William D. Fraser
July 11, 1945 - Nov. 13, 2019
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Visitation:
Thursday, November 21, 2019
2-4 & 7-9 P.M.
Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home
& Memorial Service, Inc.
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Friday, November 22, 2019
10:00 - 11:00 A.M.
Cuba United Methodist Church
49 East Main Street
Cuba, NY
.
Celebration of Life Service:
Friday, November 22, 2019
11:00 A.M.
Cuba United Methodist Church
49 East Main Street
Cuba, NY
Interment:
St. Bonaventure Cemetery
Allegany, NY
Memorials
may be made to:
Cuba Circulating Library
The William D. and Catherine
Griffin Fraser Fund
at the Cattaraugus Region
Community Foundation Fund
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William D. Fraser, 74, of 23 South Shore Road, Cuba Lake passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at home.
Born on July 11, 1945 in North Tonawanda, New York Bill was a son of William and Rose VanKleeck Fraser. On November 27, 1971 at St. Mary’s of the Angels Church, he married the former Catherine A. Griffin who predeceased him on March 8, 2015.
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Bill was a graduate of Tonawanda Senior High School, Class of 1963. He then went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in education from Hobart College graduating in 1967. Later he received his master’s degree from the University of Miami. He also did course work at St. Bonaventure University.
After college he made his home in Olean and started teaching American History at Olean High School. After several years he became a guidance counselor at Olean High School. During the summer he proudly worked with the Youth Corp. Later he became a union negotiator for the teacher’s union and helped settle contracts throughout the Southern-Tier.
After retirement and until recently, Bill taught courses at Jamestown Community College and St. Bonaventure University.
Bill proudly served on several boards of non-profit organizations including the United Way of Olean, the Cuba Circulating Library and the Boy Scouts of America, having achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in his younger years.
He was especially fond of all the friendships and acquaintances he made throughout his life and will be remembered as a person who was able to find something special in everyone that he touched.
Any recounting of Bill’s life would be incomplete if it did not include his love of living on Cuba Lake, his yearly winter visits to St. Augustine, Florida, and his devotion to his lifetime buddies from school, college and the staff and gang at Moonwinks. He truly believed in supporting Cuba businesses.
He leaves behind two sisters Ellen Hewlett and Janet Thompson both of Hendersonville, NC, his loving friend and companion Sue Feldbauer of Cuba, NY, the entire Griffin family.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm Thursday (Nov. 21, 2019) at the Mark F. Rinker Funeral Home & Memorial Service Inc., 9 Bull St., Cuba. Friends will be received again on Friday (Nov. 22, 2019) at the Cuba United Methodist Church, 49 E. Main St., Cuba, at 10am preceding a celebration of life service at 11:00 am the Rev. Rebecca Worth, will officiate.
Private burial will be at St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, New York.
The family requests memorials be made to the Cuba Circulating Library or to the William D. and Catherine Griffin Fraser Fund at the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation Fund, which helps fund medical and educational needs in the area.
Online condolences may be sent by clickingthe button below.
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