C. Newton Gowdy

C. Newton Gowdy

Clifton Springs/Newark—C. Newton Gowdy, 82, died Thursday (December 18, 2014) at Strong Memorial Hospital.
Friends may call from 1-4 P.M. on Friday (December 26^th) at the Paul L. Murphy & Sons Funeral Home, 127 East Miller Street, Newark. Funeral services will be Saturday (December 27^th) at 11 A.M. at the Clifton Springs United Methodist Church, 1 East Main Street, Clifton Springs. Burial will be in Newark Cemetery.

Memorials, in his name, may be made to the Clifton Springs United Methodist Church, 1 East Main Street, Clifton Springs, New York 14432; the First United Methodist, PO Box 189, Newark, New York 14513 or the Casowasco Church Camp, 158 Casowasco Drive, Moravia, New York 13118

Mr. Gowdy was born on April 13, 1932 in Wellsville, New York, the son of Claude and Alice Quick Gowdy. After graduating from Wellsville High School in 1949, he served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict and was stationed with the MPs in Germany. Returning home, Newt enrolled in the Syracuse University School of Forestry and Ranger at Wanakena in the Adirondacks. After graduation, he came to Newark to work as a surveyor with Harnish and Lookup, marrying the boss's daughter Mary Fay Lookup in 1956. He continued his education at Alfred State College and then took a job in Philadelphia. Not liking the city life, Newt returned to Newark to work for his father-in-law. He finally left to start his own businesses which he ran for many years in Penn Yan, Bath, Corning and Wellsville. Eventually he returned to Newark and opened an office in Lyons, retiring in 2006.

Newt was a member of the Masonic Lodges in Wellsville, Newark and Corning.  He was member of First United Methodist Church in Newark where he was a lay speaker, conference trustee and served in the hospital visitation program. While in Penn Yan, Newt was a volunteer fireman and in Newark, he was a member of the Rotary. He was involved with the local go-cart and micro sprint racing with his grandson Chuck. Newt's family had a hunting camp near Wellsville where he became a life long hunter and outdoorsman. Newt loved Little League baseball and was a umpire for several years, he also enjoyed bowling and playing softball.

He is survived by his wife of 58 year, Mary Fay; a son Robert of Cairo, Ga., daughters and son-in-law Sue and Sparky Litteer and daughter Laura DeCracker both of Newark; two grandsons James Witter and Charles DeCracker; two great grandchildren Payten and Cole De Cracker; a sister Sara Fitch of Friendship, NY. Newt was predeceased by his parents and a sister Stella Bower.

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