Howard E. Wethey, 85, of 245 N. Main St., Port Byron, retired owner-operator of Wethey’s general store, died Monday night at his home.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Scott and Mann Funeral Directors. Burial will be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Calling hours will be 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, 234 N. Main St., where Masonic services will be conducted at 8 p.m.

Contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

A life resident of the village, he owned and operated the general store for 33 years, retiring in 1959. He also had been a New York Central Railroad clerk.

The son of the late Willard and Gertrude Bell Wethey, he attended Port Byron Union School and graduated from the Cornell University school of Agriculture in 1911.

He was a member of the Port Byron United Methodist Church, the volunteer fire department and Senior Citizens of Port Byron.

He was a member of Masonic Lodge 130 for 632 years and of the Morris Chapter 156 of the Royal Arch Masons for 34 years. He was high priest in 1927-28 and was secretary for 33 years, since 1940. He also was a member of Finley M. King Chapter 107, Order of the Eastern Star for 40 years.

He served 20 years as patron, and was assistant grand lecturer of the Cayuga-Tompkins District and a grand officer in 1937-38. He was a former member of the Knights Templar of Auburn.

He was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Army for his volunteer service during World War II.

Surviving are his wife, the former Lois Marshall; a son, Lyman of Port Byron; two daughters, Miss Ruth Wethey of Port Byron and Mrs. Kathryn Schnur of Canastota; a sister Miss Inez Wethey of Ithaca; six grandchildren and a nephew.

HERALD JOURNAL (Syracuse, New York) Wednesday, 20 June 1973