Clara Franklin, 92, Homemaker
Clara Franklin, 92, of Webster, died Monday, May 26, 2003, in Dade City. A native of Russellville, Ky., she was a resident of Sumter County since 1928, formerly of Plant City.
Mrs. Franklin was a homemaker.
She was a member of Linden Church of God. Survivors include a son, James Selby Franklin of Webster; daughter, Carolyn Mickler of Webster; brother, Herbert Head of Bushnell; sister, Ora Harris of Crescent City; 12 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and 14 great, great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude T. Franklin; son, Claude Ellis Franklin Sr.; sister, Maddie Lou Head Evans and brother, George Wesley Head.
Services will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2003, at 10 a.m. at Linden Church of God, Linden, with Rev. H. Lee Burnham and Rev. Duane Franklin officiating. Interment at Linden Cemetery, Linden. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Sally E. Smith, 58, Homemaker
Sally E. Smith, 58, of Sumterville, died Friday, May 23, 2003, in Sumterville. A native of St. Petersburg, she was a lifelong resident of Florida.
Mrs. Smith was a homemaker. Survivors include her husband, Meldrum; two daughters, Charlene Bateman and Lisa Smith, both of Sumterville; son, Howard Smith; two sisters, Becky and Linda; and four grandchildren. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Bert Thorstenson, 84, Machine tool engineer
Bert Thorstenson, 84, of Webster, died Tuesday, May 20, 2003, in Dade City.
A native of Rockford, Ill., he was a resident of Sumter County since 2000, formerly of Big Rapids, Mich. Mr. Thorstenson was a machine tool engineer.
He was a member of Ridge Manor VFW #7256 and Delta Sigma Phi.
He was Episcopal and a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during World War II. Survivors include his wife, Merilyn; three sons, Bert David Thorstenson of Reed City, Mich., Charles Lloyd Thorstenson of Wisconsin, Douglas T. Thorstenson of Big Rapids, Mich.; daughter, Laura Jane Anger of Big Rapids, Mich.; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Interment was at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
John W. Bowman, 86, Maintenance
John W. Bowman, 86, of Leesburg, died Sunday, April 27, 2003, in Leesburg. A native of Troy, Ohio, he was a resident of Florida since 1972. Mr. Bowman was in maintenance. He was a member of the Civilian Conservation Core. He was a veteran of the Navy and served during World War II. He was Christian. Survivors include his wife, Jean; two sons, John W. Bowman Jr. of Dayton, Ohio, and Thomas A. Bowman of Kettering, Ohio; daughter, Loretta Jean Bowman of Sarasota; brother, Marvin E. Bowman of Troy, Ohio; sister, Elizabeth Williams of Castown, Ohio; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Dale E. Cunningham, 59, Brick Mason
Dale Edwin Cunningham, 59, of Croom, died Sunday, April 27, 2003, in Croom. A native of Lexington, Ky., he was a resident of Sumter County since 1988, formerly of Dade City. Mr. Cunningham was the owner of D & E Masonry, Croom, and was a brick mason. He was an Air Force veteran serving during the Vietnam Era. He was Baptist. Survivors include his companion, Ellie of Croom; son, Freddie Jesiorski of Titusville; daughter, Laurie Cunningham of France; two stepsons, Bradley Ellison of Dade City, Butch Ellison of Kingman, Kansas; stepdaughter, Brenda Gregory of Dade City; six grandchildren; two brothers, Herman Cunningham of Zephyrhills, Richard Cunningham of Port St. Lucie; and a sister, Hazel Caselnova of Lakeland. Services were held April 30, 2003 at the Florida National cemetery in Bushnell with military honors rendered. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Leon Dickerson, 67
