Trudie E. Alford
Trudie E. Alford died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2001, after an extended illness while residing at The Manor at Bluewater Bay.
Born to Willey and Susie Frazier in Covington County, Ala., on Sept. 16, 1921, she resided in Niceville for the past 70 years.
Alford, an accomplished and published poet, was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd H. Alford, of 53 years, and brothers, Alvin “Doc,” Donald, Eugene, and a sister, Alene Frazier.
Survivors include her sister, Mildred Linton; brother, Dwight Frazier, both of Freeport; son, Wade Alford of Mary Esther; daughter, Beckey Beard, and husband, James Beard, of Taylors, S.C.; grandchildren, Robert Alford and Thomas Alford, both of Columbus, Ga., Dan Alford of Mary Esther, Kim Acker and husband, Chip Acker, of Spartanburg, S.C., and Cindy Beard of Valparaiso, Fla.; and great-granddaughter, Makenzie Acker.
Services were conducted at First Baptist Church of Niceville, with Dr. Joseph Haigler and Brother Chuck Hartness officiating. McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home in Niceville handled the arrangements.
Lisbeth Martha Zagaruyka
Lisbeth Martha Zagaruyka of Niceville passed away Aug. 16 at the age of 68.
She was born on Dec. 26, 1932, and in the 1960s came to the United States from Wiesbaden, Germany. In 1987, she became a U.S. citizen.
Lisbeth was an Air Force wife and traveled about the country. In 1970 she and her husband settled in Niceville. She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness in Niceville.
She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother and friend to all she met.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Leo Zagaruyka; son, Edward Leo Zagaruyka and his wife, Vicki Louise, and their six boys, Jason Lee, Joseph Leo, Jacob Niclaus, Jessie Edwin, Jordan Brandon and Jarrad Chance; a daughter, Lisa Marie Campbell, and her husband, Dennis Micheal Campbell, and their four children, Beth Ann Butcher, Kera Marie Butcher, Micheal Edmond Hopkins and Andrew George Campbell; a son, Paul Nicholas Zagaruyka, and his wife, Lisa Renee, and their two children, Lisbeth Dawn and Leo Xavier; also two brothers and six sisters.
She is preceded in death by a son, Freddie Zagaruyka, and by her father, Otto Wagner, and his wife, Frieda Martha.
The viewing and visitation service will be at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 NE Racetrack Road in Fort Walton Beach. Memorial services will be held at the Kingdom Hall in Fort Walton Beach. Please call the family for date and time.
Arthur Davies
Arthur Davies, 77, of Destin, died Aug. 11 at daughter Christine Brown’s home in Destin.
He was born in Manchester, England, on Sept. 4 1923.
In 1956, Audrey and Arthur Davies did what many other young professional families were doing. They packed up their family and pursued their dreams in the booming economy of the post–war United States.
They crossed the Atlantic on HMS Queen Elizabeth and arrived in Atlanta on Thanksgiving Day in 1956. Arthur began his career as a commercial artist with Rich’s Co. in Atlanta, where he worked his way from layout artist to art director.
In 1960, he quit and started an ad agency, a do–it–yourself business handling arts and crafts materials and supplies. He also taught at the area technical school.
He finished his career with the U.S. government in the General Services Division as a graphic designer. Davies retired in Destin in 1991.
He entered the British Royal Navy in 1941 at the age of 18. He was assigned to a destroyer in the North Atlantic (convoy duty to Russia). He was a survivor on two occasions when attacked by U–boats.
He later served in the Pacific, participating in the impending invasion of Japan.
He is survived by his son, Stephen J. Davies of Gainesville, Ga.; daughter, Christine Brown, of Destin; grandchildren, Stephanie M. Davies of Georgia and Kevin C. Brown of Destin; and a brother, Alfred Davies, of Great Britain.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida.
Memorial services were held Saturday at McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach.
Ethel L. Townsley
Ethel L. Townsley, 85, a former resident of Destin for many years, died Aug. 7, in Lakeland.
