Death notices and obituaries from the July 21 Springville Journal

Richard Bridges
Richard “Dick” Bridges, 52, of East Otto, passed away July 5 in Cheektowaga.

He was born in 1959 in Gowanda, the son of Richard (Penny) Bridges and the late Gale (nee Jacobs) Bailey.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cathie (nee Hintz) Bridges; his father Richard Bridges; sons Bradley Bridges of West Valley and Ryan Bridges of East Otto; stepfather Robert Bailey of Georgia; brother Corey Bridges of Hamburg; sister Deborah Bridges of Florida; stepbrother John Bailey of Georgia, stepsisters Tina Pierce of Olean and Marcia Reese of Georgia and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held July 14 from the Mentley Funeral Home, 411 Rock City St., Little Valley. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the East Otto Volunteer Fire Department.

Kenneth Fay
Kenneth Fay, 74, of Springville, passed away July 12 at his residence.

He was born in Batavia in 1937, the son of Vincent and Beatrice (nee Hampton) Fay.

He served in the Army and in the Air Force. He hunted, fished and camped and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Springville. He had been a steel building erector for McWethy Construction Company in Alexander.

He was the husband of Donna (nee Burdett) Fay; father of Vicky Fay of Olean, David (Donna) Fay of Springville and the late Brian L. Fay; grandfather of 11 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; brother of Dan (Beth) Fay, Ted Fay of Batavia, Audrey Fay and the late Dick Fay.

Private funeral services were held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements were made by the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, 271 East Main St., Springville. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Hospice Buffalo, 225 Como Park Blvd., Cheektowaga, N.Y. 14227. Online condolences may be made at www.smithweismantelfuneralhome.com.

Roy Raber

Robert Pryor
Private services were held for Robert E. “Bob” Pryor of Hamburg, formerly of Boston, who died July 11.

He is survived by his wife, Geraldine H. (nee Crandall) Pryor; children Robert R. (Lillian) Pryor, Barbara A. (Michael) Solly, Richard H. (Stephanie) Hayden Jr. and Janette L. (Kevin) Standera; sister Anne Montes and grandchildren Aaron, Bethany and Michael Pryor and Michelle and Nicole Nicotera.

He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy Pryor, parents Leroy and Emma Pearl Pryor and brother, Roy Pryor.

Mr. Pryor retired from Curtis Screw Company in Buffalo. He was a past member of the Boston Lions Club, the Sunset Bay Fishing Society, AMVETS in Boston and the VFW in Silver Creek. He golfed, fished, hunted and gardened.

Memorials may be made to the SPCA. Arrangements were made by the Lombardo Funeral Home.

Roy Raber
Roy E. Raber, 83, of Springville, formerly of Waycross, Ga., passed away July 18.

He was born in Pennsylvania in 1929 to the late Harry and Mildred (nee Kammerdiener) Raber.

Mr. Raber spent 14 years as the owner and operator of Roy’s Fire Apparatus on Morton Road in Springville, where he maintained, repaired and refurbished fire trucks for local fire companies. In 1991, shortly before he retired, he built a truck named the “Terminator” for the West Valley Fire Department.

He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 17 for 40 years.

In his spare time, Roy fished, camped and traveled. He spent a portion of his later years traveling between his homes in Springville and in Waycross.

Roy was predeceased by his wife, Shirley (nee Hamacher) Raber. Father of Roy (Lee) Raber, Shirl (Peter) Jozak and Patti (Mark) Dean. Grandfather of Mark (Andrea) Raber, Michael Raber, Ann (Kevin) Mangan, Christina (Daniel) Sullivan, Jordan Jozak, Heather Cecala, Matthew Cecala and the late Karen McSween; great-grandfather of nine great-grandchildren. Also survived by two brothers, A. James (Jean) Raber and Harry Raber.

Calling hours are Monday, July 23, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Smith-Weismantel Funeral Home, 271 East Main St., Springville, where funeral services will be held immediately following, at 2 p.m.