Obituary of Walter N Traver

Walter Neil "Bud" Traver Vestal: Walter Neil "Bud" Traver of Vestal, 87, passed away May 1, 2013 after a short illness. Walter was predeceased by his wife, Clara Barker Traver in 1986; his mother and father, Walter S. and Gladys Traver; and his sister, Marjorie Andrews. He leaves behind a daughter, Amy Traver and fianc Brian Benson, and her children Michael and Sarah Chechatka; son Timothy Traver and his wife Diane, their children Neil and Kevin; son Walter David Traver and his partner Debbie Tinder; son Paul Traver and his wife Noreen, their children Liam, Zachary and Aidan. He also shared his life with four sisters, Wilma/Billie Foster, Eleanor (Kenny) Mosher, Alice Weston and Marilyn (Al) Reed and brother, Mark (Febb) Traver. He leaves behind an extended family that he loved very much, and his seven grandchildren that he adored. Walter was an avid gardener, bird lover and naturalist; he was a man of the Earth. It is fitting that he died on May Day. He mowed lawns and gardened well into his 80's and was always there to help his neighbors. He was a veteran of WWII serving in the US Army Air Corps. His family moved to Vestal in 1931, he watched Vestal grow from a rural town and had many stories about growing up in Vestal with his sisters. Walter had a quick wit, a keen sense of humor and compassion for those in need. He was a staunch and lifelong member of the Democratic Party and its beliefs. Calling hours will be on Saturday, May 4, from 11:00 to 1:00PM at the Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home, 765 Main Street, Vestal, NY. A brief service will follow at 1:00. Burial will be in the Riverhurst Cemetery in Endicott on Monday. Donations in Walter's memory may be made to the National Audubon Society, Attn: Audubon Angel, 225 Varick St, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10014.