U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014PACE, Rufus H., 82, of Tavares, passed away March 12, 2003. Born in Milan, Ga., he moved to Tavares from Orlando in 1959. Mr. Pace worked for White Sewing Machines from 1945 to 1956; was a realtor from 1956 to 1999 and in mobile home sale from 1962 to 1999. He was Lake County Associate Realtor of the Year in 1965, Lake County Realtor of the Year in 1966; Vice President, District 7 Florida Association of Realtors in 1968. He was the Tavares Chamber of Commerce President in 1981, 1982 and 1983. In 1986 he was elected outstanding Senior Citizen of Lake County. He dedicated his life to the church and was ordained a Baptist Deacon in 1957. He was a member of Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. from 1977 to 1985 and was Florida Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Inc. Trustee July '89 to March '91. He was Trustee for 17 yrs for Sumter Electric Cooperative Inc. He was also a Life Member of Fourth Marine Division Association and member of Clayton Caston Florida Chapter 9, of which he was Chaplain for several years, and a life member of D.A.V. (Disabled American Veterans); member of National 4th Marine Division Assoc.; a member of First Baptist Church of Tavares; and a World War II V eteran of the U.S. Marine Corp. Survivors include his wife, Estelle of Tavares; daughter, Brenda (Bob) Groetzinger of Winter Haven, Fla.; brother, William Pace of Deltona, Fla.; sister, Ruth Perdue of Griffin, Ga.; grandchildren, Matt and Jennifer Simpson of Shelby, N.C., and Dexter and Emily Simpson of Winston-Salem, N.C.; and great-granddaughter, Avery Simpson. Funeral services for Mr. Pace will be held Saturday, March 15, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Tavares. Visiting hours for family and friends will be held at the church Saturday from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Interment will be Monday, March 17 at 10:00 a.m., at Florida National Cemetery
with military Honors. Steverson, Hamlin and Hilbish Funeral Home, Tavares, Fla.
PERRY, John Brian, 70, of Carrollwood, formerly of Merseyside, England, died March 12, 2003. He succumbed at home after a valiant five year battle with asbestos related cancer under the loving care of his beloved wife, Ruth. Born June 20, 1932 to John William and Mary Jones Perry in Liverpool, England. John was a proud member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Carrollwood Ward. He is survived by his devoted wife, Ruth; four children, Derek (Sue), Glenn (Susie), Jonathan, and Karen; also several grandchildren. John was an electrical engineer, a member of the British Royal Air Force and traveled the world working privately in service to the British Government as a liaison with munitions to numerous countries; including the U.S., his final home. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 18th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Carrollwood Ward, 2120 W. Fletcher Ave. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in Sunset Memory Gardens Cemetery, Thonotosasa, FL.
Adams & Jennings Funeral Home
PONDER, Wallace G., 79, passed away March 13, 2003 in Tampa. Born in Birmingham, Ala., he moved to this area in the early 40's. He retired from the United States Air Force. He is survived by his daughter, Marilyn Hood; sons, Wayne and wife, Rita, and Layne and wife, Siobhan; four grandchildren,: Rochele, Garrett, Jake, Sara; and one great-grandchild, Emma. Funeral Services will be March 17, 2003 at 10 a.m. at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home.
RUFFKESS, Sylvia, 90, formerly of West Hartford, Conn., died Wednesday, March 12, 2003. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Richard Ruffkess, and by her son, Martin L. Ruffkess. She leaves a son, Steven `Skip` Ruffkess and his wife Erma of Tampa; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held in Connecticut. Memorial contributions may be made to Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa, FL 33618 or to the University of Connecticut Cancer Research Fund at the University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030.
BETH DAVID FUNERAL CHAPEL-TAMPA
RYAN, John Michael, age 86, of Tampa, passed away March 13, 2003. A native of Lorain, Ohio and resident of Tampa since 2000, Mr. Ryan is survived by his daughter, Kathryn K. Ryan; sons, John M. Ryan, Patrick Ryan and Alex Van Ryan and three grandchildren.
GONZALEZ FUNERAL HOME
SCHEPMAN, Frances L., 87, of Seminole, died Wednesday, March 12, 2003. She is survived by two daughters, two brothers, four grandchildren, one great-grandchild.
