Maria Sytnyk
Maria Sytnyk, 92, of Warm Mineral Springs, Fla., and formerly of North Port, Fla., died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004.
She was born
Jan. 6, 1912, in Ukraine.
Maria moved to the North Port area in 1988 from Philadelphia, Pa. She was a member of St. Andrew's Ukrainian Church in North Port and St. Andrew's Ukrainian Church in Bound Brook, N.J.
Maria is survived by her niece, Luba Bilan of Ukraine; and her close friends, Dr. Wolodymyr and Halyna Korol of Warm Mineral Springs.
Visitation will be from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004, at Farley Funeral Home, North Port Chapel. A Panachyda will be at 8 p.m.
A funeral Mass will begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, 2004, at the funeral home and will continue on to St. Andrew's Ukrainian Church at 10 a.m. Burial will be at St. Andrew's Cemetery in Bound Brook.
Farley Funeral Home, North Port Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Adell H. Martin
Adell Hurst Martin, 75, of Arcadia, Fla., passed away Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, in Sarasota, Fla.,
He was born
Jan. 7, 1929, in Rebble, Ga.
Mr. Martin was a pulpwood farmer in his active working years. He moved to Arcadia 35 years ago.
He is survived by his wife, Genette Martin of Arcadia; two sons, Clarence Eldon Trace of Palm Bay, Fla., and James Earl Martin of of Bonifay, Fla.; two daughters, Phyllis (Lee) Sisson of Tampa, Fla., and Elsie Ruth Johnson of Sarasota; three brothers, Carroll Martin of Meigs, Ga., Alton Martin of Crawfordville, Fla., and James Martin Jr. of Ochlocknee, Ga.; one sister, Essie Mae (Dave) Kindschey of Valdosta, Ga.; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
The following arrangements are planned, pending weather conditions.
The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, 2004, at First Christian Church, Arcadia. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004, at graveside, Oak Ridge Cemetery, with the Rev. Lavon Caraway officiating.
Robarts Funeral Home of Arcadia is in charge of arrangements.
David C. Williams
David Chester Williams, 68, of Arcadia, Fla., passed away Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at his residence in Nocatee, Fla.
He was born
Jan. 21, 1936, in Arcadia, Fla. Mr. Williams was a meat cutter by trade.
He is survived by his wife, Margie Williams of Nocatee; three daughters, Glenda Dianne (Ray) Robertson and Teresa Ann Kirsch, both of Nocatee, and Phyllis K. Robertson of Bradenton, Fla.; two sisters, Pauline (Ray) Hines of Nocatee, and Grace Williams of Fort Ogden, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The following arrangements are planned, pending weather conditions. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20, 2004, followed by the service at 11 a.m., at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Arcadia, with the Rev. John Spratlin of the Nocatee Church of God officiating.
Robarts Funeral Home of Arcadia is in charge of arrangements.
Verna J. Bettmann
Verna Jean Bettmann, 83, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Monday, Aug. 9, 2004, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte.
She was born
Jan. 16, 1921, in Manilla Village, Ontario, Canada, to Herbert and Stella Avery Johnston.
Mrs. Bettmann was a retired nurse. She moved from Warren, Mich., to the Port Charlotte area in 1969. She was a member of Port Charlotte United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her children, Nancy (Mike) Ventimiglia of Clinton Township, Mich., Dianne Bettmann of Punta Gorda, Fla., and John Bettmann of North Fort Myers, Fla.; two grandchildren, Stella and Jay; three great-grandchildren, Michael, Andrew and Alexis; and brother, Vincent Johnston of Arizona. She was preceded in death by her husband, R.L. Bettmann.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004, at Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 5200 Indian Springs Cemetery Road, Punta Gorda.
The family suggests memorial donations in Verna's name be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.
Arrangements are by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, Punta Gorda.
Arkansas Gross
Arkansas Gross, 88, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004.
He was the son of Granville and Lillie (Mays) Gross, born
Oct. 17, 1915, in Beattyville, Ky. He was the owner of Asphalt Paving Company before retiring. A.K. and his wife moved to Port Charlotte from Beattyvile, Ky. 25 years ago. He was a member of First Church of God and the Masons.
A.K. will be greatly missed by his wife of 71 years, Mildred; daughter Betty Crabtree of Beattyville; son Bobby Gross Sr. of Port Charlotte; brothers Virgil and Woodrow Gross both of Beattyville; sisters Eula Little of Beattyville, Beulah Estes, Ollie Townsend and Mary Thacker, all of Miamisburg, Ohio; three grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services, followed by the service in celebration of Arkansas' life at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Noah Cox officiating. To express condolences to the family, please visit www.LTaylorfuneral.com and sign the guest book.
Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda Chapel.
Mary L. Ives
Mary L. Ives, 87, of Zephyrhills, Fla., passed away Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004, in ZephyrhiIls.
Mrs. Ives was born
Dec. 12, 1916, in Bennington, N.Y., to Charles F. and Ruth (Lewis) Sharp.
She moved to ZephyrhiIls in 1974 from Batavia, N.Y. She was a member of the Winters Park Shuffle Club. Mrs. Ives was a Methodist.
She is survived by two daughters, Cheryl J. Ives of Punta Gorda, Fla., and Georgette (John) Cowie of Batavia; a son, Douglas (Sandra) Ives of Port Charlotte, Fla.; stepdaughter, Beverly (Joseph) Gomez of Port Charlotte; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Edward Sharp of Byron, N.Y., Clayton Sharp of Oakfield, N.Y., and Willard Sharp of Gerraldstown, W.Va.; and a sister, Eleanor Shuknecht of Elba, N.Y. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Ives, in 1963; a son, LaVerne Ives, in 1968; a sister, Elizabeth Shuknecht, in 1952; her father, Charles Sharp, in 1974; and her mother, Ruth Sharp, in 1978.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pasco County Fire Rescue, 38410 Sixth Ave., Zephyrhills, FL 33540.
Arrangements are by Whitfield Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Zephyrhills.
Albert G. Karasch
Albert G. Karasch, 88, of Punta Gorda, Fla., and formerly of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Sunday, Aug. 8, 2004, at his residence in Punta Gorda.
He was born
Sept. 12, 1915, in Decatur, Ill.
Albert, was a retired tool and die maker. He moved to Port Charlotte in 1982 from South Holland, Ill., then to Punta Gorda in 2002. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church ELCA in Port Charlotte and the Punta Gorda Country Club. He was a life member of the Moose.
He is survived by his children, Albert F. (Joan) Karasch of Crest Hill, Ill., and Sandra Jean Milazzo of Chicago, Ill.; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. followed by the funeral services at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at the Port Charlotte chapel of Roberson Funeral Home, 2151 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. Entombment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Port Charlotte. A reverend from Peace Lutheran Church will officiate.
Memorials are suggested to Alzheimer's Association Southwest Florida Chapter, P.O. Box 494708, Port Charlotte, FL 33949-4708.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte.
Bernard M. Steen
Bernard M. Steen, 59, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Sunday, Aug. 8, 2004, in Port Charlotte.
He was born
July 29, 1945, in Bronx, N.Y.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1968, and was stationed in Germany. Mr. Steen moved to Port Charlotte from Garfield, N.J., in 1991. He was employed as a service manager at Camping World in Fort Myers, Fla.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Eileen M. Steen of Port Charlotte; a son, Sean L. Steen of Port Charlotte; a sister, Luella (Richard) Yuhas of North Port, Fla.; a brother, Myron (Monica) Steen Jr. of Tallahassee, Fla.; five nieces, Christine DiCarlo, Corninne Canastra, both of New York, Evelyn Caravella, Mackenzie Steen and Mason Steen, all of Florida; four nephews, Walter Voeks, James Yuhas, both of New York, Robert Voeks and Michael Steen, both of Florida; and stepmother, Karen Steen of Tallahassee. Mr. Steen was also the great-uncle of 15 nieces and nephews, and the great-great uncle of one.
A visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004, at the Port Charlotte Chapel of Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, 2405 Harbor Blvd., Port Charlotte. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Bob W. Carlson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American Diabetes Association, 1101 N. Lake Destiny, Maitland, FL 32751.
Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Richard T. Swindell
Richard Theodore Swindell, 76, died Monday, Aug. 9, 2004, at his home.
He was born
March 9, 1928, in Indianapolis, Ind., and was the son of schoolteachers, Frank and Carmen Swindell.
Richard spent his childhood in the Midwest. He graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., and began an extensive career in the automotive industry that included driving and building race cars, and managing a fleet of trucks for Sears Roebuck and Co. His career extended to Sears Midwest Training School, teaching the craft that he loved. His expertise with engines included radio-controlled model plane engines. His association with Charlotte Radio Control Society brightened his retirement years.
Richard is survived by his wife, Nita and her three devoted children, Karen Gustafson, Russell Cook and Sara Hudson; six children, Linda Rose Barley, Kathie Lyon, Trudy Smith, Jim Swindell, Karen Ortiz and Richard Scott Swindell; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; several stepchildren and their children; one sister, Betty Lowrey; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Jody Turner.
