Carolyn M. Mixon
Carolyn M. Mixon, 73, a resident of DeFuniak Springs for the past 18 years, moving from Fort Walton Beach, died Jan. 11, in DeFuniak Springs.
She was born Oct. 21, 1928, in Bibb County, Ala., was Methodist by faith and was a member of First United Methodist Church of DeFuniak Springs.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Billie Mixon, and her parents, Julian and Frances Merchant of Eutaw, Ala. She loved to bass fish. She also enjoyed shopping for antiques, working crossword puzzles and visiting on the phone.
She is survived by one son, Bruce S. Mixon of Santa Rosa Beach; two daughters, Wendy Millaway and husband, Robert, of Tampa, and Frances McDonald and husband, Robert “Mac,” of Gonzales, La.; five grandchildren Steve, Jeremy, Andrew, Megan and Kimberlie; and one great-grandchild Joshua.
Services were scheduled for Jan. 15 in the chapel at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs, with the Rev. Robert Penton officiating. Burial was to follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made to The Joshua House Clothing Fund, a program of the Children’s Home Society, P.O. Box 1907, Lutz, Fla., 33548.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Harry Dillon
Harry Dillon, 76, died Jan. 9, of cancer.
He was a member of Freeport First Baptist Church.
He is survived by his helpmate, Geraldine; his son, Doug, and wife, Penny, of Milton; grandsons, Clay of Pensacola and Brandon of Milton; one great–grandson, Caleb of Bloomington, Ind.; Penny’s children, R.C. Barthelt of Germany, Tiffany Barthelt of Downers Grove, Ill., and Robert Barthelt of Milton; a brother, Norman Dillon of Dewey, Ariz.; sister, Mona Helmerich of Fort Myers, Fla.; many nephews, nieces and a number of friends.
Harry was pre–deceased by both parents, Clay and Florence, three sisters and a brother.
Harry was born Feb. 27, 1925, in Dayton, Ohio, where he lived until drafted into the Army Air Corps in photo recon at the outbreak of World War II. His tour of duty was in the South Pacific and the Philippines. He witnessed the signing of the peace treaty and returned to Dayton and joined the executive branch of the U.S. government, where he met and married his wife of 52 years. From Dayton they were transferred to Eglin Air Force Base and moved to Freeport.
Services were scheduled for Jan. 12, with burial at Hatcher Cemetery in Freeport. Pallbearers were from the Freeport Herman Lodge 108. Harry was a member for 40 years.
Clary–Godwin Funeral Home, Freeport Chapel, handled the arrangements.
Hazel Hurley Howell
Hazel Hurley Howell, 78, of DeFuniak Springs, died on Wednesday, Jan. 9.
She was born on June 6, 1923, in Walton County, the daughter of William Monroe and Ola Gomillion Hurley.
Survivors include two grandsons, Trevor Howell and Travis Howell and wife, Charlotte; a special friend, Maria Gilbert; great-grandsons, Joseph and Jonathan Howell; great–granddaughter, Erin Nicole Howell, all of DeFuniak Springs. A brother, Oliver Hurley, and wife, Lois, of Ponce de Leon also survive.
Services were scheduled for Jan. 11 in the chapel of Jerry Evans Funeral Home with the Revs. Mike McVay and Troy Hare officiating. Burial was to follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
Jerry Evans Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs was in charge of arrangements.
Ardell Behrens Johnston
Ardell Behrens Johnston, 73, died Jan. 9 at her daughter’s home, in Troy, Ala.
Ardell was a devoted sister, wife and mother. Ardell traveled the world with her family, raised and educated her two children, and met and adored her six grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughter and son–in–law, Beth Johnston and Paul Watkins of Troy; son and daughter–in–law, Fox and Jarmin Johnston Jr. of Chattanooga, Tenn.; six grandchildren, Elizabeth Ardell “Beppy” Watkins, Helen Lawson Johnston, Johnston Sims Watkins, Fox Helms Johnston III, Behrens Bryan Watkins and James Nelson Johnston; mother–in–law, Sue Helms Johnston; dear friend, Henry “Pete” Nickerson of Destin; and extended family, Julie R. Watkins, Jeffrey Paul Watkins and Lessie Griffin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fox Helms Johnston.
A memorial service was scheduled for Jan. 12 at First Methodist Church of Troy.
Ardell’s remains were to be placed with her husband, a Navy captain, in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Ardell Johnston Breast Cancer Research Fund, C/O UAB Cancer Research Center, 2001 Third Avenue South, Suite 1001 LNB, Birmingham, Ala. 35233.
