Richard Crombie, 74 Inglis
Richard F. Crombie, 74, Inglis, died Thursday, May 29, 2003, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital in Crystal River.
Born April 27, 1929, in West Terre Haute, Ind., to Lawrence and Lillian (Bright) Crombie, he came here 19 years ago.
Mr. Crombie was retired. He was past president of the Steel Workers Local Union 7441 in Terre Haute, Ind.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Juanita (Lawson) Crombie; daughter, Connie Jo Hooker; two brothers, Jack and Bill Crombie; one sister, Diane Summers; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and nine nieces and nephews.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
Irene DeBaun, 86 Beverly Hills
Irene P. DeBaun, 86, Beverly Hills, died Wednesday, May 28, 2003, in Lecanto.
She was born Aug. 1, 1916, in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mrs. DeBaun was a retired legal secretary; a member of the Beverly Hills Poetry Club; and wife of Raymond F. DeBaun Sr., who died Dec. 21, 1986.
Surviving are two sons, Raymond F. DeBaun Jr. of Ojocaliente, N.M., and Peter A. DeBaun of Kerhonkson, N.Y.
Hooper Funeral Home & Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Ruth Gregory, 94 Homosassa
Ruth Lee Nettles Gregory, 94, Homosassa, died Thursday, May 29, 2003, in Crystal River.
She was born July 17, 1908, in Hillsborough County to John G. and Ada Hinson. She came here in 1999 from Plant City.
She was a retired retail clerk. She was Baptist.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford C. Gregory.
Survivors include two sons, John Elton Hinson of Cuero, Texas, and Edgar A. Hinson of Homosassa; a sister, Louise Nagel of Plant City; five grandchildren, ; and three great-grandchildren.
Hooper Funeral Home, Homosassa.
David Gross, 22 Floral City
David Allen Gross, 22, Floral City, died Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at home.
David was born in Inverness on Dec. 19, 1980, and was a lifelong resident of this area.
He was a sales representative in the cellular phone industry.
David was artistic in drawing.
He was Baptist.
Survivors include his father, Michael "Red" (Karen) Gross of Inverness; mother, Keena Gross of Inverness; brother, Christopher M. Gross of Jacksonville; paternal grandmother, Ethel Gross of Inverness; maternal grandmother, Martha Perry of Floral City; half sister, Michelle Coy of Taylorville, Ill.; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Beatrice Kirkman, 79 Beverly Hills
Beatrice B. Kirkman, 79, Beverly Hills, died at home Sunday, May 25, 2003.
A native of Unicoi, Tenn., she was born July 23, 1923, to Fred and Sara Howell. She came here almost two years ago from St. Petersburg.
She was a retired seamstress.
Survivors include one son, Jimmy White and his wife, Johnny, of Seminole; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a sister, Kathleen Bowers, on Aug. 13, 1996.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Donald Butler, 88 Citrus Hills
Donald Richard Butler, 88, Citrus Hills, died Friday, June 6, 2003, in Gainesville.
A native of Holyoke, Mass. he was born April 10, 1915, to Clarence and Melvina (Mann) Butler. He moved to the area in 1985 from Vernon, Conn.
He worked for 25 years as a quality assurance inspector with Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, East Hartford, Conn., where he retired from in 1978.
Mr. Butler was a veteran of World War II who served in the Army as a ranger and was highly decorated.
He was a member of the National D.A.V. and Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Beverly Hills. He also enjoyed fast cars especially in his younger years, as well as acrylic painting, woodcarving, fishing and boating.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Nellie L. Butler of Citrus Hills; two sons, Donald R. Butler II and his wife, Debi, of Bellow Falls, Vt., and Shawn Butler and his wife, Laurel, of Newtown, Conn.; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Stella Delinski, 85 Inverness
Stella Delinski, 85, Inverness, died Friday, June 6, 2003, in Crystal River.
A native of Canada she was born April 20, 1918. She moved to the area in 1983 from Sterling Heights, Mich.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Delinski was a past member of the Rainbow Springs Golf and Country Club. She loved golfing, bowling and was an avid reader. She attended Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Inverness.
Her husband, Leonard F. Delinski, preceded her in death on March 1, 1996.
Survivors include her granddaughter, Diana S. Danyluk and her husband, Bohdan, of Livonia, Mich.; three great-grandchildren; and a niece.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Hoyt Howerton Sr., 65 Inverness
Hoyt Franklin Howerton Sr., 65, Inverness, died Saturday, June 7, 2003, at his home under the care of his family and Hospice of Citrus County.
He was born Jan. 23, 1938, in Moultrie, Ga., to Frank F. and Ida Bell (Griffen) Howerton. He moved to the area seven years ago from Webster.
Mr. Howerton was a retired heavy equipment operator.
He served in the U.S. Army.
He was a member of American Legion Post 77. He was Baptist.
Survivors include his wife of more than 10 years, Meriam (Redondo) Howerton; two sons, Hoyt Howerton Jr. of Benton, Ky., and Dale Howerton of Brandon; four daughters, Debbie Burkett of Riverview, Donna White of Lake Mary, Louren Howerton of Bushnell and Jessica Howerton of Inverness; three brothers, Carl Hart of Mayo, Tommy Hart of Tampa and Joseph Hart of Alabama; two sisters, Mary Hart of Tampa and Becky Whatley of Alabama; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Robert 'Earl' Long, 58 Crystal River
Robert "Earl" Long, 58, Crystal River, died Saturday, June 7, 2003, in Crystal River.
He was born March 17, 1945, in Macon, Ga., to Milton and Gussie Long. He retired to Crystal River in 2000 from Clearwater.
Mr. Long was a veteran of the U.S. Marines who served in Vietnam.
Later, he worked as a lieutenant with the city of Largo Fire Department. He was also a paramedic.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lake Rousseau in Dunnellon.
Survivors include his wife Nancy Long of Crystal River; daughter, Robin Wolterman of Armstrong, Iowa; two sisters, Doris Thomas and Mary Lou Jones, both of Warner Robins, Ga.; and three grandsons.
Heinz Funeral Home & Cremation, Inverness.
