Linnie H. Blackmon
Linnie H. Blackmon, 93, of Arcadia, Fla., died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003.
She was born
Dec. 30, 1909, in Blountstown, Fla. She moved to Arcadia in 1959 from Jasper, Fla. She was a homemaker. She liked sewing quilts, doing crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Arcadia.
She is survived by her three daughters, Alice (Allan) Stone, Linda (Kay) Glen Huffacker and Lois Brown, all of Arcadia; son, Dan (Deodie) Blackmon Jr. of Vallejo, Calif.; sisters, Lucille Nipper of Arcadia and Lura V. Tucker of Jacksonville, Fla.; brothers, Henry Hagan of Jasper and Earl Hagan of New Bern, N.C.; 22 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Blackmon; brothers, Tom Hagan and Woodrow Hagan; sisters, Kola Tucker and Katie Lou Morris; sons, Robert C. Blackmon, Ellis Blackmon and Harold Dean Blackmon; and daughter, Laverne Lott.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home, 50 N. Hillsboro Ave., Arcadia. A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Arcadia. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Arrangements are by Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home, Arcadia.
Mack J. Karis
Mack J. Karis, 84, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2003, at Bon Secours-St. Joseph Hospital in Port Charlotte.
He was born
April 12, 1919, in Schenectady, N.Y., and moved to Port Charlotte 26 years ago from Scotia, N.Y. He worked as a machinist for American Locomotive Co. in Schenectady prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Army. He was a veteran of World War II and served with the 716th military Police Battalion. After the war, he joined Coca Cola Bottling Co. in Albany, N.Y., retiring from there in 1976. He was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Port Charlotte. He was an active member of the volunteer fire department in Scotia. A year-round angler, he enjoyed spending time fishing at his summer home on Loon Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. He was also a lifelong sportsman, enjoying golf, baseball and football.
Mack is survived by his wife of 56 years, Josephine Karis of Port Charlotte; two daughters, Judith Newton of Port Charlotte and Lisa Esperti of Ballston Lake, N.Y.; a son, Mark Karis of Port Charlotte; a brother, Ray Karis of Scotia, N.Y.; a sister, Ann McClure of Florida; four grandchildren, Jennifer Newton, P.J., Jacqueline and Morgan Esperti.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. A memorial service will be held at a later date in New York.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hudson Headwaters Health Network, 3767 Main St., Warrensburg, NY 12885. Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory, Port Charlotte chapel.
Peter H. Masanow
Peter H. Masanow, 45, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003.
He was born
Feb. 25, 1958, in New York City, N.Y. He moved to this area 27 years ago from Brooklyn, N.Y. Peter was a consultant for O.J. Citrus Investment. He enjoyed his job and everything to do with citrus growing. He also ran marathons and liked to travel. At one time, Peter owned and flew his own plane. He graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville with a bachelor's degree, and received his master's degree in agriculture and economics from the University of Florida.
Survivors include his wife, Christy; son, Josh Masanow of Port Charlotte; parents, Martin and Priscilla Masanow of Port Charlotte; and father- and mother-in-law, Louis (Joan) McTeer of Haines City, Fla.
A celebration of Peter's life will be held at a later date.
Valerie J. Nyiri
Valerie Jean Nyiri, 24, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away unexpectedly Monday, Oct. 20, 2003, in Sarasota County.
She was born
July 6, 1979, in Natrona Heights, Pa., to Karen (Miller) and Kurt Nyiri. She moved to Port Charlotte in 1998 from Clovis, Calif. She was a 1998 graduate of Port Charlotte High School, and was employed at Sears and Bob Evans in the Port Charlotte Town Square mall.
Valerie is survived by her mother, Karen E. Nyiri, and step-father, Pete Kawamoto; her father, Kurt Nyiri of California; brother, Kevin Nyiri of California; maternal grandparents, Alfred and Genevieve Miller of Port Charlotte; paternal grandparents, Alexander and Edith Nyiri of Sarver, Pa.; and four uncles and their families, Ron (Cindy) Miller, Jerry Nyiri, Kenny (Rosella) Nyiri and Dean (Amy) Nyiri.
