A veteran of the United States Army, he served during WorId War II from January 17, 1941 to September 15, 1945 in the 1st Division of the 16th Infantry Company E where he was a staff sergeant. While serving, he was in Algeria, French Morocco, Ardennes; Central Europe, Normandy, Northern France, The Rhineland, Sicily and Tunisia. He received the distinguished service cross, bronze star, silver star, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Normandy Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Mr. Colson retired in 1981 from the Cattaraugus County Highway Department, where he was a heavy equipment operator. He had also operated a small dairy farm, and was a bus driver for the Pine Valley Central School. He loved to dance, enjoyed hunting, and took pride in his vegetable gardens and large groomed lawn.
He was a life member of the South Dayton American Legion Post 1593 and the Cherry Creek Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2522. Mr. Colson was also a member of War Vets Rec, Inc. of Jamestown, the Slovenian Club in Gowanda, Gowanda Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 1382, 16th Infantry Regiment Association and a former member of the Dayton Sportsman's Club.
He was the husband of Edith A. (Harvey) Colson; son of the late Clarence J. and Frances Bailey Colson; father of Brenda K. Craig of Jamestown, Robert A. Colson Sr. of Batavia, Terry J. Colson of Gowanda, and the late Dawn Marie Colson; brother of Lee Bailey of Cattaraugus, Betty Stankey of Leon, Bonnie Bennett of Niceville, FL, and the late Florice Kelley; and stepson of the late Lee Bailey Sr.; also survived by four grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice Home Health Care, 1225 West State St., Olean, NY 14760; South Dayton Ambulance Service; or to the South Dayton American Legion Post 1593.
Arrangements were by the Van Rensselaer & Son Funeral Home, Randolph.