Valerie J. Block
Valerie Jean (Bowman) Block, R.N., 45, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Saturday, April 9, 2005.
She was born
April 2, 1960, in Toledo, Ohio.
She was a resident of Point Place, Ohio, and graduated from Central Catholic in 1977 and Mercy School of Nursing in 1979 in Toledo. Valerie came to this area from Toledo in 1986 and was co-owner of Neighborhood Nursing Service in Port Charlotte. She was a member of Pilgrim United Church of Christ.
Valerie will be greatly missed by her partner, Glyn Edwards; sons, David Michael Block and Allen Jay Block and daughters, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Edwards and Hayley Susan Edwards, all of Port Charlotte; parents, Jim "Ron" and Connie Bowman of Port Charlotte; grandmother, Grace Lewis of Adrian, Mich.; sister, Barbara G. (Thomas) Hafner of Bloomington, Ind.; nephews, Eric, Scott and Adam Hafner and niece, Amanda Hafner, all of Bloomington; a very special friend and business partner, Deborah A. (Dan) Klee, R.N., of North Port, Fla.; and many friends, aunts and uncles.
A memorial service in celebration of Valerie's life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 16, 2005, at Pilgrim United Church of Christ. To express condolences to the family, please visit www.LTaylorfuneral.com and sign the online guest book.
Memorial donations may be made to Pilgrim UCC Youth Fund, 24515 Rampart Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33980; or Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.
Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda, Fla.
Alan Bond
Alan Bond, 47, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at his home. Arrangements are by ICS Cremation Society Inc. of Harbour Heights, Fla.
Madeline Christensen
Madeline Christensen, 88, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Sunday, April 10, 2005. Arrangements are by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Punta Gorda, Fla.
Harold N. Gunther
Harold "Harry" N. Gunther, 73, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2005.
He was born
June 3, 1931, in Lowell, Mass.
After serving five years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, he earned his bachelor's degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He spent 30 years in the Health Sciences division of Eastman Kodak as a regional sales manager. He was known for his character, integrity and nurturing qualities, a unique sense of humor and fun-loving spirit. Harry shared his love for music and gourmet cooking and enjoyed travel to Scotland and Germany. He was a member of the German-American Social Club in Cape Coral, the American Legion Post 109 in New Hampshire and Congregational United Church of Christ.
Harry will be missed by his loving wife of 46 years, Joanne (Burton) Gunther; daughters, Lisa (Russ) Rossi of Lutz, Fla., Linda (Kevin) McElligott of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Gail (Bill) Davis of Lehigh Acres, Fla.; six grandchildren; brother, George (Nancy) Gunther; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 16, 2005, at Congregational United Church of Christ. To express condolences to the family, please visit www.LTaylorfuneral.com and sign the guest book.
The family requests memorial donations be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 1332 North Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60622; or the New Hampshire School of Scottish Arts, 922 Elm St., Suite 315, Manchester, NH 03101.
Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services.
William Kelly
William Kelly, 79, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Sunday, April 10, 2005. Arrangements are by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Punta Gorda.
Mildred Petrie
Mildred Petrie, 95, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Saturday, April 9, 2005, at New Horizons in Deep Creek, Fla. Arrangements are by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Punta Gorda.
William E. Bates
William E. Bates, 59, of Sarasota, Fla., passed away Saturday, April 9, 2005.
He was born
April 16, 1945, in Morrisville, Vt.
Mr. Bates earned his master's degree in engineering from the University of Vermont. He was a senior vice president at Dufresne-Henry Engineering Inc. He moved from Stowe, Vt., to the Englewood area 15 years ago.
Mr. Bates is survived by his father, Raeburn Bates of Morrisville; two sons, Kyle Bates of Stowe and Curtis W. Bates of Portland, Maine; two daughters, Eliza LePorin of Tallahassee, Fla., and Adele Taplin of Stowe; one brother, Peter Bates of Underhill, Vt.; one sister, Sheila Hurst of Gilmonton, N.H.; and four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238; and the American Cancer Society, 1750 17th St., Suite A, Sarasota, FL 34234.
Jennings Funeral Home and Crematory, in Sarasota, is in charge of the arrangements.
Herbert Wright
Herbert "Herb" Wright, 87, of Englewood, Fla., died Wednesday, April 6, 2005.
