IN MEMORIAM: Bill Schraft, 83;

Worked For Best Brands, Bugbee

OTEGO – William “Bill” H. Schraft, 83 of Otego, passed away at his home on May 17, 2017, after a short battle with cancer.  He was surrounded by family and his devoted dog Midnight.

Bill was born on Nov. 2, 1933, in Oneonta, to William H. Schraft, Sr. and Sophie (Kovatchich).  He graduated from Oneonta High School in 1952, then spent two years in the Army. Bill worked for Best Brands Beverage as a truck driver and later as a salesman. He retired from SUNY Oneonta’s Bugbee Day Care,  where he worked as a custodian and bus driver.

He married the love of his life, Linda Crawford, on Dec. 26, 1981, at St. Mary’s Church in Oneonta, also becoming step-father to Linda’s three daughters. He and Linda celebrated 35 years of marriage this past December.

Bill enjoyed fishing, hiking, camping, reading and spending time with his grandsons, and especially loved watching them play baseball. His grandsons want everyone to know what a wonderful grandfather he was.

In addition to his wife Linda, he is survived by step-daughters Sharon (Richard) Easley, Debrah (Tino) Garufi, and Ellen Kasian; his three grandsons, Tino Garufi III, Joshua Garufi, and Jordan Kasian; sister Freida Rexford, brother-in-law Jim Murray, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jim and Gloria Maerz, father-in-law Bill Maerz, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister Barbara Murray.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m.  Saturday, May 27, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 39 Walnut St., Oneonta, with Rev. David W. Mickiewicz, pastor, as Celebrant. Interment with military honors will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Emmons. There will be no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY or the Susquehanna Animal Shelter in Cooperstown, Hartwick Seminary.

Arrangements are entrusted to the Delker & Terry Funeral Home, Edmeston.  Send condolences to www.Delkerterryfuneralhome.com, or visit Delker & Terry on Facebook.