A memorial service in celebration of Valerie's life will be at 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, in the Port Charlotte chapel of Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, 2405 Harbor Blvd. Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte.
Margueriete E. Reber
Margueriete E. Reber, 93, of Punta Gorda, Fla., and formerly of Marion, Mich., died Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003, in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Mrs. Reber was born
March 13, 1910, in Marion to John Richard and Elma Elnora (Chilcote) Thompson. She married Earl Ford Reber on Sept. 12, 1926, in Marion. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Marion. She was a loving mother and homemaker.
She is survived by her son, Jack Reber of Port Charlotte; daughter-in-law, Rosalie Reber of Punta Gorda; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Franklin Reber; an infant brother, Richard; a sister, Helen Wiley; a half-brother, Lewis Richard Reber; and a grandson, Timothy Earl Reber.
Funeral services for Mrs. Reber were held Sunday, Oct. 12, at Fosnaught-Holdship Funeral Home in Marion, with the Rev. Joel Nephew officiating. Burial was at Greenwood Cemetery in Marion.
Memorial donations may be made to an organization of donor's choice. Arrangements are by Fosnaught-Holdship Funeral Home, Marion.
Lina Vogelsang
Lina Vogelsang, 95, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2003, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte.
She was born
Jan. 20, 1908, in Bremen, Germany, and moved to Port Charlotte in 1972 from Ridgewood, N.J. She attended Lutheran Church of the Cross in Port Charlotte and German Lutheran Congregation in Cape Coral, Fla. She was a member and a co-founder of the German-American Club of Charlotte County.
Lina is survived by her brother, Fred H.(Klara) Brokmeier of Port Charlotte; a sister-in-law; several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Paul F. Vogelsang, who died in 1993.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte chapel. The Rev. Harold Popp, pastor of German Lutheran Congregation in Cape Coral, will officiate. Inurnment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, Port Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte chapel.
George Mansur
George Mansur, 81, of Englewood, Fla., died Friday, Oct. 17, 2003, at Cape Coral Hospice Home.
He was born, April 3, 1922, in Bethlehem, Palestine. Mr. Mansur was resident of Englewood for 16 years, coming from Berkley, Mich. George was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a tool-and-die maker, and an alumnus of the Henry Ford Trade School Association. He was the owner-operator of Tree King Coin Laundromats in Detroit, Mich., for 23 years, retiring in 1981. He also was a former member of the Laundry Association of Michigan. In his retirement, Mr. Mansur deeply enjoyed constructing bird houses of various styles. Many of his creations were donated to organizations and fund-raisers.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Roberta H. Mansur of Englewood; daughter, Kathryn Zusmanis of Berkeley Lake, Ga., three sons, Gerard Mansur of Maple City, Mich., James Mansur of Berkley and Robert Mansur of Walled Lake, Mich.; and four grandsons.
Englewood Community Funeral Home & Cremation Services has been selected to handle arrangements.
Helen McGill
Helen McGill, 97, of Englewood (Sarasota County) Fla., died Friday, Oct. 17, 2003.
She was born
Jan. 29, 1906, in Charleston, Ill. She came to this area 30 years ago from there. Helen was a police officer for 29 years for the Chicago Police Department. She was a member of the Democratic Women's Club and Suncoast Humane Society, both in Englewood.
Helen is survived by her sister, Virginia Ryan of Yucaipa, Calif.; her nephew, Carl (Marilyne) Meek, of Bloomington, Calif.; two special friends, Ernestine Smarth and Millie Ortega, both of Englewood; and many relatives in Charleston.
Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 24, in the Englewood chapel of Lemon Bay Funeral Homes. Lemon Bay Funeral Homes, Englewood chapel, is in charge of cremation arrangements.
Ruth L. Anderson
Ruth Lavon Anderson, 69, of Arcadia, Fla., passed away Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Fla.
