Obituary of Winston C. Gotham

EDWARDS- Winston "Sonny" C. Gotham, age 72, of Edwards, passed away on Friday, January 10, 2014 at his home under the loving care of his family and Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley. Calling hours for Sonny, will be on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at French Funeral Home, Edwards. His funeral service will be on Wednesday, January 15th at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Beth Benham officiating. Condolences may be made online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com. Sonny was born on November 27, 1941 in Russell, NY to the late Harold and Bernice (Miller) Gotham Sr. He graduated from Knox Memorial Central School in Russell in 1959 and then he entered into the United States Navy and served for two years. He married Sandra Bolinger on November 10, 1962 in Edwards, NY. Sonny worked at Groveton Paper Mill in Natural Dam in the 1960's and then he worked in maintenance at the Newton Falls Paper Mill for 39 years. He and his wife also owned and operated Spring Haven Farm in Edwards. Sonny raised registered Black Angus for 43 years. He showed his cattle at the St. Lawrence and State Fairs, winning many awards. For 13 years he would travel to Colorado to hunt elk. He loved hunting and also spending summers at Trout Lake, fishing. He is survived by his wife, Sandra of Edwards; a daughter and her husband, Cynthia and Randy VanBrocklin of Edwards; a grandson, Thorne VanBrocklin also of Edwards; four brothers and their wives, Harold and Janet Gotham of Gouverneur, Howard and Katie Gotham of New Hampshire, Richard and Janet Gotham of Hermon and Gilbert Gotham of Gouverneur; three sisters, Helen Henri of Syracuse, Rosalie and Carlton Force of Florida and Mayfred Hull of Connecticut. Sonny is predeceased by a sister and her husband, Madeline and Lester Hatch, and two brothers-in-law, Claude Henri and Dennis Hull. Donations may be made in Sonny's memory to the Edwards Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 29, Edwards, NY 13635.