James Echlin, 85 Lecanto
James S. Echlin, 85, Lecanto, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, in Inverness.
Born July 28, 1918, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Roy and Margaret Echlin, he moved here in 1995 from Bracie, Va.
Mr. Echlin graduated from Wooster College in Wooster, Ohio.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was a retired purchasing agent for Tidewater Construction Co., Norfolk, Va.
He was Protestant.
Mr. Echlin was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle Elliott Echlin, on April 10, 1988.
Survivors include son, James E. Echlin (Katherine) of Hernando; three daughters, Anne Bright (James) of Northville, Mich., Margaret Dexter (Joel) of Richmond, Va., and Deborah Echlin of Oakland, Calif.; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.
Geneva Lindgren, 91 Inverness
Geneva Ruth Lindgren, 91, Inverness, died at home Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003, under the care of her family.
Born July 2, 1912, in Watson, Ill., to Presley and Georgia Neville, she moved to Florida in 1975 from Chicago, Ill., with her late husband, Frank, who died July 29, 1994.
She was a member of the First Lutheran Church.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Gail Powell.
Survivors include son, Kenneth F. Lindgren and wife, Pattie, of Inverness; sister, Harriett Mears of Marietta, Ga.; four grandchildren, James Powell, Mary Lindgren, Kristen Stinger and Kenneth Lindgren Jr.; and one great-grandchild.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Albert Medlin, 77 Beverly Hills
Albert F. Medlin, 77, Beverly Hills, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003, in Crystal River.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Fred A. and Catherine M. (Zamiska) Medlin, he came here 17 years ago from Maple Heights in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. Medlin retired from Ford Motor Co. in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1980.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He enjoyed freshwater fishing.
He was Catholic.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Eleanor M. Kaschube.
Survivors include wife of 52 years, Betty L. Medlin of Beverly Hills; sister, Marilyn Atienza of Hardyville, Va.; nephew, David Kaschube of Largo; and several other nephews and nieces.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Gaines Phillips, 46 Salem, N.J.
Gaines Lee Phillips, 46, Salem, N.J., died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, at Salem Memorial Hospital.
He was born Aug. 18, 1957, in Galveston, Texas, to William Earl and Sarah N. (Bennett) Phillips.
Mr. Phillips was a nuclear coding specialist for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 1331.
He loved hunting, fishing and gardening.
He was Catholic.
Survivors include parents, William Earl and Sarah N. Phillips of Homosassa; wife, Lorraine S. Phillips of Salem, N.J.; daughter, Tiffany Phillips of Salem, N.J.; brother and sister-in-law, William A. Phillips (Dyann) of Middleburg; four sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathy (Kevin) McCarthy of New Orleans, La., Sarah Marie (Leonard) Clewett of Lancaster, Pa., Wendy P. (Scott) Leftwich of Brentwood, Tenn., and Jessica (Barry) Tierce of Fort Myers; and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his daughter's school, Elsinboro Elementary School, Fort Elfsborg Road, Salem, N.J.
Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.
Harold Richards, 64 Crystal River
Harold Morris Richards, 64, Crystal River, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003, in Crystal River.
Born May 11, 1939, in Burlington Flats, N.Y., to Harold and Katherine Richards, he moved here 15 years ago from Cooperstown, N.Y.
Mr. Richards was a respiratory therapist.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a member of the American Legion Post 0579, Cooperstown, N.Y., and a lifetime member of the VFW, Cooperstown, N.Y.
He was Protestant.
Survivors include wife of 15 years, Delores Richards of Crystal River; two sons, Roy R. Richards of West Palm Beach and Carl M. Richards of Rochester, N.Y.; stepson, Edward R. Eckerson of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; stepdaughter, Bonita Eckerson of Barker, N.Y.; two brothers, Harry Richards of New Mexico and Lawrence Richards of Cooperstown, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Jane Richards of Cooperstown, N.Y.; three stepgrandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Hooper Funeral Home, Homosassa.
Florence Schineller, 81 Hernando
Florence Schineller, 81, Hernando, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, in Inverness.
Born Aug. 19, 1922, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Henry and Meta Borsdan, she moved here from Baldwin, N.Y., in 1995.
Mrs. Schineller was Lutheran.
Survivors include husband of 48 years, Arthur Schineller of Hernando; two daughters, Sally Piechotta and Judy A. Velsor (Allen), both of Inverness; sister, Katherine Harford of Port Jervis, N.Y.; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.
Martha Simpson, 64 Beverly Hills
Martha F. Simpson, 64, Beverly Hills, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, in Inverness.
Born April 19, 1939, in Leesburg, to Lincoln Lee and Vonnie May (Tolyer) Gatlin, she moved here from Georgia in 1992.
She was a homemaker. She loved crocheting, especially making baby blankets; singing country and gospel songs and was known for her home cooking.
She was Baptist.
Survivors include two sons, Burt Kevin Chambers of Beverly Hills and Charles Chambers and wife, Debra, of Waco, Ga.; daughter, Tracy Goen and husband, Mike, of Griffin, Ga.; three brothers and two sisters, Fountain C. Gatlin, Henry Ford Gatlin, Ronny Gatlin, Evelyn Bruce and Wynona Norton, all of Florida; eight grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and many nieces and nephews.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Edna Troyer, 83 Dunnellon
Edna Mae Troyer, 83, Dunnellon, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003 at The Legacy House in Ocala.
Born March 30, 1920, in Goshen, Ind., to William P. and Zelda Pearl (Droud) Leatherman, she moved to Dunnellon one year ago and had been a lifelong resident of Goshen.
Mrs. Troyer was a retired baker for Marriott Food Services, serving at Goshen College in Goshen, Ind. She was also the former owner of Maple City Bowl in Goshen with her late husband, Al Troyer, who died in 1980.
She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Goshen as well as a member of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Citrus Springs.
She was a member of The Die Hards Fan Club since 1938.
She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Gilbert Alexander, in 1959. One of nine children in her family, she was also preceded in death by six sisters and two brothers, Joyce Cress, Ruth Heeter, Madalene Gary, Gladys Cummins, Susie Bowser, Phyllis McCoy, and Murl and Dallas Leatherman.
Survivors include son, Michael Alexander of Goshen, Ind.; daughter, Mary Ann Kray of Dunnellon; three grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and a great-great-grandson.
Interment will be in Goshen, Ind., under the direction of Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, Ind. Local arrangements under the care of Fero Funeral Home, Dunnellon.
