GANSTER, FRANCIS L., 53, of St. Petersburg, died Wednesday (June 19, 2002) at home. He was born in Chester, Pa., and came here in 1973 from Linwood, Pa. He was a painter and a member of Church of the Transfiguration, St. Petersburg. Survivors include two brothers, Bill and Phillip, both of St. Petersburg; two sisters, Geraldine Bissinger, Brookhaven, Pa., and Marie Kreck, Middletown, Del.; 11 nieces and nephews; and 16 grandnieces and grandnephews. National Cremation Society, Clearwater.
GEARY, GEORGE D."BUD," 83, of St. Petersburg, died Thursday (June 20, 2002) at home under the care of Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. He came here in 1924 from his native Steubenville, Ohio. He was a 1936 graduate of St. Petersburg High School and a 1939 graduate of St. Petersburg Junior College. Until 1966, he owned the former Nu-Way Cleaners, which his father built in 1924 at Ninth Avenue North and 15th Street. He then worked at Publix supermarkets at the Lakeview Shopping Center and then Disston Plaza and retired in 1986. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, where he attained the rank of sergeant. An Eagle Scout, he worked in scouting for many years and was an assistant scout master with Troop 90 at Norwood Elementary School. He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Alma G.; two sons, Michael G., Sylva, N.C., and Thomas W., Palm Harbor; a daughter, Jean G. Hiestand, and a sister, Dorothy J. Geary, both of St. Petersburg; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. E. Dale Gunter Funeral Home and Cremation Services, St. Petersburg.
HAMILTON, MARGARET E., 85, of St. Petersburg, died Thursday (June 20, 2002) at the Health and Rehabilitation Centre at Dolphins' View. Born in Pottstown, Pa., she came here in 1976 from Philadelphia. She was a registered nurse and was a member of the Frankford Hospital Nurses Alumnae Association in Philadelphia. Survivors include a brother, Robert W. Grubb, Ocean City, N.J. National Cremation Society, St. Pe-tersburg.
KLEMISH, JACQUELINE L., 55, of St. Petersburg, died Monday (June 17, 2002) at Hospice-Sylvia House, Ocala. She lived in Ocala for 24 years before moving back to her native St. Petersburg in 1997. She returned to Ocala one week ago. She was a homemaker and was Catholic. Survivors include a daughter, Nicole Knapp, St. Pe-tersburg; a son, Jonathan Potter, her mother, Jackie Palladino, a brother, Joseph Palladino, and two sisters, Joann Palladino and Maria Palladino, all of Ocala; and a niece. Florida Cremation Society, Ocala.
PARKS, CHARLES O. JR., 81, of St. Petersburg, died Wednesday (June 19, 2002) at home. He was a native of St. Petersburg. He was a former judge of the Pinellas County Juvenile Court from 1955 to 1963. After leaving the bench, he retruned to the practice of law in St. Petersburg, then retired in 1991. He was a first lieutenant in the Army during World War II, assigned to a heavy artillery unit of the 104th Infantry Division in Germany. He was a 1938 graduate of St. Petersburg High School and attended Florida Military Academy. He received a law degree from the University of Florida. He was a Mason and a member the Selma Grotto and Pasadena Community Church. Survivors include three sons, Charles Emery Parks, St. Petersburg, William B. Parks, the Woodlands, Texas, and James D. Parks, Durham, N.C.; and seven grandchildren, William, Matthew, Nicholas, Braden, Hannah, Micah and Steven. David C. Gross Funeral Homes and Crematory, Central Avenue Chapel, St. Petersburg.
SKLAGEN, GERTRUDE HEDWIG, 89, of St. Petersburg, died Thursday (June 20, 2002) at Bon Secours - Maria Manor. A New York City native, she came here in 1979 from Washington, D.C., where she was a secretary for the federal government. She was Catholic. Survivors include three brothers, Lincoln Roberts, Decatur, Ga., John Roberts, Pacolet, S.C., and Daniel Roberts, Burke, Va.; and a nephew, Joseph Stephanek, Sun City Center. Gee & Sorensen Funeral Home and Cremation Services, St. Petersburg.
WILSON, HELEN OWENS, 72, of Lakeland, a frequent visitor to St. Petersburg, died Tuesday (June 18, 2002) at home. Born in Tallassee, Ala., she moved to Lakeland from Samson, Ala. and has been a weekly visitor to St. Petersburg for many years. She was an elementary school teacher in migrant education. She was a member and served as first lady of Church of God in St. Petersburg for more than 27 years. Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Bishop George R.; three sons, Spencer, Travis and Ralph, and two daughters, Belinda "Candy" Wilson and Daisy D. Ervin, all of Lakeland; two brothers, Fred Butler, Tuskegee, Ala., and Frank Willis, Montgomery, Ala.; a sister, Doris Pruitt, Tuskegee; her caregiver, Vera Martin, Lakeland; 16 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. H.W. Oldham Funeral Home, Lakeland.
ANGST, LYNN MARIE, 47, of Apollo Beach, formerly of St. Petersburg, died Tuesday (June 18, 2002) at home. She was an executive secretary and was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church. Survivors include her husband, Richard; her parents, Paul and Rita Allman, St. Petersburg; a brother, Brian Allman; a nephew, Neil; and a niece, Laura. Sun City Center Funeral Home.
CLARK, ROSCOE E. "ROCKY," 84, of St. Petersburg, died Friday (June 21, 2002) at St. Petersburg General Hospital. He came here in 1953 from his native Muncie, Ind. He was the owner of Clark Neon in St. Petersburg since 1954. He played bass for the Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Band and was a member of a musician's union. Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Mary Atwell Clark; a daughter, Judy Moore, St. Petersburg; a brother, Ray, and two sisters, Betty Clark and Maxine Runyon, all of Muncie; two grandsons; and a great-grandson. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Ninth Street Chapel, St. Petersburg.
