U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014Janet Van Gelder
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS -- Janet Van Gelder of Altamonte Springs died Monday at Arbors at Orlando in Altamonte Springs.
She was 77.
Mrs. Van Gelder was a retired insurance agent.
Born in Chicago, she moved to Central Florida 49 years ago.
Survivors include two sons, including Martin Van Gelder of Gainesville; a daughter; two sisters; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Mary Elizabeth Bowe
Mary Elizabeth Bowe of Gainesville died Monday at North Florida Specialty Rehab Center. She was 84.
Mrs. Bowe was a homemaker.
Born in Pittsburgh, she moved from Hialeah to Gainesville 19 years ago.
She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and of Triple L Club.
Mrs. Bowe was preceded in death by her husband, Lester Bowe; and a daughter, Lorrene Bowe.
Survivors include two daughters, Sharyn Smith of Ellicott City, Md., and Jane L. Bowe of Gainesville; a sister, Virginia Steiner of Northport; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to United Methodist Women in Gainesville.
Roger J. Browne
CHIEFLAND -- Roger J. Browne of Chiefland died Thursday at his home. He was 82.
Mr. Browne was employed in the restaurant industry in New York state. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Born in New York City, he moved to Chiefland 20 years ago.
He was a Catholic.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Browne of Chiefland; two daughters, Kathleen Farkas of Long Island, N.Y., and Patricia Young of Tucson, Ariz.; and four grandchildren.
Katharine Honour Chason
Katharine Honour Chason of Gainesville died Saturday in Gainesville. She was 40.
Miss Chason was president of the Chason Foundation for Rheumatology and Spinal Cord Disorders.
Born in Birmingham, Ala., she moved from St. Petersburg to Gainesville 11 years ago. She graduated from St. Andrews College and won a national art award for sculpture.
She was a Methodist.
Miss Chason won numerous awards for swimming, diving and tennis.
Survivors include her parents, Alvin Leonard Jr. and Ellen McDonald Chason of Charlotte, N.C.; and a brother, Walter "Chip" Jason of Tampa.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Myers Park United Methodist Church in Charlotte, N.C.
Herbert A. Leschorn
Herbert A. Leschorn of Gainesville died Monday at North Florida Regional Medical Center after a long illness.
He was 65.
Mr. Leschorn was a retired electrical designer at CH2M Hill in Gainesville. He also formerly served in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he moved from St. Petersburg to Gainesville 41 years ago.
He was a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Spencer Jones Council, and the Gainesville Assembly of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Leschorn enjoyed fishing, golfing, square dancing and spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Theresa Leschorn of Gainesville; three sons, David P. Leschorn of Clarksville, Tenn., Daniel Leschorn of Charleston, S.C., and James H. Leschorn of Bradenton; a daughter, Elizabeth Farmer of Fort White; and six grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Queen of Peace Building Fund or to the American Cancer Society.
Jennie Lightbourn Parlin
HAWTHORNE -- Jennie Lightbourn Parlin of Hawthorne died Monday at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. She was 84.
Mrs. Parlin was a homemaker and a member of Plantation United Methodist Church.
Born in Nassau, Bahamas, she moved from Fort Lauderdale to Hawthorne six years ago.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ace Parlin.
Survivors include a son, Whitey Parlin of Palatka; two daughters, Harriet Murray of Gainesville and Iris Gassaway of Hawthorne; two sisters, Grace Carlson of Palm Bay and Iva Simons of Nassau, Bahamas; two brothers, Albert Lightbourn of Fort Lauderdale and Paul Lightbourn of Nassau, Bahamas; six grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Milo Vern Stemen
ALACHUA -- Milo Vern Stemen of Alachua died Monday at his home. He was 82.
Mr. Stemen was a farmer and factory worker. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Born in Hillsdale, Mich., he moved from Zephyrhills to Alachua 10 years ago.
Survivors include two sons, Daniel Stemen of Alachua and Milo Stemen of Albion, Mich.; six stepdaughters, Luella Bennett of Albion, Shawncq Buck of Manton, Mich., Raylene Burke and Chevelle Burke, both of Leslie, Mich., Bethany Nichols of Charlotte, Mich., and Wendy Pion of Diamond Dale, Mich.; three stepsons, Elton Bennett and James Bennett, both of Albion, and Eddie Bennett of Lake George, Mich.; 24 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Eunice H. Hamm
ALACHUA -- Eunice H. Hamm of Alachua died Monday at her home.
She was 85.
Mrs. Hamm was a homemaker and a farmer.
Born in Parma, Ark., she moved from California to Alachua about 56 years ago.
Survivors include three daughters, Linda Holt of Newberry, Mary King of Jacksonville and Virginia Griggs of Burlington, N.C.; three sons, Jimmy Hamm of Alachua, Roger Hamm of Lake Butler and Jerry Hamm of Bushnell; 20 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
Marjorie K. Stungis
Marjorie K. Stungis of Gainesville died Sunday at Shands at the University of Florida after a long illness. She was 61.
Mrs. Stungis was a former nurse at North Florida Regional Medical Center.
Born in Pawhatan Point, Ohio, she moved to Gainesville 24 years ago.
Survivors include a son, Thomas Stungis of Gainesville; two daughters, Marjorie Dufault of Newport, R.I., and Laura Gamble of Gainesville; and her mother, Frances Kubik of Powhatan Point.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Leukemia Society of America.
Virginia Geiser Chelf
Virginia Geiser Chelf of Gainesville, who died Sunday at North Florida Regional Medical Center, was a Christian.
