Arthur M. Van Tyne

He was born on Aug. 12, 1925, in Syracuse, N.Y., the son of the late Roy and Isabelle (Hoag) Van Tyne. He married his sweetheart Patricia (Boyd) Van Tyne, in Chicago on July 13, 1946. They were married for 67 years before she passed away on Feb. 24, 2014.

Art was raised in Syracuse, N.Y., until his father, a steel-alloy chemist, moved the family to New Jersey to aid in the wartime steel effort. Upon graduating from high school at the age of 16 he worked in the steel mill for a year before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corp’s (now the U.S. Air Force) Cadet Program in September of 1943. After that he completed flight training at Michigan State University and military bases in Kansas and Texas, Art became a navigator aboard the Curtiss C-46 Commando Cargo aircraft. He was stationed at the 5th Air Force Headquarters in the Pacific theater, where he flew missions over Okinawa, Japan, southern China, and South Korea. Art was awarded several medals and honors, including the Navigator Badge, the Army of Occupation Medal with Japan bar, and several other achievement and commendation medals. Art was honorably discharged in 1947. He then joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a military operational specialist. He retired from the reserves in 1974 as a lieutenant colonel. In 2013 Art was inducted into the New York State Veterans’ Hall of Fame.

After his military career, Art became a distinguished petroleum geologist and settled in Wellsville, N.Y. Throughout the years Art served the Wellsville community in numerous ways: deputy mayor for 12 years, village trustee, president of the local Rotary and a Paul Harris fellow, chairman of the board for Jones Memorial Hospital for many years, chairman of the Allegany County Republican Party, president of local United Way, vestryman of St. John’s Episcopal Church, a member the American Legion and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. On a state and national level, Art was president of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York (two terms), long time board member of the NY State Oil Producers Association, and secretary of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (two terms).

Known by all, Art was a true gentleman, community leader, preeminent geologist, and great father.

He is survived by four children: Judith Van Tyne of Manhattan, N.Y., Cynthia (Stephen) Ford of Lakewood, N.Y., Mark (Lonnie) Van Tyne of Canton, Ohio, and Peter Van Tyne of Wellsville, N.Y.; six grandchildren: Christopher (Xochitl) Kairalla of San Carlos, Calif., Daun (Bryan) Curry of Manhattan, N.Y., MaryAnne (David Humphreys) Van Tyne of Los Angeles, Calif., Stephen (Emily) Ford of Lakewood, N.Y., Lauren and Brad Van Tyne of Canton, Ohio; three great-grandchildren: Lyla Curry, Dylan Kairalla and Annelise Ford; two nieces,: Cheri (Randy) Shaw of Clayton, N.Y., and Patti (Tim Hennessy) Morrison of Wellsville; and grand-nephew, Michael Shaw of Alexandria Bay, N.Y.

He was predeceased by his sister, Evelyn Morrison of Syracuse, N.Y.

Friends are invited to call on Saturday, May 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Embser Funeral Home in Wellsville, N.Y. A graveside service with full military honors will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellsville, at 2:30 p.m.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to:Jones Memorial Hospital, 191 N. Main St., Wellsville, NY 14895 or the SPCA-Allegany County, 5440 NY-19, Belmont, NY 14813 or Pioneer Oil Museum, 395 Main St., Bolivar, NY 14715.

To leave online condolences please visit www. embserfuneralhome.com.