Advertisement. Advertise with us

IN MEMORIAM

Landin Van Buren, 94, WWII

Combat Veteran, Vice Principal

Landin I. Van Buren

ONEONTA – Landin Irving Van Buren, 94, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II and later rose to vice principal at Oneonta Junior High School  laid down his working tools on Sept. 25, 2017.

Landin was born May 3, 1923, in Oneonta, where he lived his entire life except for the World War II years. He graduated from Oneonta High School in 1941, and in the fall of that year entered Hartwick College as a chemistry major.

In 1943, along with most of the young men he knew, he enlisted in the Army. He received medic training at Camp Pickett, Va., studied engineering under the Army Specialized Training Program at Lehigh University, and received basic training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, before joining the 84th Infantry Division’s 335th Regiment as part of the European Theater of World War II.

Starting as a private, he received a field promotion to staff sergeant and saw combat starting at the Siegfried Line, through the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. His unit participated in the Battle of the Bulge at Marche, liberated the Ahlem Concentration Camp, and met up with Soviet allies at the Rhine River, where hostilities ended with the Victory in Europe surrender.

He remained in Europe for the rest of the year as part of the occupying army until his discharge in January, 1946. He was awarded two Bronze Star Medals as well as various other honors and distinctions during his service. Though he survived, the war took an emotional toll that affected his entire life.

Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Landin finished his degree in chemistry from Hartwick College in 1947. He then joined his father, Carl, as partner in the family business, Van Buren’s Food Store on River Street, which closed in 1965.

On Aug. 18, 1946, he married Louise Anton Bowen, and together they raised their family. In 1962, Landin became a math and science teacher, first at Charlotte Valley Central School, and later Oneonta Junior High School. He was promoted to vice principal and school administrator while simultaneously studying at SUNY Oneonta, earning a Master’s of Science Degree in 1969. He retired in 1986.

Throughout his lifetime, Landin was active in numerous civic and community affairs including Raised Master Mason in Oneonta Lodge No. 466, Free and Accepted Masons on June 7, 1954. He served as Master, District Deputy Grand Master, Treasurer, and Trustee. He was also Past High Priest, Oneonta Chapter No. 277, Royal Arch Masons; Past Governor, United York Rite College No. 127; and Past Patron, Martha Chapter No. 116, Order of the Eastern Star. He was a member of Otsego Commandery No.76, Knights Templar; Red Cross of Constantine, and honorary Order of the Purple Cross. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Oneonta Rotary Club, Commander of American Legion Post 259, and was a life-long member, Treasurer and Trustee of the First United Methodist Church.

In 1986, Landin and Louise built their dream house on Herrick Hill Road. They moved to The Plains Retirement Community in 2011 and recently Landin moved to the Masonic Care Community in Utica where he suffered a severe stroke. He was brought home to Oneonta for his final days.

Landin was known by all who know him for his dry humor, shy smile, friendly handshake, and unfailing integrity. He always loved having a dog.

The family has many fond memories of gatherings and activities, especially at the Bolton family camp on Goodyear Lake and at the cabins and campground at Gilbert Lake. Landin and Louise enjoyed square dancing and golfing together. Especially in their retirement, Louise and Landin traveled extensively throughout the United States in their RV, taking part in many Elder Hostel programs and Landin’s 84th Infantry reunions, culminating in a tour of the European battlefields in 1984.

Contributions in memory of Landin’s life can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Otsego County, Catskill Hospice, or the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory and Cardiac Institute in Utica.

Calling hours will be 3-5 pm Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, at Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St, Oneonta.

A Masonic Funeral Service and a Methodist Funeral Service will be at 2:30 pm on Oct. 15, 2017, at First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut St, Oneonta.

Interment with military honors by American Legion Post 259 will follow at Glenwood Cemetery. Following interment refreshments will be served at the Masonic Temple, 322 Main St., Oneonta.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com

Posted

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

SCOLINOS: It’s All We Need To Know: Home Plate 17 Inches Wide

COLUMN VIEW FROM THE GAME It’s All We Need To Know: Home Plate 17 Inches Wide Editor’s Note:  Tim Mead, incoming Baseball Hall of Fame president, cited John Scolinos, baseball coach at his alma mater, Cal Poly Pomona, as a lifelong inspiration, particularly Scolinos’ famous speech “17 Inches.” Chris Sperry, who published sperrybaseballlife.com, heard Scolinos deliver a version in 1996 at the American Baseball Coaches Association in Nashville, and wrote this reminiscence in 1916 in his “Baseball Thoughts” column. By CHRIS SPERRY • from www.sperrybaseballlife.com In 1996, Coach Scolinos was 78 years old and five years retired from a college coaching…

Sports Can Resume, Superintendents Told

CLICK HERE FOR MEMO TO SCHOOLS Sports Can Resume, Superintendents Told COOPERSTOWN – In a memo released Friday evening, county Public Health Director Heidi Bond advised local school superintendents that sports can resume as early as Monday. “Effective Feb. 1, participants in higher-risk sports may participate in individual or distanced group training and organized no/low-contact group training,” Bond wrote, “…including competitions and tournaments, if permitted by local health authorities.”…

Piper Seamon Scores 1,000th point

1,000 THANKS! Piper Seamon 5th CCS Girl To Hit High Mark The Cooperstown Central student section erupts as Piper Seamon scores her 1,000th career point in the Hawkeyes’ 57-39 win over Waterville at home last evening. Seamon becomes the fifth girl and only the 14th player in school history overall to score 1,000 points.  Inset at right, Pipershares a hug with teammate Meagan Schuermann after the game was stopped to acknowledge her achievement. Seamon will play basketball next year at Hamilton College. (Cheryl Clough/AllOTSEGO.com)  …

Putting the Community Back Into the Newspaper

Now through March 30, new annual subscribers to “The Freeman’s Journal” and AllOtsego.com (or subscribers who have lapsed for two or more years) have an opportunity to help their choice of one of four Otsego County charitable organizations.

$5.00 of your subscription will be donated to the nonprofit of your choice:

Cooperstown Farmers’ Market, Cooperstown Food Pantry, Greater Oneonta Historical Society or Super Heroes Humane Society.