Leonard H. Olmstead

Leonard H. Olmstead
of Binghamton
Leonard H. (Dick) Olmstead, 82, died Wednesday morning, July 9, 2008, at Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center in Johnson City. He was born November 19, 1925 at the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Hospital in Cooperstown, a son of Walter E. Olmstead, Sr. and Mildred (Butler) Olmstead. He married Beverly J. Cornell on November 7, 1953 at the Cooperstown Methodist Church. Raised in Cooperstown, Dick attended Cooperstown Central School and later Morrisville Tech. At the age of 16, he started a sign painting business and was a self-employed sign painter most of his life. He was also employed by the City of Binghamton as their sign painter for twenty-five years. Dick's family was very important to him and his greatest joy was spending time with them. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Beverly, Binghamton; one daughter, Connie Trout and her husband, Richard, Port Crane; one sister, Mrs. Wanda Richards, Cooperstown; two grandsons, Jonathan and Chris; four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two brothers, Walter E. Olmstead, Jr. and Robert V. Olmstead; and two sisters, Mrs. Jean Pike and Mrs. Joan Larsen.
A graveside service will be offered at 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2008, at the Hartwick Seminary Cemetery, with the Rev. Samuel B. Abbott, Rector of Christ Church in Cooperstown, officiating. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to a charity of one's choice. Funeral arrangements are with the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.