Gwendolyn A. Lewis
Gwendolyn A. Lewis, 62, of DeFuniak Springs, died Jan. 9 in a local hospital.
She was born in Sampson, Ala. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Gwen loved to garden and enjoyed her fishing. Her joyous pride of her life was her grandson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gaston and Sally Hearn of Niceville. Survivors include her husband, John “Tony” Lewis of DeFuniak Springs; son and daughter-in-law, Jaye and Tina; and grandson; Dakota of DeFuniak Springs; sisters and brothers-in-law, Elaine and Wayne Smith of Crestview, Fla., Libby Jones of DeFuniak Springs, Ann and Joe McAllister of Lake Wales, Fla., and Bill Hearn of Mossy Head; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and a host of friends.
Services were scheduled for Jan. 12 at McLaughlin Chapel in Crestview.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Jimmie Ray Barton
Jimmie Ray Barton, age 69, of Destin, passed away Jan. 9.
He was born in Lucedale, Miss., the son of Rueben L. Barton and Verlie H. Barton.
He is survived by his mother, Verlie Barton of Destin; wife, Valerie M. Barton of Destin; son, David Barton and his wife, Amy, of Destin; daughter, Teri Foley and husband, Pat, of Reno, Nev.; and eight loving grandchildren, Chelsea, Patrick, Ryan, Ashleigh, Cara, Ben, Emily and Sydney. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.
A memorial service is scheduled to be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 12, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home with the Rev. Timothy L. Wing officiating.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Melvin “Earl” Robinson
Capt. Melvin “Earl” Robinson, 55, of Destin, died unexpectedly at his residence Monday, Jan. 7.
He was born on Sept. 7, 1946, in Birmingham, Ala., and was a resident of this area since 1978. He was the owner of Captain Dukes Boat Service in Destin and will be remembered as a successful businessman and a loving father who gave to anyone who asked.
He is survived by his father, Oscar M. Robinson of Birmingham; son, Scott Robinson and wife, Kim, of Destin; sister, Gail Williams of Birmingham; and numerous other family members and friends.
A memorial service in honor of Capt. Earl was scheduled for Thursday in the chapel of McLaughlin Mortuary, which handled the arrangements.
Jane W. Fleet
Jane Fleet of Santa Rosa Beach died Sunday at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Born Feb. 17, 1919, in Alliance, Ohio, she was the eldest daughter of Myron and Elma White.
Jane graduated from Mount Union College of Alliance in 1940. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Jane taught school at Alliance High School; Department of Army; U.S. Air Force military dependents and overseas schools in Panama and Germany.
She was with Penn Central/Capital Airlines from 1944-50, serving as chief hostess of capital from 1945-50. She married Robert G. Fleet on May 8, 1948, and moved with him on assignments to Washington, D.C.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Panama Canal Zone; Germany; Argentina; Hawaii and Fort Monroe, Va. Jane retired with Robert from military service in 1975 and moved to Dune–Allen in Santa Rosa Beach.
The retired Col. Robert Fleet died on March 10, 2001.
She is survived by daughter and son–in–law, Ann and Nicholas Deluca of Monrovia, Calif.; son, Robert G. Fleet Jr. of St. Louis; and four grandchildren, Molly and Robert H. Fleet and Eric and Robin Deluca; sister and brother–in–law, Ann and Judge Richard Kennedy of Lisbon, Ohio; brother, Dr. Robert White of Alliance; sister, Myra Martin of Severna Park, Md.; brother and sister–in–law, Myron and Gloria White of Cincinnati.
After retiring, she worked with Dune Allen Realty from 1976-86. She also worked after 1986 as a part–time receptionist at the welcome/information center of South Walton Tourist Development Council and as a volunteer at Destin Library.
A memorial service in honor of Jane is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at the Santa Rosa Beach Community Church Chapel on U.S. 98.
Donations may be made to Santa Rosa Beach Community Church, Coastal Branch Library, Destin Library or Shriners Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 25855, Tampa, Fla. 33633–1016.
Jane is scheduled to be cremated and buried at Arlington National Cemetery next to her husband.
McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach is handling the arrangements.
Richard Robert Rotharmel
Richard Robert Rotharmel, a retired executive with New Orleans Public Service Inc., died Saturday, Jan. 5, at Destin Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. He was 75.
