Obituary of William Slaight

West Sparta- William J. "Bill" Slaight age 94, passed away Tuesday afternoon, February 8, 2011, at Noyes Memorial Hospital in Dansville, after being stricken at home earlier in the day. He was born in West Sparta on April 19, 1916, a son of the late Thomas and Lillian Redmond Slaight. On June 14, 1941, he was married to Ruth Marie Hanford Slaight, who survives. Bill graduated from Geneseo High School. After graduating he attended the school of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University for two years. In 1939, he worked for a year at Hillcrest, his Grandfather Redmond's farm in West Sparta. He returned to Cornell and became the Beef Cattle Herdsman until 1946. Returning to West Sparta, Bill began his life-long career as a dairy farmer, as well as raising Angus cattle, sheep and hogs, on the farm that had been in the Slaight family since the 1850's. He was also a sales representative for Funks Seed Corn and a salesman for thirty seven years for Livingston Mutual Insurance Company. Bill was a member of the West Sparta United Methodist Church, and a former member of the Dansville Presbyterian Church. He was active with the Cornell Cooperative Extension, the 4-H Club, and the West Sparta Grange. He was a member of the Phoenix Lodge # 115 of the F&AM of Dansville. Bill had also served on the Board of Education at the Dansville Central School for ten years, including three years as President. He served on the Board of Directors at the former Dansville Memorial Hospital and the Groveland State Bank. In his free time he enjoyed square dancing with his dear wife Ruth. Surviving in addition to Ruth, his wife of nearly seventy years, are his children; Thomas (Barbara) Slaight of Providence, RI, Wilma Slaight of Ashland, MA, Stella Slaight of Rochester, NY, Anne (Donald) Nowill of Brookline, MA, Martha Slaight of Westport Point, MA and Charlie (Deborah) Slaight of Brentwood, TN. Also surviving are a brother Walter (Jeri) Slaight of AZ, three sisters; Helen Ward of NJ, Elizabeth Steur of Williamsville and Nancy Bell of DE, seven grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother John Slaight and a sister Mary Streamer. Friends may call from 3:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday (2/11) at the Hindle Funeral Home, Inc., 271 Main St., Dansville. A memorial service will be held on Saturday (2/12) at 11:00am at the West Sparta United Methodist Church on Redmond Rd., in West Sparta. Interment will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery, West Sparta. Online remembrances may be left at www.HindleFuneralHome.com. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the West Sparta United Methodist Church, PO Box 671, Dansville, NY 14437, or the Livingston County 4-H Club, 158 Main St., Mt. Morris, NY 14510.