Gladys S. Fertsch
January 21, 1914 - December 23, 2007
Funeral service for Gladys S. Fertsch, 93, Orange Park, who died December 23, 2007, at Orange Park Medical Center, Orange Park, will be 2 p.m. Friday, December 28, at Lankford Funeral Home, DeLand, with the Rev. Drew Parsons officiating. Burial will be at Hollywood Cemetery. Calling hours are from 1 p.m. until service time.
Mrs. Fertsch was born in Hoopeston, PA and was a former longtime Orange City resident. She was retired as a claims clerk for Edward Insurance in DeLand. She was a former member of the Orange City Lions Auxiliary, the Orange City United Methodist Church and the Orange City Sorosis Club.
Survivors include one daughter, Sandra (Charles) Donley, Orange Park; two grandchildren, Scott and Don and four great-grandchildren, Nolan, Haylee, Taylor and Luke.
John Bigman
July 29, 1912 - December 20, 2007
John Bigman, a resident of Pinecrest, FL, passed away at his son's home in DeLand after a long illness. Mr. Bigman was a retired building contractor, racehorse owner-breeder-trainer, owned a knitting mill in South Florida and had been a successful businessman over the years. In his own words, he was "an Armchair General." He was also a founding member of the Temple Israel of DeLand over 51 years ago.
Widower of Miriam Cohen Bigman, he was a devoted husband to Frances Bigman, Pinecrest, FL and Maine; a loving father to son, Bruce and daughter-in-law, Carol, DeLand, and Bobby Flesher, Ewing, NJ; an adoring PopPop to Amy and Larry Katz, Michael Flesher, Noah Bigman and Stephanie Bigman and to his great-grandchildren, Madeleine and Micah Katz.
A grave-side service is planned for 10:30 a.m. Sunday, December 23, 2007 at DeLand Memorial Gardens with Rabbi Winston Weilheimer officiating.
Harriet "Pat" Anastos
March 17, 1919 - December 19, 2007
Memorial service for Harriet "Pat" Anastos, 88, DeBary, who died December 19, 2007, at DeBary Manor, DeBary, will be 2 p.m. Saturday, December 22, at Lankford Funeral Home, 220 E. New York Ave., DeLand, with Father Alvarez Jimenez officiating.
Mrs. Anastos was born in Medford, Mass., and moved to this area in 1991 from Massachusetts. She was a homemaker and a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, Deltona.
Survivors include her spouse, Takis Anastos, DeBary; son, Max Wininger and daughter-in-law Karen, DeLand; one sister; five grandchildren, Michael, Todd, Maxie, Erica and Shannon and five great-grandchildren.
Betty Anne Collins
September 23, 1929 - December 15, 2007
Memorial service for Anne Collins, 78, DeLand, who died Saturday, December 15, 2007, at Florida Hospital DeLand, will be 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 18 at Temple Baptist Church in Enterprise with Pastor Kenny Jones officiating.
Mrs. Collins was born in Winter Haven and moved here in 1980 from Ocala. She was a kindergarten teacher and enjoyed crafting and reading.
Survivors include two sons, Charles Collins, Troy, AL and Steven Collins, Texarkana, Texas ; two daughters, Patsy Collins, DeLand and Lisa Wager, DeLand and seven grandchildren.
Annabelle H. Sorg
November 26, 1921 - December 13, 2007
Memorial service for Annabelle H. Sorg, 86, DeLand, who died December 13, 2007, at Ridgecrest Manor, DeLand, will be 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 18, at Lankford Funeral Home, 200 E. New York Ave., DeLand, with Becky Wilson officiating. Calling hours are from 5 p.m. until service time.
Mrs. Sorg was born in LaGrange, Ohio, and moved to this are 56 years ago (1951) from Wellington, Ohio. Before retirement she worked as a beautician for Town and Country Beauty Salon and was a salesperson for Woolworth's Five and Dime Store. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles, knitting, crocheting, painting and making ceramics. She was a member of the DeLeon Springs United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Sorg and her son, Robert Sorg. Survivors include her two sons, Bill (Sylvia) Sorg, Jr., DeLand and Jim (Teresa) Sorg, Orange City; two daughters, Joyce (Harrell) Drury, DeLeon Springs and Janet (Delane) Sullivan, Orange City; eight grandchildren; nine great-grand-children and eight great-great-grandchildren.
Donations may be made in memory of Annabelle Sorg to the Florida United Methodist Children's Home, 51 Main Street, Enterprise, FL 32725.
Avis Mitchell Shibley
October 23, 1920 - December 11, 2007
Memorial service for Avis Mitchell Shibley, 87, North Amelia Avenue, DeLand, who died December 11, 2007, at Florida Hospital DeLand, will be 11 a.m. Monday, December 17, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, New Smyrna Beach.
