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Warren D. McPherson

Warren D. McPherson

Warren D. McPherson of Berry Road and, more recently, the WCA Home, both in Fredonia, passed away after a brief illness at UPMC Hamot in Erie PA on August 10, 2019. Warren was 92 years old. He was born on May 11, 1927, to John Dwight and Winnifred Philleo McPherson of Batavia, NY. He graduated from Cornell University in 1948. While there, he met Margaret “Peggy” Edsall Martin and they got married at the First Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY on June 9, 1951 after she graduated from Cornell the day prior. They started married life in the Kenmore NY area and then moved to Fredonia in 1957.Warren began a long career as an insurance agent with Heppell- Robinson in Dunkirk and then starting his own insurance & risk management consulting firm, McPherson Management Co. in the

Russo Building in Fredonia, practicing in the people business that he loved until he was in his early 80’s. Some of his many clients were Graf Realty of Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, the Village of Fredonia, and the city of Erie PA. He also taught an insurance licensing course for many years at SUNY Fredonia.

Warren is survived by daughter, Margaret Ellen (Vince) Vacanti of Fredonia and sons Douglas (Mary) McPherson of Fredonia, Gordon (Diane) McPherson of Shoreline,

Washington, and Donald (Kathleen) McPherson of Saratoga Springs, NY. Warren is survived by 10 grandchildren: Michael (Adrienne) Vacanti of Boonton NJ, David Vacanti of Leechburg PA, Riley (Sarah) McPherson of East Point GA, Mariah (Lauren Gregor) McPherson of Indianapolis IN, Sarah (Jonathon) Wright of Indianapolis IN, Ian McPherson of Indianapolis IN, Jilli-an McPherson of Brooklyn NY, Cameron McPherson of Albany NY, Heather and Rachel McPherson of Shoreline WA. Warren is survived by four step-grandchildren, and seven great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter and 1onestep-great-granddaughter. Also surviving are his 96 year-old brother, Gordon Roy McPherson of Harleysville PA and sister-in-law, Diane Wolcott-McPherson of Blacklick OH, and many nieces and nephews. Warren is predeceased by Peggy, his wife of 65 years, a sister, Helen Baker, and a brother, Hobart McPherson. Warren believed strongly in giving back to the community, beginning this life-long trait with an inter-national youth program with students from Cornell to help rebuild relation-ships and communities in war-torn areas of Germany during the summer of 1948. He continued this in the Fredonia area by joining the Jaycees, being a Past-President and Lifetime Achievement Award winner in the Kiwanis Club of Fredonia, Past- Commodore of the Dunkirk Yacht Club, a 50-year member of the Fredonia Presbyterian Church where he sang in the choir and served several terms on all the church boards. He also enjoyed singing in the Catch Club, and was very proud of having donated over 20 gallons of blood to the American Red Cross. He continues this theme even now since he donated his body for research to the University of Buffalo Medical School.His hobbies included spending time with his family, friends, several coffee groups, and especially grandchildren. He enjoyed sailing, canoeing, cross country skiing, hiking, and other outdoor activities. He loved being outside, even if it was just a walk around his vineyard or driving his farm tractor. He enjoyed playing board and card games like cribbage and doing cross word puzzles. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Fredonia Presbyterian Church, 219 Central Avenue, Fredonia, N.Y. on Saturday October 12, 2019 at 3 p.m.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mr. McPherson’s memory may be made to the Fredonia Presbyterian Church, 219 Central Ave., Fredonia, NY 14063. On-line condolences may be made at larsontimkofuneralhome.com. Arrangements by David J. Dengler.