Rodney C. Utley Sr.

Born in Gowanda October 30, 1933, he was the eldest child of Thornton and Leska (Detmer) Utley.

A U.S. veteran, Rod served with the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Rodney married the former Patricia Pericak, Aug. 29, 1953, in the St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church Gowanda. Patricia passed away March 26, 2001.

Rodney, a brick layer/ mason and owned and operated Cardinal Refractory a masonry business and was a member of the Bricklayers Local 45 of Buffalo. Rod retired from Bethlehem Steel in Lackawanna . A member of Epiphany of Our Lord Church in Langford, Rod also enjoyed boating and his place at Camp Chautauqua, where he spent many summers, he also enjoy all the special times he spent with his loving companion, Mary Krajewski. Rod also enjoyed woodworking , puzzles and was an avid Buffalo Bills fan and a long time season ticket holder for the team. Rod also was a member of the Slovenian Club of Gowanda .

Surviving besides Mary are his children: Rodney C. Jr( Tamara) Utley of Perrysburg, Philip (Patricia) Utley of Gasport and John (Patricia) Utley of Waxhaw, N.C.; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren survive. Rodney is also survived by two brothers and a sister: Richard (late Marilyn) Utley of Gowanda, Linda (Dave) Robbins of Gowanda, and Leslie ” Butch” Utley of Angola. He was a loving brother–in-law to Phyllis Andolsek, Mary Pericak and Kathleen Michael Several nieces and nephews survive along with the Krajewski family.

Besides his parents and wife, Patricia, Rodney was preceded in death by a son, James (wife Karen survives) Utley along with a brother, DeForest ” Tinker” Utley .

Friends may call Sunday from 5-8 p.m., at the SCHINDLER FUNERAL HOME, 44 Center St.,ma Gowanda (masks required). A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday Sept. 21, 2020 at 10 a.m., from the Epiphany of Our Lord Roman Catholic Church, Route 75 Langford. Interment in the Jolls Cemetery, Perrysburg .

Memorials, if desired may be made to a local charity of ones choice.