Avis was born in Blacksburg, SC and was a lifetime resident of New Smyrna Beach. She was a 1938 graduate of New Smyrna Beach High School and was a retired office manager. She was a member of the Old Timers Group from New Smyrna Beach High School.
Survivors include her two sons, Harold Julian and Annette Colee, Alachua, FL and Curtis Allen and Lucinda Colee, DeLand; daughter, Suzanne Colee Williams, Campbell, CA; sister, Theo Amatrano, Tequesta, FL; brother, Jack Mitchell, New Smyrna Beach; grandchildren, Robyn Morris, Cyndee Williams, Eva Colee and Lisa Colee and great-grandson, Owen Morris.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129 or the Children with Diabetes Foundation, 685 East Wiggins Street, Superior, CO 80027.
Eunice E. Conger
July 25, 1923 - December 9, 2007
Graveside service for Eunice E. Conger, 84, DeLand, who died Sunday, December 9, 2007, at Oakwood Garden of DeLand, will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 12, in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Tifton, GA, with the Rev. M.C. Bradley officiating.
Mrs. Conger was born in Gastonia, NC and moved here in 1947 from North Carolina. She was a waitress.
Survivors include her son, Ronald Conger, Orange City; two daughters, Patricia Haire, Orange City, and Brenda Richardson, DeBary; two sisters, Kathryn Abernathy, Georgia, and Margaret Shelley, Panama City; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Cecilia A. "Snoozie" Brit
June 30, 1922 - December 5, 2007
A Memorial Mass will be held for Cecilia A. "Snoozie" Britz at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 11, 2007 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in DeLand with Father Tom Connery celebrating. Born in Chicago, IL, Cecilia was a child of the Depression and World War II born into an affluent family but, as with most families, lost much in the stock market.
She was married at the age of 18 and had 3 sons in 4 years. The oldest son was 4 and the others in diapers when Cecilia was widowed at the age of 23. She met Ben Britz and they had their two daughters to add to the family and were married 51 years. She moved to DeLand, FL from Fox Lake, IL in 1976.
Surviving are her two daughters, Mary Koenig and Bernadette Britz-Parker, DeLand; and sons, Robert and Dennis McNally, DeLand, and Thomas McNally, Appleton, Wis. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She worked in bookkeeping for the Lake County Illinois School District for 20 years as treasurer for 5 schools in that district. Other than being a wonderful Mother, she loved to visit Las Vegas with friends and family.
Cecilia "Snoozie" Britz died peacefully in her home on Wednesday, December 5, 2007 surrounded by her loving family and her caregiver and close friend, Nancy Carden. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to be made to The House Next Door, 804 North Woodland Blvd., DeLand, FL 32720 or to Casa di Famigilia, 217 North Stone Street, DeLand, FL 32720 in her memory.
Leand G. Robertson
November 19, 1923 - December 4, 2007
Funeral service for Leand G. Robertson, 84, Cassadaga, who died December 4, 2007, at A.L. Lee Memorial Hospital, Fulton, NY, will be 12 noon Monday, December 10, at United Pentecostal Church, 1640 East Voorhis Ave., DeLand, with the Rev. Glenn Hires officiating. Burial will be at Oakdale Cemetery, DeLand. Calling hours are Monday from 11 a.m. until 12 noon service time at the church.
Mr. Robertson was born in Edmeston, NY and moved to this area in 1972 from New York. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He was a heavy equipment operator for the town of Mexico, NY. He was a member of the United Penticostal Church in DeLand for over 20 years.
Survivors include his two sons, George Robertson, Hannibal, NY and Bill Robertson, Richmond, VA; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Joseph Clarke Hudson
September 16, 1943 - December 2, 2007
Funeral service for Clarke Hudson, 64, DeLand, who died Sunday, December 2, 2007, at Florida Hospital, DeLand, will be 11 a.m. Thursday, December 6, at Lankford Funeral Home, 220 E. New York Ave., DeLand.
Mr. Hudson was born in Shubula, Miss., and came here in 1999 from Orlando. He was a sales representative for Amvac Chemical Company of California. His master's degree was from University of Southern Mississippi and he was working on his doctorate degree from Florida State University. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of DeLand. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and reading.
Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Judy, DeLand; son, John Matthews, Palm Coast; daughter, Kelly Barnes, and her husband, James, DeLand; brother, Brooks Hudson and sister-in-law, Maria, Winter Springs; and three grandchildren, Jack and Jaylie Barnes and Roxanne Sorter.
Memorial donations suggested to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
