Robert A. Caver
Robert A. Caver, 71, of Birmingham, Ala., and formerly of Destin, died Nov. 9, 2000.
According to his nephew, Larry Caver Jr. of Prattville, Ala., Mr. Caver lived on Sibert Avenue in Destin from 1955-1961, and was the brother of Leon Caver Jr., who lived in Destin from 1951-1980.
Mr. Caver was retired from The Book Binders Local, Commercial Print Company, after 30 years of service.
Survivors include his wife, Betty R. Caver; daughters Patricia Nadine Caver (Joseph A.) Ronchetti, Birmingham; granddaughter Marie C. Ronchetti (Jason Todd) Farmer of Cullman, Ala.; brother Edward David Caver Sr. and sister Mary Alice (Vincent Lester) Martin, both of Birmingham.
Services were conducted Saturday, Nov. 11, with burial in Forest Hill Cemetery.
Ruth Scheiderer Willis
Ruth Scheiderer Willis of Upper Arlington, Ohio, died Friday, Sept. 22, 2000, in Santa Rosa Beach.
Born Sept. 10, 1916, in Columbus, Ohio, Willis graduated from North High School and attended Ohio State University. She married James R. Willis on Oct. 26, 1940. She was a charter member of Twig No. 90. She served as a board member of NNEMAP, working there and in the Pantry. She was a lifelong active member of St. Mark Lutheran Church.
Her husband, Jim, predeceased her on May 23, 1988. She is survived by two daughters, Nancy Jo Willis of Santa Rosa Beach and Jean W. LeLoup and her husband, Jeff Morris, of Cortland, N.Y.; close friend Anita Sloan of Santa Rosa Beach; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild, and many nieces, nephews and other family members.
A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at The Santa Rosa Beach Community Church. Additional services will follow in Columbus, Ohio, with a private family interment at Oakdale Cemetery in Marysville, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to consider a donation to the St. Mark Foundation, in care of St. Mark Lutheran Church, 95 W. Fifth Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43214; NNEMAP Pantry, 1064 N. High St., Columbus, Ohio 43201; The Community Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1723, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. 32459), or the charity of their choice.
Jennie Hughes
Jennie Hughes, 77, a native of Plaquemine, La., and a resident of Carriere, Miss., for the past 13 years, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000.
She was predeceased by her husband, Marvin Hughes; her parents, Ann Devillere Martin and Kenneth Martin; and a brother, Raymond Martin.
Survivors include a daughter, Dianne H. Daigle of Destin, and two sons, Richard C. Hughes, Picayune, Miss., and Michael G. Hughes, Spring, Texas; grandchildren Donna Fisher, Darren Daigle, Amy Mariana and Richard Jr., Shannon and Matthew Hughes; great-grandchildren Jennifer and Jonathan Fisher, Michael Jr. and Alexander Mariana, and Jeremy and Justin Daigle; and a sister, Dorothy Keogh.
A funeral Mass was conducted Friday, Sept. 22, in Harvey, La., with interment in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Carol Luedecke
Carol Luedecke, an eight-year resident of Destin and owner of a small business, died of cancer early Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000 She was 53.
A memorial service has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at Destin United Methodist Church, said her husband, John Luedecke.
Mrs. Luedecke was owner and president of CSL Inc. Environmental Products, a small business that designed and marketed products of environmental concern. The company has eight employees, John Luedecke said, and will continue to operate.
"She was a very positive person who enriched the lives of so many people," her husband said. He has several Hardee's restaurants in the area and has interests in an office/retail warehouse in Destin.
Luedecke is survived by her husband, John, of Destin, and two sons, John Andrew "Andy" Luedecke, 24, of Atlanta, and William "Scott" Luedecke, 16, who attends McCallie Prep School in Chattanooga.
Mrs. Luedecke will be cremated, and McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach is in charge. There will not be a service at the mortuary.
Julius 'J.R.' Rose
Julius "J.R." Rose died Friday, Sept. 8, 2000, at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. He was 68.
Mr. Rose was born in Flint, Mich., on Nov. 7, 1931, the youngest of 10 children born to the late Michael and Mary Rose. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by brothers Jim and Alex and sisters Mary and Helen.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara, of Destin; son Mike and daughter-in-law Pat of Ohio; son Pat of Michigan; daughter Terri and son-in-law Randy Gill of Michigan; daughter Amanda Freeman of Mobile; brothers Joe, Lou, Bill and wife Cynthia; sisters Margaret Kovacs and Thelma and husband Rolland Bacon, all of Michigan; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and mother-in-law Tootsie Barron of Mississippi.
Mr. Rose was a veteran of the Korean War and retired with 33 years of service from General Motors in Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: John Will Preschool Playground Fund for Special Needs Children, 5750 Summit Ave., Mobile, AL 36608. Donations may also be made to the Humane Society.
