Earl McRae
WILLISTON -- Earl McRae, a lifelong resident of Williston, died Sunday at Nature Coast Hospital. He was 73.
Mr. McRae was a heavy-equipment operator.
He received the World War II Victory Medal for his service in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Shirley Ann Pearce; and a sister, Alice McRae Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Thomas of Williston; five daughters, Earnestine Graham of Gainesville and Lataya Coleman, Evelyn Simpson, Bernita Appling and Shelia Haynes, all of Williston; three sons, James McRae of Louisiana and Jeff Haynes and Isreal Primous, both of Williston; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Donald J. Pletsch
Donald J. Pletsch, a former Gainesville resident, died Sept. 14 at the Bridgewater Home in Virginia after having moved there a month ago. He was 88.
Mr. Pletsch held a doctorate in entomology from the University of Minnesota. He served with the 218th Malaria Survey Detachment Team in the Pacific during World War II. He later worked for the World Health Organization, the Pan American Sanitary Bureau and the U.S. State Department's Agency for International Development.
He was active in promoting recycling.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence Elizabeth McMichael.
Survivors include two daughters, Dee Ann Florence Houston of Hyattsville, Md., and Bonnie Lou Semans of New Market, Va.; a son, Bruce Donald Pletsch of Mitchelville, Md.; and five grandchildren.
William L. Ryles Jr.
William L. Ryles Jr., a lifelong resident of Gainesville, died Sunday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 49.
Mr. Ryles was a computer operator at the University of Florida and a custodian at Trinity United Methodist Church.
He was a member of Temple United Methodist Church, where he sang in the Voices of Christ Choir, the Gospel Choir and the Men's Ensemble Choir. He was also a member of the United Methodist Men. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1969.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria Ryles of Gainesville; two sons, William L. Ryles III and Aundre D. Ryles of Gainesville; his parents, William L. and Carlean S. Ryles Sr. of Gainesville; a sister, Carolyn Ryles of Gainesville; and two brothers, Donnie Ryles and Bennie Ryles, both of Gainesville.
Robert James Starling Sr.
STARKE -- Robert James Starling Sr., a lifelong resident of Starke, died Tuesday at Shands at Starke. He was 78.
Mr. Starling was a retired drag line operator with DuPont and a member of the First Baptist Church of Graham.
He attended the schools in Bradford County.
Survivors include his wife, Rosa Mae Starling of Starke; two daughters, Sandra Barton of Lake Butler and Rose Mote of Starke; three sons, Robert James Starling Jr. and Greg Starling, both of Starke, and Joseph Michael Starling Sr. of Hampton; two sisters, Joan Richards and Leta Mae Nettles, both of Starke; two brothers, V.L. Starling of Starke and Warren Starling of Keystone Heights; 14 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Lorene B. Talton
HIGH SPRINGS -- Lorene B. Talton of High Springs died Monday in Stuart following an extended illness. She was 91.
Mrs. Talton was born in Coleman and moved to High Springs from Ocala 63 years ago.
She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of High Springs.
Survivors include two daughters, Jacquelyn Mullis of Moultrie, Ga., and Lou K. Talton of Hobe Sound; a son, Alvin Talton of High Springs; a brother, Lloyd Barnett of Gainesville; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Willie Thomas Jr.
Willie Thomas Jr. of Gainesville died Saturday at Shands at AGH. He was 73.
Mr. Thomas was born in Palatka and moved to Gainesville 22 years ago.
He was a logger and a member of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Palatka. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Minnie Thomas of Gainesville; two daughters, Sabrina Lackley of California and Shanita Thomas of Gainesville; two sons, Willie Thomas III of Ocala and Lewis Thomas of Jacksonville; a stepdaughter, Stacie Washington of Gainesville; seven sisters, Corine McClendon, Edith Carter, Ernestine Emily, Thelma Hughes and Dorothy Wright, all of Palatka, Agnes Johnson of Rochester, N.Y., and Florence Dunmore of Hamden, Conn.; a brother, Fletcher Thomas of Palatka; and nine grandchildren.
Doris E. Wilkinson
Doris E. Wilkinson of Gainesville died Monday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was 77.
Mrs. Wilkinson was born in Brunswick, Maine, and lived in Melrose and Palatka before moving to Gainesville 1 years ago.
She worked in the personnel department at Hudson Pulp & Paper Mill in Palatka from 1952-1979.
She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Palatka, the Melrose Woman's Club, the Christian Women's Association in Gainesville and the Veterans of Foreign Wars auxiliary in Palatka and Keystone Heights.
