SHERBURNE – Claude W. “Bunny” Tarbell, 84, of Union St., passed away Sunday, April 4, 2010 at his home with his family by his side.
He was born Oct. 24, 1925 in Earlville, a son of Laurence and Carrie Ewen Tarbell and was a graduate of Earlville High School. He was a veteran of World War II, serving on the USS Walter C. Wann and the USS Oberon in the Asiatic Pacific and the Philippines. On Oct. 12, 1951, Claude married Marmie Whitney in Sherburne. A Sherburne resident most of his life, he had worked at the Sherburne-Earlville Central School for many years until his retirement. He h ad previously worked for Norwich Pharmaceuticals and A.B. Whitney Plumbing & Heating.
Mr. Tarbell had attended the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Sherburne, where he was the custodian for many years. He was a member of the American Legion Post #876 of Sherburne, and a former member of the Earlville VFW. Bunny was an honorary inactive member of the Sherburne Fire Department where he served as an active member for 36 years, and was a Charter Member of the Sherburne Emergency Squad. He had also been a member of the First Aid Team and the Firematics Team. Bunny received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sherburne Fire Department in 2002, and was the Chenango County Fire Fighter of the Year in 1986.
Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Marmie; his children, Gayle and Ken Ripley, Port Crane; Joanne (Maiurano) Tarbell, Sherburne; Gerry and Stacey Tarbell, Volney; Terry, Mike and Dorothy Tarbell, all of Sherburne; sisters, Mary Lou Campbell and Laura “Bea” Furner, both of Earlville; grandchildren, Wendy and Jim Badia, Conklin; Tammy and Scott Fisher, Port Crane; Whitney Ogren and Bryan McCracken, Ithaca; Janelle Ogren and Todd Fowlston, Sherburne; Jason Tarbell, Baltimore, Md.; Matthew Tarbell, Volney; Andrew Tarbell and Stephanie Purdy, Shepherdstown, WV; Keeley and Rob Fenton, Sherburne; Kris Maiurano and Melina Mathers, Sherburne; James and Melissa Maiurano, Poolville; great-grandchildren, Hunter Badia, Harley Bennett, Emily Fisher, Contessa Maiurano and Sybil Fenton; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by three sisters, Enid (Betty) Thayer, Lena Mason and Margaret (Peg) Palmer; two brothers, Henry and Lawrence Tarbell; and a son-in-law, Jim Maiurano.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 8, from the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne, followed by interment with military honors in the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany Cemetery, Sherburne.
Friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sherburne Fire Department or the Sherburne Fire Department Explorers Post #2896, Sherburne, NY 13460.
To send a condolence or sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.