Walter J. Brownell

CROGHAN, NY ~ Walter J. “Willie” Brownell, 87, of 6897 Mechanic Street, Croghan, died on Friday, February 24, 2012, at the Lewis County Residential Healthcare Facility, Lowville, where he had resided since February 14th following a brief illness.

Walter was born on May 29, 1924, in Worth, NY, a son of Sterling and Elsie Freeman Brownell, and was educated in rural schools in Barnes Corners and Copenhagen.

He married Jean L. Mattimore on September 16, 1945, in the rectory of St. Stephen’s Church in Croghan.

He retired in 1984 from Latex Fiber Products in Beaver Falls, and had also been employed as a bus driver for the Beaver Falls Central School.

During the 1960’s, he and his wife owned and operated Willie and Jean’s Diner on Main Street in Croghan.

Walter was a communicant of St. Stephen’s Church in Croghan, and was a former member of its Knights of Columbus. He had also been a member of the Croghan Volunteer Fire Department.

Throughout his life, he took pleasure in fishing, hunting, playing golf, and especially enjoyed spending time with his family and adored all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving besides his wife Jean of 66 years, are two daughters, Cynthia Bush of Croghan, and Theresa (Carl) McCane III, of Lake Ariel, PA; a son, Stephen Brownell, of Central Square; ten grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, June Loftus, of Gansevoort, and Evelyn VanSeveran of Green Bay, WI; two brothers, Neil (Jerrie) Brownell of West Monroe and James (Connie) Brownell of Pulaski, and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a son Terry Brownell, a sister Beatrice Traynor, and four brothers, Vernon Brownell, Alan Brownell, Merrill Brownell and his twin brother, Wilbur Brownell.

Walter’s funeral will be held on Tuesday, beginning with a 10:15 a.m. prayer service at the Scanlon Funeral Home, 9791 Main St., Croghan, followed by an 11:00 a.m. funeral Mass from St. Stephen’s Church, Croghan, with the Rev. Daniel L. Chapin, pastor, officiating. Calling hours will be on Monday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the funeral home.  Burial will be in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Croghan.

In his memory, memorial contributions may be made to the Croghan Volunteer Fire Department Ambulance Fund.

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