Harry M. Olmstead, 95, a lifelong area resident, passed away Monday, April 23, 2007, at his Walton home.

Born in Walton on July 3, 1911, he was the son of the late Olney and Mable (Murray) Olmstead. He worked for the Walton Water Company in the 1930s and later was superintendent of the village of Walton Water Department. He was a tool and die maker at Scintilla in Sidney during World War II and then for the Burger plant in Walton. He later purchased the farm in Beerston and operated it until his retirement. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Walton and a former member of the Walton Fire Department.

Harry was married to the former Marion Cole on Nov. 17, 1931, in Peekskill. She predeceased him on November 18, 1993. He then married Esther A. Archer Tinkelpaugh, who predeceased him on Sept. 20, 2001.

At the time of his death Harry was the oldest member of his church. In his retirement years he enjoyed woodworking and made the kitchen cabinets in his new home and several platform rocking chairs as gifts for his many family members. He always had a big garden and later he continued to enjoy gardening on a smaller scale by using earth boxes. He also enjoyed traveling.

Harry is survived by three sons, B. James (Muriel) Olmstead of Walton, Gerald (Joan) Olmstead of Palm Coast, Fla., and Clifford (Leontine) Olmstead of Tucson, Ariz.; and a brother-in-law, Herbert Cole of LaGrangeville, step children, Olan Archer, Marion Martine, Mary Reiling, and Marilyn Pease. Also surviving are several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is predeceased by two daughters, Barbara (Mrs. Paul) Endress and Eleanor (Mrs. Donald) Boyd; a brother, Gordon Olmstead; and 2 sisters, Emily Hull and Betty Rosen.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, April 27, at the Clark, Winter & Courtney Funeral Home, 25 Townsend St., Walton, with the Rev. Jennifer Matison Juliano officiating. Burial will follow in Walton Cemetery. There are no calling hours.

Memorial contributions in Harry's memory may be made to the First Congregational Church (UCC), 4 Mead St., Walton, NY 13856 or Catskill Area Hospice, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.