Dr. Edgar H. Myers Jr.
Dr. Edgar H. Myers Jr. passed away in a Pensacola Hospital Saturday, Sept. 8, 2001. He was born July 13, 1918, in Chipley, the son of Edgar H. Sr. and Nell Bennett Myers.
He moved to DeFuniak Springs when he was 6 months old so Walton County was the only home he ever knew. He was a 1936 graduate of Walton Senior High School where he had played football and baseball. The football team in those days had no helmets to wear and Myers made the All West Florida team as a tackle.
Myers attended the University of Florida and because Florida did not have a medical college at the time, he transferred to the University of South Carolina where he received a bachelor’s degree in science and chemistry.
In 1943 he graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina as a doctor. He was then inducted into the Navy, serving with the First Marine Division in the South Pacific and China. Upon discharge from the Navy, Myers completed residency in surgery in South Carolina, returning to his home in 1947.
He and Dr. Ralph Spires opened Lakeside Hospital in March 1948. During those earlier days, house calls were everyday occurrences and the charge was 50 cents a mile, one way, and $5 for the house call. It was not unusual to be paid with a chicken, eggs, vegetables or not at all.
At Lakeside Hospital alone, Myers delivered more than 4,000 babies.
In 1978 the Lakeside Hospital building was sold and Myers continued his practice in the Warren Building. Myers’ specialty was surgery and he was noted in the medical community as a skilled surgeon.
He was one of the original investors and founders of First Federal Savings and Loan Association and served many years as chairman of the board of directors. He retired from private practice in 1983 but in late 1984 Walton County Health Unit was growing and Myers became director of the Health Unit, a position he held until retiring in 1994.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Myers of DeFuniak Springs; two daughters, Sarah Jackson of Shreveport, La., Ann Tinsley Chynoweth and husband, Terry, of Louisville, Ky.; grandchildren, Kyle Myers Tinsley, Troy B. Tinsley, Rebecka Nell Jackson, Emily Jackson and Neal Jackson; a brother-in-law, Edward Epps and wife, Madeline, of Brandon, Fla.
Contributions may be made in Myers’ memory to the Nursing Program of OWCC Foundation, 100 College Boulevard, Niceville, Fla. 32578, or to the charity of your choice.
Services have been held and burial was to be in Magnolia Cemetery with Jerry Evans Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
William P. Hill
William P. Hill, 68, of Santa Rosa Beach, passed away Sept. 5 following a long illness.
Hill, formerly of Atlanta, came to Santa Rosa Beach in 1993, following his retirement from the JC Penney Co.’s southeastern regional office in Atlanta.
He was born in Brooklyn and spent most of his life in Atlanta and Dallas. He was a graduate of Marist High School in Atlanta.
In 1955, he graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1955, he served with the Engineer and Shore Party Battalions of the Second Marine Division Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he completed his active duty requirements.
Hill then went with the JC Penney Co. where he remained for some 36 years until his retirement. He attended church in Santa Rosa Beach at Resurrection Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Beverly Stokes Hill, formerly of Atlanta; sons Stephen Palmer Hill and his wife, Carolyn Hill, and Brian Arthur Hill, and his wife, Cindie Hill; grandchildren, Graham Palmer Hill of Denver and Heather Nicole Hill of Douglasville, Ga.
Services are scheduled in Atlanta on Monday with burial to follow at Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell, Ga. Arrangements were handled by H.M. Pattersons & Sons Canton Hill in Marietta, Ga.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation to the American Diabetes Association.
Dannie L. McKinney
Dannie L. McKinney, 86, a resident of Freeport, passed away Monday in DeFuniak Springs.
She was born in West Bay, Fla. She was preceded in death by her husband, Levi McKinney; and two infant sons, Roy and Allen McKinney.
