Ballston Spa - Donald R. Farmer, Sr., 77, passed away peacefully at Saratoga Hospital on Thursday (April 16th, 2009), surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Schenectady NY, April 8th, 1932, he was a son of the late Walter A. Farmer Sr. and Mildred L. (Green) Farmer and in 1955 he married Edith L. Holman, who passed away in 1979. Don graduated from Van Rensselaer High School in 1950, graduated from the Watervliet Arsenal Apprentice program and continued on to be a machinist at the Arsenal. His other jobs included letter carrier, bakery owner, security guard at The Corp. of Yaddo, taxi driver, school bus driver, and for the past 27 years he was a peace officer for NYRA at the Saratoga Racecourse. Don was a member of the Bethesda Episcopal Church in Saratoga Springs, a mason in Watervliet, past president of the Saratoga Emergency Corp. and a Boy Scout leader. He enjoyed ham radio operation, fishing, hunting, gardening, watching the birds at his feeder and his visit with Jack the dog. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by one brother Walter A. Farmer Jr. and his son-in-law, David W. Taylor. Survivors include his son Donald R. Farmer Jr. (Elizabeth) of Saratoga Springs; his daughter (Mrs. David) Karen M. Taylor of Wilton; four grandchildren, Kristine D. Farmer (Mike Messina) of New York City, Michael R. Farmer (Heather) of Oneonta, Tracy L. Taylor (Marvin Sukhu) of Schenectady and Melissa A. Taylor (Eugene Munger) of Wilton; two great-grandchildren, Adalia E. Hargett of Wilton and Alisandra S. Farmer of Oneonta. Don is also survived by his companion of twelve years, June Salerno of Ballston Spa and her children, Steven Gray of Lake Luzerne, Mary Sue Wadsley of West Palm Beach FL, Lori Baker (George) of Wilton and Colleen Karrick (John) of Vinton Iowa and several nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank Dr. Ares and his staff as well as the hospital staff on C-3 for taking such excellent care of Don and his family. Relatives and friends may call from 1 to 3pm Tuesday (Apr. 21, 2009) at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway (584-5373). Services will be conducted at 3pm Tuesday afternoon at the funeral home. The Rev'd. Canon Thomas T. Parke, Rector of Bethesda Episcopal Church, will officiate. Burial will follow in the family plot in Greenridge Cemetery, Lincoln Ave. Memorials may be made in his name to Community Hospice of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.