Obituary of Bruce Polson

Bruce C. Polson &amp;quot;Loving Husband, Father and Grandfather&amp;quot; Olean, NY - Bruce C. Polson of 330 North 11th Street, passed away Thursday (April 16, 2009) at the Pavilion at Bradford Regional Medical Center. Born September 23, 1922 in Dacoma, OK, he was the son of Burtis and Esther Lang Polson, the eldest of five children. On July 22, 1950 in Weston-Super-Mare, England, he married Jeanne V. Neathway who survives. Mr. Polson was a graduate of Dacoma High School and continued his education at Oklahoma A&amp;M University, now Oklahoma State, until he was drafted for service in WWII. He served in the United States Army with the Combat Engineers, stationed in Europe, where he met his future bride. Following the war, he returned to A&amp;M where he received a degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1950. Mr. Polson enjoyed a long career involving the design, development, and testing of gas turbines and centrifugal compressors. He began his career with the Bristol Airplane Company in Bristol, England before returning to the United States, where he worked for the Curtiss-Wright Aircraft Company in Woodridge, NJ, and later near Clearfield, PA at the company's jet engine test facility, until its closing in 1960. That year, he and his young family moved to Olean, as he began employment at Clark Brothers, later Dresser Clark, where he held a variety of engineering positions until his retirement in 1986. He continued his relationship with the then newly formed Dresser-Rand joint venture, working part-time until 1992. He was an active member at the First Presbyterian Church in Olean, where he taught Sunday school and served as a deacon and as an elder, and later at the First Presbyterian Church in Allegany. He volunteered with the Greater Olean Association of Churches in a number of capacities, including as treasurer for over 20 years. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers where he also served as longtime treasurer. Additionally, in his free time, Mr. Polson enjoyed exercising at the YMCA and taking long walks throughout Olean. Surviving besides his wife are three children Sue (David) Veselak of Irmo, SC., Mark (Sue) Polson of Wildwood, MO, Craig Polson of Olean; 3 grandchildren Adam Polson, Lauren Veselak and Andrew Polson; 1 brother Rev. Marvin Polson of Perkins, OK, 1 sister Maude Ruth (Donald) Watson of Anoka, MN; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by 2 sisters Lois Doud and Avonna Polson. Friends will be received at the Casey, Halwig and Hartle Funeral Home, 3128 W. State Road, on Sunday from 1-3 and 6-8pm. Funeral services will be held on Monday (April 20, 2009) at the First Presbyterian Church in Allegany at 11am. Burial will be in Allegany Cemetery. Memorials if desired may be made to the Allegany First Presbyterian Church or to the Alzheimer's Association 2805 Wehrle Drive, Ste 6, Williamsville NY 14221. <h3>Visitation</h3> Sunday 1-3 & 6-8pm in the funeral home <h3>Services</h3> Monday (April 20, 2009)at 11:00am in the First Presbyterian Church in Allegany <h3>Interment</h3> Allegany Cemetery Allegay, NY