Paul Gene McCormick

1931 - 2019

ANDOVER - Paul Gene McCormick, known affectionately as "Pudge," returned to the Lord Saturday (Jan. 12, 2019) at Unity Hospital in Rochester, due to complications from pneumonia.

He was born Nov. 19, 1931, in Independence Township, to Paul John and Irene Bess McCormick, in a house on the farmland he would call home for the next 87 years.

Starting school at age 4, he walked with his brothers or rode his horse to the Independence Country School. After graduating from Andover Central School in 1949, he continued to work on the family farm.

In 1955 he was drafted into the U.S. Navy, where he served for two years out of the Norfolk, Va. Naval Base.

He met Charity Ann Howland on New Year's Eve in 1957. Their courtship continued long-distance, via Mohawk Airlines from New York City, until they married on Oct. 10, 1959, at Blessed Sacrament Church in Andover. Unbeknownst to him, his mother Irene had long before identified his bride, saving Charity's eighth grade photograph in her wallet.

Together they made their life on the family farm that he purchased from his parents. It continued to operate as a dairy until 1966, when he sold the cows and bought beef cattle. He then joined Turbodyne in Wellsville, working primarily on the evening shift until retirement in 1993. Throughout this time, he had two jobs: eight hours in the factory and eight plus hours on the farm, raising cattle, growing hay and making New York State's finest maple syrup.

He was a member of the Wellsville Knights of Columbus Council 919, serving as Grand Knight and its favorite bartender. In 1955 he became a fourth-degree member of the Olean Knights of Columbus Council 338. He was a lifelong member of Blessed Sacrament Church in Andover and served on the Andover Central School Board from 1979 to 1982.

He will be lovingly remembered as a gentleman and as a gentle man by his wife of 59 years, Charity; and his children, Maureen (James) Gavin of Wilmington, N.C., Paul Michael (Tammy) McCormick of Andover, Megan McCormick of Rochester and Maryanne (Thomas) Kalil of Lafayette, Calif. He will be forever cherished by the luckiest grandchildren in the world, Paul William, Leah and Sara McCormick, and Madeline and John Kalil. He will be missed by his brother, Neil (Patricia) McCormick of Tavares, Fla.; sister-in-law, Mary Howland of Irvine, Calif.; and brothers-in-law, Michael Keith (Ann) Howland of Kennebunk, Maine, and Patrick (Alice) Howland of Andover. He was also blessed by a multitude of nieces and nephews.

Paul was predeceased by his parents; by a brother, Robert, and his wife, Mary Teresa Burns; by nephew and niece, Thomas and Cathleen McCormick; by brother-in-law, Charles R. Howland, and his wife, Sandra Joyce; and by nephew, Michael J. Howland.

Calling hours are from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 20, 2019) at Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Andover. The funeral mass will be at 11 a.m. Monday (Jan. 21, 2019) at Blessed Sacrament Church in Andover. At Paul's request, his burial will be on Saturday, July 6, 2019, at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Andover.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be sent to Immaculate Conception School in Wellsville, Hart Comfort House in Wellsville or Allegany County Cancer Services, Inc. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be offered at www.baker-swan.com.