BELMONT - Wayne Bidwell, 98, of 4967 State Route 19 S passed
away on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at Jones Memorial Hospital in Wellsville with
his family at his side. He was born May 23, 1922 in Friendship, the son of the
late Eugene Talbert and Victoria Mae (Hall) Bidwell. On December 31, 1949 in
Niagara Falls, NY he married Dorothy Regina Bolents who predeceased him in
2006.
Wayne was raised in Friendship and attended school in
Friendship and Bolivar. He was a veteran of WWII serving with the Army Air
Corps from 1942 to 1946 as a teletype operator. He received the Good Conduct
Medal and the Victory Medal. He was employed by the H. F. Darling Construction Company
throughout the Niagara Frontier, including the Niagara Falls Power Project from
1957 to 1962. In 1963 he moved to Belmont where he and Dorothy opened and
operated Bidwell's Grocery. In 1975 they open Bidwell's Deli in Fillmore, and
from 1975 to 1992 he worked for the Maintenance Department at the Allegany
County Court House. He was a member of the Herbert W. DeLong American Legion
Post 808. He enjoyed carpentry, woodworking, and caring for his home and
garden.
He was a quiet man, a loving husband, father, grandfather,
and great-grandfather. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to family and
friends. He loved his work and loved his pets.
He is survived by a son, Richard Wayne (Ellen) Bidwell of
North Tonawanda, and a daughter Marta Lynn Whitney and her companion, Mark A. Latzer
of Belmont, eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and several nieces
and nephews. He was predeceased in addition to his parents by four brothers,
two sisters and a number of nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to call on Friday, September 18, 2020
from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the J. W, Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 17 Schuyler
Street in Belmont. The funeral will follow visitation at 3:30 p.m. in the funeral
home with Pastor Marc Chamberlain presiding. Burial with military honors will
be in Forest Hills Cemetery. Please consider memorial donations to the American
Macular Degeneration Foundation (AMDF) P. O. Box 515, Northampton, MA
01061-0515. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.
