Harold F. Bledsoe

Harold F. Bledsoe        “beloved father, grandfather, and uncle”

AUSTIN, Pa.---Harold F. Bledsoe, 88, of Austin, formerly of Wellsville, N.Y. and Hudson, N.Y., passed away on Monday, May 14, 2018, in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport, after a long illness.

Born on October 28, 1929 in Whitesville, N.Y., he was a son of George and Laura Langdon Bledsoe.  On July 2, 1954, he married Myra Harrington of Shinglehouse, who passed away on June 6, 2010.

Harold was a graduate of Whitesville Central School and attended several AIB classes and received a certificate of Senior Management from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT.  He was employed at the Hudson Branch of National Commercial Bank from 1954 to 1958 and retired as Vice President of the Hudson City Savings Bank Institution (now First Niagara) in Hudson, N.Y. in 1983.  After retirement, Harold became a certified Home Health Aide and personal care worker for several years.

Harold was an active member and past Master of Hudson Widow Sons Lodge #7 F. & A.M., past patron and District officer for the Order of the Eastern Star of the Amity Friends Chapter #192.  In 1991, he was Grand Royal Patron of the Grand Court of New York, Order of the Amaranth.  He was a board member of the International Order of Rainbow Girls and was presented with the Grand Cross of Color.  He was also a member of COARC and Home for the Aged, an adult care home, for several years.

After returning to Wellsville in 1998, he was a volunteer transporter at Jones Memorial Hospital and was active in the Auxiliary.  His greatest hobby for the past 30 years was crocheting afghans and lap robes for his family members, nursing homes, and the Christmas House in Coudersport.

The Bledsoes moved to Austin in 2006.

Surviving are a son, Robert (Jayne) Bledsoe of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; a daughter, Rosemary (Kenneth) Glover of Monroe, N.Y.; a granddaughter, Lauressa Faythe Glover; a grandson, Scott Logan Glover; a brother, Carol (Sherry) Bledsoe of Zephyr Hills, Florida; several nieces and nephews, including special a nephew and his wife, Paul and Pat Perry of Austin; and good friend and neighbor, Kris Rees of Austin.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Harold was predeceased by twin grandsons, Drew and Drake Glover; three brothers, Eugene Bledsoe, Charlie Bledsoe and George Bledsoe; a sister, Donna Smith; and a special niece, Henrietta Harrington.

Friends may call from 10am to noon on Friday, May 18, 2018 at the Austin United Methodist Church, Turner Street, Austin, where funeral services will follow at noon with the Rev. Todd Lamer, pastor of Genesee-Ulysses United Methodist Churches, officiating.  Burial will be in Whitesville Rural Cemetery, Whitesville, N.Y.

Members of Eulalia Chapter #148 O.E.S., Coudersport, will conduct a memorial service at 11:45am on Friday in the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Harold’s name may be made to the Patient Activity Fund at Sweden Valley Manor, 1028 East Second Street, Coudersport, PA 16915.

Harold’s family has entrusted his care to Kevin J. Dusenbury, funeral director/owner of the Virgil L. Howard Funeral Home, Shinglehouse.

To express condolences or share a fond memory of Harold, please visit www.virgillhowardfuneralhome.com