Charlotte Elizabeth Fortran

Charlotte Elizabeth
(Betty) Fortran
of Chenango Bridge
Charlotte Elizabeth (Betty) Fortran, 86, of Chenango Bridge, N.Y., died on July 6, 2008. She was predeceased by her husband, Frederick J. Fortran in 1992 and her brother, William J. Griffiths in 1998. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Roderick and Julie-Ann Fortran, Voorheesville, N.Y. and Randolph and Paula Fortran, Santa Fe, N.Mex.; a daughter, Rhonda Barona, Royal Palm Beach, Fla.; two grandsons, Bryce Fortran, Norwalk, Conn. and Brett Fortran, Loudonville, N.Y.; and five granddaughters, Nicole Barona, North Palm Beach, Fla., Jennifer Barona, Florence, S.C., Melissa Barona, Royal Palm Beach, Fla., and Courtney and Samantha Fortran, Santa Fe, N.Mex. Mrs. Fortran is survived by a great-grandson, Julian Cabus-Barona, North Palm Beach, Fla. She is survived by a sister-in-law, Joanne Jack, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Wanda and Neal Carl, Johnson City, N.Y.; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Mrs. Fortran is also survived by three longtime friends and college roommates: Arlene Henderson, Ione Niese, and Mary Lou Tucker. Mrs. Fortran, a graduate of the State University College at Cortland, taught in the Candor Central and Binghamton School Districts and retired from the Chenango Valley School District in 1983. She held memberships in both the Eastern Broome branch and New York State Retired Teachers Associations. She was active in local and state Parent Teacher Associations, having served as local unit president at Chenango Bridge Elementary School, Southeastern District Director, and State Vice President and newsletter editor. She had been awarded honorary memberships in both the State and National Congress of Parents and Teachers. Mrs. Fortran was a lifelong member of Main Street Baptist Church of Binghamton, N.Y. and served as Sunday School teacher, deaconess, choir member, Church Council Chairwoman, Missions Chairwoman, and Mission Advocate. She was active in her local American Baptist Women's Ministries group and served as president of N.Y.S. American Baptist Women's Ministries from 1988-1992 and Broome-Tioga American Baptist Women's Ministries from 1995-1998. Mrs. Fortran was also a member of AARP and had served as secretary/historian for local chapter #3071. She was formerly a member of the Monday Afternoon Club and Civic Club of Binghamton, serving on its education committee. She also was active in the local unit of Church Women United.
A Funeral Service will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the Main Street Baptist Church, 117 Main Street, Binghamton. Her pastor, Rev. Timothy Bennett, will officiate. Burial will be in Vestal Hills Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2-5 p.m. at the Barber Memorial Home, Inc., 428 Main Street, Johnson City. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fortran Memorial Mission Fund, c/o Main Street Baptist Church, 117 Main Street, Binghamton, N.Y. 13905 or the Leadership Development Fund, American Baptist Women's Ministries, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, Pa. 19482-0851.