Robert W. Ranger

1937 - 2017

WEST WINFIELD - Robert W. Ranger, 79, of West Winfield died Saturday evening, February 18, 2017 at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown following a brief illness. 

Bob was born June 15, 1937 in Corning to Robert W. and Freida (Spreitzer) Ranger. Raised in Painted Post, Bob graduated from Painted Post High School. He then graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelors Degree and later attained his Masters Degree from Rutgers University. 

In December 1978 he married Marjorie Brooks, a union of almost 40 years, in which he once said that "between the two of us we can surmount any obstacle - we are a team". His kindness and compassion were endless.

Bob was employed for over 35 years with Oneida National Bank and its successor banks. After retiring from Fleet Bank he became President of the Financial Institutions Bank in Warsaw. After completing his tenure there he returned to West Winfield, and with a group of investors formed the Bank of Cooperstown, also with offices in Oneonta and Geneva. He retired from their Board of Directors in 2016, remaining as a director emeritus.

Bob also served as the Chairman of the ABA Ag Bankers Committee in Washington, DC, as well as many other ag related committees in the local area. He was a member of the local Rotary, served on the Mt. Markham Central School District Board and Herkimer County BOCES Board for over 25 years.

Bob was a truly remarkable man. His passion was for his family and he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He loved to hunt and fish, and his home was surrounded by wildlife that her dearly loved to watch and for which he provided sanctuary.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Brooks Ranger of West Winfield; his children, Lisa Doyle of Woodbridge, VA, Todd M. Ranger of Camden, Kelley Tripple (Michael Dougherty) of Bridgewater and Luanne T. Brooks of West Exeter; his grandchildren, Chad Bailey, Ryan Bailey, Jordan Doyle and Victoria Doyle, all of Woodbridge, VA, Jacob Tripple (Bree Palmer) and Andrew Tripple, both of West Winfield, Melissa Gregory and her husband Jay of Mt. Vision and Matthew Brooks of West Exeter; and his great-grandchildren, Grant and Grace Gregory, Michael Bailey and Logan Herrin. He is further survived by his siblings, Phyllis Stowell of Painted Post and Donald Ranger of Mount Wolf, PA, as well as his special family, Sara, Gil, Aaden and Abel Sanchez.

In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by a sister, Carol Ann Smith and his step-son, John G. Brooks.

At Bob's request, there will be a private service of remembrance for his immediate family at their convenience.

In lieu of flowers, Bob's family requests that you make a gift in his memory to your favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.


If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.