DAVENPORT, THE REV. JUDY K., 60, of St. Petersburg, died Monday (June 17, 2002) at Bayfront Medical Center. Born in Cleburne, Texas, she came here in 1992 from Albuquerque, N.M. She was a minister with the Metropolitan Community Church, where she served as southeast district coordinator and as president of the board of pension. She was member of King of Peace Metropolitan Community Church and was a member of the Universal Fellowship of the Metropolitan Community Church. Survivors include her companion, Barbara Holcomb, St. Petersburg. R. Lee Williams & Son Funeral Home & Crematory, Gulfport Chapel.
DETWILER, CLARA ROSELLA, 104, of Palm Harbor, formerly of St. Petersburg, died Wednesday (June 19, 2002) at Harborside Healthcare, Palm Harbor. She was born in Norwalk, Ohio, lived 25 years in St. Petersburg before moving to Orlando and moved in 1997 to Palm Harbor. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and its Rosary Group and the Joker 500 Club, all in St. Petersburg. Survivors include a son, Richard L. "Dick," Palm Harbor; two grandchildren, Patrick Detwiler, Orlando, and Theresa McKay, Nashville; and a great-granddaughter. Blount, Curry & Roel Funeral Homes & Cemeteries, Memorial Park Chapel, St. Petersburg.
MEYER, RUSSELL F., 82, of Seminole, died Wednesday (Jan. 31, 2001) at Hospice House Woodside, Pinellas Park. He was born in Effingham, Ill., and came here in 1970 from Chicago. He worked for the Milwaukee Railroad. He was Catholic and an avid fisheraman and tandem bike rider. Survivors include his wife, Helen; a daughter, Mary A. Hession, Largo; a son, Henry R., Altamonte Springs; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. E. James Reese Funeral Home & Crematory, Seminole.
BOWERMAN, MARGARET, 87, of Toronto, a seasonal resident of St. Petersburg, died Tuesday (Jan. 30, 2001) at Scarborough General Hospital after a short illness. She was a veteran of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, retiring in 1945, and retired from the Toronto Board of Education in 1979. Survivors include two daughters, Sue Thompson and Sheila Ranalli; a sister, Phyllis Shaughnessy, St. Petersburg; and two grandchildren. Trull Funeral Home, North Toronto Chapel.
COOK, EDWIN B., 79, of St. Petersburg, died Tuesday (Jan. 30, 2001) at home. Born in Aspinwall, Pa., he came here in 1970 from Pittsburgh. He was a retired chemist of 27 years for the Bureau of Mines in Pittsburgh. He was an Army and Navy veteran of World War II. He was Unitarian Universalist. Survivors include a sister, Lois Rial, East Peoria, Ill.; a brother, Grant, Verona, Pa.; a niece; a nephew; and a companion and caregiver of 30 years, Leon Scher, St. Petersburg. National Cremation Society, St. Petersburg.
KELLY-BLUMBERG, BETTE LORRAINE, 72, of Middleton, Mass., a winter resident of St. Petersburg, died Wednesday (Jan. 31, 2001) at her St. Petersburg home of natural causes. Born in Somerville, Mass., she was a seasonal resident from Middleton for several years. She was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband, Ludwig A. Holloway Funeral Home, Oldsmar.
LIVINGSTON, DENNIS NEAL, 68, of St. Petersburg, died Wednesday (Jan. 31, 2001) at St. Anthony's Hospital. Born in Johnstown, Pa., he came here seven years ago from Hollywood, Fla. He was a retired air conditioning mechanic for the Florida Department of Transportation. He was Protestant. Survivors include two sons, Dennis N. Jr., Mineral Point, Pa., and Patrick S., Johnstown; three daughters, Cathy Frampton and Jamie Jo Zipf, both of Johnstown, and Denise Dulany, Bon Aqua, Tenn.; a brother, George, Orlando; two sisters, Carol Livingston, St. Petersburg, and Shirley Lydic, Great Falls, Va.; a caregiver, Phil Stichler, St. Petersburg; and seven grandchildren. E. Dale Gunter Funeral Home & Cremation Services, St. Petersburg.
FOX, MICHAEL VICTOR, 76, of Seminole, died Tuesday (June 18, 2002) at home. He came here in 1970 from his native Watertown, S.D. He was a salesman and a motel manager. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and Catholic Order of the Foresters. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Bernice; two sons, Dr. Monte E., North Canton, Ohio, and Francis W., Hull, Mass.; three daughters, Carol J. Jones, Tarpon Springs, and Marilyn F. Smith and Deyonne F. Epperson, both of Tierra Verde; two brothers, the Rev. Leo Fox, Watertown, and Richard Fox, River Falls, Wis.; three sisters, Marie McAndrews, Savage, Minn., Adelaide Murphy, Watertown, and Louise Wagner, Meisville, Minn.; and seven grandchildren. E. James Reese Funeral Home & Crematory, Seminole.
MONTGOMERY, MICHAEL H., 45, of San Diego, formerly of Seminole, died Tuesday (June 11, 2002). He lived in Seminole from 1986 until earlier this year. He worked in construction and long haul truck driving. He was a member of the American Motorcycle Association. Survivors include a son, Michael, San Diego; a daughter, Donnell, Florida; and his parents, Cal and Val Montgomery, and a granddaughter, all of San Diego. Telophase Cremation Society, San Diego.
