Donald “Peter” McBride
Age 86, of Burdett, NY, passed away Sunday, October 8, 2017 surrounded by his loving family in the comfort of his home. The family will receive friends at the Royce-Chedzoy Funeral Home, 212 E. 4th St., Watkins Glen, on Thursday (Oct. 12th) from 4pm-6pm. A private funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family; burial will be at Hector Union Cemetery. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, R. Joette McBride, five children, Gillian Huling, of Geneva, Donn McBride of Endicott, Alan (Kathy) McBride of Bear, DE, Kym (Tim) Starkweather of Alpine, Andrea (Peter) Cherock of Watkins Glen; sisters, Anne Hogben and Vivienne (Morgan) Williams; and brother, Graham (June) McBride, all of Australia; 14 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Moreen Hunt; and great-granddaughter, Sofia McBride. Peter was born in Middleton, England on May 31, 1931. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 18. He was passionate about Boy Scouting his entire life. Growing up in England, he spent his youth as a Sea Scout during WWII. One of his highlights was meeting Sir Baden Powell twice during Boy Scout Jamborees and sailing a 3 mast schooner around the Cape of Africa with Scouts. He was Scout Master for Sullivan Trail Troop 52 of Burdett for numerous years. He was a Woodbadge graduate in 1976, NEII 21-2, awarded the Silver Beaver in 1982, and a member of the Order of the Arrow. Peter was a dairy farmer in Burdett, and drove for Mayflower Dean of Ithaca and Swarthout Motor Couch. He was an active thespian with the Lake County Players, playing lead roles in the play of George M and Finian’s Rainbow, and played parts in numerous other plays and directed Paint Your Wagon. Peter was a good man and loved his family, his friends and the boys of Troop 52, because they were his family, too. You may express condolences to the family or “Light A Candle of Remembrance” online at www.RoyceChedzoy.com. Those wishing to remember Peter, may consider a donation in his memory to a Schuyler County charity of one’s choice. In the words of Sir Baden Powell, “The most worth-while thing is to try to put happiness into the lives of others.”