The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at Robarts Funeral Home, 163 Brevard Ave., Arcadia, Fla. A celebration of Richard's life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, 2004, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family request contributions be made to the donor's charity of choice.
Arrangements are by Robarts Funeral Home, Arcadia.
Sanford T. Shepardson Jr.
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Sanford Thomas "Shep" Shepardson Jr., 74, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004, at his home.
He was born
Nov. 11, 1929, in Pittsfield, Mass., to Sanford Thomas Shepardson and Esther French Bigelow Shepardson.
Shep graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1947. He graduated in 1951 from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt., with a degree in civil engineering. He then entered the U.S. Air Force and attended pilot training at Williams Air Force Base, in Arizona. Shep earned his wings and served as a fighter pilot on active duty with the Massachusetts Air Guard. He retired after 22 years of military service from the Vermont Air Guard in 1973. Shep was also employed as a design engineer for the G.S. Blodgett Company of Burlington, Vt., for 28 years, retiring in 1993.
He moved to Punta Gorda in 1995 and was a member of Saint Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Port Charlotte and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.
Shep is survived by his wife of 47 years, Rose Ann Shepardson of Punta Gorda; five children, Mark Shepardson and his wife, Nina, of Flint Hill, Va., Colleen Gibson of Nashville, Tenn., Rai Shepardson and her husband, Rich, of Georgia, Vt., Paul Shepardson and his wife, Michelle, of Shepherdsville, Ky., and Matthew Shepardson and his wife, Cindy, of Colorado Springs, Col.; his brother, Gordon Shepardson and his wife, Marilyn, of Winter Park, Fla.; and 10 grandchildren.
A celebration of Shep's life will be held at a later date.
The family suggests that memorial donations in Shep's name be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.
Arrangements are by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, Punta Gorda.
Verna J. Bettmann
Verna Jean Bettmann, 83, of Port Charlotte Fla., passed away Monday, Aug. 9, 2004, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital, in Port Charlotte. Arrangements are by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, Punta Gorda.
John L. McCarthy
John L. McCarthy, 61, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Sunday, Aug. 8, 2004, at the Sarasota Hospice House in Sarasota, Fla.
He was born
May 30, 1943, in Fall River, Mass.
Mr. McCarthy served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Vietname War. He retired as owner and operator of Tiki trucking. He moved to Port Charlotte in 1993 from Chiefland, Fla.
Mr. McCarthy is survived by his wife, Sandra V. McCarthy of Port Charlotte; a daughter, Holly M. Yager of Port Charlotte; a son, John J. (Stephanie) McCarthy of Jacksonville, Fla.; a brother, "LA." Tom McCarthy of Port Charlotte; his father, John McCarthy of Bastrop, La.; and two grandchildren.
There will be a family gathering from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004, at Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory in Port Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of SW Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Robert S. Nagy
Robert S. Nagy, 63, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Friday, Aug. 6, 2004.
Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda Chapel.
Joyce J. Schoonover
Joyce J. Schoonover, 62, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Saturday Aug. 7, 2004, at Hospice House of Port Charlotte. Arrangements are by National Cremation Society of Port Charlotte.
Norma K. Shire
Norma K. Shire, 77, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004.
She was born
Aug. 25, 1926, in Creighton, Neb., to Karl H. and Anne Lanz Krugman.
Mrs. Shire graduated from Corinth High School, Corinth, N.Y., in 1943. She was married to Richard J. Shire. Mrs. Shire had been a resident of Port Charlotte since 1979.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, in 1986; and her parents.
Private Burial was held in Gloversville, N.Y.
Arrangements are by the Kobuskie-Konik Funeral Home, Gloversville, N.Y.
Arthur A. Gregory
Arthur A. Gregory, 73, of North Port, Fla., and formerly of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004, at Sarasota Hospice House of Southwest Florida.
He was born
Dec. 6, 1930, in Jamaica, West Indies.
Mr. Gregory was a claims adjuster for General Motors Acceptance Corporation, and retired after many years of service. He moved from Brooklyn, N.Y., to Port Charlotte in 1997. He moved to North Port in 1999. Mr. Gregory was of the Roman Catholic faith.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Gloria E. Gregory; five sons, Arthur Gregory Jr. of Riverdale, Ga., Colville L. Gregory of Acworth, Ga., Michael C. Gregory of Wilmington, N.C., Dwight M. A. Gregory of Roswell, Ga., and Cleon B. Gregory of North Port; two daughters, Camille E. Gregory-Rodriguez of North Port, and Michelle A. Myers of Brooklyn; 19 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with an evening wake service at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004, at Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel. A reverend from San Pedro Catholic Church of North Port will officiate.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory, Port Charlotte Chapel.
