RICHFIELD SPRINGS - John F. Skinner age 86 of McKoons Road passed away peacefully on Tuesday June 19, 2007in his home. John was born on May 22, 1921 in the Town of Columbia a son of the late Hiram and Joanna Fretts Skinner. A lifelong area resident he graduated from Richfield Springs High School. In January of 1943, John was inducted into the United States Army. He spent six months in training at the Walter Reed Medical Center to serve his country during World War II as a Medical Technician and he was honorably discharged in 1945. On October 3, 1943 he married Olga Tolopka in Saint Johns Episcopal Church, Richfield Springs a loving union of fifty seven years until her passing on December 26, 2000. John was a dairy farmer and the owner operator of Cozy Haven Farm retiring in 1989. For forty years John was the Town Justice of the Town of Columbia until 1997. John was very active within his community he was a leader with the Herkimer County 4-H, a member of the Richfield Springs Dairymens League, a 52 year member of Richfield Springs Lodge No. 482 F&AM, a member of the Consistory and a 32nd Degree Mason in the Valley of Utica Scottish Rite and he was also a member Michael S. Pliseck Post #4915 V.F.W., Herkimer. John was a friend to many and he will never be forgotten. Surviving him are a son John M. and his wife Memory Buck-Skinner of Richfield Springs; a daughter Janet Elliott and her husband Gary of the Town of Columbia; a daughter-in-law Patricia Skinner of Ilion; a brother Hiram Skinner of Richfield Springs; two sisters Lola Folts of Florida and Barbara Baker of Forestport and eight grandchildren; Lisa, Ryan, Michael and Katie Elliott, Laura, Matt, Jackie and Danny Skinner. Besides his wife Olga and his parents he was preceded in death by a son Paul, a brother Clayton and three sisters Marguerite Hansen, Lula Welch, and Ada Gadjzis. Funeral Service will be held on Monday June 25th at 10:00 a.m.. in J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, 40 West James Street, Richfield Springs with the Reverend Kenneth Dingman officiating. The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Sunday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Johns memory to the Cedarville Fire Department. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Members of Richfield Springs Lodge No. 482 F&AM will meet at the funeral home on Sunday to perform ritualistic services at 7:45 p.m.