Donald Cartmell, Sr.

Donald Charles Cartmell, Sr, age 82, of 786 Clemens Rd., Frankfort, NY, passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness at St. Luke’s Hospital, in Utica on February 2, 2015. A MEMORIAL SERVICE CELEBRATING HIS LIFE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015 AT 11:00AM AT THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 520 N. DECATUR ST., WATKINS GLEN; with Rev. John Elder officiating. A New Year’s Eve baby, Donald was born on December 31, 1932, in Manalapan, New Jersey, the son of Reverend William and Carolyn Cartmell. He graduated from Watkins Glen High School, and was class president in 1949 and 1950. Donald graduated with a B.A. Degree in Economics from Wooster College in Wooster, Ohio, in 1954. He was an SP3 in the U.S. Army and served in the Headquarters Company of the 728th Military Police Battalion from August 1955 to May 1957. The mission of the 728th was to provide Military Police support to the U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. He married Frances O’Rourke in California on September 16, 1960. After traveling across New York State as an Assistant Bank Examiner for the Department of the Treasury, he was Vice-President of the Central National Bank in Canajoharie, NY, from 1967 to 1981, and Special Projects Officer for the First National Bank of Glens Falls from 1981 to 1988. He worked for Westat, an employee-owned statistical survey research corporation, traveling up and down the east coast until his retirement in 1999. Don's love of music began early and continued throughout his life. At Wooster College he was a member of the Men's Glee Club and played the trumpet in high school concerts and college marching bands. He also sang with several choirs as well as playing piano and harmonica for many church groups and other organizations over the years. In retirement, he traveled widely with the Cultural Heritage Alliance, visiting such diverse places as Australia, New Zealand, Peru, and England. He was also an avid member of the Mohawk Valley Coin Club and enjoyed spending time examining and cataloging his coin collection. He was a member and treasurer of the Fort Rensselaer Club of Canajoharie in the 1970’s and the Elks Club of Glens Falls in the 1980’s. He volunteered many hours of service for the Canajoharie Community Services and was a member of the board of the Canajoharie-Palatine Chamber of Commerce, a Deacon of the Reformed Church of Canajoharie, and a volunteer on the Mid-County Volunteer Ambulance Service Corps for many years. Donald was the proud father of three boys, Donald Cartmell, Jr. (Kim), of Granville, N.Y., Robert Cartmell (Erin) of Frankfort, N.Y., and Andrew Cartmell (Rebecca) of Cape Canaveral, FL; three grandchildren, Seamus Cartmell of Saratoga, NY, Ty Byhanna of Melbourne, FL, and Jason Cartmell of Cape Canaveral; a great-grand daughter Autumn Byhanna-Burdick, and his beloved Sam-Dog. He is survived by two brothers, William Cartmell (Rheta), Lansdowne, VA, David Cartmell (June), Saugerties, NY, and one sister, Anne Elder (John), Oberlin, OH, his three sons, three grandchildren and great-granddaughter, and twelve step grandchildren. Memorial donations can be made to the Schuyler County Volunteer Ambulance Corp, P.O. Box 2, Watkins Glen, NY 14891. Arrangements by Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home, Watkins Glen.