Obituaries

     Thomas Anthony Wolbert, 85, a resident of Scriba, passed away Friday, May 10, 2013, surrounded by his loving family.

     Tom was born in Ormsby, Pa., August 3, 1927, to Albert and Florence (Schwabenbauer) Wolbert.

     He grew up in Bradford, Pa. He loved planes his whole life. He built model planes and flew them as a teenager at Bradford's airport.

     He went to school to be an airplane mechanic and inspector. In 1954, he married MaryLou Hadsell and moved to California to work for United Airlines. He moved back in 1957 and worked for various small airports, then Sealright and later Alcan.

     In 1963, he moved his family to Scriba and started his own private airport called Lakeside Airpark.

     In 1979, he quit Alcan to go full-time with Lakeside Airpark. He built a reputation as an esteemed aircraft mechanic and inspector. He is one of the few in the state who could rebuild and recover small aircraft.

     He will be greatly missed in the aircraft community. He received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic award for more than 50 years of service in aviation maintenance.

     Tom was a wonderful father, friend and neighbor. Always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed it.

     Surviving are three daughters, Kim Marsh, of Liverpool, Karen Metz,of Scriba, and Kelly (Jeff) Rosenthal, of Baldwinsville; a son, David (Corinne) Wolbert, of Scriba; a sister, Kathleen Haselbauer, of Scriba; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
     He was predeceased by his wife, MaryLou, and a sister, Genevieve Cooney.
     Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18, at Sacred Heart Church, corner of county Route 176 and county Route 4, Scriba.

     Nelson Funeral Home has care of arrangements.

     Online condolences may be made at www.nelson-funeralhome.com.