Joseph Spink

Middleburgh, NY- Joseph Carter Spink, 76, formerly of Olean, NY and Wellsboro, PA died Saturday, August 25, 2007 at Cobleskill Regional Hospital Cobleskill, NY.
Mr. Spink was born April 10, 1931 in Olean, NY and was the son of Emmett and Edna (Erb) Spink. He graduated from Olean High School in 1949 and then attended Renounard Training School for Embalmers in New York City. Mr. Spink also attended Simmons Mortuary School in Syracuse. He served his apprenticeship at Stephen Merritt Burial and Cremation Company in New York City.
Mr. Spink was a United States Army Veteran serving from 1952-1954 in the Quarter master Corp. Graves Registration at Kawaguchi-shi Japan.
In 1955, he returned to Olean and joined his father in the daily operations of the family owned business, Spink Funeral Home located on 3rd Street. His two brothers, Ray and Philip, also became licensed and joined the family business. After their father's death, the three funeral directors branched to Allegany and Portville.
In 1970, Mr. Spink moved to Wellsboro, PA and operated Kuhl & Spink Funeral Home for six years. He then purchased Palmer & Shaylor Funeral Home in Middleburgh, NY and has continued to operate this firm since 1976.
Mr. Spink was a member of several community organizations during his career and most recently has been a member of the Leatherstocking District Funeral Directors Assoc., National Funeral Directors Assoc., past state director for New York State Funeral Directors Assoc., International Order of the Golden Rule, New York State Coroner's and Medical Examiner's Assoc., Schoharie County Shrine Club, and the Middleburgh Rotary Club. He has served as one of the Schoharie County Coroners since 1988.
Mr. Spink was a member of the Middleburgh Reformed Church.
He was predeceased by Noreen D. Spink and their infant daughter, Patricia M. Spink, and two brothers, Richard and Philip Spink.
Survivors include 3 daughters: Linda M. West (F. Craig) of Wellsboro, PA, Karen E. Spink of Milford, NY, Janet S. Putnam (Richard) of Cobleskill, NY; 2 sons: J. Kevin Spink (Cheri) of Eagle River, AK and Damon P. Spink (Jan Wingenbach) of Silverton, OR; 1 brother: E. Ray Spink (Bonnie) of Olean NY.; 10 grandchildren: Matthew West, Patricia (Jeff) Holtz, Lauren (James) Morris, and Kristen West, Austin (Laura) and Cassandra Putnam, J. Conor and Casey Spink, Katherine and Anne Spink, and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 at the Middleburgh Reformed Church River Street Middleburgh, NY. Officiating will be Rev. Mary Wisner. Friends may call from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday at the Palmer & Shaylor, Inc. Funeral Home 134 River Street Middleburgh. A committal service will be held in Wellsboro Cemetery, Wellsboro, PA at 3:30 P.M. Wednesday, August 29, 2007.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Middleburgh Library, P.O. Box 670 Middleburgh, NY 12122.