Sarkes Stephen Dies; Owned Area Theater
Sarkes (Sy) Stephen, 80, the retored owner of the Wehrle Drive-In Theater in Williamsville, died Friday (July 27, 1979) in his Bownanville home after a short illness.
Born in Buslouth, Lebanon, Mr. Stephen came to North America in 1912 at the age of 12. He lived in New Brunswick, Canada, and surrounding towns until 1924, when he came to Buffalo. He then moved to Kenmore, where he lived for the past 33 years, until he recently moved to Bowmansville.
He began his business career in the restaurant business as owner of Elm's Lunch on Elm Street. In 1933 Mr. Stephen became part of the Seaman's Relief dinner program, which offered three square meals a day for 30 cents fo military personnel. The U.S. government subsidized the meals Mr. Stephen served in his restaurant.
Mr. Stephen went into the amusement business in 1955, becoming sole owner of the Wehrle Drive-In. He retired in 1966 and leased the property to the present management of the Williamsville theater. Mr. Stephen was also part-owner, along with his brothers, of the Park Drive-In Theater in Orchard Park.
A member of the Variety Club of Buffalo, Tent No. 7, Mr. Stephen was a volunteer for the Childrens Hospital Telethon and volunteered his property to be used as a collection point for fund-raising drives for the famous St. Jude Childrens Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
He donated one of the stained glass windows of St. John Maron Church in Williamsville, where he was a member for many years.
Surviving are his wife, the former Dolores S. Witaszek of Bowmansville; a son, George A., of Bowmansville; two daughters, Veronnie L. Hugan of North Tonawanda and Georgette Christy of Williamsville; three brothers, Frank of Buffalo, John, and Joseph of St. John, New Brunswick; five sisters, Cesema Stephen of Fredericton, Canada; Catherine Joseph of St. John, New Brunswick, Mary Stephen of Fredericto and Frances Stephen and Martha Domet of Toronto; and eight grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Monday in St. John Maron Church, Williamsville, after 9 a.m. prayers in the Beach-Tuyn Funeral Home, 5541 Main Street, Williamsville. Burial will be at St. Adalbert's Cemetery, Lancaster.
Contributed by family member
Sarkes Stephen Dies; Owned Area Theater
Sarkes (Sy) Stephen, 80, the retored owner of the Wehrle Drive-In Theater in Williamsville, died Friday (July 27, 1979) in his Bownanville home after a short illness.
Born in Buslouth, Lebanon, Mr. Stephen came to North America in 1912 at the age of 12. He lived in New Brunswick, Canada, and surrounding towns until 1924, when he came to Buffalo. He then moved to Kenmore, where he lived for the past 33 years, until he recently moved to Bowmansville.
He began his business career in the restaurant business as owner of Elm's Lunch on Elm Street. In 1933 Mr. Stephen became part of the Seaman's Relief dinner program, which offered three square meals a day for 30 cents fo military personnel. The U.S. government subsidized the meals Mr. Stephen served in his restaurant.
Mr. Stephen went into the amusement business in 1955, becoming sole owner of the Wehrle Drive-In. He retired in 1966 and leased the property to the present management of the Williamsville theater. Mr. Stephen was also part-owner, along with his brothers, of the Park Drive-In Theater in Orchard Park.
A member of the Variety Club of Buffalo, Tent No. 7, Mr. Stephen was a volunteer for the Childrens Hospital Telethon and volunteered his property to be used as a collection point for fund-raising drives for the famous St. Jude Childrens Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
He donated one of the stained glass windows of St. John Maron Church in Williamsville, where he was a member for many years.
Surviving are his wife, the former Dolores S. Witaszek of Bowmansville; a son, George A., of Bowmansville; two daughters, Veronnie L. Hugan of North Tonawanda and Georgette Christy of Williamsville; three brothers, Frank of Buffalo, John, and Joseph of St. John, New Brunswick; five sisters, Cesema Stephen of Fredericton, Canada; Catherine Joseph of St. John, New Brunswick, Mary Stephen of Fredericto and Frances Stephen and Martha Domet of Toronto; and eight grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Monday in St. John Maron Church, Williamsville, after 9 a.m. prayers in the Beach-Tuyn Funeral Home, 5541 Main Street, Williamsville. Burial will be at St. Adalbert's Cemetery, Lancaster.
Contributed by family member
Family Members
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Francis Domeet "Frank" Stephen
1903–1986
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Cesema Kathleen Stephen
1905–1988
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Mary Stephen
1906–1906
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Catherine Mary Stephen Joseph
1906–2001
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Frances Agnes "Frisky" Stephen
1908–2011
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Gertrude Mariam Rita "Mary" Stephen
1910–1997
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John Haykel Stephen
1912–2004
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Martha Joan Stephen Domet
1915–2006
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Joseph Vincent "Joe" Stephen
1919–2001
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