IN MEMORIAM: John Rifenburgh, 84;

World War II Vet Co-Owned Tally-Ho

WEST DAVENPORT – John William Rifenburgh, 94, a World War II veteran and former co-owner of the Tally-Ho Restaurant in West Davenport, passed away Monday, Jan. 11, 2016., at Fox Nursing Home.

He was born June 12, 1921, in Worcester, the eldest of six children and the only son of the late Walter and Mabel Estella (Phelps) Rifenburgh.

On April 9, 1964, he married Barbara Cook in Bloomville.

During World War II, John was a staff sergeant and was an Army tugboat master, laying mines to protect the Panama Canal harbor.

After the war, John worked as a civilian for the Navy.  Returning home, he worked for Oneonta Ford, co-owned the Tally-Ho and related Tally-Ho Amusement Co., and ran his own dump-truck business.

John was an avid motorcycle and classic car enthusiast. He enjoyed going to car shows. He was a longtime member of the Reminiscers Car Club in Oneonta.

John is survived by his wife of 51 years, Barbara Rifenburgh; two sons, John W. and Marlene Rifenburgh and William Rifenburgh all of West Davenport; one granddaughter, Lisa Marie Rifenburgh of New Port Ritchie, Fla.; four sisters, Jeanette and Richard Ayres of Plattsburgh, Virginia and George Coolidge of Peru, Louise and John Folch of Naples, Fla.,  and Wanda Snyder of Clifton Park; sister-in-law Carol Johnson of Catskill; and two brothers-in-law, Leland Cook of Utah and Henry Cook of Wells Bridge; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his sister, Esther Emerson; and three brothers-in-law, Robert Emerson, James P. Snyder, Sr. and John Cook.

Calling hours will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, at Bookhout Funeral Home, Oneonta, with funeral services immediately following at 2, with the Rev. Kathleen Brumbaugh, pastor of the Schenevus Methodist Church and coordinating pastor of the West Davenport Methodist Church, officiating.

Burial will be held in the spring in the Charlotte Valley Cemetery, West Davenport.

Memorial donations may be made to either the East Meredith Fire Department, PO Box 65, East Meredith, NY 13757 or to the Pindars Corners Fire Department, 8898 State Highway 23, Oneonta, NY 13820.

To light a candle or send an online condolence please visitwww.bookhoutfuneralhome.com

Funeral arrangements are by the Bookhout Funeral Home of Oneonta.