William T. "Bud" Shinnick

Obituary of William T. Shinnick William T. “Bud” Shinnick, Sr., 81, of Fulton passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at the V.A. Medical Center in Syracuse. A native of Syracuse, Bud had resided in Fulton for over 50 years. He retired in 1985 after 23 years as a firefighter with the Fulton Fire Department and had been employed as a custodian at the Fulton Polish Home for several years. Bud served with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1955 to 1958 attaining the rank of sergeant. He was a communicant of the former St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Fulton. He had been a member and Past Exalted Ruler of B.P.O.E. Lodge 830 in Fulton where he received the Elk of the Year Award in 1979. Bud was also a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Rev. Harold Flynn Division in Fulton where he received the Hibernian of the Year Award in 1968. He held memberships at the Fulton Polish Home; Merton R. Kemp Detachment, Marine Corps League where he served as past commandant, past area commandant of the central district and received the Marine of the Year Award in 1999 and member of the Gregory S. Copenhaver Detachment in Elkton, MD; Military Order of Devil Dogs; AMVETS; Polish Legion of American Veterans; City of Fulton Veterans Council where he received the Veteran of the Year Award and served as president for 21 years; V.F.W. Post 569 and American Legion Post in Elkton, MD. He volunteered transporting patients to the Veterans Clinic in Oswego and was honored by Gov. George Pataki in 2000 for his work with veterans. Bud was also known as a local radio personality as “Oswego Valley Kermit” and “Chef Boy-o-Boy” and by playing Santa Claus for many local organizations. Bud was predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Louise Bidwell Shinnick in 2001; a son, James Shinnick in 2006; granddaughter, Jessica Shinnick and infant great-grandson, Joseph Shinnick. Surviving are his children, Michael (Sharon) Shinnick of Hannibal, Steven (Tami) Shinnick of Elkton, MD, Thomas (Carrie) Shinnick of Lowville, Kathleen (Carl) Emmons of Hannibal, Scott (Willard Bennett) Shinnick of Fulton, Melissa (Andrew) Parish of Fulton and William “Buddy” (Tiffany) Shinnick, Jr. of Fulton; a daughter-in-law, Denise Shinnick of Fulton; 26 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren and three god-daughters. Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, December 8 at Foster Funeral Home, 910 Fay Street in Fulton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 9:00 a.m. Saturday, December 9 at Holy Trinity Parish, corner of Rochester and South Third Streets in Fulton. Burial with military honors are at St. Mary’s Cemetery, South Seventh Street, Fulton. In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to the Marine Corps League, Merton R. Kemp Detachment, c/o V.F.W. Post 569, 214 Cayuga Street, Fulton, NY 13069.