She was born
May 29,1934, in Sarasota. Ruth was a lifelong resident of Arcadia. She retired from DeSoto Memorial Hospital as a nurse, in the obstetrics department.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Anderson of Arcadia; sons, Glen (Jan) Anderson and Mike Anderson, both of Arcadia, and Rick (Linda) Anderson of Wauchula, Fla.; daughters, Lisa (Mickey) Strickland, Sharon (Robbie) Dyal, Debbie (Billy) Neal and Kelly Anderson, all of Arcadia; 13 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held Tuesday. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Gardner Baptist Church, Gardner, Fla., with the Rev. Harold Brown, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Joshua Creek Cemetery, Arcadia. Robarts Funeral Home, Arcadia chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
William T. Wolfrey Jr.
William "Buddy" Thomas Wolfrey Jr., 78, of Batesville, Ark., passed away Friday, Oct. 17, 2003, in a Batesville hospital.
He was born
Feb. 6, 1925, in Harrisonburg, Va., to William Thomas Wolfrey Sr. and Tenney Cline Wolfrey. "Buddy" was a retired fire chief in West Miami, Fla. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. In Miami, Fla., he was a member of Kiwanis Club, Dade County Fire Chiefs Association, American Motorcycle Association, Florida Trail Riders Motorcycle Association and Hope Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife, Patsy Wolfrey of Batesville; son, William Thomas Wolfrey III of Arcadia, Fla.; three daughters, Tenney Mullinax of Miami, Linda Giordano of Blairsville, Ga., and Betty Kay Odio of Miami; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Winona Francise Wolfrey; an infant daughter, Shirley Ann Wolfrey; and two sisters, Kathrine Stanley and Ruth Armentrout.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Willis-Hays Chapel in Batesville, with John High officiating. Honorary pallbearers are Paul Rice, Frank Rice, Rex Rice, Ernest Rice, Dennis Cook and Frank Smith. There will be no visitation. Arrangements are by Willis-Hays Funeral Service, Batesville.
Robin L. Antonuccio
Robin L. Antonuccio, 47, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Monday, Oct. 20, 2003, at Bon Secours-St. Joseph Hospital in Port Charlotte. Arrangements are by James A, McKee Funeral Homes, North Port, Fla.
William E. Lammert
William E. Lammert, 82, of Placida, Fla., died Monday, Oct. 20, 2003. Englewood Community Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Englewood, Fla., has been selected to handle arrangements.
Vern Beehler
Vern Beehler, 76, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Sunday, Oct. 19, 2003, in Port Charlotte.
Mr. Beehler was born
Jan. 3, 1927, in Mishawaka, Ind. Mr. Beehler served his country in the U.S. Army, and was honorably discharged in 1947. He had resided in this area since moving here from Cassopolis, Mich., in 1983. He retired from the Mishawaka Police Department in 1973, and had worked for Twelfth Street Liquor Store in Mishawaka, and South Port Square in Port Charlotte. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 91 in Mishawaka, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 360 in Mishawaka and American Legion Post 110 in Port Charlotte.
Surviving are his wife of 36 years, Virginia; a son, Louis (Cheryl) Beehler of Mishawaka; a sister, Norma (Charles) Silvers of Sun City, Ariz.; a brother, George (Patricia) Beehler of Tequesta, Fla.; two granddaughters, Jessica Beehler and Jennifer Beehler, both of Mishawaka; one niece and three nephews.
The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. until the service at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in the Punta Gorda chapel of Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, 635 E. Marion Ave., with the Rev. Larry W. Pope officiating. Inurnment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Mishawaka at a later date.
Memorials in Mr. Beehler's name may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238. Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, Punta Gorda chapel.
Clifford H. Defenbaugh
Clifford H. Defenbaugh, 92, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, after a two-month illness.
He was born
Dec. 28, 1910, in Marseilles, Ill., to John D. Defenbaugh and Leah Hoskins Defenbaugh. He attended schools in Cornell, Ill. He worked in the Seneca Shipyards during the war. He was an owner of Defenbaugh Repair Shop in Pontiac, Ill. He was also carpenter and farmer. He married Alta Eaton Defenbaugh on May 9, 1934, in Cornell. He was a member of Palmetto United Methodist Church in Palmetto, Fla. He was a life member of Good Sam Club.
