BRADLEY and ERIEVILLE, N.Y. – Gary W. Ostrander, 66, died March 24, 2011, at his residence. He was born in Chittenango, N.Y., the son of Charles and Jennieve Ostrander.
Gary grew up and attended high school in New York state.
He joined the Army and proudly served his country in the Vietnam War and was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Cherry Valley Memorial Post No. 113, Wampsville, N.Y. Later in life he took classes at Liberty University, Charlottesville, Va., where he earned a few different degrees. Gary’s love of the Lord was a predominant part of his life and in 2005 he became a pastor for the Pentecostal church. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was very proud of the fact that he was part Native American.
Gary is survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Beth” (Patterson); children, Jeffrey Ostrander, Brian Ostrander, Sandra Roberts and her husband, Michael, Rebecca Fricka, Kathleen Verner, Robin Verner and his wife, Shannon, and Nicole Macarthur and her husband, Andrew; nine grandchildren, a sister, several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his best friends, Matthew Hopkins and Herm Poole. Gary was predeceased by his parents.
Visitation will be held 1 p.m. until the funeral service 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 29, at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town. Interment with full military honors is still pending for later in the week at Maine Veterans Cemetery, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gary’s name may be made to American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312 or at www.diabetes.org. Notes of condolences may be left at
www.birminghamfuneralhome.com.