RUTH E. LANCIN
A funeral mass for Mrs. Ruth E. Lancin, 83, of Panama City Beach, Fla., will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001, at noon in the St. John's Catholic Church with Father Andrew Lewandowski officiating. The family will receive friends at the church two hours prior to the funeral mass from 10 a.m. noon.
Southerland Family Funeral Home
Lynn Haven, FL 32444
BESSIE LENORA BROCK LAND
Funeral services for Bessie Lenora Brock Land, 97, of Chipley, who passed away Friday, Nov. 9, will be held at 11 a.m. today, Nov. 13, 2001, at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Alcus Brock officiating. Private interment at Lynn Haven Cemetery
will follow.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
IRENE M. SWANNER
Mrs. Irene M. Swanner, who was born April 17, 1936, in Amesbury, Mass., went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2001, at a Pensacola health care facility. She was a resident of Parker and moved to this area in June 1979 from Willingboro, N.J. She was a bookkeeper with Surplus Sales in Panama City and was a member of St. Dominic's Catholic Church. Mrs. Swanner also enjoyed membership in Moose Lodge No. 1389. Her mother and father, Edward and Flora Dignard; a brother, Earnest Dignard; and a sister, Regina; precede her in death. Mrs. Swanner is survived by her husband of 43 years, William D. Swanner, of Parker, Fla.; one son, Michael Swanner of Topeka, Kan.; two daughters, Laura Barnes and husband, Steve, and Linda Kolmetz and husband, Tim, all of Panama City, Fla.; four brothers, Raymond Dignard and wife, Maybell, of Spring Hill, Fla., Norman Dignard and wife, Pat, of Maine, Joe Dignard and wife, Maxine, of New Hampshire and Roger Dignard of Maine; one sister, Laura McFadyen and husband, Pete, of Connecticut; sister-in-law, Pat Dignard of Massachusetts; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A funeral mass will be conducted Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001, at 10 a.m. in St. Dominic's Catholic Church with Msgr. William A. Crowe officiating. The graveside committal service will be conducted by Pastor Jeff Thomas. The family will receive friends at the funeral home this evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in memory of Mrs. Swanner. Floral offerings will also be accepted by the family.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
JOHN H. USHER
Mr. John H. Usher, 87, of Panama City, Fla., passed away, Monday, Nov. 12, 2001, at a local nursing facility. He had been a resident of the area for 24 years, coming here for Okeechobee, Fla. Mr. Usher enjoyed fishing, gardening, and the outdoors. He was a member of the Brannonville Baptist Church. Mr. Usher is survived by his wife, Fern "Peggy" Usher, of Panama City, Fla.; two sons, John H. Usher Jr. of Birmingham, Ala., and George Thomas Usher of Dallas, Texas; a brother, Collie Usher, of Savannah, Ga.; three sisters, Juanita Holbrook of Huntsville, Ala., Martha Rahn of Savannah, Ga., and Billy White of Wickenburg, Ariz.; a stepson, Robert B. Markham of Panama City; a stepdaughter, Linda J. Foster of Lynn Haven, Fla., five grandchildren; seven stepgrandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Maude Usher; and a stepdaughter, Donna B. Howard. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2001, at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Newberry officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today, Nov. 13, 2001, from 6 until 8 p.m.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
EVA J. WHITE
Mrs. Eva J. White, 93, who live in Springfield, Fla., for over 60 years, went to be with the lord on Friday, Nov. 10, 2001, in a local health-care facility. She was born in Washington County, Fla., in what is now known as Chipley. She first moved here in 1935 from Phenix City, Ala. She was a homemaker, loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. Mrs. White had chosen to praise the Lord at the Assembly of God Church. Her loving husband of over 60 years, Eugene, a grandson, Bradley Richards, three sisters, Gussie Mae Ellis, Edna Hardy, and Betty Thorne; and one brother, Miles L. McWilliams; precede her in death. Mrs. White is survived by two daughters, Doris Riddile and husband, John R., of Panama City, Fla., and Nina L. LeCompte, Shepardsville, Ky.; grandchildren, David E. Richards and wife, Pam, Timothy J. Richards and wife, Debra, Sammi LeCompte, and Amy Floyd, all of Panama City. Fla., Jane LeCompte and Samuel E. LeCompte Jr. and wife, Linda, all of Louisville, Ky.; sister-in-Law, Rebecca Mathis of Florala, Ala.; brother-in-law, D.W. White and wife, MayDell, of Dothan, Ala., and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001, at 11 a.m. in the Southerland Family Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Fred Melvin officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers, David E. Richards, Timothy J. Richards, Samuel LeCompte Jr., Clayton E. Richards, Jerome Jenkins and Lemuel Smith. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
DOROTHY P. BIRCH
Dorothy P. Birch, 92, of Sunny Hills, Fla., passed from this life on Monday, Nov. 12, 2001, at her residence. She had resided in Sunny Hills, Fla., since 1973, coming from New York. She was Presbyterian by faith and a member of Sunny Hills Presbyterian Church, Sunny Hills, Fla. Memorialization by cremation.