He is survived by his children, Phyllis (Bernie) Crews and Joan K. (James) Marshall, both of Port Charlotte; five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, John D. Defenbaugh and Leah Defenbaugh; his son, Clifford Eugene Defenbaugh; brothers, Guy and Bud Defenbaugh; and sisters, Elma Goddard and Blanche Defenbaugh.
Friends may call at 1 p.m. until the service at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Harris-Martin-Burke Funeral Home, Pontiac, with the Rev. Gretchen Stinebaugh of Pontiac United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be at Pontiac Southside Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials to American Heart Association. Arrangements are by Harris-Martin-Burke Funeral Home, Pontiac.
Catherine W. Hill
Catherine W. Hill, 87, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, in Port Charlotte.
She was born
March 14, 1916, in Holyoke, Mass. Catherine worked as a nurse for the commonwealth of Massachusetts at the Belchertown state school for 20 years. She had been in Port Charlotte for 36 years, coming from Belchertown, Mass.
Catherine is survived by her son, John "Jack" Sullivan of Bondsville, Mass., and Michael "Duke" Sullivan of Belchertown; daughter, Marsha "Maggie" Nelson of Port Charlotte; stepdaughter, Carol Hubbard of Belchertown; stepson, Raymond Hill of Lexington, N.C.; 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Nelson J. Hill, in 1998; and daughter, Nina Place, in 2001.
Graveside services will be at Quabbin Cemetery in Ware, Mass., at the family's convenience.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Catherine's name to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238; or Belchertown Fire Department, 100 Main St., Belchertown, MA 01007. Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte.
Richard J. Johnson
Richard James Johnson, 83, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003.
He was born
Sept. 13, 1920, in Fitchburg, Mass. He moved to this area in 1983 from Waltham, Mass. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Mr. Johnson retired as a machinist for Helix Corp. in Waltham. He was a member of Lutheran Church of the Cross in Deep Creek, Fla.
Survivors include his wife, Betty; stepdaughters, Brenda Brandt of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Leslie Napolitano of Lakeland, Fla.; one sister, Helen Peterson of Casey, Iowa; and one step-granddaughter.
There will be a memorial service at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003, at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Deep Creek.
Memorial donations may be sent to Lutheran Church of the Cross Building Fund, 2300 Luther Road, Port Charlotte, FL 33983.
Kristine C. Salter
Kristine Camilla Salter, 48, of Port Charlotte, Fla., fell asleep in death Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003.
She was born
Sept. 7, 1955, in Neptune, N.J., the fourth of five children born
to Nicholas and Anna Toft. She graduated from Wall High School, then completed the registered nurse program at St. Francis School in Trenton, N.J.
Kris moved to Port Charlotte in 1979. In 1980, she began working at Fawcett Memorial Hospital and specialized in critical care and emergency nursing.
Kris was one of Jehovah's Witnesses and a member of the West Port Charlotte congregation.
She is survived by her parents, Nicholas and Anna; her children, Kraig, Bryan, Kira, Leahanne and Lindsey; brother, Henry (Judy) Toft of Lanoka Harbor, N.J.; sisters, Kathy Molyneux of Forked River, N.J., Karan (Bill) Edler of St. Anthony, Iowa, and Tracy (Kenny) Smith of Point Pleasant, N.J.; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 21 years, Keith H. Salter, in 2000.
A service in celebration of Kris' life will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 9654 Gulfstream Blvd., Englewood, Fla.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to West Port Charlotte Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 9654 Gulfstream Blvd., Englewood, FL 34244; or American Cancer Society, 22017 Elmira Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33952. Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda.
Gilbert H. Carter
Gilbert Harold Carter, 86, of Englewood, Fla., passed away Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003.
He was born
June 8, 1917, in Manorville, N.Y., and moved to this area 30 years ago from Manorville. Mr. Carter was a successful potato farmer and very active in the community of Manorville. He served on the school board for many years and was active in the volunteer fire department. In Englewood, he was a member of the Elks and Moose and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Venice, Fla.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; and daughter, Sue Beth Carter of New York, N.Y.
Memorial services are pending. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Presbyterian Church, Memorial Garden Fund, 4365 S. State Road 776, Venice, FL 34293. Arrangements are by National Cremation Society of Port Charlotte.
