Obituary of Vincent S. Martonis

Vincent S. "Whitey" Martonis, 94, of Tanglewood Manor, 560 Fairmount Ave. W.E. formerly of the High-Rise Apartments and 349 Van Buren St. Jamestown, Cassadaga and Buffalo, NY, died at 5:00 a.m. Saturday (December 26, 2009) in W.C.A. Hospital. A Jamestown resident since 1953 he was born January 13, 1915 in Highland, PA a son of the late Peter and Eva Cegles Martonis. He was a 1933 graduate of the Mining and Mechanical Preparatory Institute in Freeland, PA. Vincent was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during World War II from 1942 to 1945. As a Sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corp, he served as an engineer and a fire chief on the Army base in Newfoundland. Prior to his retirement in 1985 he was a health insurance sales representative for the Progressive Insurance Company, formerly known as the Hearthstone Insurance Company, for 20 years. He was a communicant of the Holy Apostles Parish at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church. He was a life member of the John W. Tiffany Post # 53 Veteran of Foreign Wars and a life member of the Jamestown Moose Lodge # 1681. He was a former member of the Henry Mosher Post # 638 American Legion, Falconer and while living in Casselberry, FL., he was a member of the Lake Kathryn Players and the Off Key Crooners Association. In earlier years he was an active Boy Scout leader. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and loved picnicking with his family. He found great enjoyment in telling family stories. Surviving are his wife of 68 years the former Elizabeth "Betty" Blash whom he married November 29, 1941, two sons Vincent P. (Joanne) Martonis of Silver Creek and Gerry, NY, John D. (Patricia) Martonis of Jamestown, a daughter Irene (Michael) Lavin of Amherst, NY, 7 grandchildren Heather (Douglas) Johnson of Wells, ME, Stephen (Diane) Martonis of Longmont, CO, Cheryl (Scott) Sulock of Orlando, FL, Daniel (Liane) Martonis of Little Valley, NY, Andrew Lavin of Buffalo, NY, Russell Martonis of New York City, Sarah Martonis of Jamestown, nine great grandchildren and four sisters Evelyn Yaruso of Hazelton, PA, Julie Miglas of Flemington, NJ, Betty Polaschik of Greenbelt, MD, Victoria Sojka of Manville, NJ. He was preceded in death by five sisters Veronica Martonis, Mary Steffen, Ann Lowery, Helen Shigo and Irene Martonis. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, January 2, 2010, in Holy Apostles Parish at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Dennis W. Mende, pastor will be celebrant. Interment will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Visitation will not be observed. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the John W. Tiffany Post 53 Veteran of Foreign Wars, 364 Fluvanna Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701 or to Holy Apostles Parish at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church, 508 Cherry St. Jamestown, NY 14701.