Obituary of Laverne C. Fillmore

LaVerne C. Fillmore, 76, of Owego died Sunday, July 3, 2016. LaVerne was born, May 25, 1940 in Rochester, NY to the late, Harold and Irene Fillmore. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Art Education. He was a member of Kappa Pi and The National Art Honorary Society. In his senior year of college, he was called into the Lutheran Ministry and received his Bachelor of Divinity Degree from Fremont Lutheran of Divinity from Chicago Lutheran Seminary. LaVerne was ordained in 1966. He served three congregations in a ten year period of time: St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Leesville, NY, Argusville Lutheran Church, Argusville, NY, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Spencer, NY. Upon leaving the full time ministry in 1976, he began teaching at Tioga Center Christian in Tioga Center, NY, where he taught for 10 years. Following his term at Tioga Center, he began teaching 3rd and 4th grade at Zion Lutheran School in Owego, NY, where he taught for 14 years. During his teaching years and following his retirement, he was nominated by former students who were on high honor roll to be selected to Who’s Who in America’s Teachers. This is a very prestigious honor as they are selected by their students. Mr. Fillmore much appreciated Who’s Who Motto: “many teach but few inspire.” He worked very hard to inspire his students. He was always warmed by former students who kept in contact with him well after their years spent in his class. Even as adults all grown and with careers and families of their own, they considered Mr. Fillmore their favorite teacher. Mr. Fillmore served as church organist at Zion Lutheran Church and the Campville United Methodist Church for many years. He is survived by his children, Katherine and her husband, Matthew, Owego, NY, Martha and her husband, Mitch, Greenville, SC, Peter and his wife, Beth, Deleware, Jennifer and her husband, Dan, Naples, FL; eleven grandchildren, Hannah, Caitlin, Lydia, Erin, Joshua, Madeline, Timothy, Jonathan, Nathan, Jeremy, Peter; four great-grandchildren, Levi, Aiden, Adelynn, Julia; numerous other family members. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 8, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Campville United Methodist Church, 6110 NY Route 17C, Campville, NY, with the Rev.William Prentice, officiating. Burial will be in the Waits Cemetery, Owego, NY. The family will receive friends Friday from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services at the church. Condolences may be made to LaVerne’s family at www.emfaheyfuneralhome.com.