the American Legion in Gilberts-ville.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Olds of Otego; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Esther E. Butler of Bainbridge and Betty and Richard Walton of Gilbertsville; his brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Sylvia Olds of Tampa, Fla.; and his aunt, Dorothy Gassler of Utica. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
He was predeceased by his first wife, Gertrude Washbon, on Feb. 5, 1970, and his nephew, Richard Freeman Walton, who was killed in the Vietnam War on Feb. 5, 1970.
A memorial service with full military honors will be held in Hillington Cemetery, Morris, at a later date.

Published in The Daily Star on June 6, 2001.