Leon Dickerson, 67, of Center Hill, died Monday, May 5, 2003, in Inverness. A native of Seymore, Texas, he moved to Central Florida 22 years ago. Mr. Dickerson was a member of the American Legion Post 101. He was a Navy veteran and Baptist. Survivors include his wife, Terri; son, Rodney Dickerson of Fayetteville, N.C.; two daughters, Tiffany Dickerson of Bushnell and Colleen Hernandez of Watonga, Okla.; mother, Edna Crump of Lubbock, Texas; sister, Glenda Burton of Lubbock, Texas and five grandchildren. Visitation will be held prior to the service from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell. Services will be held Thursday, May 8, at 1:30 p.m. at the Purcell Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ray Brannen officiating. Interment at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, with military honors rendered by the Marion County Memorial Honor Guard. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Charles Gamble, 58, Maintenance
Charles "Shorty" Gamble, 58, of Inverness, died Friday, May 2, 2003, at his residence. Born in Jamestown, Ala., on Nov. 29, 1944, he came here in 1955 from Center, Ala. Mr. Gamble retired from the maintenance department of Citrus Hills Golf & Country Club. He was of the Protestant faith and enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Linda L. (Covyaw) Gamble; two daughters, Merinda Peters of Inverness and Charlene Gamble-Amerson (Chris) of Montgomery, Ala.; mother, Louise Hanson of Center Hill; father, Lenzo Gamble of Jackson, Ga.; three brothers, Carl Gamble of Gaylesville, Ala., David Gamble of Inverness and William Gamble of Floral City; two sisters, Sue Gamble of Gaylesville, Ala., and Cathy Parker of Palm Coast; his uncle, George Gamble of Gaylesville, Ala., and three grandchildren, Andrew, Jennifer and Rebecca. Funeral services were conducted on May 7 with the Rev. Larry Powers of the Inverness Church of God officiating. Burial followed at the Hills of Rest cemetery in Floral City. Chas E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Charlie L. George, 52, Driver
Charlie L. George, 52, of Wildwood, died Tuesday, April 29, 2003, in Leesburg. A native of New Port Richey, he was a lifelong resident of Central Florida. Mr. George was a senior driver for Great Southern Wood, having received many safety awards. He was also active in the Civil War Re-Enactment in Dade City. He was Methodist. Survivors include his wife, Sally J. George of Wildwood; son, Kurt A. Fritz of Land O'Lakes; two daughters, Kris Wilkinson of Bushnell and Lacey George of Augusta, Maine; and four grandchildren. Services were held May 1 at Purcell Funeral Home in Bushnell with the Rev. Larry Armbrust officiating. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Richard Y. Girardeau Jr., 56
Richard Y. Girardeau Jr., 56, of Lake Panasoffkee, died Friday, May 2, 2003, in Lake Panasoffkee. A native of Henderson, N.C., he moved to Sumter County in 1991, formerly of St. Pete. Mr. Girardeau was a member of the DAV. He was a Marine veteran and Presbyterian. Survivors include his wife, Linda M.; son, Richard Y. Girardeau, III of Pensacola; two daughters, Christine Gill of Bradenton and Kimberly Camacho of Pensacola; two sisters, Anne Cunningham of St. Pete and Sarah Weinreb of Jacksonville; and six grandchildren. Services will be held on Thursday, May 8, at 11 a.m. at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, with the Marine Corps League #708 rendering military honors. Interment at the Florida National Cemetery. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Maggie E. Perry, 79, Nurses Aid
Maggie Estelle Perry, 79, of Center Hill, died Friday, May 2, 2003, in Inverness. Born in Rocky Mount, N.C., she moved here in 1999 from Lake Worth. Mrs. Perry was a retired nurses aid and was Baptist. Survivors include two sons, John Thomas Atkinson of Pomano Park and Brinkley Elbert (Buddy) Atkinson of W. Palm Beach; two daughters, Etta Mae Johnson of Center Hill and Linda Faye Morgan of Lake Worth; one sister, Ruth Falkner of Henderson, N.C.; 14 grandchildren, Etta Woodrum, Angelina Fuller, Timothy Atkinson, Jeffrey Atkinson, Sabrina Atkinson, Melinda Atkinson, Nicholas Atkinson, Gilbert Johnson, David Johnson, Johnny Johnson, Sharon Rauth, Garry Morgan, Maggie Schultz and Debra Meltzer; and 19 great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Mrs. Perry were held on May 6 at Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home with Rev. Claud McAdams officiating. Burial was at the Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home, Wildwood, handled the arrangements.
