RICHFIELD SPRINGS-Hiram J. Skinner age 91, passed away peacefully on Wednesday afternoon, November 5, 2014 in the Otsego Manor, Cooperstown. He had the support and comfort of his family, Hospice and the Otsego Manor Staff. He was born on August 3, 1923 in Columbia Center, son of the late Hiram J. Sr. and Joanna Fretts Skinner. A lifelong area resident he was a graduate of Ilion High School. Hiram was an honorably discharged US Air Force veteran of World War II. On February 26, 1944 he was united in marriage with the former Leanor Helmer in Herkimer. Together they shared a devoted union of forty-one years until her passing on November 17, 1985. A well-known area car dealer since 1945, Mr. Skinner first owned and operated Skinner & Welch Auto Dealership until 1962. He then started the Skinner & Damulis Ford Dealership in Richfield Springs. He retired in 2014 after sixty-nine years of outstanding service to the Richfield and surrounding areas. Hiram had a strong faith in God and was a member of the Church of Christ Uniting in Richfield Springs. He had a strong sense of community where he was a member of Richfield Springs Lodge #482 Free and Accepted Masons, Richfield Springs Rotary International, the Richfield Springs Zoning Board and the Richfield Springs Veterans Club. In his leisure time he enjoyed Hunting, fishing, playing golf and puttering around the house but most of all was building his log cabin at Big Moose in the Adirondack. Mr. Skinner will always be remembered as an honest, upright and caring man. Any conversation with him was straight and to the point yet you always felt a warmth and friendship whenever you were with him. He will be truly missed by his many friends and family, especially his cherished grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is survived by his companion Marie Hameister, a son Roger and his wife Mary Skinner of Whitesboro, two daughters, Carol and her husband the Reverend Kenneth Dingman of Fort Plain, Marie and her husband Vincent Guerra of Herkimer, two sisters, Barbara Baker of Old Forge, Lola Knorr of FL, five granddaughters, Melanie Kimball and her husband Jim, Cynthia Lamanna and her husband Sam, Sarah DeMarse and her husband Mike, Leanor Guerra and June, and Rebecca Root and her husband Chad, four great grandsons, two great granddaughters, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents, wife Leanor and loving companion Nancy Meehan he was preceded in death by two brothers, Clayton and John Skinner, three sisters, Marguerite Hansen, Ada Gajdzis and Lula Welsh. Calling hours for Mr. Skinner will be on Friday from 4:00 until 7:00 pm in J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James Street; Richfield Springs. Funeral service will take place on Saturday at 2:00 pm in the Church of Christ Uniting, Richfield Springs with the Reverend Dr. Mark Ioset, pastor officiating. Interment with military honors accorded by the US Air Force will follow in the Dutch Reformed Church Cemetery, town of Columbia. Members of Richfield Springs Lodge No. 482 F&AM are asked to meet at the funeral home on Friday evening at 6:45 pm for ritualistic services. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the Richfield Springs Community Center, the Church of Christ Uniting or the charity of your choice envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Calling Hours J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home Friday, November 7, 2014 04:00 AM - 07:00 PM 40 West James Street Richfield Springs, NY 13439 Funeral Service Church of Christ Uniting Saturday, November 8, 2014 02:00 PM Church Street Richfield Springs, NY 13439