Obituary of Richard W. Prior

Verona- Richard William Prior was born 4 Feb 1928, son of Hiram C and Mary Boczulak Prior, in Rome, NY. He married DeLoryce D Burdick on 20 Dec 1952 at St John’s Lutheran Church in Rome. She passed on 11 Sep 2018. Richard acquired his pilot's license at the age of 16. He loved flying and often spent Sundays driving to different local airports. He spent several years as a flight instructor at the Oneida County Airport. In 1969 he was hired by Page Airways as a corporate business pilot and later was hired by Gould Pumps as a corporate pilot. When he wasn't flying, he worked as a truck driver for Daniel's Motor Freight, Sears Oil Co, and Crouse Construction. His hobbies include playing the guitar and amatuer radio operator(ham). He also loved stock car racing, doing some himself in the late 1940's, early 1950's. He proudly served in the US Navy just after the end of WW2, assigned to the USS Iowa. He is survived by daughters Rebecca Ewen and Michelle Yeoman; sons in law Anthony J Eriole & Michael Yeoman; grandchildren Anthony R Eriole, Heather Eriole, Amanda Yeoman & Jenelle Yeoman and great-granddaughter Eila Jean Arnold. He was predeceased by his wife, daughter Beverly Eriole and son in law Doug Ewen. Family and friends are invited to call on Thursday, November 11, 2021 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Malecki Funeral Home Inc., 23 Front Street, Vernon, NY. A funeral service will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home immediately following calling hours with Rev. Michael Yeoman officiating. Online condolences may be sent to maleckifuneralhome.com