Hubbell F.H.
SMITH, James F., 64, passed away at home in Sebring, Fla., March 12, 2003. He was survived by his beloved wife, Patricia; brothers, Michael, Gregory and Kevin; sister, Patricia; and stepsons, Joseph Gerenscer, and Jeffrey and Jack Gabel. Interment at Hillsboro Memorial Gardens in Brandon, Florida.
SPOHN, Gloria Lorraine, 77 of Sun City Center, passed away March 12, 2003. She is survived by her brother, Arrah (Jim) and his wife Catherine Carfagno Spohn of Sun City Center, and a niece Cynthia Spohn Friedman of San Antonio, Texas . Interment will be in Pennsylvania . In lieu of flowers donations may be made to LifePath Hospice House of Sun City Center.
Hamilton Funeral Home
SUDIBYO, Barbara Ann, 49, of Tampa, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2003. She was a Registered Nurse with LifePath Hospice. She is survived by her husband, Bambang; two sons, Justin and Todd Himmelberger; father, Fred Gajewski; brother, Vincent Gajewski; and sister, Anna Boyer. Memorial services will be held Monday, March 17, at 7 p.m. at the Glass Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Bob Chvatal will officiate. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to LifePath Hospice, 3010 W. Azeele St., Tampa, FL 33609.
Glass Funeral Home 932-5308
WATKINS, George M., Jr., M.D., 67, died on March 10, 2003, in Tampa, Fla. Dr. Watkins, a retired professor of surgery, devoted his career to academic medicine. He was born in Nashville, Tenn., and was a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt School of Medicine. He completed his internship at UCLA and his surgical residency at Cornell Medical School-New York Hospital and the University of Cincinnati and was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard University. Dr. Watkins served on the faculties of the departments of surgery at the Universities of Connecticut, South Florida, and Illinois-Peoria. Dr. Watkins was a founding member and past president of the American Trauma Society, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of numerous medical societies, including the American Burn Association and the Southern Surgical Society. In 1994 Dr. Watkins received the Distinguished Service Award of the American Trauma Society for his outstanding leadership. Dr. Watkins was a flight surgeon in the US Navy, based in the Mediterranean. He also served as a volunteer in a medical mission in Pakistan. Survivors include his wife Alison; daughter Laura and Greg Renoff of Waltham, Mass.; daughter Erica of Washington , D.C.; sister, Macalyne Fristoe of Lafayette, Ind.; and 15 nieces and nephews. Services will be held Saturday, March 15 at 4 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 15102 Amberly Drive, Tampa. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the American Trauma Society, 8903 Presidential Parkway, Suite 512, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.
WHEATON, Mr. Edward M., age 74, of Live Oak, Florida died Thursday March 13, 2003 at his residence. He was born in Deleware County, Pennsylvania . He resided in Saint John New Brunswick until 1964 where he was an independent contractor and Home builder. Mr. Wheaton moved to Live Oak, Fla., in 1990 from Tampa, Florida. He was involved in the Refractory Industry and the construction of the Occidental plant as a master brick mason. He is a member of the Bricklayers and Mason International Local # 1 Tampa, Fla., and is a member of the Hillsborough Masonic Lodge # 25 F&AM. He attended the First Church of the Nazarene of Live Oak, Fla. He is the son of the late Hartley and Edith Martin Wheaton. He is predeceased by his wife of 41 years, Mamie Kirkpatrick Wheaton. He is survived by his two sons, David Wheaton of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Douglas (Jan) Wheaton of Riverview, Fla.; daughters, Heather (Michael) Hale of Plant City, Fla., and Linda McClamma of Boynton Beach, Fla.; sister, Margaret O'Dell of Riverview New Brunswick, Canada; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, seven nephews, and six nieces also survive. Funeral services will be held on Monday March 17, 2003 at 2:00 p.m., in the First Church of the Nazarene of Live Oak with Rev. Louis Madaris officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Sunday in Suwannee Funeral Home 932 North Ohio Ave. Live Oak, Fla. In lieu of flowers, memorials maybe made to The Gideons International.
