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Friday, September 7, 2018

Former Allegany County Historian and journalist Bill Greene dies


BELMONT - William Crandall Greene Jr., 87, of 20 Willets Avenue passed away on Monday, September 3, 2018 at the Highland Park Healthcare Center in Wellsville, following a long illness. He was born June 14, 1931 in Wellsville, the son of the late William and Elizabeth (Shourds) Greene Sr.
Bill graduated from Belmont High School in 1949, Alfred State College in 1955, and Geneseo State College 1972. He was employed at Letchworth State Park, and for 13 years was the Allegany County Historian. For 20 years he wrote a weekly article for the Wellsville Daily Reporter, called “Genesee Reflections.” He co-wrote the Letchworth State Park Guidebook with his brother-in-law, William Hood, and later worked for Green Thumb. He loved to camp, and enjoyed genealogy, astronomy, painting, and making pottery. He also enjoyed making models of houses, local buildings, and boats. He was a member of the former United Church of Belmont, the Grange, and the County Historians Association. He was a former member and scout leader with the Boys Scouts of America; he drove for Allegany County Medical Transport for 10 years. For many years, he portrayed Hamilton Ward at the Allegany County Fair, and he was a Ham Radio Operator, with the call letters; WA2JHD.
He is survived by a brother, Robert John (Elestia) Greene of Acworth, GA, many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and a Goddaughter, Betty McCarthy of Belmont. He was predeceased in addition to his parents, by two sisters, Barbara (William) Hood, and Betty (Lloyd) Brown, and a niece, Sharon Pham.
Friends are invited to a memorial service on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 17 Schuyler Street in Belmont. Please consider memorial donations to the SPCA Serving Allegany County. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.