MT. UPTON – Elma Ruth Miles, 71, of Mt. Upton, passed away Tuesday, July 18, 2006 in the Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital of Cooperstown.
Born in Belden on Sept. 11, 1934, Elma was the daughter of Datus and Jennie Viola (Gardner) Hartwell. She spent her early childhood in the Bainbridge/Afton area before moving to Mt. Upton, where she attended the Mt. Upton Central School. In 1951, she married Gordon Miles, and raised six sons. While raising her family, Elma was a dedicated employee of the Norwich Shoe Company for 18 years, then worked for Mead Westvaco in Sidney, retiring in 1999. In her retirement, Elma enjoyed collecting owls and vases, reading, baking, playing the organ, doing crossword puzzles on the Web, keeping her flower garden and the home she shared with her dog and cats, and spending time with friends and family, especially her grandchildren. Her greatest gifts were her lively personality, crocheting talent, and her compassionate and unconditional love for her family. Elma was a member of the United Methodist Church of Mt. Upton.
Elma is survived by her sons: Michael and Barbara Miles of Guilford, Monte and Ruth Miles of Ellington, Martin and Sharon Miles of Guilford, Max Miles and special friend Dawn of Binghamton, Mark and Rita Miles of Mt. Upton, and Gordon Miles of Binghamton; by her brother, Datus Hartwell, Jr., of Bennettsville; her sister-in-law, Mary Clark of Oneonta; and by her grandchildren: Heather and Jeremy Pain, Mt. Upton, and daughter Madeline; Gretchen Miles, Syracuse; Tamara Miles, Jamestown, and daughter, Chloe Morrison; Melissa Miles, Ellington; Amy and Brad Smith, Edmeston; Shelly Miles, Guilford; Kelli Jo Torres, Wichita, Kan., and daughter, Anna Lyne; Matthew Miles, Averill Park; Amanda Miles, Park City, Kan.; Ashley Miles, Mt. Upton; Jai Crandall, Mt. Upton; and Damien Crandall, Norfolk, Va. Many nieces and nephews also survive.
Elma was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Hilda Clark; and her five brothers: Leon, Benjamin, Carl, Kenneth, and Clifford Hartwell.
Funeral services for Elma will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday from the Mt. Upton United Methodist Church. The Rev. Paul Amara, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be in Maplewood Cemetery of Mt. Upton. Friends are invited to call at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Friday evening from 7 to 9 p.m., and at the Mt. Upton United Methodist Church on Saturday morning from 9:30 a.m. until the service at 11.
Elma’s family wants to thank the health care providers in the Special Care Unit of Bassett Hospital for their excellent care of Elma during her stay there. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to either the Mt. Upton United Methodist Church, 1741 State Highway 8, Mt. Upton, NY 13809; or to “Friends of Bassett,” in memory of Elma Miles, donation to benefit the Special Care Unit,” 1 Atwell Rd., Cooperstown, NY 13326.