He was born
Nov. 29, 1917 in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Mr. Wright was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, serving in the European theater where he met his wife, Anna Mae Kniubas, who was an Army nurse. He was an executive with a pattern supply company before he retired. He moved from Cleveland, Ohio, to Englewood in 1987. Mr. Wright was a member of VFW Post 10178, FOE, American Legion Post 113 in Englewood and the Moose Lodge in Venice.
He is survived by his daughter, Janice Wright of Milford, Conn.; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna; and a son, David, in 1986.
A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 15, 2005, at Lemon Bay Funeral Home in Englewood.
A private interment will be held at a later date in New Jersey at St. Gertrude's Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the donor's charity of choice.
Arrangements are by The Neptune Society, Palm Harbor, Fla.
Herman Haberman
Herman Haberman, 88, of North Port, Fla., died Sunday, April 10, 2005, in Englewood, Fla.
He was born
Feb. 11, 1917, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Herman and Elizabeth (Castle) Haberman Sr.
Mr. Haberman served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a retired salesman for Union Special Machine Corporation Chicago in New Hampshire. He moved to the North Port area eight years ago from Nashua, N.H. Mr. Haberman was a member of the Punta Gorda Ham Radio Club.
He is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth Rediske of Austin, Texas, and Linda Gray of Bowdoin, Maine; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
No local services are planned. Burial will be in Peabody, Mass.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood Chapel.
Harold E. Royce
Harold Edward Royce, 80, of Arcadia, Fla., passed away Friday, April 8, 2005.
He was born
May 9, 1924, in Charlestown, N.H.
Harold is survived by his wife, Peggy Royce of Arcadia; his daughter, Christine (Timothy) Klang of Arcadia; his sons, Harold (Lacy) Royce III of Englewood, Fla., and Dewayne Royce and Robert Royce of Arcadia; 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, April 15, 2005, at their home, 1645 S.E. West Ave. Officiating clergy will be Terry Hudson and Tom Simmons of North Hillsborough Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family.
Robarts Funeral Home of Arcadia is in charge of the arrangements.
Clarence E. Darnell
Clarence E. Darnell, 88 of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Friday, April 15, 2005.
He was born
Nov. 29, 1916, in Jefferson, Ga.
Clarence graduated from Martin Institute High School in 1933. He then graduated from Athens Business College in 1934. He served in the 8th U.S. Army Air Force as a B17 first pilot with 19 missions over Germany during World War II in the European Theater of Operations and spent one year in a prisoner of war camp. He was discharged as a captain in the Air Force Reserve. During his civilian career, he worked for General Motors as a regional sales manager. He retired in 1974.
He is survived by his daughter, Madeline Darnell of Athens, Ga.; three grandchildren, Amy Kerr Parker of Pittsburgh, Pa., Brian Kerr of Chicago, Ill., and Sara Ruth Higgs of Washington, D.C.; and his loving companion, Nancy Perkins.
Clarence was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Sara.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at the First United Methodist Church of Punta Gorda. Burial will be at a later date in Royston, Ga.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 507 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda, Fl 33950; American Cancer Society, 3709 W. Jetton Ave., Tampa, FL 33629; or American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680 North Canton, OH 44720.
Kays-Ponger Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda Chapel, is in charge of local arrangements.
Allan B. Wood
Allan B. Wood, 82, died Saturday, April 16, 2005, in Englewood, Fla.
He was born
Aug. 31,1922 in Taunton, Massachusetts.
Allan served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He then worked as a civil engineer for the Massachusetts Department of Public Works in Boston for 37 years. He moved to the Englewood area in 1986 from Raynham, Mass. He was a member of the American Legion Post 113 of Rotonda West and a past Chaplain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10178 of Englewood.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn A. Wood of Englewood; two daughters, Cynthia J. Wood of Hancock, Maine and Carol F. Baali of St. Paul, Minn.; and two grandchildren.
No local services are planned.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood Chapel.
Lucille M. Burns
Lucille M. Burns, 84, of South Canaan, Pa., and formerly of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Friday, April 1, 2005, at Marion Community Hospital in Carbondale, Pa.
She was born
July 26, 1920, in Avoca, Pa., and was the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Dwyer Preston.
Mrs. Burns was an operator of the Country Line Inn in Greentown, Pa., from 1980 to 1986. She was a member of St. Rita's Church in Goldsboro, Pa. She lived in Wharton, N.J., the Stroudsburg, Pa., area and Port Charlotte.