WHIDDEN, Albert H., 78, of Tampa passed away March 13, 2003 in Tennessee. Surviving are a brother, Frank Giammo; and sister, Anna McConnell. Masonic service 11 a.m., Saturday at Garden Of Memories Cemetery.
WOODLIEF, John Calvin, GySgt.- USMC-Retired, 74, of Tampa, Fla. passed away on March 12, 2003. A native of Savannah, Ga., he retired from the USMC after 20 years of service, a Korean War Veteran, the former owner of Pied-Piper Pest Control and a member of Quail Hollow Country Club. Survived by his wife, Phyllis Woodlief of Tampa, Fla.; two step-sons, Brian Sherman of Tampa, Fla. and Stuart Sherman of Valrico, Fla.; a step-daughter, Deborah Boos of Porter Ranch, Calif.; and two grandchildren. Funeral services are 11 a.m. on March 17, 2003 at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla., with Full military Honors by USMC Det.#709, Honors and Ceremony Team.
VETERANS CREMATION AND BURIAL SOCIETY-CLEARWATER, FL. 727-467-0922.
BRINKERHOFF, Eugene K., 88, of Zephyrhills passed away March 13, 2003 in Zephyrhills. He is survived by his wife, Ruth of Zephyrhills; a son, Robert Brinkerhoff of Syracuse, N.Y.; and a brother, Harold Brinkerhoff of Pinellas Park. Funeral Services will be held at a later date in Fayetteville, New York. Mr. Brinkerhoff was born March 14, 1914 to Dewitt and Susan (Hovenkamp) Brinkerhoff. He was a veteran of the Army serving in World War II, and a retired shop foreman for the Onondaga County Highway Department.
Whitfield Funeral Home
FORDIANI, Joseph A. , age 59, of Zephyrhills, Florida passed away March 12, 2003 Mr. Fordiani was born in Meriden, Conn., on May 14, 1943 and moved to Zephyrhills from New Hampshire in l985. He was employed by Majestic Oakes as a Property Manager and had worked in the Manufactured Housing Industry for 25 years. He previously managed housing communities in the Dade City and Zephyrhills area including Sundance and Fishermans Cove. He is survived by his loving wife, Judith; and daughter, Joanne of Weston, Fla. Funeral Services will be held at 11:30 Tuesday March 18, 2003 at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Zephyrhills. Friends may call at Oakley Funeral Home in Dade on Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery
in Dade City.
Oakley Funeral Home
NOBLE, Lawrence E., Sr., 94, of Zephyrhills passed away March 13, 2003 in Dade City. He is survived by a son, Lawrence E. Noble, Jr. of Zephyrhills; two daughters, Barbara J. West of Plainville, Conn., and Lorna Tobin of Mapleton, Maine; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Franklin Noble of Plainville, Conn.; a sister, Pauline Gallagher of Frederieton, New Brunswick, Canada. He was predeceased by a sister, Maxine Clair of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. Born May 19, 1908 in Bristol New Brunswick, Canada to Leighton Albright and Minnie B. (Estabrook) Noble. He worked as a barber and came to the Zephyrhills area in 1969 from Plainville, Conn., and he was a Protestant. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Childrens Hospital, 12502 Pine Drive North, Tampa, FL 33612-9499 in his memory.
WHITFIELD FUNERAL HOME
SAWYER, William Ajax `Billy`, 32, of Darby passed away Friday, March 14, 2003 as a result of an auto accident. He was a lifelong resident of Brooksville. He was a Baptist by faith. He was an excellent welder and could make just about anything. He enjoyed working everyday with his father at Ajax Welding in Brooksville. He was a Cowboy at heart and enjoyed horseback riding, pinning cows and was Vice President of the Florida Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association. He enjoyed hunting, the outdoors, and spending time with family and friends, having cookouts. He is survived by his wife, Schelena of Darby, Fla.; two sons, William Ajax, Jr., `Will` and Dalton; both of Darby, Fla.; his parents, James and Helen Sawyer of Darby, Fla.; three brothers, John and his wife, Kim Sawyer of Bar Nun, Wyo., T. J. and his wife, Krissy Sawyer of Darby, Fla.; Keith Sawyer of Pensacola, Fla. A gathering in Billy's Memory will be held Sunday, March 16th from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Brooksville Chapel of Brewer & Sons Funeral Homes, 1190 S. Broad St. There will be tribute to honor Billy on Monday, March 17th at 11 a.m., at the Brooksville Chapel with Pastor Tom Derryberry, officiating. Interment will follow at Chapel Cemetery
in Dade City, Florida.
