Obituary of Dean Bembower

Wayland – Reverend Dean Bembower, 90 years of age passed away early Thursday morning May 12, 2016 at the McAuley Manor Healthcare Facility. Rev. Bembower passed away approximately 2 hours after his beloved wife Vesta passed away at McAuley Manor. Dean and Vesta had been together in the same room for the past couple of months. Dean was born October 3rd, 1925 in Gunter, India the son of William and Hester (Cooke) Bembower. At that time the Bembower’s were Lutheran Missionaries in the agriculture field. In 1930 they came back to the United States, living in California, Ohio, Kentucky and then back to Ohio. He graduated from Zanesville, Ohio high school in June of 1942. Dean then attended Capital University in Columbus, OH. He then enlisted in the United States Army in 1943 and served as a combat infantryman in the Fourth Infantry Division in Europe. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Dean then attended and graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1948 with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Pre-Med and Chemistry. He then attended and graduated from the Andover Newton Theological School in Newton Center, Mass. On June 15th, 1952 Dean was ordained by the Presbytery of Boston as a Presbyterian Minister. Reverend Bembower and Vesta Watts were married on June 21, 1952 at the seminary chapel. He was called to his first parish at the First Presbyterian Church of Waltham, Mass in November of 1952. His sons Michael and Matthew were born while in that parish. On July 7th, 1957 he was called to his second parish at Mission at the Eastward serving three small parishes in a scattered rural area in Central Maine. While there his other two sons, Andrew and Aaron and his daughter, Rachel were born. On March 31, 1965 Rev. Bembower was called to his third parish, the Presbyterian Churches of Atlanta and Cohocton. While with this parish, he served many committees of the Presbytery of Geneva, including moderator, committee on ministry, committee on strategy, general counsel and two search committees for Presbytery Executives. Rev. Bembower was very active in ecumenical activities in the area, promoting joint worship services and other cooperative ventures. On November 1st, 1987 he retired from active ministry and moved to S. Dansville. During 2009, a fire destroyed his home and he moved to Wayland where he has remained. Although “retired”, he remained very active in Presbytery activities as well as supplying preaching and interim work in several parishes in the area that included, Howard from 1988-1990 and Andover from 1990 until his permanent retirement in October of 2012. Reverend Bembower will be remembered as a “great story teller” and a man with a remarkable memory to tell those stories and jokes. Greatness is measured in service and the Greek translation of Dean is servant. Rev. Bembower was a servant of God who will be missed by all his family and friends. Rev. Bembower was pre-deceased by his parents; his brothers, Weldon Bembower and Rev Phillip Bembower; his sister, Hester Pfeil; two sons, Aaron in 2001 and Michael in 2007; and his beloved wife of over 63 years, Vesta. He is survived by his children, Matthew Bembower of Williamsburg, VA, Andrew (Jane) Bembower of Cohocton and Rachel Bembower of S. Dansville; his grandchildren, Quentin and Uriah Bembower, Dean and Luke Bembower and Alice (Byron) Knoll and Molly Smith; and one great-grandchild, Quentin Jr. Bembower. Rev. Bembower’s family and friends are invited to attend his 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 his family. Memorial contributions in Rev. Dean Bembower’s memory may be made to the Wayland Free Library, 101 West Naples St., Wayland, NY 14572 or 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 his life.