Wallace L. Cheney, 85, of Falconer, passed away Friday (Aug. 24, 2012) in Heritage Village Rehab and Skilled Nursing Center, Gerry.
A lifelong area resident he was born Sept. 2, 1926, in Jamestown, the son of the late Lawrence and Ragnhild Soderberg Cheney.
Wally attended Falconer High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during World War II in the Pacific Theatre aboard the Bon Homme Richard. He received his high school diploma in 2002. In earlier years he was caretaker for Sheldon Hall on Chautauqua Lake. Prior to retirement he was employed by Blackstone Corporation for 40 years re-tiring in 1986.
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Wallace L. Cheney
He was life member of the Henry Mosher Post 638, American Legion and the Ellington Rod & Gun Club. He was also a member of the John W. Tiffany Post 53, VFW and attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Falconer.
Wally enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, camping, airplanes and flying, and was proud of his private pilot's license. He had a unique sense of humor and enjoyed reminiscing about earlier years and always had a joke to tell.
Surviving are three daughters: Paula (Bruce) Gustafson of Gerry, Debra (Bill) Greenwald of Fairview, Pa., and Diane (Todd) Peterson of Jamestown; seven grandchildren: Shannon (Todd) O'Connor of Lockport, Justin Barber of Conewango Valley, Matthew (Alicia) Johnson of Gerry, Marie Greenwald of West View, Pa., Andrea Greenwald of Pompano Beach, Fla., Jim Rowley of Conewango Valley, and Tim Greenwald of Fairview, Pa; several step- grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; several step-great-grandchildren; a brother, Brian (Carol) Cheney of Frewsburg; and a sister, Virginia Chipman of Kentucky.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Lucille R. DeFrisco Cheney, whom he married Sept. 30, 1950, in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, who passed away Jan. 27, 2011, and a sister Marilyn Koshorek.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Falconer Funeral Home. The Rev. Timothy J. Hoyer, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Falconer, will officiate. Burial will be in Lake View Cemetery, Jamestown.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be donated to the Falconer Volunteer Fire Department, Gerry Volunteer Fire Department or a charity of one's choice.
Visit our website at www.falconerfuneralhome.net to light a candle in remembrance.