McKinney is survived by two daughters, Anne Reeves and husband Tommy of Freeport, and Donnie L. Byrd and husband Billy of Ponce de Leon; sisters, Elizabeth Infinger of Point Washington and Dorothy Quick of Panama City; grandchildren, Lisa Bender, Angie Roberts and Billy Bob Byrd; five great-grandchildren; and may nieces and nephews.
Services were held Thursday in the Chapel with the Rev. T.C. Moon officiating. Burial followed in Black Creek Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Joe Roberts, Billy Bob Byrd, Scott Bender, Rick Roberts, Larry Barrett and Ottis Earl Barrett.
Clary–Godwin Freeport Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
John Valle Janes Jr.
John Valle Janes Jr. of Santa Rosa Beach died on Sunday, Sept. 2, at his home. He was 72.
The son of the late John Valle and Genevieve Barnickel Janes, he was born Sept. 2, 1929 in St. Louis.
Survivors include four sons, Robert W. Janes of Anchorage, Alaska, Mike Janes of Palm Beach Gardens, Nick Janes and wife, Tammy, of Destin, and Daniel Janes of St. Louis; two brothers, William Janes of Everett, Wash., and Michael Janes of St. Louis; one sister, Genevieve Brown, of St. Louis; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made in John's name to the American Cancer Society, 4 Jackson St. N.E., Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 32548.
Funeral services are incomplete and will be held at the convenience of his family.
Lisa Valerie Newberg
Lisa Valerie Newberg, 40 of Destin, died Sept. 1, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Lisa was a 1978 graduate of Acadiana High School in Lafayette, La., where she was a cheerleader for three years and served as a student representative and student council secretary. Lisa attended USL in Lafayette and NLU in Monroe, La.
Lisa was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Harvey Wayne Jacobs, and uncle, Thomas W. Jacobs of Many, La.; paternal grandparents Charles and Mildred Newberg of Marksville, La.
Lisa is survived by her mother, Joni Jacobs Newberg; father, Ishmael S. “Pat” Newberg; one brother, Todd S. Newberg, all of Lafayette; her maternal grandmother, Myrtle A. Minor; a very special little girl, Taylor Newberg Barnes; aunt and uncle, Jerri Jacobs and Roger M. Barnes; and uncle and aunt, F.C. and Patricia Newberg all of Shreveport, La.; her companion, William C. “Bill” Waitzman of Destin; a dear friend, George W. Jeffreys of Destin; and many cousins and friends.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday on the Hired Gun charter boat with the Rev. Charles Lillie officiating.
Lisa resided in Destin since 1989. Her ashes will be scattered in the Gulf that she so dearly loved. A reception will be held at the Lucky Snapper on the ground floor immediately following the service.
Trahan Mortuary Services in Pensacola is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, her family and Lisa asked that donations be made to American Cancer Societies, Winn Dixie Hope Lodge, 2121 SW 16th Street, Gainesville, Fla., 32608, or to Covenant Hospice, 101 Hart Street, Niceville, Fla., 32578.
David B. Walrath
Dr. David B. Walrath, 69, of DeFuniak Springs, passed away Aug. 27, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.
He lived in DeFuniak Springs for the past 12 years, where he owned and operated Aidmore Animal Clinic and Freeport Pet Clinic.
Walrath loved taking care of animals, spending time with his family and leisure time at the lake. He practiced in Homestead for 20 years and worked for a short time as veterinary inspector with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association.
Walrath was preceded in death by a son, Charles Thomas Walrath.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Janet Walrath of DeFuniak Springs; sons, John D. Walrath of Murfreesboro, Tenn., David B. Walrath III of Jacksonville, Fla., and Darryle T. Walrath of DeFuniak Springs; daughter, Helen LaFontaine of Marianna, Fla.; brother, Charles Henry Walrath of DeFuniak Springs; sister, Dolly Funk of Hagerstown, Md.; 12 grandchildren and one great–grandchild.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. today at Clary–Godwin Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul Belardino officiating.
Clary–Godwin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Joyce H. Quarrier
Joyce H. Quarrier, 73, died Aug. 26. She will be reunited with her husband, Fletcher Quarrier.