Services Entrusted to: Brewer & Sons Funeral Homes and Cremations Services
WHITEHEAD, Joyce E., 60, of Zephyrhills passed away March 14, 2003 in Zephyrhills. She is survived by her husband, Russell Whitehead of Zephyrhills; two stepsons, Philip Whitehead of Zephyrhills and Sean Whitehead of New York, N.Y.; a brother, Charles L. Roberts of Sun City, Arizona. Services will be held 2 p.m., Monday, March 17, 2003 at Florida National Cemetery
with Rev. Paul Bartnick officiating. Born February 1, 1943 in Rochester, N.Y., to Charles E. and Marguerite (Fletcher) Roberts. She came to the Zephyrhills area 21 years ago from Miami. She worked as a Secretary for the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a nonprofit organization, and was a member of the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church.
WHITFIELD FUNERAL HOME
GRANGER, Mable Marian Sterns, entered into eternal rest on March 8, 2003 after a lengthy illness. She was born may 5, 1916 in Ludington, Mich., the daughter of Hans and Marne (nee Petersen) Andersen. She graduated from Ludington High School in 1934, and in June of that same year, married Kenneth F. Sterns. He died in June of 1990. In August of 1992, she married William Granger. She was a member of Community United Methodist Church of Holiday, Florida. She was also a Past Worthy Matron and life member of the Pere Marquette Chapter #327 O.E.S. in Ludington, Mich. Her first husband was in the construction business and they traveled extensively throughout the United States. She is survived by her husband, William J. Granger; two sisters, Alice Adamski and Gladys Miller; two children: a son Richard Sterns and spouse Barbara, and a daughter, Barbara Peterson and spouse Alvin; step son, Dr. William Granger and spouse Lisa; six grandchildren, three step grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Kenneth, her brother Nels Andersen, and a grandson, Kevin Peterson. Her memorial service will be held at the Commun ity United Methodist Church on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at North Meadowlawn Funeral Homes and Cemetery. The family requests any memorials be given to the church.
GRASSO, Salvatore John, 83, of New Port Richey, Fla., passed away March 14, 2003 at his residence. Born in New York, N.Y., he came here 20 years ago from Bay Shore, N.Y. He retired as a manager with General Electric. He was a member of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church and an Army Veteran of World War II. Survivors include his daughter, Joanne D'Alessio of Brooklyn, N.Y.; sister, Mary Cortese of Tucson, Arizona; and two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Visitation, Sunday, Bell Funeral Home, from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with Vigil Service at 6:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be Monday, 11:00 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Fla.
SHULENBURG, Gifford W., 83, of New Port Richey died March 14, 2003 at Community Hospital in New Port Richey. Born in Joliet, Illinois, he came here in 1984 from his hometown. He was a retired quality control inspector for the Caterpillar Company. A World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, he was a life member of the Chester McKay V.F.W. Post #7987 in New Port Richey; the China Burma and India Organization #17554; and the American Legion Post #0343. He is survived by his good friend and caretaker, Patricia Hunt of New Port Richey. Interment on Tuesday, March 18 at 10 a.m. at Meadowlawn Memorial Gardens, New Port Richey. Arrangements by North Meadowlawn Funeral Home, New Port Richey
ZOOK, Maybelle M., 89, of New Port Richey died Friday, March 14, 2003 at Tandem Health Care in New Port Richey. Born in Chattanooga, Tenn., she came here from Adrian, Mich., in 1976. She was a secretary for the Tanglewood Mobile Condominiums in Holiday. She is survived by her son, Douglas Zook of Port Charlotte, Fla.; her two daughters, Ellen VanDeilen of New Port Richey and Judy Schantz of Jackson, Mich.; six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by North Meadowlawn Funeral Home, New Port Richey
ALLEN, Sue L., 87, of Tampa died February 25, 2003. She is survived by her loving family.
Florida Mortuary Funeral & Cremation Services