Mr. Rose was cremated according to his wishes. Memorial services were Tuesday, Sept. 12, at First Baptist Church of Destin, with the Rev. Bob Boone officiating.
Stacey (Rocky) Rockstead
Stacey (Rocky) Rockstead, 42, died at his home in Santa Rosa Beach Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000.
A Desert Storm veteran, Mr. Rockstead moved to the area in 1992.
Survivors include his wife, Terri L. Rockstead and two sons, Joshua and William, all of Santa Rosa Beach; his parents, Dick and Nancy Rockstead, Lindenwood, Ill.; sisters Jan, Kim and Kelley and brothers Joey, Scott and Mike, all of Lindenwood; and his parents-in-law, Dick and June Piper, Destin.
A private memorial service for the family will be conducted by a chaplain at the Rockstead home in Santa Rosa Beach at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9.
The family would appreciate donations for pancreatic cancer research to the American Cancer Society.
Joan L. Dwinell
Joan L. Dwinell, age 73, of Destin, died Dec. 24, in a local hospital.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Richard C. Dwinell Sr.; and stepsons, Richard C. Dwinell Jr., of Destin, and Donald Lewis Dwinell of Floyd Knobs, Ind.
Born in Chicago on April 6, 1929 she attended school there and worked in real estate in the Chicago area prior to moving to Florida. She moved to Fort Myers, Fla., in 1970 and resided there until moving to Destin in 1999.
A memorial service was scheduled to be held at the Emerald Coast Funeral Home Dec. 27.
William Dow Sparks
William Dow Sparks, 66, a long–time Walton County resident, died Dec. 24, in Biloxi, Miss.
He was Methodist by faith and was preceded in death by his father, Ulssyes Sparks, and mother, Beulah W. Sparks.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Sheri Sparks of Freeport; daughters, Cheryl Lynn Sparks of Plattsburgh, N.Y., Margaret Ann Ellington and husband, Bill, of Macon, Ga., and Pamela Jean Nielsen and husband, Christopher, of Sacramento; brothers, Douglas Sparks of Toledo, Ohio, and Eugene Sparks of Anniston, Ala.; sisters, Barbara Lambert of Freeport, Janet Waugh of Gainesville, Ga., Arlene Holbrook of Ohio and Betty Reagan of Springfield, Ohio; eight grandchildren and seven great–grandchildren.
Services were scheduled for Dec. 29 at Clary–Godwin Freeport. Burial was to follow in Hatcher Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Douglas Sparks, Eugene Sparks, Chris Nielson, Bill Ellington, Leonard Waugh and Mike Rivers.
Clary–Godwin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Clara Singletary
Clara Singletary, 87, of DeFuniak Springs, died Friday, Dec. 21, in a local nursing home.
Born on March 15, 1914, in Holmes County, Fla., Clara had lived in the DeFuniak Springs area for the past 61 years. She was a homemaker and a longtime member of First Assembly of God Church of DeFuniak Springs. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. John Singletary, in 1974, and granddaughter Kim Singletary in 1982, one sister and four brothers.
Singletary is survived by two sons, Fredrick Singletary and wife, Era, of DeFuniak Springs, and Bill J. Singletary and wife, Barbara, of Houston; grandchildren, James Singletary and wife, Brenda, of Pensacola, Janet Burgemeister and husband, Dan, of Navarre, Betty Faye Ward and husband, Steve, of Pensacola, and Kent Singletary and wife, Kendahl, of Phoenix; seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services were scheduled for Dec. 23 at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home Chapel in DeFuniak Springs, with the Rev. Jeff Cain officiating. Burial was to follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Norman Huggins, Jim Singletary, Dan Burgemeister, Ray Dotson, Ken Lorenz and James Williamson.
Charles A. Mullen
Charles A. Mullen, age 64, died Thursday, Dec. 20, at his Sandestin home in Destin.
Chuck, as he was known to his family and friends, was an avid golfer and well–respected lawyer who made a difference to every life that he touched. He was born in Perry, Iowa, on March 15, 1937, to his parents, the late George E. Mullen and the late Kathryn Swallow Andrew. After graduating from Perry High School, Chuck attended college at Iowa State University, joined the Marine Corps in 1956 and played on the U.S. Marine Corps Golf Team. He went on to attend the University of Iowa where he completed Law School in 1964 with distinction. While attending the University of Iowa, Chuck was a member of the University of Iowa Golf Team.
After graduation from the University of Iowa Law School, Chuck practiced law for 35 years at the Law Firm of Pheln, Tucker, Mullen, Walker, Tucker & Gelman, L.L.P., of Iowa City, Iowa. He was involved in many civic and professional organizations, including his position as the president of the Johnson Bar Association, on the board of the Lake Macbride Homeowner Association, member of the Iowa State Bar Association, and American Bar Association.
