MAYVILLE – Richard W. Reffner, 92, of Mayville, died Saturday (February 4, 2017) at Heritage Green Rehab and Skilled Nursing Facility.
He was born November 21, 1924 in Roaring Springs, PA, the son of Homer and Edna Imler Reffner.
Richard graduated from Roaring Spring High school in 1943 and immediately entered the US Army and World War II serving in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe.
After his discharge he attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he earned a BS in Secondary Education. In 1950 he accepted a position with BOCES of Chautauqua County as a Speech Therapist. He then joined the staff of Mayville Central School where he spent the next 16 years as a high school English teacher. In that time he earned a Master's of Science degree with a major in Elementary Education from the State University of NY at Fredonia. In 1968 he was appointed to be the Elementary School Administrator which he served as for five years before returning to the classroom to teach remedial reading and speech until his retirement in 1984. One of his proudest accomplishments of his teaching career was the authoring of a reading program that was adopted and used by the NYS Teachers Association.
Richard was a past Master of the Peacock Masonic Lodge #696 F&AM, Past Treasurer of the Westfield Chapter 239 R.A.M., a member of the Valley of Jamestown Consistory, a life member of the William L. Travis Post 493 American Legion, a life member of the Lake Chautauqua Memorial Post 8647 VFW, a member of the War Vets Recreation Inc. of Jamestown, a past president of the Mayville-Chautauqua Lions Club, a member of the American Association of Retired Persons, New York State Teachers Association, former member of the Mayville Library Board, and a member of the Mayville United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his four children; Deborah (David) Freay of Mayville, Richard (Vicki) Reffner of Perry, NY, Karen (Scott) Gibson of Jensen Beach, FL, and Nathaniel (Melanie) Reffner of Mayville; 16 grandchildren, James and Andrew Freay, Mary Jane Thomas, Christopher, Cory, and Mathew Reffner, Jillian Paddock, Jessica Rodgers, Jeremiah Vosburgh, Joni-Sue Snyder, Meghan Gibson, Justin and Joseph Sprauer, McKaylee Consul, David Douglas and Heather Kranz; 31 great-grandchildren; and a special friend of the family, Pennifer McCartney.
Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Vesta Marie (Myers) Reffner, whom he married August 28, 1950 in Altoona, PA and who died February 8, 2016; and three sisters, Erdine Reffner, Patricia King, and Mary Lou Benner.
The funeral service will be held at 11AM on Saturday (February 11) in the Mayville United Methodist Church. Pastor Mark Parsons will officiate. Burial will follow with a private graveside service for family only at the Mayville Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9pm, Friday in the Freay Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Mayville United Methodist Church.
You can leave a remembrance or light a candle for Richard by going to www.freayfuneralhome.com