William Cheesman

Bill was born to Albert & Anna Valentine Cheesman on April 24, 1926 in Buffalo, N.Y. His mother died when he was 10 years old and he was raised by relatives and attended school in Utica, N.Y until he enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17. He originally served in a blimp division in South America until he was assigned to the battleship USS Alabama. The Alabama served in the South Pacific until the end of WWII and Bill was in Tokyo Bay when the armistice was signed aboard the USS Missouri on September 2, 1945.

He married Barbara Simmons in Utica on October 11, 1944. Together they had three children: William, Robert, and Patricia.

Bill worked for several years as parts manager for a Studebaker dealer in Utica and later worked for Kelsey Hayes where he eventually retired.

He is of Catholic faith and saw to his children's religious education. He was a longtime member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

What this short biography fails to illustrate is what a good husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather he was. Family was always central to his life and he was a generous, caring, and loving man. He had a great sense of humor which he shared right up until the end of his life despite the challenges he faced.

Bill is survived by his wife of 67 years, Barbara Cheesman (now of Rochester, N.Y.); his sons William R. Cheesman & wife Donna Nolan-Cheesman of Fairport, N.Y, Robert Cheesman & wife Debbie Cheesman of Sylvan Beach, N.Y., his daughter Patricia (Cheesman) Utesch & husband William Utesch of Moore, OK. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Laura Utesch & Michael (wife Casey) Utesch of Oklahoma, Christine (Cheesman) White (husband Andrew) of Webster, N.Y. and Brian W. Cheesman of Philadelphia, Pa. His great-grandson is Nolan White of Webster.

Funeral arrangements will be private. He will have a simple burial with a military honor guard at Forest Hills Cemetery at the convenience of the family.