The Rev. William Small

The Reverend Canon William D. Small, 82, passed away on April 23, 2017 at Adirondack Medical Center, a Priest of the Episcopal Church, survived by his wife, Darleen Ellen Small, his son, W. David Small and Cecilia T. Small of Maynard, MA by his daughter Rebecca Small Kellogg and Steven S. Kellogg of Dexter, NY and his daughter Joan Small Western and Scott C. Western of Johnstown, NY and his stepdaughter, Cynthia D. Sitter and Steven Sitter of Hagerstown, MD, ten grandchildren Thomas W. Small, Margaret H. Small, Lucy H. Small, Jonathan N. Kellogg, Devon M. Kellogg, Noah R. Western, Whitney F. Western, Judith S. Whelan, Reese A. Sitter and Torin N. Sitter, a sister Joan S. O’Hanlon of Esperance, NY, an AFS exchange daughter Kristi Reed and Reg Reed, Grandchildren Taylor, Reggie and Zoe, Thousand Oaks, CA. He was predeceased by his wife, Martha Ross Small.

Father Small was educated in the Public School and graduated from SUNY Albany in 1957 with a B.A. and an S.T.M. at Berkeley, Yale Divinity School. During his ministry he served as a College Chaplain, as Headmaster of an Independent Church Related School, served on the staff of a metropolitan Council of Churches and carrying out his commitment to Christian unity has served in the leadership on many ecumenical church organizations. He was cofounder of the Doane Stuart Independent School in Albany and co-founder and Vicar of St. Boniface Church in an Albany Suburb. He was Rector and currently holds Rector Emeritus at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Johnstown where he served faithfully for 20 years. Following his retirement he served as Interim Minister of five Episcopal Parishes, the most recent of which is St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Saranac Lake.

Peace and justice pursuits and Civil Rights movements included his participation in the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom at which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his now famous “I have a dream” speech. The March was considered the impetus for the first significant Civil rights legislation in a century. Father Small also organized and led a number of medical and construction Missions to the Dominican Republic and he continued to work on peace and justice issues until his passing.

His chief avocation was musical theater which began for him in grammar school and grew expediently with his late wife, Martha staging dinner theater the goal of which was to entertain and to raise funds to benefit local needs.

Arrangements under the direction of Daniel V. Ehle of the Ehle and Barnett Family Funeral Home of Johnstown, NY and Fortune-Keough Funeral Home of Saranac Lake.

A memorial service will take place at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 28, 2017 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Saranac Lake, NY with opportunity to speak with the family at a reception immediately following the service.

A second service and calling hours will be held in Johnstown. Calling hours will take place in Johnstown on Wednesday May 3rd from 5:00 PM top 8:00 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Church, A memorial service will take place at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at St. John’s Episcopal Church,

Memorial gifts may be given to the new William D. Small Scholarship for Social Justice or the Martha R. Small Memorial Scholarship which funds scholarships at Saranac Lake High School, High Schools in Fulton County and a scholarship for a FMCC student. Donations may be forwarded to St. John’s Church, 1 North Market Street, Johnstown, NY. In the memo line specify MRS or WDS Scholarship.