John Daniel Posey
John Daniel Posey of Gainesville died Tuesday at his home after a brief illness. He was 59.
Mr. Posey owned and operated Skampers Package Express in Gainesville and was the former owner and operator of Gainesville's Greyhound Terminal.
He was born in Brooks, Ga., and moved from Griffin, Ga., to Gainesville 47 years ago.
Mr. Posey was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gainesville and the Florida Cattlemen Association. He also was a volunteer coach for the Boys Club of Alachua County.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Sparkman Posey of Gainesville; three sons, John D. Posey Jr., Donny Posey and Lance Posey, all of Gainesville; his parents, J.D. and Maggie P. Posey of Gainesville; a brother, Paul D. Posey of Gainesville; three sisters, June McEachern of Gainesville, Patti West of Charleston, S.C., and Ruth Basil of Columbia, S.C.; and two granddaughters.
Florence Chowanec Watkins
HAWTHORNE - Florence Chowanec Watkins of Hawthorne died Monday at Shands at AGH in Gainesville. She was 75.
Mrs. Watkins was a homemaker and a carrier for The Gainesville Sun.
She was born in Columbia, Conn., and moved from Hebron, Conn., to Hawthorne 30 years ago.
Mrs. Watkins attended the First Congregational Church of Interlachen.
Survivors include her husband, Paul W. Watkins of Hawthorne; six daughters, Juanita Rowland of Colchester, Conn., Jessica W. Carroll of Hawthorne, Mildred W. Beckham of Waycross, Ga., Cynthia L. Hastings of Russellville, Ky. ,Veronica W. Freeman of Old Town and Janice W. Tharpe of Hawthorne; and six sons, William P. Watkins of McRae, Andrew G. Watkins of Lancaster, Calif., James O. Watkins of Summerfield, and Leonard C. Watkins, Michael S. Watkins and Eric C. Watkins, all of Hawthorne; a brother, Peter Chowanec of Columbia, Conn.; two sisters, Dorothy Knapp and Tessie Chowanec, both of Columbia; 19 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Philene Cargle Williams
OTTER CREEK - Philene Cargle Williams of Otter Creek died Monday at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. She was 67.
Mrs. Williams formerly co-owned and operated Williams Country Store in Otter Creek.
She was born in Chiefland and lived most of her life in Otter Creek.
Mrs. Williams was a member of the Otter Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Howard Williams Jr. of Otter Creek; a daughter, Charlotte Yearty of Gulf Hammock; a son, Carl Williams of Otter Creek; and three grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Otter Creek Baptist Church Building Fund.
Josephine A. Melvin
Josephine A. Melvin of Gainesville died Jan. 26 at North Florida Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. She was 84.
Mrs. Melvin was a house director for Chi Omega Sorority at the University of Florida for 12 years. After retirement, she moved to New Smyrna Beach and returned to Gainesville one year ago.
She was born in Chambersburg, Pa.
Survivors include two daughters, Shelley Melvin of Gainesville and Pam Melvin of Maitland.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the North Central Florida Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association in Gainesville.
Delmer G. Riggs
WILLISTON - Delmer G. Riggs of Williston died Tuesday at Williston Hospital after a long illness. He was 82.
Mr. Riggs was a retired superviser for an automobile plant.
He was born in Cleveland, Tenn., and moved from Cleveland, Ohio, to Williston 17 years ago.
Survivors include his wife, Izetta V. Riggs of Williston; a stepson, Prince Riggs of Tallahassee; three stepdaughters, Martha Jean Stefas of Las Vegas, Lillian Riggs of Elyra, Ohio, and Brenda of Amherst, Ohio; a brother, Ben Riggs of Cleveland, Tenn.; a sister, Lea Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Harvey Plant Tindall
HIGH SPRINGS - Harvey Plant Tindall of High Springs died Tuesday at the Alachua Nursing Rehabilitation Center after a long illness. He was 48.
Mr. Tindall was a block mason.
He was born in Gainesville and moved from Williston to Gainesville 10 years ago.
Mr. Tindall was a Baptist.
Survivors include a son, Harvey P. Tindall of Gainesville; a daughter, Cathy Avery of Reddick; his mother, Katherine S. Tindall of High Springs; his father, Morgan P. "Bo" Tindall Sr. of Morriston; a brother, Morgan P. Tindall Jr. of Keystone Heights; a companion, Alice Faye Courtney of High Springs; and one grandson.
Donald H. Church
Donald H. Church of Floral City died Saturday at his home. He was 64.
Mr. Church was born in Jacksonville and moved from Olustee to Floral City seven years ago.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Floral City.
Survivors include a daughter, Wendy Church of Keystone Heights; four sons, David Church of Tampa, Michael Church of Gainesville, Jerry Church of Keystone Heights and Donald Church of U.S. Air Force Base in Charleston, S.C.; and eight grandchildren.
John H. Dewitt
John H. Dewitt of Gainesville died Thursday at Oaks Rehabilitation and Care Center in Gainesville. He was 70.
Mr. Dewitt was a food sorter.
He was born in Green Bay, Wis., and moved from Naples to Gainesville 10 years ago. He was Catholic.
Survivors include two sons, John Dewitt and Curtis Dewitt, both of Gainesville; three brothers, Vernon Dewitt of Orlando, Phillip Dewitt of Green Bay, Wis., and Anton Dewitt of El Cajon, Calif.; and a sister, Vera Schneider of Abrams, Wis.
Willie Jay Goss
JACKSONVILLE - Willie Jay Goss of Jacksonville died Sunday at Baptist Hospital in Jacksonville after a long illness. She was 63.
Mrs. Goss was a homemaker.
She was born in Newberry and moved from Starke to Jacksonville 25 years ago.
Mrs. Goss was a member of the Hilliard Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her son, Charles "Buddy" Randall.
Survivors include her husband, Wayne Goss of Jacksonville; two daughters, Jana Lambert of Jacksonville and Sandra Hurley of Williamson, W.Va.; four sons, William David Randall of Jacksonville, Mike Goss of Jefferson, N.C., Rex Goss of W. Jefferson, N.C. and Ron Goss of Kingsport, Tenn.; a brother, James Cook of Gainesville; two sisters, Ruby Parrish of Keystone Heights and Nadine Browning of Newberry; and six grandchildren.
Tina Marie Guarnera
HIGH SPRINGS - Tina Marie Guarnera of High Springs died Friday at her home. She was 43.
Mrs. Guarnera was a secretary at Shands at the University of Florida.
She was born in Washington, D.C., and moved from Daytona Beach to High Springs four years ago.
Mrs. Guarnera was Catholic. She was a member of the Disabled Veterans Auxiliary Unit No. 29 in Maryland.
Survivors include her husband, Paddy Guarnera of High Springs; and her parents, Wilfred and Hazel Meyers of Alexandria, Va.
Sara Gaper Horan
Sara Gaper Horan of Gainesville died Monday at Shands at AGH. She was 90.
She was a retired accountant for the University of Florida's Athletic Association.
Mrs. Horan was born in Wilmette, Ill., and moved from Chicago to Gainesville 76 years ago.
She was a WAVE in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Mrs. Horan was a Methodist.
She was a member of the Junior League of Gainesville, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Rose Circle of the Gainesville Garden Club, the Alachua General Hospital Auxiliary and a founding charter member of the Gainesville Women's Golf Association.
Mrs. Horan was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Horan.
Survivors include a stepdaughter, Delores Etscheid of Tinley Park, Ill.; several step-grandchildren; and two step-great- grandchildren.
