Clare Tkacz, 87 Hernando
Clare C. Tkacz, 87, Hernando, died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002, in Lecanto.
A native of Thompsonville, Conn., he came here from Enfield, Conn., three years ago.
Mr. Tkacz was a retired machinist in the aerospace industry. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles No. 4272 in Crystal River; the B.P.O. of the Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose and honorary member of the VFW all in Enfield, Conn.; and a member of the National Rifle Association.
He was Catholic.
Mr. Tkacz was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Kudla Tkacz on Jan. 20, 1968, and his daughter, Claire Maylott on Aug. 19, 1977.
Surviving are his daughters, Caroline O’Brien of Boynton Beach, Marion Kravac of Hernando and Debra Saucier of Fort Lauderdale; one brother, John Tkacz of Enfield, Conn.; and seven grandchildren.
Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.
John Kozlowski, 78 Beverly Hills
John T. Kozlowski, 78, Beverly Hills, died Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, in Ocala.
He was born Jan. 2, 1924, in Hammond, Ind., to Francis and Kathryn Kozlowski. He came here 16 years ago from Lowell and Crown Point, Ind.
Mr. Kozlowski retired from Indiana Laminated Wall Corp. of Hobart, Ind., with 34 years service.
He was a Tech. Sgt. 8th Army Air Force, in Horham, England. He was a life member of VFW Post No. 10087, Beverly Hills.
He was a life member of DAV Post, Crown Point, Ind.; Mighty 8th Historical Society; 95th Bomb Group (H) Association Air Force Historical Society; life member Union No. 460, Merrillville, Ind.; and former leader of the Center Rocketeers 4-H Club, Crown Point, Ind.
His hobbies included modeling cars, airplanes and dinosaurs, which have delighted children and adults of all ages at schools and libraries in Florida and Indiana. He was a weather watcher with Citrus County Chronicle, St. Petersburg Times and Ocala Star Banner for the past 10 years; NOAA.
He was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Beverly Hills.
Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Glorianne Hess Kozlowski of Beverly Hills; son, Jonathan T. (Marilyn) Kozlowski of Crown Point, Ind.; grandchildren, Amy and Adam Kozlowski of Crown Point, Ind.; brother, Chester (Velva) Kozlowski of Cedar Lake, Ind.; and nephews, David and Mark Kozlowski of Cedar Lake, Ind.
Memorial services will be conducted at a later date.
Hooper Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.
Lewis ‘Bud’ Armistead, 67 Homosassa
Lewis W. “Bud” Armistead, 67, Homosassa, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002, in Homosassa under the care of his family and Hospice.
He was born July 20, 1934, in Miami, the son of Lewis and Fay Armistead. He came here in 1978 from Ocala.
Mr. Armistead was self-employed as Bud and Joan’s Lawn Service. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
His hobbies included 10 years at the Sugarmill Woods Golf Course maintenance shop.
He was a member of Homosassa Church of God.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Joan Mitch Armistead of Homosassa; three sons, James L. Armistead, Scott Armistead and Joseph Borie, all of Homosassa; and two grandchildren, Tyler Armistead and Kyle Borie, both of Homosassa.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Bud are suggested to Hospice of Citrus County.
Hooper Funeral Home, Homosassa.
Richard Bates, 84 Inverness
Richard Dexter Bates, 84, Inverness, died Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2002, in Citrus Memorial Hospital of Inverness.
He was born Feb. 24, 1917, in Cranston, R.I., to Charles A. and Anna Bates. He came to Florida 17 years ago from Warwick, R.I., where he retired as a locksmith.
He was a member and former deacon of the Victory Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Helen Bates of Inverness; five sons, Richard Bates Jr. of No. Kingston, R.I., Russell Adams, Richard Adams, David Adams and Robert Adams all of Warwick, R.I.; two daughters, Gayle Adams and Joyce Andrade both of Warwick, R.I.; one sister, Florence Dexter of Providence, R.I.; 24 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A son, Alan Bates, preceded him in death.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.
Elois ‘Loy’ Caldwell, 80 Inverness
Elois “Loy” Caldwell, 80, Inverness, died at home Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002.
She was born May 17, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Clayton and Lena (Sherman) Fairbanks. She came to Florida 22 years ago from Rye, N.Y.
She was a registered nurse for 30 years with United Hospital of New York and the Greenwich Convalescent Hospital in Connecticut.
