Carl Ray Witherow
RIPLEY — Carl Ray Witherow, passed away on July 25, 2018, surrounded by family, after a brief illness.
He was born April 5, 1932, in Brockway, Pa., the son of the late David Earl and Jennie Hindeliter Witherow. He moved to the Erie area at the age of 11 and graduated from Harborcreek Highschool in 1951.
Carl served in the U.S. Army from 1952-54, being stationed in Korea.
He worked at Gillespie Machine and Tool from 1957-62, and then with General Electric for 30 years before retiring.
Carl was a member of the South Ripley Fire Department for 35 years and attended the South Ripley United Methodist Church. He loved to do carpentry work, camping, hunting and playing music. He called square dancing in his own country band for many years and was a recent member of the North East Banjo Band. When not playing music, he liked to go square dancing with his wife and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara (Harrington) Witherow, whom he married in August of 1959, and moved to South Ripley where they lived their entire married life; three children: Curtis (Kim) Witherow of Mayville, N.Y., Kevin (Kathy) Witherow of Winsor, Va., and Jennifer (Paul) Light of South Ripley, N.Y., also a son from a previous marriage, Daniel (Renee) Taylor of Virginia: his grandchildren: Gabrielle Koszewski and Edward Light of South Ripley, Eric and Kinsey Witherow of Mayville; adoptive grandson, Kenny Marion of Mayville, Kevin C. Best of North East, Pa., Barry Smith of Edinboro, Pa., Stephanie Grain of Zuni, Va., Daniel Jr., and Joseph Taylor of Virginia; several great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers: Leroy, Charles, Wayne, Howard, Paul, Donald, David; and one sister, Doris.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at the Freay Funeral Home in Mayville, N.Y. The Rev. Craig Buelow will officiate. Burial will be in Mayville Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m., on Friday, July 27, 2018, at the funeral home (139 S Erie St., Mayville, NY 14757).
Memorials can be made to the South Ripley Fire Department, 10268 Northeast-Sherman Road, Ripley, NY 14775, or to the South Ripley United Methodist Church, 10008 Northeast-Sherman Road, Ripley, NY 14775.
To leave a remembrance or to post condolences to the family, please visit freayfuneralhome.com.