FONDA - William DeLaney, age 89, of Fonda and formerly of Van Hornesville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 21, 2010 in the River Ridge LivingCenter, Amsterdam, after an extended illness. He was born on October 27, 1920 in Youngstown, Ohio, the son of the late Harold and Edith Peake DeLaney. Raised and educated in Ohiohe graduated from Boardman HS in 1939.He attended Ohio MilitarySchool for one year then transferred to Texas A & M Universityuntil his junior year leaving to join the military service.He enlisted in the US Army in November of 1942 and was honorably discharged in February 1946 as Staff Sergeant.On July 3, 1946 he married the former Elsie March in Van Hornesville. He and Elsie moved to Texas so Bill could complete his education at Texas A & M Universityreceiving his BS in 1947. In 1948 he received his Masters from Cornell University.In 1948 he moved to Van Hornesville working for the Sate of New York Depart of labor in the Little Falls and Utica offices.In 1951 he started the Wm. DeLaney Insurance Agency in Van Hornesville. During that time he also worked as the bookkeeper for the Van Hornesville Services and Community Corp. He sold the business in 1968 and joined the staff of Springfield Central Schoolteaching fifth grade until his retirement in 1982.Upon his retirement, he remained active in the community as water plant operator. He was also the Director of the Robert B. Woodruff Learning Center of Van Hornesville where he conducted guide tours and classes for the Owen D. Young Central Schoolas well are surrounding area schools. In his leisure time he enjoyed any project that took him out doors, especially building stone walls. He had a strong belief in God and was a member of the Van Hornesville United Methodist Church for over 50 years.He was a Scout Master with Troop #32 Van Hornesville, held various positions with the General Herkimer Council Boy Scouts of American, attended several World and National Boy Scout Jamborees, and was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award.For many years he was a member of the Van Hornesville Volunteer Fire Department and held membership in the Springfield Masonic Lodge #217 F & AM. Bill was a kind and gentle man who will always be remembered for helping others.He will be missed by his family and friends. Surviving are his devoted wife of 64 years Elsie, two sons David DeLaney of Tribes Hill, Kevin DeLaney and his wife Gena of Winterhaven, FL, a daughter Sharon Galusha and her husband Leland of Van Hornesville, eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a son William H. DeLaney on July 22, 1994 and his sister Barbara Kinner. A graveside service will take place later this spring in Van Hornesville Cemetery.There are no calling hours. Expressions of sympathy may be made with donations to the Boy Scouts of America Revolutionary Trails Council, Van Hornesville Volunteer Fire Department, Ayres-Sprakers Memorial Animal Shelter, or the Herkimer County Humane Society. Funeral arrangements are with J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, Richfield Springs.Van Hornesville Vol. FD PO Box 6 Van Hornesville, NY 13475 Boy Scouts of Am. Revolutionary Trails Council 1401 Genesee St Utica, NYT 13501 Ayres Memorial Animal Shelter 133 Hilltop Road Sprakers, NY 12166 Herkimer County Humane Society PO Box 73 Mohawk, NY 13407