She was Episcopalian.
Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Philip L. Caldwell of Inverness; three sons, Philip O. Caldwell III of Phoenix, Ariz., David C. Caldwell of Nevada City, Calif., and Steven D. Caldwell of Santa Cruz, Calif.; one daughter, Katherine Caldwell of Sheridan, Wyo.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Contributions in memory of Loy are suggested to Hospice of Citrus County, 3350 W. Audubon Park Path, Lecanto, FL, 34461.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.
Mary Hayase, 85 Dunnellon
Mary E. Hayase, 85, Dunnellon, died Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002, in Lecanto.
A native of Rosalie, Ala., she came here five years ago from Monterey, Calif.
She was a former waitress.
She was a member of the Rainbow Lakes United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her son, William Hill of Dunnellon; niece, Dixie Riche of Chattanooga, Tenn.; brother-in-law, Saturo Hayase of California; and nephew, Clifford Varns of Knoxville, Tenn.
Fero Funeral Home, Dunnellon.
Joseph Kittel, 19 Ocala
Joseph H. Kittel, 19, Ocala, died Friday, Feb. 15, 2002.
He was born in Fort Belvoir, Va., and came here 15 years ago from Fairbanks, Alaska.
He was a student at Central Florida Community College. He was Episcopalian.
Survivors include his father, Otto Kittel Jr. of Homosassa; mother, Jeanie Kittel of Ocala; maternal great-grandmother, Isabell Hemiling of Pylesville, Md.; maternal grandmother, Isabelle Testerman of Ocala; half brothers, Billy and Chad Kittel both of Knoxville, Tenn.; sister, Mari Palmatier of Pine Hill, N.J.; and a nephew, Liam Palmatier of Pine Hill, N.J.
Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon.
Rose Marie Mason, 64 Beverly Hills
Rose Marie Mason, 64, Beverly Hills, died Saturday evening, Feb. 9, 2002, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital in Crystal River.
She was born Feb. 18, 1937, the daughter of the late Andrew and Bessie (Kota) Kovacs of Croswell, Mich.
Mrs. Mason was a 30-year resdent of Ozello before recently moving to Beverly Hills.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, Douglas and David Kovacs.
She is survived by her sons, William “Randy” Lee and Hughey Lee Jr.; a daughter, Cindy Murdick; brothers, James and Ronald Kovacs; sister, Liz Hall; sister-in-law, Karen Kovacs; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; three nieces and two nephews.
Private cremation arrangements by Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
Ruth Morris, 82 Citrus Springs
Ruth A. Morris, 82, Citrus Springs, died Monday, Feb. 11, 2002, at Lifecare Center after an extended illness.
She was born Aug. 18, 1919, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Julius and Mittie Linn. She came here in 1972 from Miami.
Mrs. Morris was an electronic assembler and a housewife.
She enjoyed fishing and boating.
She was Baptist.
She was preceded in death by Robert D. Spiller, husband; and William F. Morris, husband.
Survivors include three sons, James Emmett Spiller, Ronald Spiller and Robert Spiller all of Miami; one daughter, Janette (Scott) Miller of Crystal River and Asheville, N.C.; three grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Hooper Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.
Wilson ‘Umpy’ Olmstead, 89 Inverness
Wilson S. “Umpy” Olmstead, 89, Inverness, died Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2002, at his home under the care of his family and Hospice of Citrus County.
Mr. Olmstead was born Sept. 25, 1912, in Delta, Ohio, to Charles and Nellie Olmstead.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Mr. Olmstead worked for Champion Spark Plugs in Toledo, Ohio, for 36 years. He and his wife co-owned Wilmar Sport Shop in Toledo.
He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Inverness, the Catholic War Vets No. 639 in Toledo, and the Point O’ Woods Country Club in Inverness.
He was a referee for the Ohio High School Athletic Association, where he was given the nickname “Umpy.”
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Mary Olmstead of Inverness; sons, John S. Olmstead and his wife, Leanore, of Vancouver, Wash., Paul L. Olmstead of Toledo, Ohio; daughters, Diane M. Tremsky and husband, James, of Palm Beach Gardens, Deborah A. Whipple and husband, David Sr., of Toledo, Ohio, Mary Beth Zielinski and husband, Gary, of Naperville, Ill., and Terry Engelsted and husband, Gordon, of Federal Way, Wash.; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Heinz Funeral Home, Inverness.
