Arthur Keith Black
LAKE CITY -- Arthur Keith Black of Lake City died Saturday at the Veterans Affairs Nursing Home in Lake City.
He was 95.
Mr. Black was a fifth generation Floridian and a lifelong resident of Columbia County. He graduated from the University of Florida and worked as an attorney until his retirement in 1975.
Mr. Black served in the U.S. Army, was a World War II veteran and served in the judicial department of the armed services, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
He was a state attorney for 16 years and was honored by the Florida Bar Association in 1979 for 50 years of membership.
Mr. Black was also a Mason, an Elk and Kiwanian for more than 50 years.
He was active in the American Legion and served two terms as post commander. Mr. Black was a loyal Democrat, serving as local chairman and state committeeman. He was proud to have been called a "lawyer's lawyer" for representing 20 lawyers and judges in his career.
Mr. Black was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Lassie Goodbread Black, and two daughters, Carolyn B. Davis and Nettie B. Ozaki.
Survivors include one daughter, Edna R. Hindson; one sister Bessie Maney; nine grandchildren and 14 great- grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Columbia County School Foundation, 528 W. Duval St., Lake City, FL 32055, or to the Lake City Community College Foundation Nursing Program, Route 19, Box 1030, Lake City, FL 32025.
Mildred Raulerson Castello
JACKSONVILLE -- Mildred Raulerson Castello of Jacksonville died Saturday in Jacksonville. She was 84.
Mrs. Castello was born in Jacksonville and was a lifelong resident. She was a retired secretary for the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville and a member of Murray Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, James E. Castello Jr. of Lake Mary and Wayne P. Castello of Gainesville; two brothers, J. Claude Raulerson and Preston A. Raulerson, both of Jacksonville; and four grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Building Fund, 100 NE 1st St., Gainesville, FL, 32601, or WUFT-TV "Friends of Five," PO Box 12864, Gainesville, FL 32604.
Dr. Nicholas Vincent Costantino
Dr. Nicholas Vincent Costantino of Gainesville died Saturday in the Palm Gardens Nursing Center of Gainesville. He was 78.
Dr. Costantino was born in Vandergrift, Pa., and moved here 23 years ago from Athens, Ga. He was a graduate of the University of Florida. He was a retired aviator in the U.S. Navy, with 21 years of service and was a member of the Fleet Reserve. He was retired professor from the University of Georgia. He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and the Athenium Club in Gainesville. He was a Protestant.
Dr. Costantino was preceded in death by his wife, Mona Marcelle Costantino. Survivors include two daughters, Michele Curtis and Monique Costantino, both of Gainesville; three sons, Marc S. Costantino of Livermore, Calif., Joel Costantino of Melrose and Jason Costantino of Westhills, Calif.; one brother, Joseph J. Costantino of Grand Island, N.Y.; one sister, Marie Cook of Escondido, Calif.; and 10 grandchildren.
Billy Curtis Haire
Billy Curtis Haire of Hawthorne died Saturday in Shands at Alachua General Hospital. He was 56.
Mr. Haire was born in De Leon Springs and moved to Gainesville 15 years ago. He was a retired sheet metal journeyman and a member of Sheet Metal Local 435 of Jacksonville.
Mr. Haire was preceded in death by his daughter Tina Gayle Lewis of Trenton. Survivors include his wife, Carole Haire of Hawthorne; three daughters, Lanya Griggs of Hawthorne, Dolly Henley of Archer and Donna Haire of Trenton; three sons, James Haire of Gainesville, Mitchell Haire of Palatka and Aquilla Griggs of Hawthorne; one brother, Bennie Ray Haire of Newberry; one sister, Lela Mae Hamilton of Gainesville; 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.
Mary L. Saunders
Mary L. Saunders of Gainesville died Sunday in Ocala. She was 94.
Mrs. Saunders was born in Edgefield, S.C., and lived in Gainesville since 1988. She worked for the Internal Revenue Service and was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
Survivors include one son, George M. Saunders of Ocala; one sister, Anabel S. Butler of Gainesville; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Cabot Allen
Cabot Allen of Chiefland died Saturday at Alachua Nursing Rehabilitation Center in Gainesville. He was 84.
Mr. Allen was a handyman, furniture finisher and cabinetmaker. He also was a disabled U.S. Army veteran.
He was a member of the Long Pond Baptist Church and also belonged to the VFW Post 5625 in Chiefland.
Survivors include a stepson, David Haire of Melrose; two sisters, Corean Sheppard and Lorean Hudson of Chiefland; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Thelma V. Bennett
MIAMI -- Thelma V. Bennett of Melrose died Thursday in Miami after a sudden illness. She was 80.
