Obituary of Richard E. Felton

WESTFIELD - Richard E. "Dick" Felton, age 76, of Felton Road, Westfield, died Monday, November 28, 2011 at Select Specialty Care Hospital in Erie, PA. Dick was born on February 13, 1935 in Westfield, NY the son of the late Eugene M. and Louise (Stull) Felton. A lifelong Westfield resident, Dick graduated from Westfield Academy and Central School and then from Cornell University with a degree in Agricultural Engineering, where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. He ran the family grape farm on Felton Road for many years. Active in the agriculture field, Dick had been a Consultant for the Mogen David Wine Company and managed the MD Farms. He had also been a member of the National Grape Cooperative for many years. He had been an active member of the New York State National Guard in 1957. A community minded man, Dick was the Justice of the Peace for the Town of Westfield for 33 years, from 1966-1999. He had been President of the former Westfield Jaycees and was voted Outstanding Young Man of America in 1967 and Outstanding Young Farmer in 1971. He was a founding member and past President (1971) of the Westfield Kiwanis Club and in 1999 received the Kiwanis International George F. Hixson Award. In 1989 He participated in the Cornell University Woodland Management program. His love of the Grape Industry lead him to be named the Grape Industry Person of the year of 2000 by the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program. Dick was a member and former Trustee of the First Presbyterian Church and Society of Westfield for many years. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose #118 of Westfield. Dick was an accomplished woodworker,. He is survived by his wife: Betty (Clancy) Felton, whom he married on December 29, 1956 in Westfield, his daughter: Mary Jean (Chris) Giacomazzo of Chicago, IL and his three sons: Tom (Shari) Felton of Byron, NY, William (Kelly) Felton and Robert (Rachael) Felton both of Buffalo, NY. Dick was the proud grandfather of Lynnea, Chase, Nathan, Emma, Lila, and Michael. He is further survived by his sister, Jo-Ann (Ronald) Golem of East Stroudsburg, PA. No prior calling will be observed. Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday afternoon, December 3, 2011 at 1:00 PM at The First Presbyterian Church and Society of Westfield, 49 So. Portage St., Westfield with Rev. Stephen Morse officiating. Burial will be private in Union Cemetery. The Felton family will receive friends immediately following the services at the YWCA of Westfield, 58 So. Portage St., Westfield for a time of reunion and refreshment. Memorials may be made to Concord Grape Belt Heritage Assoc., PO BOX 194 Westfield, NY 14787 or to Grape Production Research Fund, c/o Cornell lake Research and Extension Laboratory, 6592 W. Main Rd., Portland, NY 14769. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the MASON FUNERAL HOME, 37 Clinton St., Westfield, NY 14787. Log on to www.masonfuneral.com to send the Felton family a message of sympathy.