John J. Whitford

Age 61 ofRidgebury Township, Gillett, PA, went home to be with his Lord, peacefully at Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Elmira, NY on Friday September 10, 2010. He was born on July 28, 1949 in Elmira, NY the son of the late John J. and Dorothy M. (Noble) Whitford Sr. He is survived by his loving wife, Sharon Whitford; children, Bret (Jamie) Whitford, and Lyn Whitford; grandson Devan "Jake" Whitford; sister, Joann (Merlin) Russell; brothers, Bob (Barbie) Whitford and Mike (Linda) Whitford; many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews; sisters in law, Jacalyn (David) Powell and Dolores (Tom) Ewing; closest friends, John Chopko, Sharon Vanderhoff, Pam Seely and many others.John was a Veteran of the US Navy and proudly served his country inVietnam aboard The USS Great Sitkin.He was a member of the Ridgebury Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service. Member of the USS Great Sitkin Association. At the age of 35 John went back to school to become a Registered Nurse and gave 25 years of loyal service at the Elmira Psychiatric Center. He was an avid football fan and he accumulated a wealth of knowledge inAmerican History throughout his life, he loved his country and was a true proud American. John was a loving husband, father and grandfather, one of his great joys in life was traveling the United States, he especially enjoyed travelingto see his children Bret, and Lyn. The family will receive friends at Olthof Funeral Home,Inc. 1050 Pennsylvania Ave. Elmira/Southport, NY on Monday September 13, 2010 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM with a Funeral and Committal Service honoring John's lifethere at 6:00 PM, The Reverend Robert Russell will officiate. The family will provide their own flowers . Memorial donations may be directed to the Ridgebury Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service, envelopes will be available at the funeral home.A 'Candle of Remembrance' may be left for his family in obituaries atwww.olthof.com/