Obituary of Howard C. Crater

Howard C. Crater Allegany, NY-- Howard C. Crater of 120 N. 2nd St. died Thursday (August 12, 2004) as a result of a fall while visiting in Macomb, MI. Born April 14, 1916 in Salamanca, NY he was the son of George C. and Vina Mae Parker Crater. On June 14, 1944 at the First Baptist Church in Olean he married Aletha M. Ingham who predeceased him April 14, 2003. Mr. Crater was a graduate of Salamanca High School and a 1940 graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology. He was also a veteran of WWII having served in the US Navy. He was a skilled tool and die maker, having worked in design and development for several companies including Rathmond Molding in Salamanca and Gleason’s in Rochester. He later worked for the Daystrom Furniture Co., Corning Glass in Bradford, PA and he retired from the former !McGraw Edison Co., now Cooper Power Systems in Olean. Mr. Crater was a member of the First Baptist Church in Olean where he was a co-founder of the Builder’s Class during the second world war. He also served as an usher, a trustee, a choir member and as a floral designer for the church. He enjoyed his home which he built himself, as well as gardening, growing flowers, and driving as a volunteer for Interfaith Caregivers. Surviving are a daughter Judy (Ernest) Bean of Cuba; two sons Richard (Karen) Crater of Honeoye Falls, NY and Jeffery (Christine) Crater of Fairport, NY; four grandchildren; one sister Esther Rockwell of Olean, several nieces and nephews, and his fiancé Corinne Rummel of Macomb, MI. In addition to his wife he was predeceased by three sisters Dorothy Johnson, Marion Kamery and Ruth Seaver and one brother Wendell Crater. Friends will be received on Tuesday from 6-8pm in the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Rd. Olean. A memorial service will be held Wednesday (August 18, 2004) at 1:00pm in the First Baptist Church. Rev. Dan !McDowell, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Allegany Cemetery. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the First Baptist Church.