Alfred Joseph Eaton

1923 - 2013

ALLEGANY - Alfred Joseph Eaton, 90, of 3508 Five Mile Road passed away peacefully Tuesday (Dec. 10, 2013), at The Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Olean.
Alfred was the sixth of eight children born to Hiram and Matilda Shaffer Eaton on Dec. 4, 1923, at the family farm located on the Five Mile Road in Allegany.
His education started in a one-room schoolhouse and he attended St. Bonaventure Parochial School. He played the trumpet in the St. Bonaventure Marching Band, and graduated from Allegany Central High School in 1942. Alfred held several positions for different companies throughout his life. He was vice president of Eaton's Dairy Co. Inc., a three-generation company, which included a subsidiary Co., the Cow Palace of Limestone; vice president of operations of Grosstal Ski Resort and he was also one of the primary builders and developers of this resort; an advisor and developer of Henley Square Co. Inc. and president of Alfred J. Eaton Development Co. Inc. During this already full life, this creative man found time to invent several items, such as a clutching system for New Holland Equipment Co. This clutching system enabled a hay conditioner and cutting bar to operate independent of each other. He also invented a high capacity snow gun for making man-made snow. This snow gun was capable of oscillating and being adjusted for elevation.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Rita M. Nenno; two daughters, Joan (Kenneth) Strotman of Fredericksburg, Va., and Jeanette (Jeffrey) Preston of Olean; three sons, Edward Eaton of Allegany, Alfred (Kathryn) Eaton of Fredericksburg, Va., and Joseph (Linda) Eaton of Spartanburg, S.C.; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by four brothers, Joseph Eaton, Harlan Eaton, Clayton Eaton and Daniel Eaton; and three sisters, Ruth Cash, Marion Cullather and Jeanne Stopha.
Friends will be received from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday (Dec. 20, 2013), at the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home 3128 W. State Road, Olean. Funeral services will be held Saturday (Dec. 21, 2013), beginning with a prayer service at 9 a.m. in the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at St. Bonaventure Church. The Rev. James Vacco, pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will be in St. Bonaventure Cemetery.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, the American Cancer Society, 6725 Lyons St., East Syracuse, NY 13057 or to the Alzheimer's Association of WNY, 2805 Wehrle Dr. Suite 6, Williamsville, NY 14221.
Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.