WALTER J. DIAMOND
SHERBURNE – Walter J. Diamond, 97, of Chenango Ave., passed away peacefully at the NYS Veterans Home in Oxford, NY on Sunday, March 1, 2015.
Walter was born on January 28, 1918 in Utica, NY, the eldest of ten children of Anthony and Antoinette Grigas Dzwonkas. He was raised in Westmoreland, NY and was a graduate of Westmoreland High School. In 1942, during WWII, he volunteered to serve his country in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAF) where he was a turret gunnery instructor until his honorable discharge in 1946. On June 8, 1944, he married Arline Gould of Sherburne who died on July 14, 1987. Walter was a well-known and liked electrician and appliance dealer in Sherburne and the surrounding are for over 50 years. On January 30, 2001, he married Nancy Ogut of Rome, NY and NYC in Daytona Beach FL.
During his life, Walter was a bowler, billiards player, an avid golfer and loved to hunt with his brothers and friends for over 60 years. He also enjoyed casinos. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post #876 of Sherburne; a member of St. Malachy’s Church in Sherburne, a 50-year member of the Knight of Columbus; and a member of the National Rifle Assoc.
Walter is survived by his wife, Nancy; a step-son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Mary Ogut, and two grandsons of Charlotte, NC; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Bernice and Bud Logan of Rome, NY; Agnes and Bill Cochis of Whitensville, MA; four brothers and sisters-in-law, Bernard and Kay Dzwonkas, Albert “Pete” and Carolyn Dzwonkas, all of Westmoreland; Anthony Dzwonkas of Braningham Lake, NY; sister-in-law Amy (Charles) McReynolds of Queens, NY; brother-in-law, Thurston (Joan) Packer of Sherburne; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, David; four sisters, Albina Dzwonkas, Della Marcaitis, Antoinette Beauchemin and Jennie Larner.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2015 from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne, NY.
Interment with military honors will be in St. Malachy’s Cemetery, Sherburne, in the spring.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Saturday from Noon to 2 p.m. prior to the service.
Walter’s family wishes to thank the staff of both Pine and Maple Units of the Veterans Home in Oxford for the excellent and compassionate care given to him and his family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to a charity of your choice.
To send a condolence and sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.