Chuck is survived by his wife, Peggy Sue Mullen; daughters, Kelly (Mike) Passaneau of Park Ridge, Ill., Linda (Cliff) Cronk of Bettendorf, Iowa, Julie (Dan) Mowery of Mexico Beach, Fla.; his step–children, Rodney (Patti) Faver of Starkville, Miss., Suzie Faver of Nashville, Tenn., Kathy (Elmer) Jones of Niceville, and Sherri (Chris) Hein of Iowa City. His siblings include Paul (Joan) Mullen of Chicago, Marilyn (Ray) Musell of Westfield, N.J., and Sharon (David) Young of Salt Lake City. Others survivors include his 13 loving grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was scheduled for Dec. 28, in Iowa City. Following the service, the family hosted a celebration of his life, at the Radisson Hotel.
For a continuation to celebrate Chuck’s life, his family and friends are scheduled to host a service Jan. 4, 2002, at 4 p.m., at the Beachwalk Café (2996 Scenic Highway 98) Destin. Services are scheduled to be provided by Father Roy Marion of Resurrection Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society, 4 Jackson St. N.E., Fort Walton Beach, Fl., 32548; or to the American Cancer Society, 301 S. Clinton Street, 2nd Floor, Iowa City, Iowa, 52240; or Covenant Hospice, P.O. Box, 17887, Pensacola, Fla., 32522.
Arrangements in Florida are under the direction of McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville.
Capitola Burkhardt
Capitola Burkhardt, 86, of DeFuniak Springs, passed away in a Fort Walton Beach hospital Monday, Dec. 17.
She was born March 17, 1915, in Springfield, Ohio, the daughter of Harvey Hayes and Edith Howard Stoner.
Burkhardt was very active in the Order of Eastern Star and had previously served as worthy matron and as a district deputy grand officer. Upon moving to DeFuniak Springs 10 years ago she became a member of DeFuniak Chapter 115 OES. She was Lutheran by faith.
Survivors include her husband of 67 years, John R. Burkhardt of DeFuniak Springs; a daughter, Claudia Parker of DeFuniak Springs; a son, Robert Burkhardt and wife, Elaine, of Houston; four grandchildren, Tammy Wolfe and husband, Jeff, Deborah Coleman and husband, Rob, Carl Wingo and wife, Shannon, and Holley Mato. Seven great-grandchildren also survive.
Services were scheduled for Dec. 20 in the chapel of Jerry Evans Funeral Home in deFuniak Springs with the Rev. Jerry Chumley officiating. Burial was to follow in Magnolia Cemetery with Jerry Evans Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Lonie D. Garrett
Lonie D. Garrett, 91, a resident in Abbeville, Ala., for the past six years, having moved from DeFuniak Springs, died Dec. 15, in Eufaula, Ala.
He was born Nov. 15, 1910, in Walton County. He was Baptist by faith and a member of Friendship Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Stella Garrett, six brothers and two sisters.
He is survived by three daughters, Shirley Gomillion and husband, Willie, of Ponce de Leon, Fla., Sybil Davis and husband, Melvin, of Enterprise, Ala., and Reba Blankenship and husband, Bill, of Eufaula, Ala.; four grandchildren, Brenda Wells, Tony Gomillion, Larry Gomillion and Lecreatia Peerson; and seven great-grandchildren.
Services were scheduled for Dec. 17 in the chapel of Comander Funeral Home, with the Rev. J.C. McLendon officiating. Burial was scheduled to follow in Sandy Creek Cemetery.
Flowers will be accepted or donations made to Florida Baptist Children’s Home.
Comander Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Bobby Dean Rew
Bobby Dean Rew, 67, of Destin, died Dec. 14, in Little Rock.
He was a member of Faith Assembly Christian Church, a member of the Elk’s Lodge in Fort Walton Beach, and a member of the Propeller Club and Yacht Club in Little Rock. Rew was a veteran, having served with the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Robbie Kay White Rew of Destin; son, Michael Rew and wife, Lisa, of Little Rock; daughters, Ashley Hill of Little Rock and Charlotte Rew of Austin, Texas; grandsons, Tyler Hill of Little Rock and Zackary Rew of Little Rock; brother–in–law, Robert White of Malvern and sister–in–law, LaFama McBride of Caney, Kan.
A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday at Roller–Chenal Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mary Brown officiating. Memorial services at Faith Assembly Christian Church in Destin are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 28, with Pastor Toy Arnett officiating.
Memorials may be made to Baptist Hospice, 11900 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, Ark. 72210.