Townsley was born Aug. 22, 1915, in Rochester, N.Y.
She was a member of the Episcopal Church.
She is survived by a son, Tyler Townsley of Mulberry, Fla.; Daughter, Gale Townsley of San Francisco; and two grandchildren.
A.M. Seigler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Glenn E. “Pete” Miller
Glenn E. “Pete” Miller Jr., 70, of Destin, died Saturday, Aug. 4, at Delta Health Care.
Miller served in the Air Force for 25 years.
He was employed with the city of Fort Walton Beach for more than 10 years until his retirement.
Miller was a member of the American Legion, where he was past post commander, and a member of the Masonic Lodge, both of Fort Walton Beach. He was also an avid athlete and coach.
Surviving are two daughters, Karen Miller and Lisa Miller–Wills and her husband, Wesley; and his sister, Marcia Raines.
Graveside services were held in the National Cemetery in Marion, Ind.
The Meeks Mortuary in Muncie, Ind., was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to the Carolyn J. Miller Nursing Scholarship, in care of Ball State University Foundation, 2800 W. Bethel Ave., Muncie, Ind., 47304.
Mary Pierce Higginbotham
Mrs. Mary Pierce Higginbotham, 75, a native of Tuscaloosa County, Ala., a resident of Summerdale, Ala., died Saturday, August 4, in a Destin health care facility.
Mrs. Higginbotham was a member of the Fairhope Emblem Club.
She is survived by her husband, Holland Higginbotham of Summerdale, Ala.; two daughters, Joyce (Buck) Tucker of Destin and Peggy (Ernie) Lay of League City, Texas; one granddaughter, Shelly McDonald and two great-granddaughters.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, August 9, at Chapel of Wolfe Funeral Home, Fairhope Chapel.
Family will receive friends on Wednesday evening at Wolfe Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. The Emblem Club of Fairhope Elks Lodge ceremony will be held at 6 p.m.
Interment will be in Bayview Cemetery, Daphne, Ala.
Arrangements are by Wolfe Funeral Home, 329 SO Greeno Rd., Fairhope, Ala.
Syble G. Neel
Syble G. Neel, a lifelong resident of DeFuniak Springs, died Monday, July 30, at the age of 83.
She was born on Sept. 8, 1917, daughter of the late Conor Lawton and Burla Estelle Bishop Neel. Syble graduated from Walton High School on May 31, 1935. She went on to attend Riley Business College, graduating May 9, 1941, and began employment with the City of DeFuniak Springs on Jan. 5, 1955. She was elected to the position of City Clerk on July 11, 1958, where she served until retirement on July 19, 1979.
She was a Baptist by faith and a member of the First Baptist Church of DeFuniak Springs.
She was preceded in death by her brothers, Buford Neel and Cecil “Windy” Neel; and sister, Wynell Merle Neel.
Survivors include her nephew, Van Lawton Neel of Arlington, Va.; and nieces, Sandra Neel McCarta of DeFuniak Springs, and Nell Neel Matchkus of Panama City.
e of visitation was held Wednesday at Clary–Godwin Funeral Home. The funeral service was conducted Thursday also at Clary–Godwin Funeral Home with Rev. Charles Gray and Dr. Bob Jaye officiating. Burial followed in Magnolia Cemetery.
Col. Arthur Maron Skibbe
Arthur Maron “Skip” Skibbe, beloved husband, father and friend, passed away July 25 at the Delta Nursing Home following an illness of eight weeks.
Skip was born on April 14, 1915, to Arthur Max and Rosine Frank Skibbe in Philadelphia. He graduated from Northeast High School, where he lettered in track as a cross country runner, in 1933.
He graduated from the U.S.S. Annapolis, Pennsylvania’s nautical training school, with a third assistant engineer’s license in 1935 and sailed on Moore and McCormack and Black Diamond steamships.
