Donald "Don" R Farmer, Sr , VRHS Class of 1950
BALLSTON SPA -- Donald R. Farmer Sr., 77, passed away peacefully Thursday, April 16, 2009 at Saratoga Hospital, surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. Born April 8, 1932, in Schenectady, he was a son of the late Walter A. Farmer Sr. and Mildred L. (Green) Farmer. In 1955 he married Edith L. Holman, who passed away in 1979. Don graduated from Van Rensselaer High School in 1950 and from the Watervliet Arsenal Apprentice program, after which he stayed on at the arsenal as a machinist. His other jobs included letter carrier, bakery owner, security guard at The Corporation of Yaddo, taxi driver and school bus driver. For the past 27 years he was a peace officer for the New York Racing Association at the Saratoga Race Course. Don was a member of the Bethesda Episcopal Church in Saratoga Springs, a mason in Watervliet, past president of the Saratoga Emergency Corp. and a Boy Scout leader. He enjoyed ham radio operation, fishing, hunting, gardening, watching the birds at his feeder and his visit with Jack the dog. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by one brother, Walter A. Farmer Jr.; and his son-in-law, David W. Taylor. Survivors include his son, Donald R. Farmer Jr. (Elizabeth) of Saratoga Springs; his daughter, (Mrs. David) Karen M. Taylor of Wilton; four grandchildren, Kristine D. Farmer (Mike Messina) of New York City, Michael R. Farmer (Heather) of Oneonta, Tracy L. Taylor (Marvin Sukhu) of Schenectady and Melissa A. Taylor (Eugene Munger) of Wilton; and two great-grandchildren, Adalia E. Hargett of Wilton and Alisandra S. Farmer of Oneonta. Don is also survived by his companion of 12 years, June Salerno of Ballston Spa; her children, Steven Gray of Lake Luzerne, Mary Sue Wadsley of West Palm Beach, Fla., Lori Baker (George) of Wilton and Colleen Karrick (John) of Vinton, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.