Arthur Adams
Arthur "Art" Adams, 83, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at Charlotte Regional Medical Center in Punta Gorda, Fla.
He was born
Dec. 23, 1919. Art was a truck driver for Anchor Motor Freight for many years. He moved to Port Charlotte in 1979 from Flint, Mich. He attended Tri-City Baptist Church in Port Charlotte.
He is survived by his loving wife of more than 55 years, Juanita; his son, Jerry (Joanne) Ward of Grand Rapids, Mich.; daughter, Joyce Williams of Arcadia, Fla.; three sisters, Betty and Doris of Davison, Mich., and Arline of Marion, Mich.; three brothers, Garnet of Sacramento, Calif., Herbert of Dade City, Fla., and Stan of Breckinridge, Mich.; 11 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren. Art was preceded in death by his daughter, Joan Meoak; and his sons, Ralph Ward Jr. and Don Ward.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Tri-City Baptist Church, 24058 Heritage Place, Port Charlotte.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Tri-City Baptist Church.
The family has entrusted care and services to Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home, Punta Gorda.
Margaret Lasher
Margaret Lasher, 92, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Friday, Dec. 5, 2003, in Port Charlotte.
She was born
Sept. 9, 1911, in Brooklyn, N.Y. She moved to Port Charlotte from Fort Lonesome, Fla., in 1993, and was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
Survivors include her daughter, Florence Matuozzi of Port Charlotte; two sons, John J. Lasher Jr. of Long Island, N.Y., and Joseph M. Lasher of Irvine, Calif.; a sister, Catherine Beyer of Tustin, Calif.; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mrs. Lasher was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Lasher in 1997.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a Scripture service at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, in the Port Charlotte chapel of Kays-Ponger Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla.
Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger Funeral Home, Port Charlotte.
James L. Williamson Jr.
James Love Williamson Jr., 47, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003.
He was born
Feb. 5, 1956, in Shreveport, La., to James and Mary Williamson. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1976 to 1980 as an assistant ship's photographer and later as the personal chauffeur to a general. He was a member of Bellevue Baptist Church in Bossier City, La. He was employed at Home Depot in Port Charlotte.
His loving memory will be cherished by his mother, Mary Bobbie Tucker of Longview, Texas; his son and daughter, Joshua K. Williamson and Jesica L. Williamson, both of Arcadia, Fla.; his sister, Elisa Faith Pellet of Grandview, Texas; his grandson, Harley Isaiah Williamson of Arcadia; mother of his two children, Susan Williamson of Arcadia; his second wife, Edwina Williamson of Port Charlotte; numerous cousins in Louisiana; and a host of friends who loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by his father, James Love Williamson Sr.
Memorial services were on Monday, Dec. 8, 2003, at the Liverpool boat ramp in Sunny Breeze, Arcadia.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to American Cancer Society, 2100 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite A, Venice, FL 34293.
Robarts Funeral Home, Arcadia chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Marjorie M. Ellis
Marjorie M. Ellis, 78, of Englewood, Fla., passed away Sunday, Dec. 7, 2003, at her Charlotte County residence.
Mrs. Ellis was born
April 23, 1925, in Randolph, Mass., to Charles and Annie (Hanley) Whynot. She was a full-time homemaker and loving wife and mother of five children. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star in Randolph and moved to Englewood in 1986 from Brockton, Mass. In Englewood she was a member of Senior Friends and Fellowship Church in Englewood.
Surviving are sons, Benjamin F. III (Mary) and David (Cheryl) Ellis, both of Bridgewater, Mass., and Philip (Cathy) Ellis of Englewood; daughter, Joanne (Alan) Corliss of Englewood; sisters, Dorothy McDonald of Bridgewater, Mary Gavin of Stoughton, Mass., and Beatrice Hathaway of Lake Havasu, Ariz.; nine grandchildren, Chris, Wendy, Stephanie, Philip Jr., Joshua, Cassie, Alyssa, Emily and Rachel; and one great-granddaughter, Nicole. Marjorie was preceded in death by her loving husband of 51 years, Benjamin F. Ellis, in 1995; and a daughter, Suzanne Ellis.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood chapel, with the Rev. Garry Clark officiating. Interment will be at Gulf Pines Memorial Park.
Memorials in memory of Marjorie Ellis may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, Charlotte County Branch, c/o Hospice Foundation, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.
Arrangements are by Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood chapel.
Robert E. Rich
Robert E. Rich, 63, of Englewood, Fla., died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, at his residence.
