Obituary of Maxine Claire Bartz

MAXINE CRONAUER BARTZ May 14, 1928 – July 18, 2019 Maxine Claire Bartz, 91, died on July 18. She had resided in Fern Park near Orlando, Florida. The daughter of Ellis A. Cronauer II and Dorothea Mae (Brinkman) Cronauer, Maxine was born in Franklin. She graduated in 1946 from Delaware Literary Institute and Franklin Central School. Her first job was at the Scintilla (now Amphenol) Manufacturing Plant where she met the love of her life, James Martin Bartz. Their loving marriage began in 1948 and lasted 53 years until Jim's death in July 2001. Jim and Maxine settled in Sidney Center, then moved to Oxford. While there, Jim felt called into the ministry. Jim and Maxine served several Methodist churches in Chenango and Otsego Counties. Maxine also worked at Borden Chemical and Main's Minit Mail in Bainbridge and the Howard Brown Insurance Agency in Oneonta. In 1966 she became the Executive Assistant with the Susquehanna Valley Presbytery in Bainbridge, leaving in 1980 to move to Florida. Maxine held office jobs at Florida churches and finished her career at a Florida Presbytery office, retiring in 1993. She was an active member of two Florida United Methodist churches. Maxine loved spending vacations in Canada and NY, and RV camping at Tall Pines Campground after retiring. She loved flowers, gardening and playing games. She enjoyed jigsaw and word puzzles and was a voracious reader. Maxine was always knitting and crocheting, often donating her creations to various charities. Surviving Maxine are daughters: Judith (Edwyn) Simon of Bloomingburg, Alane (Phillip) Strong of Worcester, Ellen (Richard) Jordan of Unadilla, and Susan (Mark) Williams of Orlando, FL; her son-in-law Jonathan (Susan) Maisey; grandchildren: Karen de Oliveira-Accurso and George Seitz, Jennifer (Curtis) Sutton and husband, Brian; James Benson and wife, Nicole; Brenda Curtis and Scott Goodrich; Heather (Maisey) Bushman and husband, Matt; Elaine Maisey and Adam Payne; great grandchildren Marc, Darren, Haley, Christopher, Emily, Makayla, Zachary, Avery, Sophie, Whitney, Maddie, and Ella; many step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister and brother: Dorellis Keigh (Cronauer) Earisman of Morgantown, WV and Ellis (Red) Cronauer of Bouckville; her sister-in-law Elizabeth Bartz (Newark Valley) and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, husband James Bartz, daughter Cynthia (Bartz) Maisey (1999); sisters-in-law: Donna Cronauer, Christine Cronauer, Lois White, and Virginia Bartz; brothers-in-law: Delbert Earisman, Harold Bartz, and Ernest Bartz. A graveside service is planned for Saturday, August 24 at Ouleout Valley Cemetery, Route 357, Franklin (11:00 am) with the Rev. Judith Thistle officiating. C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel in Sidney is serving the family. Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.landersfh.com Memorial donations may be made to Henderson Settlement, P.O. Box 25, Frakes, KY 40940, The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or a charity of choice.