Brown Funeral Home
Chipley, Fla. 32428
CHARLES BOCHICCHIO
Funeral services for Mr. Charles Bochicchio, 79, of Panama City Beach, Fla., who passed away Friday, Nov., 9, 2001, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001, at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charles Key officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today, Nov. 14, 2001, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
GETRUDE JULIA BIMELER EBERLY
Gertrude Julia Bimeler Eberly, 90, died Sunday, Nov. 11, 2001, at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Panama City, Fla., following a brief illness. Born May 28, 1911, she was a sixth generation descendent of Joseph M. Bimeler, founder of Zoar, Ohio. She lived most of her life in Bolivar, Ohio, before relocating to the Mathison Retirement Center in Panama City, Fla. She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Glendon J. Eberly, and a brother, Armin Bimeler. She is survived by daughter, Carolee A. Spring of Columbus, Ohio; son, Peter A. and wife, Mary L. Eberly, of Panama City, Fla.; two grandsons and one great-grandson. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 16, 2001, at the Lebold Funeral Home in Bolivar, Ohio, with the Rev. Carol Clements officiating. She will be buried next to her husband at Fort Laurens Cemetery, Bolivar Ohio. Family will receive friends on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the funeral home, and from 10 a.m. Friday until the time of the service. Those wishing to donate to the memory of Gertrude J. Eberly may make donations to the St. John's Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 156, Bolivar, Ohio, 44614.
JIMMIE CAROL KEENE
Jimmie Carol Keene, 71, of Fountain, Fla., died Monday, Nov. 12, 2001, at a local hospital. He had been a resident of Bay County since 1973, moving here from Moore Haven, Fla. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He was a retired heavy equipment mechanic. Mr. Keene was preceded in death by a son, Jimmie Lee Keene. He is survived by his wife, Gladys Gunn Keene; son, Dwayne Keene; daughter, Carol Wheeler; and two grandchildren, Darrell and Andrew. Graveside funeral services will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Ortona Cemetery, Moore Haven, Fla. The family will receive friends at Akin-Davis Funeral Home 438 E. Sugarland, Clewiston, Fla., from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
WILLIAM MERRITT POPE
Merritt Pope, 84, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2001. He was born Dec. 26, 1916, in West Bay, Fla. Merritt was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Edna Hutchison Pope, in 1996. He is survived by his daughter, Jane and her husband, Jim Prater; sons, Allen Pope and his wife, Mary, Bill Pope and his wife, Sherrie, and John Pope; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Merritt attended Bay High School and graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1939 at the head of his class with a degree in electrical engineering. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi, Onicron Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Tau Beta Pi, President's Gold "T," Kappa Eta Kappa, Phi Delta Epsilon, Skull and Key, Yellow Jacket Club, AIEE, ANAK, Blue Print and cheer leader. He was a certified life underwriter and a member of the Million-Dollar Round Table for many years. He was also a member of the Elks Club for 50 years and a member of St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club, and Rotary Club. Graveside services for Merritt will be conducted Thursday, Nov. 15, 2001, at 3 p.m. in the Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Those who wish, may make contributions to the charity of your choice in memory of Merritt Pope.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