He was born
July 29, 1940, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Charles and Helen (Gould) Rich. He moved from Cleveland to Englewood and was a resident of the area for 15 years. Mr. Rich was member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Helen B. Rich of Englewood; a stepson, Richard J. Leyerle of Englewood; and a sister, Shirley Piscurh of Kent, Ohio.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Englewood Community Funeral Home and Cremation Service have been selected to handle arrangements.
Mary R. Ruger
Mary R. Ruger, 88, of Englewood, Fla., died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, in Venice, Fla.
She was born
Oct. 3, 1915, in Lima, Ohio. She moved to Englewood in 1974 from Detroit, Mich. Mary was a homemaker. She was a member of the Grandmothers Club of Englewood and Lincoln Park Eagles Club in Lincoln Park, Mich.
She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Pardo of Allen Park, Mich.; two sons, Stanley E. Ruger Jr. of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Richard Ruger of Scottsdale, Ariz.; three sisters, Trula Ryan of Grosse Isle, Mich., Eileen Riddell of East Tawas, Mich., and Phyllis Crider of Englewood; 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley E. Ruger Sr.
There are no local services.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.
Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Eugene O. Flewelling
Eugene O. Flewelling, 79, of Port Charlotte, Fla., and formerly of North Port, Fla., passed away Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte. Arrangements are by National Cremation Society, Port Charlotte.
Helen M. Martin
Helen Mae (Deuring) Martin, 71, of Broadview Heights, Ohio, and formerly of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, at home in Broadview Heights.
She was born
Dec. 30, 1931, in Cleveland, Ohio. She was the daughter of William and Minnie (Kleine) Deuring. In 1950 she graduated from James Ford Rhodes High School in Cleveland and attended Baldwin Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. Helen worked for ALCOA in Cleveland for many years before moving to Port Charlotte in the 1970s. She was an avid golfer, a lover of music, and a faithful member of Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Port Charlotte and Richfield United Church of Christ in Richfield, Ohio. She was a beloved wife, stepmother, sister and aunt.
She is survived by her stepdaughter, Louie (Bob) Meecham; and her niece and nephews, Lisa, Ray, Jim and William. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Martin; her parents, William and Minnie (Kleine) Deuring; stepson, Chuck Martin; and brothers, William Deuring and Arthur Deuring.
A memorial service will be at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 24515 Rampart Blvd., Port Charlotte. Inurnment will take place Monday, Dec. 15, at Crown Hill Cemetery in Twinsburg, Ohio.
Busch Family Funeral Chapel and Busch Crematory in Parma, is serving the family.
Eugene J. Clougher
Eugene J. Clougher, 74, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at his residence.
He was born
March 31, 1929, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to Port Charlotte in 1982 from Bayshore, N.Y. He was in World War II serving in the Merchant Marine. He was a master mechanic with the Long Island Railroad with 35 years of service before retiring. He was a member of National Association of Retired & Veteran Railway Employees. He attended St. Maximlian Kobe Catholic Church in Port Charlotte.
He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Dorothy A. Clougher of Port Charlotte; five daughters, Denise M. Clougher of Punta Gorda, Jeanne A. Clougher of Seffner, Fla., Sheila R. Ginocchio of Raleigh, N.C., Virginia J. Grabow of Port Charlotte and Lisa M. Carroll of Tampa, Fla.; a sister, Ann Esposito of Mastic Beach, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, at Roberson
Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday Dec. 9. Committal service and entombment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Port Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Lillie B. Jones
Lillie Belle Jones, 85, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, Fla.,
Lillie was born
May 12, 1918, in Punta Gorda. She was the daughter of Henry and Bessie Munn and attended St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church at an early age. She taught Sunday school at St. Mark's Church. She married Horace Jones of New Jersey. Mrs. Jones worked as a housekeeper in several residences in Punta Gorda. She worked at the church for more than 60 years and served as deaconess. Lillie loved people and would lend a helping hand to whomever was in need. Her devoted niece, Sylvia, and granddaughter-in-law, Arneaitha Cooks, supported and comforted her in her last few years. She will be missed dearly by her family and friends.
She leaves to mourn her oldest sister, Josephine Logan; two sons, William H. (Betty Joe) Jones Sr. and Robert W. Jones Sr.; a daughter, Della Lee Cooks of Punta Gorda; three nephews, Harold and Charles Barton and Eugene Newsome; two nieces, Josephine Hughey and Sylvia Ware; 14 grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren; her very close friends, Margie Neal, Josephine Henry, Ellen Chapman and Willis Beauford, with whom she shared her life; and Corabell Finnley of New Jersey. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Rosa Munn.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. until funeral services at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 402 Dupont St., Punta Gorda, with the Rev. Lloyd Salary Jr., pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Carl Bailey Cemetery in Cleveland, Fla.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Hickson Funeral Home, Arcadia, Fla.
