Phillip L. Margeson

Phillip L. Margeson

AVOCA – Phillip L. Margeson, 86, of County Route 70 (Town of Howard), passed away Sunday morning (Nov. 8, 2026) at Elderwood at Hornell.

Born in Bath, NY on Nov. 15, 1939 he was a son of the late Lee C. and Grace M. (Shults) Margeson. Besides his parents he was also predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law, Raymond and Nancy Saltsman; grandson, Bobby Monacelli; son-in-law, Joseph Difranco; brothers-in-law, Ronald Kinney and Alan Kinney; his in-laws, Ralph and Alice Kinney and sister-in-law, Helen Margeson.

A graduate of Avoca Central School, class of 1959, Phil served six months active duty in the U. S. Army and three years in the Army Reserves.

He was employed for eight years as a dairy farmer and retired in 2001 as the Howard Highway Superintendent.

Phil was a life member (63 years) of the Howard Fire Department, and served as a Steuben County Fire Investigator for 20 years and a MEO Supervisor for Steuben County Highway for 26 years. For 13 years he was an oversize load escort for area trucking companies.

He especially enjoyed running the grader for the County highway department and loved restoring John Deere miniature tractors and other toy construction equipment; he even built a room for his collectibles. Phil was especially proud to serve with the Howard Fire Department and the Fire Investigator team. He will be remembered most of all for being a wonderful husband, father and grandfather.

A former member of the Avoca Baptist Church, he was most recently a member of the Buena Vista Wesleyan Church.

He is lovingly survived by his wife of 47 years, Sharon (Kinney) Margeson who he married on March 30, 1979; five children, Dawn Margeson, Diane Difranco, Donna (Brian) Patterson, Cheryl Lewis and Robert Lewis;  grandchildren, Justin Lahl, Crystal (Heath) Wadhams, Kelly and Kayleigh Difranco, Casey Difranco, Hannah (Ben) Wilbur, Samuel Patterson, Dillon (Marissa) Lewis; four great-grandchildren, Kennedy and Anthony Wadhams, Matthew Lewis and Giavanna Verno; one nephew, Daniel (Shelly) Saltsman; as well as brothers and sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, Ralph and Alice Kinney

Calling hours are 4-6 p.m. WEDNESDAY (Nov. 18, 2026) at the Bishop & DeSanto Funeral Home, 22 N. Main St., AVOCA and 1-2 p.m. THURSDAY at the Buena Vista Wesleyan Church 6034 County Route 69, Canisteo, NY where a funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. THURSDAY (Nov. 19, 2026), the Rev. Daniel Pickering officiating. Committal services and interment will follow at the Howard Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to either the Howard Fire Department Truck Fund, the Buena Vista Wesleyan Church or the charity of the donor’s choice.

The Bishop & DeSanto Funeral Home is honored to assist Phil’s family with the arrangements.

Online condolences or remembrances of Phil are welcome below or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto funeral Home.