Mrs. Bennett was a homemaker.
Born in Appling, Ga., Mrs. Bennett moved 14 years ago from Brevard County to Melrose.
She belonged to the Windsor Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Cecil Bennett of Melrose; three daughters, Kathleen Wills and Faye Cole, both of Keystone Heights, and Kathryn Whitlow of Titusville; a step-daughter, Celia Pope of Melbourne; a stepson, Dr. Michael J. Bennett of Cottage Grove, Minn.; a brother, Nelson Russell of Jesup, Ga.; 10 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
William Clifford Mitchell
William Clifford Mitchell of Williston died Friday in Gainesville after a vehicle accident. He was 18.
Mr. Mitchell was an aluminum mechanic for Gem Aluminum.
Born in Gainesville, he was a lifelong resident of Williston.
He was a member of the Corner-Stone Assembly of God Church in Williston.
Survivors include his parents, Gary E. and Alice A. Mitchell of Williston; two brothers, Randy Dale Mitchell of Williston and Gregory Eugene Mitchell, both of Williston; and his girlfriend, Leslie Lyles of Williston.
Hazel Aileen Stafek Robinson
Hazel Aileen Stafek Robinson of Gainesville died at Hospice of North Central Florida Friday after a long illness. She was 88.
Mrs. Robinson was a bookkeeper for small businesses in Oklahoma, Texas, California, Nevada and Arizona.
She later served as a poll worker for the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections, as well as the University of Florida Student Government.
Born in Penelope, Texas, she moved 16 years ago from Las Vegas to Gainesville.
She graduated from high school in Devol, Okla., and Draughan's business college in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Mrs. Robinson served as an adult literacy volunteer and belonged to the Campus Church of Christ.
Survivors include two sons, Rayford O. Gammill of Las Vegas and David Fickas of Ventura, Calif.; a daughter, Lanelle Waters of Gainesville; a brother, Rayford Stafek of Salem, Ore.; two sisters, Helen Gould of Las Vegas and Doris Porter of San Antonio, Texas; six grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made asby donations to Christian Family Services, 2720 SW 2nd Ave., Gainesville 32607.
Jennie R. Ulieru
Jennie R. Ulieru of Gainesville died Saturday at Shands at AGH. She was 77.
Mrs. Ulieru was a retired secretary with the Ford Motor Co.
Born in Bridgeport, Conn., she moved 14 years ago from Farmington, Mich., to Gainesville.
She was a Catholic.
Survivors include a daughter, Judith Hopper of Citra; a son, Robert Ulieru of Lansing, Mich.; a sister, Mary Bonkowski of Grayling, Mich.; a grandson; and two great-grandchildren.
Marie T. Usmiani
Marie T. Usmiani of Gainesville died Friday in Gainesville. She was 93.
Mrs. Usmiani was a homemaker.
Born in Benwood, W.Va., Mrs. Usmiani moved 19 years ago from Hollywood, Fla., to Gainesville.
She was a member of the Holy Faith Catholic Church and the St. Paul's Catholic Church Altar Society.
She also belonged to the Croation Fraternal Union of America Lodge #595.
Survivors include a daughter, Jeanette Usmiani Brinsko of Gainesville; a sister, Margaret Karavanic of Weirton, W.Va.; a brother, Pete Ticich of Weirton; three grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.
Robert Frederick Allen
Robert Frederick Allen of Gainesville died Thursday in Gainesville. He was 74.
Mr. Allen was a minister and a lifelong resident of Gainesville. He graduated from P.K. Yonge and the University of Florida.
He was a member of Christian Science.
Mr. Allen enjoyed gardening and classical music.
There are no immediate survivors.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Habitat for Humanity in Gainesville.
Frank M. Flanigan
Frank M. Flanigan of Gainesville died Wednesday at his home. He was 83.
Mr. Flanigan was a professor emeritus in the department of mechanical engineering at the University of Florida. He also owned a consulting engineering firm and testified in numerous accident cases.
Born in West Virginia, he moved to Gainesville 52 years ago. He received a bachelor's degree from West Virginia University and a master's degree in science and engineering from UF.
He was a fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, a member of the American Society of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineers and the Royal Society of Health in London.
Survivors include his wife, Harlene W. Flanigan of Gainesville; a daughter, Teresacq Rosebrough of Lecanto; a stepson, Don Quincey of Chiefland; a sister, Catherine V. Flanigan of Trenton; and three grandchildren.