Survivors include two daughters, Neena Ann Hassler of Sarasota and Cathy L. Tjaden of Gainesville; a son, Timothy D. Wilkinson of San Mateo; and a grandson, Jason E. Hassler of Sarasota.
Ruby Allen
ALACHUA -- Ruby Allen of Alachua died Sunday at Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville after a long illness.
She was 60.
Mrs. Allen was a homemaker.
She was born in Custard, Ga., and moved from Custard to Alachua 40 years ago.
Survivors include her husband, Chester Allen of Alachua; four sons, Kenneth Spraulding of Panama City, Robert Pollard of Orlando, and Terrence Pollard and Jeffery Allen, both of Alachua; a sister, Essie Mae Mitchell of Pompano Beach; a brother, Iverson Barnes of Pompano Beach; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Charlotte Sue Arnold
WELLBORN -- Charlotte Sue Arnold of Wellborn died Tuesday at Hospice House in Gainesville. She was 58.
Mrs. Arnold was a self-employed cosmetologist.
She was born in Bloomington, Ind., and moved to Wellborn 12 years ago.
Mrs. Arnold was a member of Wellborn United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Arnold of Wellborn; a son, James Robert Arnold of Jacksonville; a daughter, Debbie Kinney of Cherry Point, N.C.; and two grandchildren.
Willie Bing Jr.
Willie "Six Fingers" Bing Jr. of Gainesville died Sunday at Shands at the University of Florida due to injuries suffered in an auto accident. He was 64.
Mr. Bing was a self-employed auto mechanic.
He was born in Lake City and moved from Ocala to Gainesville 25 years ago.
Survivors include his wife, Eartha Stockton Bing of Gainesville; three daughters, Kimberly Bing, Joyce Law and Maragret Donaldson, all of Gainesville; four sons, Eddie Bing of Ocala, Leonard Robinson of Citra, and Isaiah Robinson and Kenneth Robinson, both of Gainesville; four brothers, Clyde Bing, Lish Bing and Eugene Bing, all of Fort White, and Raymond Bing of Reddick; a sister, Bessie Mae Williams of High Springs; 22 grandchildren; and seven great- grandchildren.
Emmitt R. Brewer
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS -- Emmitt R. Brewer of Keystone Heights died Wednesday at Orange Park Medical Center in Orange Park after a long illness. He was 73.
Mr. Brewer was a retired coal miner. He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was born in Barney, W.Va., and moved from Jacksonville to Keystone Heights 11 years ago.
Mr. Brewer was a member of Melrose Calvary Temple Church of God.
Survivors include his wife, Juanita Brewer of Keystone Heights; three daughters, Dixie Brewer of Keystone Heights, Wanda Moore of Jacksonville and Brenda Johnson of Grand Rapids, Mich.; two sons, Gary Brewer of Callahan and Okey Brewer of Cleveland; two sisters, Betty Barney and Vicky Collier, both of Cleveland; eight grandchildren; and several great- grandchildren.
Robert Brooks Jr.
Robert Brooks Jr. of Gainesville died Aug. 12 at Shands at AGH. He was 53.
Mr. Brooks was a production technician for Metal Container Corp. He also served in the U.S. Army.
He was born in Lake Butler and moved to Gainesville 20 years ago.
Mr. Brooks graduated from Consolidated High School in Union County.
Survivors include his wife, Tracy Brooks of Gainesville; three daughters, Sheryl Davis of Orange Park, Linda Mitchell of Jacksonville and Erika Brooks of Gainesville; a son, Robert Brooks III of Gainesville; his mother, Johnnie Mae Brooks of Alachua; three sisters, Mary Louise Austin of Lake City and Louvenia Dix and Helen Inez Garrison, both of Alachua; six brothers, Albert E. Brooks, Walter Brooks, Alvin Leon Brooks and Anthony J. Brooks, all of Gainesville, Ray Carl Brooks of Alachua, and Timmy Lee Brooks of Lake City; and seven grandchildren.
Susie Edith McCone Clark
Susie Edith McCone Clark of Taunton, Mass., died Monday in Taunton after a long illness. She was 97.
Mrs. Clark was a homemaker.
She was born in Gordon Chapel and moved from Hawthorne to Taunton 47 years ago.
Mrs. Clark enjoyed walking, quilting and cooking.
Survivors include four daughters, including Alethia Brown and Jettie Henderson, both of Hawthorne; three sons; 28 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; and 29 great-great-grandchildren.
