William A. Whitmore Sr.

An area resident for most of his life, he was born Oct. 13, 1931, in Forest County, Pa., one of 12 children, to the late Clyde and Minnie Jo Clark Whitmore.

Bill was a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy serving from Sept. 12, 1951 to Aug. 25, 1955 during the Korean War. During his tour of duty he was an electrician aboard the USS Lewis where he saw many battles on Wonsan Harbor.

Before his retirement, he was the human resource manager for the former Chautauqua Hardware Corporation, where he worked for many years, beginning his career as a tool and die maker.

Bill was an active member of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers Lodge 1839, serving as union steward of the tool and die department, was vice president and also served as president. He was also a member of the Henry Mosher Post 628 American Legion, Falconer and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

William A. Whitmore Sr.

He will be remembered as a loving, caring and compassionate husband, father and grandfather. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and attending their special events. He enjoyed nature, taking walks in the woods, long rides in the country and having cookouts in the backyard with family and friends. He also loved taking his family camping at Pine Hill. Because of the compassionate, loving, and generous person that he was, he was nominated by his daughter-in-law Kathy for the sweetest man of the year contest sponsored by Brookdale Senior Living, which he won.

Surviving are his four children; Mark T. (Kathy) Whitmore of Gerry, N.Y., Candace R. (Tom) Swan of Fairfield, Ohio, Cynthia L. Carlson of Lakewood, N.Y., and William A. (Shawna) Whitmore Jr. of Buffalo, N.Y. six grandchildren: Thomas Swan Jr. of Fairfield, Ohio, Taylor (Austin) Yeoman of Cleveland, Ohio, Alyssa Carlson and Alexa Carlson both of Lakewood, N.Y., Amelia Whitmore of Buffalo, N.Y., and William A. Whitmore III of Russell, Pa. three sisters: Judy Newbree of Jamestown, JoAnn Klingensmith of Lakewood, and Betty Main of Busti; a brother, Jack Whitmore of Florida; and his three grandpuppies that he loved: Penelope, Peony and Petunia.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Gloria A. Nyberg Whitmore, whom he married Jan. 9, 1957 and who died June 27, 2016: four sisters: Barbara Minsker, Florence Hilton, Rose Gammino and Genevieve Williams; and three brothers: Leon Whitmore, Clyde Whitmore and James Whitmore.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a private service will be held in the Lind Funeral Home. Deacon Michael Lennon of St. James Catholic Church will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in the Sunset Hill Cemetery. Visitation will not be observed.

Memorials may be made to the Audubon Community Nature Center, 1600 Riverside Road, Jamestown, NY 14701.

You may leave words of condolence to Bill’s family at www.lindfuneralhome.com.