William Vantran

William A. “Bill” Vantran passed away unexpectedly in his sleep Monday, Feb. 10 , at his home in Columbus, NY. Has was 82.

Born Nov. 3, 1937 in Woodburne, NY, Bill was the son of Andrew and HelenVantran, dairy and later, beef farmers in Sullivan County. He attended a one-roomschoolhouse for much of his primary education and was a member of the firstgraduating class of Tri-Valley Central School in Grahamsville.

Always a hard worker, Bill grew up on the family farm, and in 1955, enlisted in the United States Navy. Aboard the USS Bearss, where he served as a communications technician, he saw several European and Mideastern ports and a wider view of life before being honorably discharged in 1960. Later, he would serve with the Army Reserve as a combat engineer and drill instructor.

Upon leaving the Navy, Bill went to work for the New York State Department of Corrections as a corrections officer, a career that would span decades. In 1959, he met Elizabeth Tobias of Saugerties and they married in 1960. Nine years later, Bill, Betty and five children moved to New Berlin, NY, as he went to work at the Camp Georgetown correctional facility.

Over the years, he would also work at the Auburn, Watertown and Great Meadow prisons. During this busy period of raising children and working, Bill served as Commander of the Frank Arnold Post of the American Legion in New Berlin. In 1987, Bill retired from corrections, went to work in the packaging department at Keith Clark Co. in Sidney where he served as shop steward.

In 1996, Bill and Betty moved to the home they built in Columbus, where he could again enjoy hunting deer and turkey as he had on the farm of his boyhood. This tradition he has passed down to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who gather every autumn.

Bill leaves his wife, Elizabeth; daughters, Cindy (Dennis) Sholly of Newmanstown, Pa.; Lori (Tom) Grace of Columbus; Melissa (Kevin) Gregory of Delanson; and son, Timothy (Alicia) Vantran of Cape May Courthouse, NJ. He was predeceased by one daughter, Kathy (Lynne) Vantran of Waldorf, Md.

Always ready for a game of dominos, Bill loved to see his grandchildren: Savannah Grubb, Shawn Sholly, Abigail Grace, Steven Gregory, Katherine Gregory, Andrew Grace and Daniel Vantran; and his great grandchildren, Kolton, Bryn, Rowan and Lance (Grubb).

In recent years, Bill served as Norton Park volunteer for the Town of Columbus, spoke at public hearings, was involved in a campaign to have Chenango County hire a veterans’ service officer. The older he got, the younger his outlook became and he had just taken to carrying an Ipad.

The family plans no public service, but will gather in Bill’s honor in the spring to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or theNew Berlin Food Bank.