George Francis Bowers, 90 Citrus Hills
George Francis Bowers, 90, Citrus Hills, died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003, at Citrus Memorial Hospital, Inverness.
He was born Feb. 24, 1913, in Somerville, Mass., to Harrison and Inez (Basset) Bowers. He came to the area in 1999 from Bedford, N.H.
Mr. Bowers was the co-owner and operator of gas and fuel oil stations.
He was an avid golfer.
Survivors include his wife, Magdalen (Ranghelli) Bowers; two sons, Richard Bowers of Margate and George Bowers III of Virginia; two daughters, Linda Hacking of Manchester, N.H. and Sandy of Bedford, N.H.; four stepsons, Albert Lindsell, Richard Lindsell, Fred Lindsell and Robert Lindsell; two stepdaughters, Emmalyn Hunt and Jody; brother, Bill Bowers of Bedford, Mass.; sister, Grace Isenhower of New Hampshire; a granddaughter; and several great-grandchildren.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Marilyn Hobart, 80 Inverness
Marilyn A. Chase Hobart, 80, Inverness, died Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, in Inverness.
She was born March 11, 1923 in Brunswick, Maine to Ormand J. and Cora Chase.
She worked at the Brunswick Record Print Shop and was a stitcher at a shoe manufacturing company. She also owned and operated the Antique Auto Museum in Jay, Maine.
She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Dixifield, Maine.
Her husband, Chester B. "Gus" Hobart; and two sisters, Dorothy C. Tauro and Edna C. Milnor all preceded her in death.
Survivors include a sister, Lucy Allard and her husband, Elmer, of Inverness.
Hooper Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inverness.
Dianne Lamphier, 59 Homosassa
Dianne E. Lamphier, 59, Homosassa, died Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, in Homosassa.
She was born Dec. 9, 1943, in Wadsworth, Ohio, to Wade and Ruth Days. She moved to the area in 1980 from Columbia, S.C. and the Panama Canal zone.
She was the owner and operator of Sarsaparilla Bill's Imporium at Howard's Flea Market for more than 20 years.
She was a member of the Women of the Moose Lodge 2013, Crystal River.
She was a Latter Day Saint.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Ruth Days.
Survivors include her husband of 40 years, William "Bill" Lamphier of Homosassa; two daughters, Coral Groom and her husband, Spencer, of Homosassa and Denise Elaine Lamphier of Homosassa; father, Wade Days of Dunnellon; two brothers, Lee Days of Dunnellon and Jim Days of Brooksville; three sisters, Mary Bucalo and her husband, Mike, of Akron, Ohio, Lori Cartwright of Hernando and Judy Tincher of Medina, Ohio, and seven grandchildren.
Hooper Funeral Homes and Crematory, Homosassa.
Sharon Lowing, 58 Inverness
Sharon E. Lowing, 58, Inverness, died Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala.
She was born in Rhode Island on March 3, 1945 to Oscar and Pearl (Smith) Park.
She was raised in Tampa until 1972 before moving to Peachtree, Ga. She moved to Citrus County in 1980.
She was a homemaker and member of St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Lecanto.
Survivors include her husband of 39 years David S. Lowing; two daughters, Deborah L. Lowing of Spring Hill and Denette L. Floud of Inverness; son, David Lowing of Westminster, S.C.; and six grandchildren.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Gail Ransom, 65 Crystal River
Gail Eileen Ransom, 65, Crystal River, died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, in Crystal River under the care of her family and Hospice of Citrus County.
She was born in Riverton, Conn.
She moved to Crystal River in 1990 from Pleasant Valley, Conn.
She was a secretary for ManPower in Crystal River. When she lived in Pleasant Valley, Conn., she worked as a commercial wedding cake baker and decorator.
She was a charter member of the Wahoo Sertoma Club of Crystal River. She enjoyed boating and fishing. She was a NASCAR fan. She also enjoyed dancing. She was Christian.
Survivors include her companion of 18 years, Capt. Wil Croze of Crystal River; three daughters, Alane Kennedy, Loreen Bissell and Sandra Kennedy, all of Windsted, Conn.; son, Tom J. Kennedy of New Hartford, Conn.; sister, Sharon Ransom of Winsted, Conn.; three brothers, D. Richard Ransom of Riverton, Conn., George Ransom of Winsted, Conn., and Rex Ransom of Spring Hill; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Citrus County, 3350 W. Audubon Park Path, Lecanto, FL 34461.
Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.
W.B. 'Bill' Strange, 69 Inverness
W.B. "Bill" Strange, 69, Inverness, died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, at the Citrus Health and Rehab Center of Inverness following a lengthy illness.
He was born May 28, 1934, to Cecil B. and Estelle Strange.
He moved to Citrus County in 1966 from the Winter Haven area.
He was an accountant. He founded W.B. Strange Accounting and Tax office more than 33 years ago.
He graduated from the University of Florida.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Inverness. He was an avid Atlanta Braves and Florida Gator fan. He loved hunting, fishing, wood working and caring for his pets, Pogo, Rosie and Licorice.
Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Donna Strange of Inverness; daughter, Kimberly Strange of Orlando; two brothers, Cecil Strange and his wife, Lisa, of Plant City and Robert Strange and his wife, Regina, of Plant City; sister, Marguerite Stanley and her husband, John, of Mulberry; and several nieces and nephews.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.
Renzo 'Shorty' Thomas, 73 Dunnellon
Renzo H. "Shorty" Thomas, 73, Dunnellon, died Sunday, Aug. 17, 2003, at his home in Dunnellon.
A native of Dowling Park he moved to Dunnellon 18 years ago from Palm Harbor where he lived for 28 years.
He was a retired heavy equipment operator who worked for 28 years for the city of Clearwater.
He was a member of the Curlew Baptist Church in Palm Harbor and a member of the Ramsey Bend Hunting Club in Steinhatchee.
Survivors include his wife, Jeannette Thomas of Dunnellon; two daughters, D. Renee Nestor and her husband, Ed, of Bentonville, Ark., Michele J. Burch and her husband, Keith, of Indialantic; two sons, R. Terry Thomas and his wife, Kim, of Palm Harbor and Joseph B. Thomas and wife, Mary Marie, of Boston, Ga.; brothers, Buddy Thomas of Taladega, Ala., Eugene B. Thomas of Crystal River, Willard B. Thomas, Larry Thomas and David Thomas, all of Jena; sisters, Dorothy Phillips of Newberry, Louvenia Thomas of Jena and Clarisse Thomas of New Port Richey; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Fero Funeral Home, Dunnellon.
William Arend, 74 Lecanto
William Francis Arend, 74, Lecanto, died Monday, Aug. 18, 2003, in Lecanto.
Mr. Arend was born in Jackson, Mich., on Jan. 7, 1929, to Cletus and Margaret (McPhillips) Arend. He came here from Stryker, Ohio, three years ago.
He wa a retired sales engineer.
He was a member of St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Lecanto and Knights of Columbus Council 6954, Homosassa.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Agnes Arend, in December 1995.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Arend of Lecanto; three sons, Mark Arend of Roswell, Ga., Michael Arend of Bryan, Ohio, and Todd Arend of Avilla, Ind.; a daughter, Michelle Eckland of Bryan, Ohio; a stepson, Mark Sponsler of Bryan Ohio; five stepdaughters, Julie Sponsler of Toledo, Ohio, Tamara Goebel of Montpelier, Ohio, Michele Pendleton of Woodridge, Ill., and Lisa Harrison and Loris Avina, both of Bryan, Ohio; two brothers, Robert Arend of Clarkston, Mich., and James Arend of Amarillo, Texas; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