Richard C. Moulton
Richard C. Moulton, 81, of North Fort Myers, Fla., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003.
He was born
May 9, 1922, in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to this area in 1980 from Huntington, N.Y. Mr. Moulton served his country in the U.S. Navy. He worked for Grumman Aerospace in Bethpage, Long Island, N.Y., and was the production supervisor of the Lunar Excursion Module that went to the moon. He was also production supervisor for the space shuttle wings. Richard was a volunteer for the Alzheimer's Association and was an avid golfer.
Survivors include his son, William Moulton of Port Charlotte, Fla.; daughters, Laura Moulton of San Diego, Calif., and Paula (Don) Bogatay of San Diego; sister, Barbara Moulton of Venice, Fla.; four grandchildren, Matthew and Melissa Moulton of Orlando, Fla.; and Nick and Brandon Bogatay of San Diego; and his loving friend and caretaker, Midge Wolmer of North Fort Myers. He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene.
A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at First Church of God, 5290 Atwater Drive, Port Charlotte.
Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association Florida, Gulf Coast Chapter, 9365 U.S. Highway 19N, Pinellas Park, FL 33782.
Robert W. R. Steel
Robert Wesley Rockland Steel, 78, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, in Punta Gorda.
Mr. Steel was born
Jan. 24, 1925, in Erie, Pa. He served in the U.S. Army and retired as lieutenant colonel. He received the Bronze Medal, the Purple Heart and the Medal of Honor. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Punta Gorda.
He is survived by his loving wife, Elinor Elizabeth Steel of Punta Gorda; four daughters, Elinor Wood, Elizabeth Sucking, Sharon Nelson and Nelle White; two sons, Robert and Rockland Steel; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation was Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at the Punta Gorda chapel of Kays-Ponger Funeral Home. Funeral services were held Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, at the funeral home.
Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, Punta Gorda chapel.
Raymond C. Wood
Raymond C. Wood, 64, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, in Port Charlotte.
He was born
June 28, 1939, in Ware, Mass. He served his country in the U.S. Army National Guard. Ray worked for Prunier Construction for many years. He was a member of Laborers' International Union Local 243 in Worcester, Mass. He moved from Charlton, Mass., to Port Charlotte three years ago.
Ray is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Delys M. (Gauthier) Wood of Port Charlotte; son, Jeffrey (Darlene) C. Wood of East Brookfield, Mass.; daughter, Joyce (Alek) L. Wood of Warren, Mass; sisters, Margery M. Wood of Santa Ana, Calif., and Nancy (Paul) L. Korzec of Apollo Beach, Fla.; brother, Roger (Linda) C. Wood; and two grandchildren, Tristen Tenerowicz and Allicia Wood. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Alma Wood.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at First Baptist Church, 20035 Quesada Ave., Port Charlotte, with the Rev. Gerald Scott officiating. Internment is private.
Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte.
David S. Emmett
David S. Emmett, 56, of North Port, Fla., passed away Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, in Port Charlotte, Fla.
He was born
Dec. 25, 1946, in Fitchburg, Mass. He served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1967. He was a police officer for the Nashua, N.H., police department, attaining the rank of sergeant. He retired in 1992 with 20 years' service. He was a member of the Nashua Police Relief Association. Mr. Emmett relocated to North Port in 1992.
Survivors include his wife of 17 years, Janet M. Emmett of North Port; two sons, Steven (Naomie) Emmett of Hudson, N.H., and Nathan Emmett of North Port; four daughters, Alison (Martin) Schombs of Great Neck, N.Y., Beth (Tom) Spagnoli of Richmond, Va., Nicole Emmett of North Port and Heather (Doug) Mason of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; and five granddaughters, Brittany, Katelynn, Aubrey, Madison and Taylor.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, 2003, at the Port Charlotte chapel of Kays-Ponger Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens.
Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger Funeral Home, Port Charlotte chapel.
Faulina Wheeler
Faulina "Bunnie" Wheeler, 86, of Punta Gorda, Fla., and formerly of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Monday, Dec. 1, 2003, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte. Arrangements are by National Cremation Society of Port Charlotte.
Oscar E. Anderson
Oscar Emmett "Andy" Anderson, a native son of Englewood, Fla., died Saturday evening, Nov. 29, 2003, in Griffin, Ga.
