Obituary of Edward C. Rhoney

Edward Charles Rhoney of 43 Blanchard Street, Jamestown, died at home on May 4, 2010. He was born in Niagara Falls, New York, on July 3, 1926, the youngest son of the late Fayette B. and Reta G. Knight Rhoney. Mr. Rhoney was a 1944 graduate of Niagara Falls High School and graduated from Niagara University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Economics. He married Irma Helen Stricker of Evanston, Illinois, on March 2, 1957 and they had seven children: Christopher (Christine) Rhoney of Stafford, Virginia; Helen Rhoney Neu of Dayton, Ohio; Connor (Marilyn) Rhoney of Jamestown; Brendan (Christine) Rhoney of Beaverton, Oregon; Kathleen (Matthew) Rhoney Philips of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Maureen (Peter) Rhoney Hodgins of Gallatin, Tennessee; and Matthew Sean Rhoney. Mr. Rhoney was preceded in death by his brother, Robert, his sisters Audrey Rhoney and Gertrude Rhoney Smith, and his infant son Matthew Sean. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Irma, six children, and 13 grandchildren: Christine and Kurt Pilgrim, William and Joseph Rhoney; Hilary, Dominic, and Michaela Neu; Amanda and Mathew Rhoney; Alyssa and Colin Rhoney; Johanna and Eva Philips, and 1 great-grandson, Eli Esquibel-Pilgrim. Mr. Rhoney served his country during World War II as a Pharmacist's Mate in the United States Navy after graduating from Hospital Corps School in San Diego in 1944. After World War II, he served with distinction in the United States Navy Reserve. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War as a Hospital Corpsman and served two more years before his honorable discharge in 1952, attaining the rank of Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class. After his military service, he was employed by Bell Aerospace of Niagara Falls, NY in a number of capacities. He was also employed by the Kirby Company, the Niagara Falls Gazette, Moore Business Forms and the Niagara Falls Public School System. While living in Niagara Falls, he was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church where he was a member and officer of several parish organizations including the Holy Name Society, The Sacred Heart Guild, the Christian Family Movement, and the Catholic War Veterans. He was also a Trustee of the Niagara University Alumni Association. Mr. Rhoney was associated with the Boy Scouts of America as a Boy Scout, Volunteer Scout Leader and Professional Scout Executive for over 65 years. Starting as a Boy Scout in his home town of Niagara Falls, he was the Chairman of the Boy Scout Troop 17 Committee of Sacred Heart Church. He served 14 years as a member of the Professional Service of the BSA, first as a District Executive in the Finger Lakes Council and later as a Field Director and District Executive in the Chautauqua County Council. He returned to the Finger Lakes Council as a District Executive in the early 1970s. After leaving the BSA Professional Service in 1973, he served as a volunteer on the Troop Committee of Troop 140 at Saint John's Church and was Troop Committee Chairman for Troop 144 at Saint's Peter and Paul Church in Jamestown. In later years, he served as Cubmaster of Pack 144 at Holy Family School. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award by the Allegheny Highland Council, BSA, in 2007 in recognition of his many years of service to the youth of Western NY as a Boy Scout Leader. He also received the Saint George Emblem from the Catholic Committee on Scouting of the Diocese of Rochester and the Golden Bow Award from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. For two and a half years, he was the host of a weekly Boy Scout Talk show on WDOE in Dunkirk, NY. He was also a past member and Vice Chairman of the Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Allegheny Highlands Council of the BSA. After leaving the BSA Professional Service, he was employed by Metropolitan Life as a Certified Life Underwriter, and in later years was a math teacher with the Private Industry Council in Jamestown, before retiring in 1997. He was a communicant of Saint John Church and one of its first Eucharistic Ministers. He was also a third degree member of the Order of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Holy Name Society, and held several positions in the Parish Council over the years including President of the Parish Council. He was a member of the Cursillo Movement of the Diocese of Buffalo and was a very active advisory committee member of the Kairos Prison Ministry Program at Collins Correctional Institution with his wife Irma. Together, they touched the lives of many inmates in area prisons in a positive way. Mr. Rhoney was also a member of the Rotary Clubs in Canandaigua, NY and Jamestown, and was a Past Chairman of the Canandaigua Youth Guidance Advisory Council. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, May 9 in the Lind Funeral Home, where a Christian Wake Service will be held at 3:30 p.m. led by the Rev. William Tuyn. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday at Saint John Church. The Rev. John Kuhlmann will be celebrant. Mr. Rhoney will be buried with full military honors at Holy Cross Cemetery following the Mass. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to one of the following charities: The Allegheny Highlands Council, Boy Scouts of America, to support camperships for deserving youth, The Hospice Society of Chautauqua County, The Holy Name Society of Holy Apostles Parish, or to the Adult Day Care sponsored by the Chautauqua County Office for the Ageing. You may light a candle in remembrance of Mr. Rhoney at www.lindfuneralhome.com.