She is survived by her son, Joseph T. of South Canaan; daughters, Margaret Mary (Ken) Tews of Punta Gorda, Fla., and Jeanne M. Schwabelmeier of South Canaan; five grandchildren, Aimee (Jason) Coccodrilli, Cameron (JoAnn) Burns, Bonnie Henneforth, Scott (Paige) Tews and Jennifer (Tim) Rice; seven great-grandchildren, Kayla, Nicholas, Jordan, Kayla, Zachary, Jacob and Emily; brothers, Gerard (Helen) Preston and Taylor Hite; sister, Marguerite Hite of Pittston, Pa.; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry J., in 1986; brothers, William, Thomas, James, John and Dominick; and her parents.
Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2005, at Kniffen-O'Malley Funeral Home, 728 Main St., Avoca. The funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Avoca. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery in Old Forge, Pa.
Arrangements are by Kniffen-O'Malley Funeral Home, Avoca.
James T. Harmon Jr.
James T. "Jim" Harmon Jr., 76, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Wednesday, March 30, 2005, at his home.
He was born
Feb. 8, 1929, in Scranton, Pa.
Jim retired as an accountant and moved to the Port Charlotte area in 1985 from East Stroudsburg, Pa., remaining active working as a bus driver for Charlotte County Public Schools. He was a member of the BPO Elks Lodge 2153 of Charlotte County and Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda, Fla.
Jim is survived by a son, James Thomas (Mary) Harmon III of Dagsboro, Del.; two daughters, Linda E. (Alvin) Snyder of Mifflinburg, Pa., and Nancy Sweigart of Lititz, Pa.; two sisters, Jane Sobleskie of Crofton, Md., and Marianne Miller of East Stroudsburg; four grandchildren, Kelsey and James Harmon of Dagsboro, and Stephen and Dalton Sweigart of Lititz; and several nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 35 years, Dorothy "Dottie" Harmon, in 1990.
A memorial service will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at Roberson Funeral Home, 2151 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. The Rev. Tim Stewart, pastor of Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, will officiate. A private committal will be conducted at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, 11330 Burnt Store Road, Punta Gorda, FL 33955; or BPO Elks Lodge 2153, P.O. Box 496425, Port Charlotte, FL 33949-6425.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home and Crematory, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Hartwell Finley
Hartwell Finley, 87, of Arcadia, Fla., passed away Saturday, April 2, 2005, at Charlotte Regional Medical Center in Punta Gorda, Fla.
He was born
July 16, 1917, in Columbiana, Ala., to Julius and Matilda Finley.
Mr. Finley served in the U.S. Army as a technical sergeant during World War II. He always enjoyed talking about his military service. He retired from Mansfield Ohio Reformatory Correctional Institute as a guard. Mr. Finley moved to Florida in 1979 and resided in Zephyrhills, Fla., for 20 years before moving to Arcadia. Mr. Finley loved the Lord and loved to go fishing and camping. He was always getting the "big one."
He is survived by his two nephews, John and Jack Finley of South Carolina; several stepchildren; many friends who loved him; and especially his most treasured and loved companion, Delores Regolizio of Arcadia. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his four brothers, Jake, Howard, Cris and David; and his sister, Lillian.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 5200 Indian Springs Cemetery Road, Punta Gorda. Burial with military honors provided by the U.S. Army will be at Chapel Hill Gardens in Dade City, Fla.
Arrangements are by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Punta Gorda.
Effie L. Olivieri
Effie L. Olivieri, 79, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Friday, April 1, 2005, at Hospice House in Port Charlotte.
She was born
June 30, 1925, in Waterproof, La.
Mrs. Olivieri moved to Port Charlotte in 1995 from Rhode Island. She was a Roman Catholic.
She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Vincent J. Olivieri of Port Charlotte; three daughters, Maria Oliver of Port Charlotte, Linda DiSciullo of Smithfield, R.I., and Madeline Young of North Carolina; a son, Vincent Olivieri II of North Scituate, R.I.; a sister, Ida Spence of Austin, Texas; six grandchildren, Michelle, Christopher, Jennifer, Stephenie, Rachel and Matthew; and five great-grandchildren, Grace, Blake, Chloe, Kelly and Donald II.
She was preceded in death by a son, Lawrence Olivieri.
Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, April 7, 2005, at the Port Charlotte chapel of Roberson Funeral Home. The Rev. Robert B. Mattingly will officiate.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home and Crematory, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Clemens L. Richard
Clemens L. Richard, 95, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Friday, April 1, 2005, at River Oaks in Englewood, Fla. Arrangements are by National Cremation Society of Venice, Fla.
