William J. 'Pops' Jennings

Monday, November 19, 2012

William J. "Pops" Jennings, 85, of 6081 VanBibber Lake Estates, died at Veterans Hospital in Indianapolis on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012.

Born March 5, 1927 in Oswego, N.Y., he was the son of Blanche (Himes) and William F. Jennings.

He had resided in Greencastle since July 1995, moving there from Oswego, N.Y.

On July 5, 1947, he married Ruth Marie Lancette in Tully, N.Y., and she survives.

Mr. Jennings was a lifelong tradesman in the painting business until he retired in 1985. A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he served his country aboard the USS Porterfield in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre.

Mr. Jennings was a member of Church By The Lake in Putnam County.

He was a member of VFW Post 9218 in Oswego, a former volunteer fireman for Scriba, N.Y., a former member of the VanBibber Lake Lions Club and Moose Lodge 1592, Greencastle.

He enjoyed woodworking, bowling and he was an avid fisherman and hunter.

Surviving besides his wife are a daughter, Pam Marie Johnson (husband Robert) of Oswego, N.Y.; and three sons, William Bryant (wife Barbara) of Greencastle, Danny Thomas of Costa Mesa, Calif., and Charles Andrew of Oswego, N.Y.; two sisters, Nancy Carr of Wolcott, N.Y. and Jane Hart of Kirkville, N.Y.; and a brother, David Jennings of Lycoming, N.Y.

Mr. Jennings is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased in death by his parents; three brothers, Robert Jennings, Richard Jennings and Thomas Jennings; and four sisters, Bessie Sullivan, Lorna Jackson, Janet Puma and Patricia Curry.

Friends are invited to a memorial service from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24 at the community building at VanBibber Lake Estates.

If friends desire, Mr. Jennings' request was for memorial contributions to be made to the Christian Children's Fund (childfund.org).