Obituary of Violet F. Sturges

Violet F. Sturges, 86, of 715 Falconer St. formerly of the Panama Bear Lake Rd. Niobe, NY, passed away at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday (April 27, 2010) in the Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center. A lifelong area resident she was born January 23, 1924 in Falconer, NY a daughter of the late Jay and Laura Bowles Farrar. She was a 1941 graduate of Falconer Central School and was a homemaker in her home for many years until she went to work in the cafeteria at the Panama Central School working there for 16 years, the last 8 years as head cook. She was a past member of the Niobe Grange where she held many offices over the years and was a 7th Degree Member of the National Grange. Violet served for many years as a town Election Commissioner. She was a past member of the Rebecca Lodge where she knew all of the secret works by heart. She was also a past member of the Harmony Historical Society and the Harmony Quilters Group. She was the quilt chairman for the National Association Conservation Districts. In 1994 she designed and made a quilt for the N.A.C.D. Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ which raised $4000.00 for the organization. She was also a past treasurer for the Niobe Baptist Church general fund and missionaries for several years. Surviving are her husband of 65 years David J. Sturges whom she married November 17, 1944, two daughters Sharon (Ted) Passarelli of Jamestown, NY, Laura Mae (Larry) Nelson of Mokena, IL, two sons Jack (Linda) Sturges of Corry, PA, Richard (Barbara) Sturges of Holland, NY, six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. On November 17, 2009, Violet and David celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary at the Rosch Activity Center on the Lutheran Social Services Campus hosted by their loving family. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by a brother Gerald Farrar and a sister Delores Baker. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in the Panama United Methodist Church. The Rev. Stephen J. Wiggers, pastor and the Rev. Daniel S. Rumfelt, chaplain of the Lutheran Home will officiate. Burial will be in the Grant Cemetery, Niobe, NY. Friends will be received from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home and for one hour prior to the service in the church on Saturday. Memorials may be made to the Panama United Methodist Church, 12 East Main St. Panama, NY 14767 or to the Lutheran Social Services, 715 Falconer St. Jamestown, NY 14701.