Obituaries (June 7)

Jennie (Williams) Robertson

Sidney Enterprise, April 13, 1944

Mrs. Jennie Williams Robertson died at her home in Mountain Lake, N.J., Sunday.  She was a former resident of Sidney [Delaware Co., NY] where she spent her girlhood days, and graduated from the Sidney High school in the class of '89.  Mrs. Robertson had been with the Macoy Publishing and Masonic Supply House in new York city for the past several years.  Her funeral was held at St. Peter's church at mountain Lake Wednesday.  She is survived by nephews and nieces.

Dr. Earl C. Winsor

Sidney Enterprise, April 13, 1944

Mr. and Mrs. W.E. Winsor, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Jewell and Miss Bessie Talcott attended the funeral of Dr. Earl C. Winsor, which were held Friday at 2 from the Methodist church at Schenevus.  Rev. D.M. Corkwell, pastor, officiating, assisted by two former pastors of the church, Rev. Charles M. Adams of Otego and Rev. Frederick Connell of Cooperstown.  Dr. Winsor was born Feb. 3, 1891 in Mt. Upton [Chenango Co., NY], the son of Frederick M. and Jennie (Chamberlain) Winsor.  On June 25, 1918, he married Miss Savalia Cornell of Mt. Upton in that village.  After attending public schools, and high school in Mt. Upton, Dr. Winsor graduated from Syracuse Medical College.  He served as a lieutenant in World War I and 25 years ago went to Schenevus where he since had enjoyed a wide practice.  Dr. Winsor had served as master of Schenevus Masonic lodge and district deputy of Otsego-Schoharie Masonic district, was a member of Oneonta American Legion, the Otsego county Medical society, a charter member of Schenevus Rotary club, of the official board of the Schenevus Methodist church, and of the Fox hospital staff. Surviving are his wife, his parents, and one daughter, Mrs. John Lane of State College, Pa.

John Keeler Neff

Sidney Enterprise, April 13, 1944

V.D. Keeler received this week news of the death of his great nephew, Lt. Col. John Keeler Neff of Wichita, Kansas.  The following obituary is reprinted from the Wichita and San Antonio papers:

Lieut. Col. John K. Neff, 31, decorated several months ago by Gen. Douglas MacArthur for outstanding service with amphibious units in the Southwest Pacific, died Thursday at the Brooke General hospital in San Antonio, Texas.  His death was attributed to overseas duty.  Colonel Neff, son of Dr. and Mrs. Frank Neff of Wichita, Kansas, had received the Legion of Merit in recognition of his work as commander of a boat battalion with an engineer amphibian regiment and later as commander of the regiment.  He was cited for his maintenance of high morale of his unit and for the high fighting efficiency to which he had trained inexperienced personnel.  He returned to the United States last summer on sick leave, visiting with his parents at that time.  Colonel Neff was graduated from West Point military Academy in 1936 before his appointment to West Point he attended Wichita University for two years.  He served first at Fort Sam Houston and later was at Scofield Barracks in Hawaii, Fort Roberts, Calif., and in Australia, being stationed at the latter place for three months in 1943 before he contracted his illness.  Colonel Neff's father is a former dean of the University of Wichita, now absent on leave as area director of the war manpower commission there.  Other survivors in addition to his parents, include his widow; a daughter, Mary Jane, and two sisters, Mrs. Ann Neff McVery of Chicago, and Miss Mary V. Neff, who is assistant attorney general of Illinois.  Funeral services ere held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Post Chaplain Martin officiating.  Interment was in Fort Sam Houston National cemetery, San Antonio, Texas with military honors.

Walter E. Thomas

Bainbridge News, February 4, 1954

Another name has been removed from the list of soldiers missing in Korea.  Mrs. Ardo S. Thomas, Greenlawn avenue, Bainbridge, received a letter Monday afternoon from the Army stating that her son, Pfc. Walter E. Thomas, 19, was killed while a prisoner of the communists in North Korea.  The letter was the culmination of checking and re-checking by the Army for many months.  It closed the door to hope for the Thomas family that Walter, the youngest member of the family, might somehow turn up safe.

Private Thomas was reported missing on July 20, 1950, in the telegram received Aug. 17, 1950.  Until the letter Monday, no further word had been received by his parents.  In the letter, Major General Walter E. Bergin, adjutant general reported:  "I am writing to you regarding you son, Pfc. Walter E. Thomas, reported missing July 20, 1950.  American POWs released have been interrogated to obtain all possible information concerning other prisoners. A statement has been received from an enlisted man who was a member of your son's organization that your son was killed in action Nov. 4, 1950, in North Korea while in the hands of the opposing forces."  Private Thomas, when captured, was a member of the Heavy Mortar Company 34th Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. The 24th Infantry Division, which has been stationed in Japan, was one of the first organizations to land in Korea at the outbreak of the war.

Private Thomas began his military service by enlisting in the Navy when he was 17.  A few months later he received a medical discharge and enlisted in the Army.  In October, 1949, he went overseas to Japan, and in June, 1950, to Korea.  Private Thomas attended Bainbridge Central School and was employed at the Bowl-O-Drome prior to his enlistment in the Army.  Besides his parents, he is survived by a brother, Ardo K. Thomas, also of Bainbridge, who served with the infantry in Europe in World War II:  a sister, Mrs. Edward Raymond, of Nineveh; and three nieces and nephews.