William J. Ketter, formerly of Harford Mills, NY, passed away Thursday, May 28, 2009 at his residence in Moravia, NY. Bill was born in Oneida, NY on Sept. 11, 1928, a son of the late Earl and Mary Burghardt Ketter. He signed up with the US Army at age 16 and later served in the US Navy aboard the USS North Carolina and the USS Wisconsin. Bill was married for 32 years to the former Arlene Thornton who died January 20, 1988. Later, Bill was married to Carolyn Saxton Ketter who survives. Bill was a mechanic, a truck driver and a carpenter. He worked for a while at Crispell Automotive and had also been employed at Cargill Salt Mine, GLF, Agway, Empire Soils Investigations and ALNYE Trucking.

Survivors include his wife of 19 years, Carolyn Ross Ketter of Moravia, his children, William J. Andrews, Robert Andrews, Walter J. (Annette) Ketter of Candor and Patricia Ketter Quarella of Moravia; step-children, Mike (Terri) Ross of Newfield, Jon Ross of Groton and Tammy Jarrell of Southpoint, OH; grandchildren, Theresa, Joe, Walter Jr., Rosie, Amanda, Karina, Sebrina, Kimberly and Aaron; eleven great-grandchildren; his siblings, George (Sandy) Ketter, Barbara Ketter, Florence Connelly, Beverly (Louis) Widger and Shirley Fish King; an aunt; an uncle; nieces and nephews.

 

Services will be held at 2 PM, Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at the Perkins Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Willow Glen Cemetery, Dryden with Military Honors provided by members of the Dryden Veterans Memorial Home Ritual Team. Friends are invited to call from 1 to 2 PM Tuesday at the funeral home, 55 West Main St., Dryden, NY.