In 1940, Skip earned a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Penn State. He was a member of Triangle Fraternity, Pershing Rifles and Scabbard and Blade, and commanded the college ROTC unit as cadet colonel. He was the commander of the Military Ball.
Skip was called to active duty as a second lieutenant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1941, subsequently transferring to the Army Air Corps. He attended Command and General Staff Schools and Post Hostilities Staff Officers School and was part of the European Theater Army of Occupation.
Discharged from active duty in 1947, Skip remained in the Air Force Reserve until 1975.
For 20 years Skip was employed by Ralston Purina Co. in Buffalo, in Delaware and as plant superintendent at Wilson and Charlotte, N.C.
In 1968 Skip earned a masters of counselor education degree at East Carolina University. For the next 10 years he worked at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, N.C., as counselor to the disadvantaged and high risk students.
Following his retirement Skip moved with his wife to Gulf Pines in the Sandestin area in 1978. He worked part–time for his friend, Michael Warner, of Warnerworks, and for Earl White of White Plumbing and Air Conditioning. He served as president of South Walton Utility Co. and as a board member for several years.
Skip was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, past member of the Sandestin Lions Club, life member of American Legion Post 264 and charter member of the Senior Center for Lifelong Learning.
Colonel Skibbe is survived by his wife of 60 years, Catherine; daughters Kathleen Williamson of Charlotte, Wilman Skibbe of Santa Rosa Beach and Joyce Skibbe of Toronto. His surviving sons are Arthur M. Skibbe Jr. of Boone, N.C., and Robert G. Skibbe of Charlotte,. Also surviving are daughter–in–law Sondra Skibbe, son–in–law Bill Williamson and grandchildren Courtney and Ian Skibbe, Robert and Danny Williamson and Danny’s wife, Mary Beth, all of Charlotte.
In accordance with Skip’s wishes, his remains will be cremated and his immediate family will gather for a private service. Memorials can be sent to Hospice of the Emerald Coast, 2529 Ferdon Blvd., Crestview Fla. 32536.
Paul T. Demos
Paul T. Demos, 78, died peacefully at home in Destin on July 20. He was born Nov. 30, 1922, to Thomas E. Demos and Mary Dunning Demos, one of six children.
As a young man, he enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific during World II. After the war, he lived in Albuquerque, working as a national service officer for the Disabled American Veterans.
In the 1950s, he served his country again during the Korean War as a major in the Army.
After his discharge from the military, he attended the University of New Mexico, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
After moving to Washington, D.C., he worked on Capitol Hill as an administrative assistant to a U.S. senator from New Mexico. It was in Washington where he earned a law degree from Georgetown University. For 13 years he helped craft legislation that would entitle generations of Americans to have an equal chance at success through the Civil Rights Act.
After leaving Washington, he returned to Albuquerque and was appointed by the governor to serve as presiding District Court judge. For five years he presided over thousands of domestic, civil and criminal cases.
After this time, he opened a private practice of law in Albuquerque.
In 1983, he relocated to the Dallas/Fort Worth area where he met his wife, Beverly. After practicing law in Dallas/Fort Worth for a short time, he retired permanently to the Emerald Coast, living eight years at the Breakers of Fort Walton Beach. He served most of those years on the board of directors, as well as devoting countless hours of volunteer work for the Disabled American Veterans.
His memberships included: lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans, New Mexico State Bar Association and District of Columbia Bar Association.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly, of Destin; daughter, Paula Demos Duncan of West Linn, Ore.; son, Paul T. Demos of Phoenix; four grandchildren and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Brenda Demos Hauck, and two grandchildren.
He is also survived by three step–grandchildren, Mark Hergenrader of Barregada, Guam, Kenneth Hergenrader of Grapevine, Texas, and Lauren Comstock of Rosemary Beach, Fla.
A funeral mass was held July 24 at Resurrection Catholic Church in Miramar Beach. A private interment was held at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola. Donations may be made in Paul’s name to the Hospice of Northwest Florida, 101 Hart Street, Niceville, Fl. 32578.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
