William H. Fairbank, 102, of Panama, NY, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 22, 2025, in North Carolina. He was born January 17, 1923, in Jamestown, NY, the son of the late Harold and Gertrude Hunt Fairbank.

Bill served with the U.S. Navy in World War II as a flight instructor. Later, he was a butcher with the family business, Fairbank Market, on Third Street in Jamestown. He later opened The Smoke House in Lakewood, NY.

Bill retired in 1982 and built a log home in Panama, NY in the woods he loved. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and a true steward of the forest around him. He will be remembered as a lover of wildlife in all forms, most notably the chipmunks he loved to feed peanuts to on the back porch. He found comfort in his beloved cat, Shorty, as he laid on his arm. He is truly missed by his family and friends.

William will be missed by his children, Marianne (James) Fairbank Anderson of Jamestown, Susan Fairbank of Grand Junction, CO, and Jerry Fairbank of Salisbury, NC; grandchildren, Gregory Fairbank of Pittsburgh, PA, Michele (Todd) Frost of Glendale, CA, Jerry (Melissa) Fairbank of Oskaloosa, IA, Christopher (Korrin) Fairbank of Ashville, NY, Marrilee Perry of Salisbury, NC, Ashley (Andrew) Caruso of Kennedy, NY, Bethany (Jesse) Strickland of Saratoga Springs, UT, Larry Fairbank of Salisbury, NC, Jaymes (Kristen) Fairbank of Salisbury, NC, Thomas (Kimberly) Anderson of Frewsburg, NY, William (Dexter) Anderson of Freeport, NY, Jennifer (Michael) Brown of Ashville, NY, and Shane Larsen of Grand Junction, CO; 25 great grandchildren; one great great grandson; as well as two brothers, Elton Fairbank of Syracuse, NY and Perry Fairbank of Tarpon Springs, FL.

Besides his parents, William was preceded in death by his first wife, Janice Nystrom Fairbank, who passed away March 23, 1989; his second wife, Eunice VanEpps; his third wife, Birdena Peterson; his brother, Sherman Fairbank; and his brother-in-law, Rodney (Lorena) Nystrom.

The service for William will be at 11:00am Monday, December 1, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 851 Forest Ave, Jamestown, NY.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Chautauqua County Humane Society, 2825 Strunk Road, Jamestown, NY 14701.