RICHFIELD SPRINGS-William John Weingates age 94 of County Highway #22 passed away unexpectedly on Friday afternoon September 2, 2016 in his home. He was born on July 24, 1922 in Herkimer, son of the late Theodore and Wilhelmine Styvers Weingates. A lifelong area resident he was raised in the town of Norway and was a graduate of West Canada Valley Central School. Bill owned and operated a dairy farm in Norway for five years before moving to Richfield Springs in 1956. There he started the Weingates Dairy Farm which is still in operation today after sixty years. He was united in marriage with the former Shirley May Smith on October 25, 1942 in Newport. They shared a devoted union of 48 years until her passing on April 26, 1990. To all who knew him, they will always remember a sincere, dedicated and hardworking man who devoted his whole life to his dairy farm and family. His most enjoyable pastime was watching his son Gary compete in Tractor Pulls. Any conversation with Bill was straight and to the point yet you always felt his warmth and friendship whenever you were with him. He will be sadly missed by his many friends and family especially his cherished grandchildren and great grandchildren. Surviving him are his son Gary Vance Weingates of Richfield Springs, four grandchildren, Courtney Houghtaling and her husband Chad of Augusta, KS, Lisa Weingates, Laura Swartout and her husband Adam, Gary Martin Weingates and his wife Katie all of Richfield Springs three great grandchildren, Kayla and Lyndsey Houghtaling both of Augusta, KS and Presley Weingates of Richfield Springs. Besides his parents and wife Shirley he was preceded in death by six brothers and sisters. A graveside funeral service for Mr. Weingates will take place on Thursday at 1:00 pm in Saint Josephs Cemetery, Richfield Springs with Deacon Randy Velez officiating. Funeral arrangements are with J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, Richfield Springs, Graveside St. Joseph Cemetery Thursday, September 8, 2016 01:00 PM Cemetery Road Richfield Springs, NY 13439