Rev. Terry H. Sutfin

REV. TERRY H. SUTFIN

AVOCA – Rev. Terry H. Sutfin, 89, of County Route 70A, went to be with his Lord on Monday afternoon, July 17, 2023, at the Taylor Health Center in Bath, NY.

He was born in Ballston Spa on June 18, 1934, the firstborn son of the late William A. and Leona (Craig) Sutfin.  His mother died on May 5, 1940.  His father remarried Marjorie (Hollenbeck) Sutfin.  On October 7, 1960, he married Margaret (Amidon) Sutfin at the Canisteo Wesleyan Church.

A graduate of Phelps Central School, class of 1951, Terry earned three academic degrees in Bible studies at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC and was ordained a conservative Baptist minister on January 10, 1961.  He served as pastor of the Canandaigua Baptist Church from 1960-1966.

Terry has resided in Avoca since 1967 and assisted his late father in the operation of the former Sutfin Fuel Co. in Avoca.  In 2001, he retired from Avoca Central School where he was employed as a bus driver for 25 years.  He also worked as a chaplain for the Bath Veterans Administration Medical Center.

He served as a member for the Avoca Hose Co., the Avoca Ambulance Corps., and the Avoca Historical Society.  He also volunteered countless hours visiting and encouraging elderly people confined to long-term care facilities in the area.  He would bring a message of hope from God’s word, hymns of praise, and his contagious smile.

Terry had a love for God’s word—reading through the entire Bible most years, his family—rarely missing an event, loved sports, history, reading and exterior house painting.

In addition to his wife of 62 years, Terry is survived by his three children, Sandra (Edward) Frey of Howard, Steven Sutfin of Bath, and Arthur (Joan) Sutfin also of Bath; his 6 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Joy (Marc) St. Aubins of Sacramento, CA; two brothers, Allan Sutfin of Dedham, MA and Bud (Elonda) Sutfin of Mechanicsburg, PA; sister-in-law, Barbara (Elwyn) Patrick of Elmira Heights, NY; brother-in-law, Kenneth Amidon of Macedon, NY; also several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Besides his parents, Terry was predeceased by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Otto & Rosa Amidon, and two sisters-in-law, Doris Amidon and Harriet Sutfin.

Calling hours are 5-7 p.m. Friday (July 21, 2023) and 10-11 a.m. Saturday (July 22, 2023) at the Wallace Wesleyan Church, 9079 Church St., Wallace, NY where a funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, with Pastor Bill Spencer officiating. Committal services and interment will follow at Valley View Cemetery, Avoca.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to either Family Life Ministries, Kanona, NY, the Avoca Volunteer Ambulance & Fire Dept., or the Avoca Historical Society.

The Bishop & DeSanto Funeral Home, 22 N. Main St., AVOCA is honored to assist Terry’s family with the arrangements.

Online condolences or remembrances of Terry are welcome below in the comment section or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.