Kay Vanda Obituary (1924 - 2011)

Born Nov 17, 1924, Kay Vanda was faculty at Johnson City High School in Johnson City, NY. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Kay Vanda.

School Role	Faculty
Date of Birth	Nov 17, 1924
Date of Passing	Aug 20, 2011
About	Art TeacherKay Vanda Obituary Vanda, Kay (Van) Wheaton Kay (Van) Wheaton Vanda was called to Heaven on August 20, 2011. He was the son of the late Harrison Reid Vanda and Florence Lucille Vanda. He was born on November 17, 1924 in North Cohocton, New York. He is predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Marcia J. Moss Vanda. He is survived by his daughter, Victoria Vanda Bloch and her husband, Barry H. Bloch; and grandsons, Joel and Joshua; daughter, Gwen Vanda-McHenry and her partner, Mary Vanda-McHenry. Kay is also survived by brother-in-law and sister-in-law, J. Edgar Moss II and Sandra (Skelton) Moss; and nieces, nephews, and friends. He graduated from N. C. A. High School and in 1942, joined the Army Air Corps in Rochester, N.Y. He was sent to Fort Niagara for induction. During World War II Kay was assigned to the 8th Air Force. He flew 32 missions with the Legendary 92nd Bomb Group. When he was a Radio Operator-Gunner on a B-17, he took part in: the first daylight raids on Berlin, the D-Day invasion and Project Market Garden. Kay was awarded: the E.T.O. medal with three battle stars, six air medals, the Bronze Star medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross. The last year of the war, he was sent to India to "Fly the Hump" with Air Transport Command. He flew forty-four round trips delivering fuel and supplies to our troops in China. He was awarded the Asia-Pacific medal. In his first year of college, Kay met a lovely student, Marcia Moss, who later became his wife. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1951 with a Fine Arts Degree and as a member Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Also in 1951, Kay joined the faculty of Johnson City High School as an Art Instructor. He served as President of the Johnson City Teachers Association and was nominated for State Teacher of the Year in 1969. He was best remembered for his giant retirement cards and his faculty caricatures in the teachers' dining room. He was popular choice for Emcee at dinners and banquets. Kay was a 30 year instructor at the Young People's Art Center at the Roberson Museum in Binghamton, N.Y. Kay served as President of the Fine Arts Society. He designed and built circulating school exhibits for the museum. He was selected as a charter member of the Broome County Arts Council. Kay wrote stories about WWII that were published in American Legion books and magazines. He has also written stories about growing up in the 1930's. Many were published by the by the Cohocton Historical Society Journal. He was a 60 year member of the Union Presbyterian Church in Endicott, N.Y. There he served as: Deacon, Elder and choir member. He was a prize-winning artist who enjoyed drawing and painting. His Christmas cards came to be treasured collectables. Kay loved carpentry and built a cottage on Petonia Lake in Greene, N.Y. There he would lead summertime sing-alongs, playing his guitar. It was there he enjoyed fishing and sailing. Kay and Marcia were members of the "Lets Dance" Club. Kay was a kind, generous and compassionate man. Family and friends were important to him. He was an inspirational teacher, who was admired by his many students. We will miss him. Funeral Services will be held Friday 11am from Union Presbyterian Church, 200 East Main Street, Endicott, with the Reverend Patricia Raube, Pastor of his church, officiating. Burial will be in Riverhurst Cemetery, Endicott. The family will receive friends at the Allen Memorial Home, 511-513 E. Main St., Endicott, Thursday from 2-4 and evening 7-9 pm. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, Attn: Gift Processing