Rotharmel was born in Cincinnati in 1926. He moved to New Orleans as an infant and lived there until his retirement in 1988 when he moved to Destin. He was a graduate of Fortier High School and Tulane University. He served as an ensign in the Navy in World War II.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Carolyn Peirce Rotharmel; children, Carolyn Mackey of Hastings on the Hudson, N.Y., Richard R. Rotharmel Jr. of New Orleans, Kenneth Rotharmel of Watertown, Mass., and Lynn Dee Kea of Salisbury, Md.; sister, Marjory Rotharmel of New Orleans; and nine grandchildren.
A memorial service was scheduled for Jan. 11 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Destin.
Antoinette Marie Dettle
Antoinette Marie Dettle, 79, of Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach and Destin, passed away Jan. 1.
Antoinette “Tony” was born in Alexandria, La., and had resided in this area since the 1950s. She was always happiest with a little sand in her shoes.
Antoinette had an incredible capacity to love everyone with whom she came in contact. She adopted an endearing name of “Mama Bear” from her extended family of her children’s friends, to whom she opened her home. She was passionate about the enjoyment of life and believed in celebrating it on every occasion. She will be missed by many and loved eternally.
Antoinette was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Ella Mitchell; by her twin brother, Walter Mitchell of Houston; and sister, Joanne Marsh of Warren, Ark.
She is survived by her children, Jody and Bob Milton of Warren, Eloise and Chas Bradford of Tallahassee, Stephen Dettle of Destin, Jim and Kim Dettle of Destin, and Debbie and Robert Hall of Memphis; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and her brother, Charles Mitchell of LaPorte, Texas.
The family wishes to thank the staffs of Twin Cities Hospital and the Destin Rehabilitation Center for the care they provided to Antoinette.
Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. today jan 5 at Emerald Coast Funeral Home with the Rev. Dewey Roberts, pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church of Destin, officiating. Interment will follow.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home in Fort Walton Beach is in charge of arrangements.
Whelan
Robert L. Whelan, 69, Destin, died July 3, 1998. Mr. Whelan was a native of Jefferson County, Ala., and a member of First Baptist Church of Destin. He was a retired partner with Ernst and Young accounting firm, with 40 years service.
Mr. Whelan was a member of Atlanta Athletic Club and an active supporter of youth programs in Destin and Atlanta. He also sponsored baseball tournaments for Norcross Youth Baseball.
He is survived by his wife, Jane Hill Whelan, Destin; sons, Chuck and Rett Whelan, Norcross, Ga.; Bob and Lee Ann Whelan, Eden Prarie, Minn.; and four grandchildren, Scott Whelan and Bryant Whelan, both of Norcross, Sam Whelan and Addison Whelan, both of Eden Prarie.
The funeral was Monday at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church. Burial was in Peachtree Memorial Park. Contributions may be made to: First Baptist Church of Destin, 201 Beach Drive, Destin, FL 32541.
Moen
David M. Moen, 51, died July 1, 1998. Mr. Moen was born January 29, 1947, in Seattle.
Mr. Moen was the owner and operator of Ceiling Doctor, a member of the Hampton-Richland Lions, Ohio University Alumni Association, G.A. Industries Golf League, Franchise Advisory Committee for Ceiling Doctor International, Pine-Richland Touchdown Club and the Polish Businessman's Club in Erie.
Survivors include his wife, Edith; father, Alfred Moen, Destin; daughter, Sarah Moen, Richland, Pa.; son, Alfred Moen, Richland; brother, Eric Moen, North Ridgeville, Ohio; sister, Christian Moen, Destin, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Barbie Harper Moen.
Funeral services were Saturday, July 4, at the Schellhass Funeral Home, Bakerstown, Pa., with the Rev. H. William Dambach officiating. Interment is at Lakewood Memorial Gardens, Cheswick, Pa.
Donations may be made to: Richland Library, Dickey Road, Gibsonia, PA 15044.
Barrow
Melba O. Barrow died June 28, 1998, after a brief illness. She resided in Sandestin for the past seven years. Prior to coming to Florida, she was active in civic affairs after her retirement from the textile business. She was the front runner of a series of marketing outlets that presented all types of fabrics and accessories to the retail market at wholesale prices.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia and Vince Pasquarello of Sandestin; a son, James Barrow of Alexandia, Va., two grandchildren, Eric and Christopher Angeletti; and a great-grandson, Joseph Angeletti.
Mrs. Barrow will be taken at Thanksgiving to Fort Smith, Ark., where she will be interred next to her husband, George A Barrow, following a brief memorial service.
