SHERBURNE – Robert F. Bendura, 86, of Granville Hill Rd., passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at the Harding Nursing Home in Waterville.
He was born August 8, 1929 in Utica, a son of Frank and Frances Stopera Bendura. He received his early education up to 6th grade in Sherburne before moving to Craddock, VA where he graduated from high school in 1947. Following that, he moved back to Sherburne and then served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. On August 28, 1954, Robert married Shirley A. Dickerson in Sherburne. He began his career in telecommunications as a lineman for the Chenango and Unadilla Telephone Company, which later became Frontier Communications. He retired in 1985 as a plant supervisor, having worked at several company locations. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. His family was his greatest joy, and times spent with them were most precious to him.
Robert was a communicant of St. Malachy’s Church in Sherburne. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; his children, Casey and Shirley Bendura of Penn Yan; Tina and Steve Chapman of Tully; Gigi and Scott McCredy of Penn Yan; Kyle and Darcy Bendura of Earlville; Mia and Tom Dorrance of Cazenovia; Theresa Portelli and her fiancé, Stu Hughes of Norwich; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Virginia Bendura of Williamsburg, VA; two nephews, Douglas and Jennifer Bendura and their family, Michael and Yolanda Bendura, all of Richmond, VA; fourteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am Saturday, July 2, 2016 from St. Malachy’s Church, East State St., Sherburne.
Interment with military honors will be in St. Malachy’s Cemetery.
Friends are invited to call at the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 10 S. Main St., Sherburne on Friday from 4-7 PM. The rosary will be recited at 4pm.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the Golisano Children’s Hospital, Syracuse, or to the Sherburne Food Pantry, c/o St. Malachy’s Church, Sherburne.
To send a condolence and sign the Book of Memories online go to www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com.