MT. UPTON – John Evans Twitchell, 60, of Mt. Upton, passed away on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton following a short illness.
John was born on May 25, 1949, son of the late Arthur and Edna (Evans) Twitchell in Sidney. On June 2, 1973, John married Mary Klingman in Mt. Upton. John attended Syracuse University and Cornell University. He came back home and ran the family farm for twenty years before becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant at the New York State Veterans Home in Oxford.
John was a strong environmentalist. He was proud of his Native American heritage: he believed the land to be sacred, and fought to protect it. John also enjoyed supporting local musicians, attending as many events as he and Mary could get to.
John is survived by his loving wife, Mary Klingman Twitchell of Mt. Upton; two sons: Nathaniel E. Twitchell and his companion, Linda Forester of Oxford and Matthew W. Twitchell and his fiancée, Trisha Madden of Nescopeck, Pa.; two sisters-in-law: Susan Pollard-Walker and David Walker, and their son, Colin Pollard of Los Lunas, N.M. and Ruth and Jerry Boyd, and their son, Dale Boyd of Canastota; three brothers-in-law: David and Linda Klingman of Bainbridge, John and Gloria (Glasner) Klingman of Sidney and their children, Jennifer French of Bainbridge and Tom Glasner of North Carolina and Richard Klingman of Norwich; as well as several grand nieces.
John will be dearly missed by his family, friends and the residents of Maple Cottage at the New York State Veterans’ Home. As his request, no services or calling hours will be held. A celebration of John’s life will take place at a date and time yet to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Oxfam America at www.oxfamamerica.org, Fairview Recovery Services at 110 Fairview Ave. Binghamton, NY 13904, Six on the Square in Oxford www.6onthesquare.org, or the Southwest Indian Foundation at www.southwestindian.com.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.landersfh.com.
Arrangements under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St., Sidney.