IN MEMORIAM: George E. Vermilya, 90;

Former Cooperstown Milk Plant Manager

COOPERSTOWN – George Elmer Vermilya, 90, former manager of the former Sealtest milk plant at Chestnut and Walnut streets, died Saturday morning, November 26, 2016, at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica.  He had lived in New Hartford in retirement.

A native of Delaware County, George was born at home in Grand Gorge on Sept. 12, 1926, a son of Leo Eugene Vermilya and Inez Patterson Vermilya.

He attended South Kortright Central School, then joined the Army in January 1945 during the waning days of World War II.  He returned home and earned his diploma with the Class of 1948.

On Oct. 2, 1953, George married Elsie A. Darling in a ceremony at the Hobart Methodist Church.  In 1954, the couple moved to Cooperstown where George was managed the Sealtest plant.  The couple resided in Fly Creek, and Elsie was on the news staff of The Freeman’s Journal.

George became a life member of the Sgt. Walter P. Eggleston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7128, and often served with the honor guard for deceased veterans.

In 1971, George and Elsie moved to Madrid, St. Lawrence County, where he was a dairy farm inspector for the Kraft cheese plant in Canton.  Upon his retirement in 1988, the couple moved to New Hartford.

Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Anthony Covais of Massena; three granddaughters, Tammy Loz and husband, Richard, Teresa Cavanaugh and husband, Mark, and Candace O’Neill; 11 great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.

His wife Elsie died Jan. 18, 2009, after 55 years of marriage.

A graveside service with military honors will be next spring  in the Fly Creek Valley Cemetery. Service details will be announced at that time.

As an alternative to flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA  22312.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.