Roland G Oakes

ROLAND G. OAKS, age 89, formerly of South Cortland, NY, passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2008 at the Cortland Care Center, Cortland, NY. Mr. Oaks was born Feb. 5, 1919 at Virgil a son of the late Arthur and Mattie Gutchess Oaks. On June 20, 1940 he was married to the former Leolyn Griswold who passed away in Jan. 27,1999. Roland was a dairy farmer and was associated with Griswold Oaks Farms in South Cortland. Later he was employed as a security guard at Smith Corona and Albany International. Roland was a member and Past Master of the South Cortland Grange, a member of the New York State Grange and a member and Past Master of the Cortland County Pomona Grange. He was a member of the Farm Bureau, the Holstein Friesian Association and the United Methodist Church of Virgil.

Survivors include his children, Charlene (Ralph) Cotterill of Niagara Falls, NY, Gail (Steve) Sherman, Karen (Gary) Stupke and Randy (Donna) Oaks all of Cortland, Melanie (Randy) Odell of Warsaw, IN; a sister, Emma Ryan of Marathon; a sister-in-law, Dazalene Oaks of Cortland; eighteen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; three great great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings, Marjorie Buck, Robert Oaks, Carl Oaks and a grandchild, Becky Poss.

A celebration of his life will be held at 2 PM Friday, August 8, 2008 at the Perkins Funeral Home with Rev. Nancy Rehkugler officiating. Burial will follow in Virgil Rural Cemetery. Friends are invited to call from 12 to 2 PM Friday at the funeral home, 55 West Main St., Dryden, NY. Those wishing to remember Roland are asked to consider a memorial to the United Methodist Church of Virgil, 1196 Church St., Cortland, NY 13045 or Cortlandville Fire Dept., 999 NYS Rt. 13., Cortland, NY 13045.