John Bode

John Bode, formerly of Vestal, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2015. He was predeceased by parents, Lena and Elmer Bode; brothers, Bill Griffith, Charles Griffith and Raymond Bode; sisters, Ida Gross, Anna Banaszewski and Margaret DeSantis and their spouses. Also predeceased by infant son, John F. Jr. and wonderful son Douglas, a cancer victim at age 44. Survived by his devoted wife, Barbara; daughter, Stacey Weiss; and grandsons Nicholas and Alexander Weiss; brother, Gerard Bode; grandson, Douglas J. Bode Jr.; nieces and nephews especially Linda Randle, her husband Bruce and sister-in-law Joan Griffith. John was honorably discharged from the Army in which he enlisted at the start of the Korean War. He never saw combat due to a serious illness while at Ft. Knox. He worked in the “loan” business in Baltimore, MD, working his way up to manager. He was recruited by several banks and left banking as an Assistant Vice President for New Jersey National Bank. Disability ended his career after thirteen years in Financial Planning acquiring many good friends in New York. Forty three years of helping people, a gift he attributed to his mother and father. He greatly enjoyed meeting people. He always enjoyed playing and coaching many sports, mostly softball, baseball, basketball and football. He also played golf, tennis, ping-pong and bowling with friends and wife Barbara. He and Barbara traveled the Eastern seaboard in keeping with their song “Two for the Road”.
Funeral Services will be held Monday 10 am from the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 East Main Street, Endicott, with the reverend Father John Kurgan, Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Church officiating. Burial will be in Vestal Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home Sunday afternoon from 2-4 pm.