Obituary of Vesta W. Bembower

S. Dansville – Vesta W. Bembower, 86 years of age, passed away early Thursday morning, May 12, 2016, just two hours prior to her beloved husband Rev. Dean Bembower. Vesta was born December 30th, 1929 in Columbus, OH the daughter of Virgil and Ollie (Kennedy) Watts. In 1941 Vesta went to live in West Palm Beach, FL with an aunt and uncle, Dr. and Mrs. William Blair. In 1947 she graduated from Palm Beach High School and from Shorter College in Rome, GA in 1951. Vesta then attended and graduated from Andover Newton Theological School in 1954 with a Master’s Degree in Religious Education. While at Andover Newton Theological School she met and married Rev. Dean Bembower. They wed June 21, 1952 and together celebrated over 63 years of marriage. After serving the Waltham, Mass. Presbyterian Church and three yoked mission churches in Starks, North New Portland and West Mills, Maine she and her husband moved in 1965 with their five children, Michael, Matthew, Andrew, Aaron and Rachel to Atlanta, NY to serve two Presbyterian churches in Atlanta and Cohocton. Vesta was employed as an elementary school teacher at Wayland Central School from 1967 until her retirement in 1984. In 1972 she completed the required courses at SUNY Geneseo for permanent certification in elementary education. Upon their retirement they moved to S. Dansville until her move to McAuley Manor in 2007. Vesta was pre-deceased by her parents; her aunt and uncle, Dr. William and Mrs. Blair; two sons, Aaron in 2001 and Michael in 2007; her two sisters, Lottie Kersell and Virginia Stepath. She is survived by her children, Matthew Bembower of Williamsburg, VA, Andrew (Jane) Bembower of Cohocton and Rachel Bembower of S. Dansville; her grandchildren, Quentin and Uriah Bembower, Dean and Luke Bembower and Alice (Byron) Knoll and Molly Smith; and one great-grandchild, Quentin Jr. Bembower; and a very special niece, Joanne Lutz of Lancaster, OH. Vesta’s family and friends are invited to attend her funeral service, Saturday June 4th at 10:00am at the St. George-Stanton Funeral Home, 109 West Naples St., Wayland. Interment will be at the convenience of her family. Memorial contributions in Vest Bembower’s memory may be made to the Wayland Free Library, 101 West Naples St., Wayland, NY 14572 or to a church of your choice. Immediately following services at the funeral home, a memorial luncheon will be held at the Cohocton American Legion (6 Wilcox St., Cohocton, NY 14826) in continuance of the celebration of her life.