Obituary of Thomas Clayburn

Thomas Clayburn of Grand Street, Palatine Bridge, NY, passed away Thursday January 27, 2011 at St. Mary's hospital Amsterdam NY. He was born in Sacketts Harbor, NY on August 27, 1927, but resided most of his life in Palatine Bridge NY. He was the son of Thomas Claburn and Nicolena Swank Claburn. He attended Canajoharie Schools and earned an accounting degree from La Salle extension university Chicago IL. During WW II Mr. Clayburn was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1945. He was employed for 39 years by Beech - Nut Corporation and its subsidiaries. He was manager of the customer service dept. for 26 years. He retired as manager of inventory planning control. Mr. Clayburn was married September 20, 1945 to the former Anne Sirotick Clayburn in Broadalbin NY. He is survived by his wife Anne and three sons, Robert, Mark and Paul Deborah, his 6 grand children Barbra Bianchi, Jennifer, Emily, Paul, Ashley and Jill Clayburn. He is survived by three great grand children Jack and Katherine Bianchi and Madison Clayburn. He is survived by his sister Sally Miller, Wheeler Claburn, and Patricia George. He was predeceased by sisters Betty Hall, Virginia Allen, Marie Claburn, Leo Claburn, and Judith Siver. Since 1960 he was trustee of the village of Palatine Bridge NY for 3 years, he was mayor of Palatine Bridge for 16 years, retiring in 1979. Mr. Clayburn was president of Montgomery County Council of Village Governments. He was a member of NY State conference of mayors. He served as vice-president and secretary of Montgomery County Sewer District #1. During his term as mayor his administration brought to fruition Dutchtown Plaza in Palatine Bridge. He was active in Sir William Johnson Boy Scout Council for 13 years. Served on the advancement committee of the Mohawk District, he was committee chairman of local Boy Scout Troop 83. He was past president of Canajoharie-Palatine Bridge-Root Community Chest. He was a member of the Elks Club #2621 for 27 years. He was a member of the Major Bowling League in Ft. Plain and the American Bowling Congress. He was a member of the VFW Drum and Bugle Corps. In his retirement Mr. Clayburn enjoyed traveling, spending winters in Florida and spending time with family and friends. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Lenz& Betz Funeral Home, 69 Otsego Street, Canajoharie, NY 13317. Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 1 PM at the funeral home. Family and friends are invited to call from 11 until 1 PM prior to the funeral service. Interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery in Fonda. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Mid-County Volunteer Ambulance Corp. or to the Canajoharie Volunteer Fire Dept. in care of the funeral home office.