Obituary of George Checksfield

George E. Checksfield, 94, passed away at Elderwood Health Care at Birchwood on February 13, 2014. George was born in Oneida, NY on April 5, 1919 to Charles and Lena Koenan Checksfield and resided for many years at 523 South Collingwood Avenue Syracuse. He was a veteran of the Army during World War II serving in the European Theater beginning on D-Day. He received two Purple Hearts, Bronze Star, Arrowhead Medal and various campaign medals. He retired from the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department in 1981. He was a communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church and a former member of the Eastwood American Legion Post #1276, Cooney Nojame Post #3146 Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the Pastime Athletic Club and the Eastwood Senior Citizens. He was an avid fisherman and bowler when his health allowed and he closely followed SU football and basketball. He was predeceased by his wife of fifty six years Mary Elizabeth Rush Checksfield in 2003 and by eight siblings. George is survived by a daughter Mary E. (Thomas) Kenney of Williamsburg, VA, two sons: George E. (Gayle) Checksfield of Liverpool, NY and Dennis J. Checksfield of Syracuse, NY; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. Friends and family may call between 4:00 and 7:00 PM on Sunday February 23, 2014 at the Goddard-Crandalll-Shepardson Funeral Home, 3111 James Street, Syracuse, NY. Services will be held at the funeral home at 9:00 A.M. on Monday February 24, 2014. Burial will immediately follow in White Chapel Memory Gardens, DeWitt, NY. George's family is grateful for the love, kindness and excellent care that George received during his five and one-half year residency at Elderwood. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hospice of Central New York, 990 7th North Street, Liverpool, NY 13088. www.shepardsonfh.com