Paul Fleming, 63 Hernando
Paul V. Fleming, 63, Hernando, died Tuesday, May 14, 2002, at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness after a long illness.
A native of Boston, Mass., he came here about three years ago from Quincy, Mass.
Mr. Fleming was a financial manager for many places. His employer was Hope in Jamaica Plain, Mass. He served in the U.S. Army.
He was Catholic.
Survivors include his wife, Larraine Fleming of Hernando; a son, Thomas E. Fleming of Quincy, Mass.; a brother, James V. Fleming of Suffern, N.Y.; several nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, Jean Dobbyn and husband, Stephen, of Hernando.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Peter Newbury, 68 Hernando
Peter John Newbury, 68, Hernando, died Wednesday, May 15, 2002, at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness.
He was born March 13, 1934, in London, England to William and Lillian Newbury.
He was a veteran of England’s Royal Air Force (RAF). He immigrated to America in 1970, settling in Massachusetts.
He retired from General Electric’s Aircraft Engine Division after 23 years of service. He retired to Hernando from Hamilton, Mass., in 1994.
Mr. Newbury was a volunteer at Citrus Memorial Hospital and a member of the Citrus Memorial Hospital SHARE Club. He was an avid golfer. He enjoyed golfing with his friends on the Beverly Hills Knights of Columbus Golf League.
He was Baptist.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years and best friend, Mary J. Newbury of Hernando; three daughters, Julie S. Hill and her husband, David, of Peabody, Mass., Heather J. Theriault and her husband, Robert, of Salem, Mass., and Johanna M. Newbury of Danvers, Mass.; a sister, Joyce Lockie of Hayes, England; sister-in-law, Carol Clarke of Peabody, Mass.; mother-in-law, Doris Hayes of Peabody, Mass.; three grandchildren, Peter J. Hill and Hayley J. Hill both of Peabody, Mass., and Carly S. Theriault of Salem, Mass.; and several nieces and nephews.
Heinz Funeral Home, Inverness.
Ira Rhodes, 82 Homosassa
Ira Manley Rhodes, 82, Homosassa, died at home Tuesday, May 14, 2002, under the care of his family.
A native of Blaine, Ill., he was born Jan. 25, 1920, to Joseph and Eva Rhodes. He came to Florida in 1997 from Belvidere, Ill., where he retired as a foundry worker for National Gray Iron Foundry with 46 years of service.
Following his retirement, he was the sexton for the Belvidere Cemetery. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Betty Love Rhodes; a daughter, Mary Sickels of Inverness; three grandchildren, Micki, Scott and April; and two great-grandchildren, Stephanie and Amber.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Vera Elizabeth Amos, 91 Dunnellon
Vera Elizabeth Amos, 91, Dunnellon, died Saturday, May 11, 2002, in Lecanto.
She was born in Laural Hill.
She moved to the area 32 years ago from Tampa.
She was Baptist.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dunnellon. She is survived by her two sons, Alfred S. Amos of St. James City and Thomas E. Amos of Dunnellon; a daughter, Ethel Ann Carlton of Savannah, Ga.; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Roberts Funeral Home, Dunnellon.
Anna Lorraine Pollard, 80 Inverness
Anna Lorraine Pollard, 80, Inverness, died Saturday, May 11, 2002, at Mariner Health Care in Inverness.
She was a retired airline stewardess for American Airlines.
She was born March 29, 1922, in Bethlehem, Pa., to William Harold and Anastasia Jane (Carr) Pollard.
She moved to the area 27 years ago from Miami.
She was a member of the Inverness Golf & Country Club.She was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish of Inverness.
Her husband, Warren Pollard, preceded her in death.
She is survived by her brother, Joseph Laughlin of St. Petersburg; a stepson, John W. Pollard of Tallahassee; two stepdaughters, Elaine Bright of Tennessee and Patricia Lewis of Port Orange; and six step grandchildren.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.
Alexander Tecchio, 80 Citrus Springs
Alexander Frank Tecchio, 80, Citrus Springs, died Sunday, May 12, 2002, in Ocala.
He was a retired city health officer.
He was born in Cliffside, N.J.
He moved to the area 13 years ago from Wycoff, N.J.
He was Catholic. He was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.
