Obituary of Robert I. Everingh

Robert I. Everingham, Sr., 85 of 2020 Clark Hollow Road, LaFayette, New York died suddenly Wednesday, July 27, 2005 following a heart attack. Robert was born April 7, 1920, the son of William French and Edna (Irwin) Everingham. He was a seventh generation life resident of LaFayette. He attended Collingwood Elementary School, and graduated Valedictorian from LaFayette High School Class of 1937. In 1941, he graduated from Cornell with a BS in Agriculture. He was the 1940 Noble Ruler of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and in 2003 was honored in Columbus, Ohio as one of the Brothers of the Century. In 2002 Mr. Everingham received the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Cornell School of Agriculture & Life Sciences. Mr. Everingham has been a local and state leader in agriculture and education for more than 60 years. For half a century, he co-owned and operated the family's Cascadale Farm, first with his father William then with son Bob, Jr. In addition to farming, he worked full-time as Business Manager of the LaFayette Central School system, then Onondaga-Madison BOCES. His leadership includes serving for nearly 30 years (10 as president) for the Council on Rural Education, and co-founder of the NY Rural Schools Program, and later recipient of its Distinguished Service Award. In agriculture, he served as Chair for the Onondaga County Dairy Herd Improvement Association, President of Onondaga County Farm Bureau, and Director and executive committee member of the New York State Farm Bureau. He has served on the Boards of LaFayette Central Schools, OM BOCES, Onondaga County Board of Health, Morrisville College Council, American Agriculturist Foundation and Chenango Mutual Insurance Company . He also served as Chairman for Blue Cross of Central NY, the NYS Milk Promotion Board, NY Farm Bureau Dairy Committee and the DEC Agricultural Advisory Council. He was a life member of LaFayette Columbian Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder and Clerk of Session, a member and Past Master (1953) of the Tully Lodge #896 F&AM serving as assistant grand lecturer of Onondaga Masonic District. He was active in the LaFayette Historical Society and was presently serving as its President. He was U.S. Army veteran of WWII and received the distinguished Purple Heart Award. An active supporter of Cornell and the Agriculture College, he served on the Class of 1941 50th reunion committee, and most recently he was instrumental in the rebuilding campaign for the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity house. He is pre-deceased by his sister Doris Williams; and by son Bob, Jr. who died tragically in 1986 in a farm accident; in 1988 Bob, Sr. and wife Blanche, established the Robert I. Everingham, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund at Cornell to sponsor Animal Science undergrad and graduate students. Survivng are his wife of 61 years the former Blanche Bacorn; daughter, Carol J. Everingham of LaFayette; daughter-in-law; Pamela J. Everingham of LaFayette; AFS exchange "son" Paco Marco of Valencia, Spain; nephew; Richard Williams of Aptos, CA; cousins; Jean Everingham Palmer Williams of Clinton, Alice Marion Sliker Denneville of Conesus; William Palmer of Florida, and Bruce MacQueen of Diest, Belgium, plus numerous nieces and nephews. Calling Hours: Saturday, July 30, 2005, 2:00-6:00 p.m. at Ballweg & Lunsford Funeral Home, 2584 Field Lane, LaFayette, New York. Masonic Service: Saturday, July 30, 2005, 4:00 p.m. at the funeral Home. Memorial Service: Saturday, August 6, 2005, 2:00 p.m. in LaFayette Columbian Presbyterian Church, with the Reverend Deane F. Lavender officiating. Burial: LaFayette Rural Cemetery, Route 11, LaFayette, New York with Military Honors. Contributions: LaFayette Fire & Rescue Squad, Route 11, LaFayette, New York 13084; Columbian Presbyterian Church, PO Box 270, LaFayette New York 13084; or to Robert I. Everingham Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, 274 Roberts Hall, Cornell Univ. Ithaca, New York 14853