Willard Winton Poyner of Southampton died August 11 at Stony Brook University Medical Center. He was 86.
Born on March 12, 1928, in Southampton, he attended Southampton High School and trained with the Merchant Marine in Sheepshead Bay. He joined the Merchant Marine during World War II, at the age of 17, and after his service worked as a merchant seaman for Esso and then Exxon on their tanker fleets. He often entertained his nieces and nephews with stories of his travels. Mr. Poyner had been a frequent visitor to area senior centers, where he knew many of the residents.
He was a life Member of the Royal Order of the Moose, Lodge 1742, as well as a longtime member of the Odd Fellows.
Predeceased by his parents, Willard Earl Poyner in 1984 and Nellian Juanita (Youde) Poyner in 1993, and his nephew Mark Paul Hopkins in 1991, he is survived by his sisters, Valerie J. Sadler of Virginia and Cherie M. Tambollio of Massachusetts. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and great-grand-nieces and great-grand-nephews throughout the United States.
Visitation was at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton on August 19 at 10 a.m.; the Royal Order of the Moose, Lodge 1742, led a memorial service. A funeral service, officiated by the Reverend Katrina Foster, began at the funeral home at noon. Interment followed at Southampton Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Hampton Bays Senior Center, 25 Ponquogue Avenue, Hampton Bays, NY 11946, or the American Heart Association, www.heart.org.
on Aug 18, 2014