Quarrier was born on Oct. 28, 1927, in Pensacola, the daughter of the late Oscar and Ella Keen Bengston. She had been a resident of Walton County since August 1967, moving from Fort Walton Beach. She was a member of Liberty Assembly of God Church and was known as an avid mother, willing to be a mother to anybody.
She was a gifted poet and had been awarded several awards for her poetic writing.
Quarrier was a 1944 graduate of Pensacola Catholic High School, where she was a member of the swim team. She was also an avid collector of angels and lighthouses.
Survivors include her father, Ronald Getz of Port Charlotte, Fla.; son, Ellis Quarrier Sr. and his wife, Ghen, of Crestview; daughters, Michelle Rodgers of Enterprise, Ala., Jacquie Young and her husband, Bruce, of DeFuniak Springs; sister, Jean B. Smithwick and her husband, Jim, of Fort Walton Beach; 18 grandchildren and 18 great–grandchildren.
Graveside services were conducted in Magnolia Cemetery with the Rev. Jeff Cain officiating. Pallbearers were Kevin Dillard, Ellis Quarrier II, Paul Quarrier and Kelly Quarrier.
Clary–Godwin Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs was in charge of arrangements.
Willis Wilder
Willis "Bill" Wilder of Freeport, age 64, passed away Aug. 24, 2001.
Mr. Wilder was born on Sept. 2, 1936, in Philadelphia, Miss., and was a resident of Freeport since 1965.
Mr. Wilder had a great love of country music and played for several radio stations in the 60s and early 70s in Mississippi and Tennessee. He was a member of The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, AFL-CIO for the past 32 years. He worked at Chicago Bridge and Iron from 1962 to 1982.
In 1982, he started working for the newly-formed Freeport Shipbuilding, where he worked until his retirement in 1993. Upon his retirement he pursued his favorite pastimes, which included landscaping, gardening, playing his guitar, fiddle and banjo. But his most enjoyable time was spent with his newest granddaughter, Savannah Brook Beaver, in which he took great pride in loving and watching grow every day.
Mr. Wilder was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Burnside, Miss.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Carol McCormick Wilder of Freeport; sons, Michael Willis Wilder and wife Patsy of Banner, Miss., and Vincent Charles Wilder and daughter, Danyel Nicole Wilder of Freeport; daughters, Barbara Rose Collins and husband Richard of Star, Miss., Sara Jeanette Golden and husband Bobby of Macon, Ga., and Tammie Annette Beaver and husband Charles of Freeport; brother, Franklin Wilder of Philadelphia, Miss.; sisters, Rachel Agent and Opal Little of Philadelphia, Miss.; 16 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 26, at New Beginnings Church of Freeport with the Revs. Louis Taunton and Hugh Coley officiating. Burial followed in Black Creek Cemetery.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Harold E. Howell
Harold E. Howell, age 53, of DeFuniak Springs passed away Thursday, Aug 23. He was employed with D-Train Securities.
Survivors include his mother, Hazel Howell of DeFuniak Springs; two sons, Trevor Howell and Travis Howell and wife Charlotte, all of DeFuniak Springs; a half-brother, Billy Ray Howell, and a half-sister, Aundoris Bevis, both of Panama City; two grandsons, Joseph and Jonathan; one granddaughter, Erin Nicole; and a very special friend, Maria N. Gilbert of DeFuniak Springs.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, Aug. 27, in the chapel of Jerry Evans Funeral Home with Rev. Mike McVay and Rev. Troy Hare officiating. Burial followed in Magnolia Cemetery with Jerry Evans Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Donald B. Mathewson
Donald B. Mathewson, age 78, of Destin, passed away Thursday, Aug. 23, after a lengthy illness.
He is survived by his wife, June, and they had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. He is also survived by two nieces from Minnesota and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Covenant Hospice, 101 Hart St., Niceville, FL 32578.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements. Funeral services will be held in Dayton, Ohio, this week.