Dr. Anderson was born
Nov. 4, 1916, at the Anderson farm located in North Englewood. The farm was located across the North Beach Road that leads to Joseph Daniel Anderson Park, which was named after Andy's father, and near Manasota Beach.
As an honors graduate of the University of Florida in 1939, Dr. Anderson became the first from the Anderson family to obtain an undergraduate degree. He entered the Army in 1941 and served as the commander of an artillery battalion during most of the war. He was at the invasion of Normandy as Captain Anderson, and went with General Patton in the sweep across Germany. After nearly five years of service in World War II, Dr. Anderson returned to civilian life but his military career did not end there. He remained in the Army Reserve and for many years taught at the War College in Washington, D.C. He reached an acting rank of brigadier general. He retired at the rank of colonel.
The first red tide came to Englewood while Dr. Anderson was in the fishery business with his brother, Stuart Anderson. The devastation of the marine life made him consider another career. He obtained his master's and doctoral degrees from 1952 to 1955 at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He became a soil scientist at the University of Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin, Ga. Dr. Anderson became world-renowned for his work in soil micronutrients. His university honored him by naming a crop after him while he was still living. After his retirement as chairman of the Agronomy Department for the University of Georgia, he continued as a consultant in West Africa in an effort to increase yeast from native crops to help feed the populations of those countries in which he worked.
Dr. Anderson was an advocate of and tireless worker in the Heifer Project. This project provides farm animals to farmers in third-world countries around the globe in an effort to help in the feeding of the world. He and his wife were co-founders of the Georgia Chapter of Heifer International through First United Methodist Church of Griffin.
Dr. Anderson was a lifelong Methodist and much of his early church life was spent in the old wooden Methodist church building on Green Street, attending services with his sister, Helen Mae Anderson Davids. He was a member of First Methodist Church in Griffin for many years and participated in its Joy Class. He was deeply involved in missionary work and recognized by the Mission Society in 1987. Dr. Anderson was a member of the Rotary Club. He was listed in Who's Who in the area of research science, and published numerous articles. He published a genealogy of his father, Joseph Daniel Anderson, which is available from the Englewood Historical Society, to whom he contributed the work.
Dr. Anderson is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Jean Anderson; a son and daughter, Ira Jeffrey Anderson and Donna Anderson Fowler; seven grandchildren, Kathi Kimbell, Meredith Sorrow, Robert Fowler Jr., Esther Weaver, Rodney Reagan, Angela Homiller and David Reagan; 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who adored him. Dr. Anderson had 13 siblings of whom he was the last survivor. He leaves many relatives and friends in the Englewood area who deeply mourn the passing of a humble, unassuming, but great man.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, 2003, at Lemon Bay Funeral Home on Dearborn Street, Englewood. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at the Lemon Bay Cemetery on Indiana Avenue.
It was his request that he be buried at "home" in Englewood. Donations may be made to Heifer Project: Southeastern Regional Division, Heifer Project International, 315 W. Ponce De Leon Ave., Suite 815, Decatur, GA 30030.
Shirley L. Buckles
Shirley Louise (Ardry) (Galante) Buckles, 73, of Beacon Falls, Conn., and formerly of Punta Gorda, Fla., died Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2003, at Waterbury Hospital. She was a widow of the late Anthony Galante and Harold Buckles.
Mrs. Buckles was born
Jan. 21, 1930, in Williamsport, Pa., a daughter of Frederick and Alva (Rowe) Ardry, and moved to this area in the early '30s. She moved to Punta Gorda in 1980, returning to Beacon Falls in 2002. She was a retired employee of Uniroyal-Footwear Division and later was employed in the travel industry and at Winn-Dixie while a resident of Florida. She was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church of Punta Gorda and had been an avid golfer and bowler prior to her illness. She was a member of the Emblem Club of Punta Gorda and a former member of the Emblem Club of Naugatuck, Conn.
She leaves one son, Anthony J. Galante of Beacon Falls; two daughters, Linda Nester of Naugatuck and Marietta Evans of Tampa, Fla.; three brothers, Ronald Ardry of Middlebury, Conn., and Kenneth Ardry and James Ardry, both of Beacon Falls; three sisters, Donna Salerno of Prospect, Conn., Elizabeth Guild of Southington, Conn., and Barbara Camera of Meriden, Conn.; and eight grandchildren.
The funeral and Mass was held Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck and at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Burial was at St. James Cemetery in Naugatuck.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Harold Leever Regional Cancer Center, 1039 Chase Parkway, Waterbury CT 06709; or to VNA-Hospice, 50 Brookside Dr., Waterbury, CT 06708.
Arrangements are by Alderson Funeral Home, Naugatuck.