He was a member of the Beverly Hills Softball Team and the Dunnellon Masonic Lodge, 136 F & AM.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Muriel Tecchio of Citrus Springs; two sons, John Tecchio of Hackensack, N.J., and Frank Tecchio of Clifton Park, N.Y.; two daughter, Patricia Ellis of Lebanon, N.J., and Josephine Tecchio of Citrus Springs; two brothers, Attilio Tecchio of Citrus Springs and Albert Tecchio of Clearwater; a sister, Josephine Modaferri of Cresskill, N.J.; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Edward Stewart, 65 Ocala
Edward Seay Stewart, 65, Ocala, formerly of Crystal River, died Thursday, May 9, 2002, in Ocala.
He was owner and operator of the former Euro-Comfort Shoes in Crystal River and recently was the owner and operator of Comfort-Zone Shoes in Ocala.
He was born Sept. 28, 1936, in High Point, N.C., to William Leroy and Elsie (Blackwell) Stewart.
He graduated in 1956 from Lakeland High School. He came to Crystal River six years ago from Mary Esther.
He served in the U.S. Marines.
He was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous.
He was a Christian. He attended Gulf to Lake Baptist Church in Crystal River and Citrus Family Worship Center in Inverness.
Survivors include his daughter, Margo Schlotterbeck of Fairview, N.C.; a son, Randy Sloan of Cross Plains, Tenn.; a stepson, Stephen Swann of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two brothers, W.L. “Bill” Stewart of Laramie, Wyo., and James Stewart of Clearwater; and seven grandchildren.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
Evan Wojtasinski, 16 Crystal River
Evan Henry Wojtasinski, 16, Crystal River, died Friday, May 10, 2002, in Tampa.
He was a sophomore at Crystal River High School.
He was born Nov. 22, 1985, in Sanford, N.C., to Henry and Gerry Lynn (Peck) Wojtasinski. He came here 12 years ago from Chattanooga, Tenn.
He was active in sports. He was on the Juniors golf and soccer teams. He attended Crystal River United Methodist Church, Crystal River.
Survivors include his parents, Henry and Gerry Lynn Wojtasinski of Crystal River; a brother, Michael (Kelly) Wojtasinski of Lutz; maternal grandparents, James and Harriet Peck of Crystal River; paternal grandfather, Henry W. Wojtasinski of St. Petersburg; several aunts and uncles; and his canine companion, Ziggy.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River. Vera Elizabeth Amos. The funeral services for Vera Elizabeth Amos, 91, will take place at 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, 2002, at the First Baptist Church of Dunnellon with the Rev. Bob Brooks officiating. Burial will follow at Dunnellon Memorial Gardens in Dunnellon.
Alexander Frank Tecchio
The funeral services for Alexander Frank Tecchio, 80, will take place at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 15, 2002, at Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon with Fr. Raymond A. Lettre of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church officiating. Family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 15. There will be Masonic services at 6:30 p.m.
Julia Bessler, 81 Dunnellon
Julia S. Bessler, 81, Dunnellon, died Sunday, April 21, 2002, in Crystal River.
She was born in Birmingham, Ala.
She came here in 1983 from S. Miami.
She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Officers’ Wives Club.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Peter Sarron. Survivors include two sons, Joseph C. and Carol Bessler and James G. and Nancy Bessler, all of Kokomo, Ind.; a sister, Lena Smith of St. Petersburg; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon.
Gary Cooper, 50 Crystal River
Gary George Cooper, 50, Crystal River, died Saturday, April 20, 2002, at home.
He was born Nov. 21, 1951, in Augusta, Ga., to Otis O. and Martha Mae (Rayburn) Cooper.
He moved to Crystal River four years ago from Inglis. Prior to moving to Inglis, he resided in Safety Harbor for many years.
He attended Safety Harbor schools and Dunedin High School.
He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving during the Vietnam era.
He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 70, Inverness.
He was preceded in death by his son, Gary Scott Cooper, March 2001; his father and one sister.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Cooper of Crystal River; two sons, Jacob and Timothy Cooper, both of New Port Richey; three daughters, Natalea Distin of Safety Harbor, Rachael and Sarah Cooper of Crystal River; four stepchildren, Samuel Stevenson of St. Petersburg, Danny, Billy and Amanda Stevenson all of Crystal River; his mother, Martha Mae Cooper of Inglis; five brothers and two sisters; and five grandchildren.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
