Glenn E. Woolston
Glenn E. Woolston, 91, of Waterport, died May 29, 2020 at Orchard Manor Nursing Home in Medina, following a long illness and as a result of COVID-19. He was born June 24, 1928 in the Town of Gaines, a son of the late Floyd and Flora (Franks) Woolston, and he lived in this area all of his life.
Glenn was a member of Gaines Congregational Church and sang in their choir. He was also a member of the Albion Rotary Club, Busy Buddies and St. Mary’s Archers Club, and he was a lifetime member of the Carlton Fire Department. Glenn was one of the founding members of the Gaines Valley Airport and the Experimental Aircraft Association, where he volunteered his time with the Young Eagles Flyers Club, consisting of 71 children he would take flying. He served as Town Justice and Councilman for the Town of Carlton.
He was a dairy farmer, a school bus driver and a plumber, and he worked at T.J. Lipton’s and for the Albion and Orleans correctional facilities as a senior maintenance worker. He was co-owner of Cedar Valley Lodging in Waterport and owned Parish NY Snowmobile Camp with his cousin, Ken Drew. Glenn restored his father’s 1915 Ford Model T and his 1909 Brush Motor Car, which is on display at the Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, N.Y. He was also a carpenter who built a kayak, a speed boat named “Little Devil,” a 26-foot thunderbird sailboat, three homes, and an experimental CH701 Zenith “yellow bird” airplane. He also built and sold shore birds and children’s rocking horses. Glenn loved spending time with his grandchildren, teaching and building elevators, model airplanes, scooters, wooden toy guns and doll houses with them. Glenn built flag poles for each of his grandchildren to put at their homes. He enjoyed motorcycles, downhill skiing, hunting, fishing, and playing the ukulele and the harmonica. He loved to sing, especially songs from the World War Two era. He and his wife, Irene, loved to travel; and they traveled extensively throughout the world. His family always looked forward to his popcorn balls and homemade bread at Christmas.
Glenn was predeceased by his brothers, Merle, William (Edna), and Lee (Margaret).
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Irene; his children, Rodney (Donna), Donna (Michael) Smith, and Dana (Lynda); grandchildren, Shaun (Elissa) and Evan (Tiffany) Smith, Ryan (Mattea) Woolston, Jessy (Kyle) Holz, Shane Woolston, Lysa (Ken) Leek and Dale Woolston; great-grandchildren, Kyle Niederhofer, Ben and Aubree Leek, Ava, Caden Woolston, Colton, Maddox, Garrett, Graydon Smith, Lucas and Lucy Holz; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
His graveside service will be at the convenience of the family at Otter Creek Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Gaines Congregational Church, 14023 Ridge Road W., Albion NY 14411; Carlton Fire Department, 14341 Waterport-Carlton Road, Albion NY 14411; or to Hospice of Orleans, P.O. Box 489, Albion NY 14411.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Inc., Albion. To share a special memory of Glenn, please visit www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
