Sandra L. Dolehanty

BELFAST — Sandra L. Dolehanty, 76, passed away Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Houghton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, following a brief illness.

Sandra was born Sept. 12, 1949, in Fillmore, to Grover C. and Betty L. Haynes Babbitt. On April 2, 1971, in Sapporo, Japan, she married fellow Airman Allen S. Dolehanty, who survives.

She was a 1967 graduate of Lake Shore Central School in Angola. Sandy served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1976. She later earned her Associate of Science from Eastern Florida State College–Melbourne Campus in Melbourne, Fla.

Over the years Sandy worked as a real estate secretary for Michael Dunn in Angelica and a legal secretary for Richardson, Pullen and Buck, P.C. in Fillmore.

Sandy enjoyed cooking. She was famous for her cheesecake deserts for which she had a binder full of recipes. These were a big hit at the Kingdom Hall. She was equally famous for her venison spaghetti and infamous for her biscuits, also referred to as “hockey pucks” by her kids.

Sandy loved spending time with her husband. They met in Japan while both were serving in the Air Force. The circumstances involved a typewriter incident/meltdown with a certain Airman at her job combined with her Air Force nickname “Little General.” The details of this incident are still classified as “Top Secret.” In later years, they enjoyed traveling to see family, going out for dinner and reading books together. They also had this mutual thing about Jolly Rancher candy.

Sandy was much of a homebody. She enjoyed listening to music and watching TV with her kids. Murder She Wrote, Winnie the Pooh and Star Trek the Next Generation were among her favorites. A special memory of her son were the many games of Aggravation played and the penchant of her son sending her back home, even when that was a poor strategy. Sandy enjoyed the company of her two cats, Charlotte and Midnight and dipping her biscotti in her coffee. She was also very adept with a crochet hook, making blankets and hats for many gifts for her friends and family.

In a word friends and family describes Sandy as honest, giving, generous and thoughtful.

Sandy is survived by two children, Deborah (David) Bell of Machias and Robert (Anna-Mae) Dolehanty of Franklinville; two brothers, Grover Kenneth (Edla) Babbitt and Richard Robert (Joanne) Babbitt, both of Rushford; seven grandchildren, Randy Kenyon, Josiah Bell, Johanna Bell, Jewell Bell, Michelangelo Dolehanty, Izabelle Dolehanty and Jensen Dolehanty; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a brother, Herbert Alan “Bill” Babbitt.

There will be no prior visitation. In honor of her Air Force service, full military honors will be held at 4 p.m. today (April 4, 2026) at Baker-Swan Funeral Home in Wellsville/Scio. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 4258 Route 16, Hinsdale.

Online condolences may be offered at www.baker-swan.com. © 2025 Baker-Swan Funeral Home.