Gary Rogers, 55, Farmer
Gary Rogers, 55, of Webster, died Wednesday, April 30, 2003, in Orlando. A native of Dade City, he was a lifetime resident of Sumter County. Mr. Rogers was a farmer and also worked as a police officer. He was an Army veteran serving during the Vietnam era. Survivors include his wife, Margie Rogers of Webster; two sons, Rocky Gene Ward of Orlando and Gary Rogers Jr. of Umatilla; two daughters, Sheila Dobson of Tarrytown and Ginger Rogers of Zephyrhills; one sister, Diane Langford of Tarrytown; mother, Sue Rogers of Tarrytown; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Services were held May 2 at the Linden Church of God in Linden with Rev. Dennis Langford and Rev. H. Lee Burnham officiating. Interment at Linden cemetery of Linden. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Herbert C. Sellers, 70, Business owner
Herbert C. "Cliff" Sellers, 70, of Wildwood, died Saturday, May 3, 2003, in Leesburg. A native of Coleman, he was a lifelong resident of Coleman. Mr. Sellers was the owner of Sellers Electric and Plumbing. He was a member of the Moreland Park Baptist Church, life member of the Lake Panasoffkee DAV and a Marine veteran of the Korean War. Survivors include his wife, Deloris; children, Herbert Clifford and Bobbie Sellers of Coleman; Glenn Sellers of Laverne, Ala.; Gloria and Jimmie Bronson of Coleman; brother, Hubert Sellers of Hawthorne; eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Mr. Sellers will be held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2003, at the Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home in Wildwood with Rev. Gary Chester and Bro. Van Patterson officiating. Burial will be at Tema Cemetery, Bushnell, with military honors being provided by the Lake Panasoffkee D.A.V. Honor Guard.
Armand G. DuPont III, 74, Truck driver
Armand G. "Chubby" DuPont III, 74, of Sumterville, died Friday, May 9, 2003, in Inverness. A native of New York City, N.Y., he was a resident of Sumterville since 1979, formerly of Spring Valley, N.Y. Mr. DuPont was a truck driver. He was a member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church, the VFW Post 10084 and the American Legion 101. He was an Army veteran serving during World War II. Survivors include two sons, Robert K. DuPont of Sumterville and Gary W. DuPont of Fort Lauderdale; three daughters, Alice G. Coleman of Sumterville, Janice M. Dykstra of Pompano Beach, and Dorcas Schroeder of New Windsor, N.Y.; brother, Roger C. DuPont of New City, N.Y.; four sisters, June Aiello of Pennsylvania; Joan Skinner and Carol Peltz, both of Bushnell, and Lois Lippis of Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Services were held May 14 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Bushnell, with Father Peter Sagorski officiating. Interment at Florida National cemetery with Military Honors rendered by the Sumter County Honor Guard. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Leola G. Fort, 97, Homemaker
Leola G. Fort, 97, of Wildwood, died Saturday, May 10, 2003, in Wildwood. She was born in Oxford and a lifetime resident. Mrs. Fort was a homemaker and a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Survivors include a son, Ethan Fort of Oxford; daughters, Delma Stewart of Sanford and Iris Harris of Lakeland; 11 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and three great, great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Mrs. Fort were held May 13 at Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home in Wildwood with Rev. John Claypool officiating. Burial was at Nichols cemetery in Oxford. Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home, Wildwood, handled the arrangements.
Elizabeth L. Graham, 42, Homemaker
Elizabeth L. "Beth" Graham, 42, of Wildwood, died Friday, May 9, 2003, in Wildwood. A native of St. Louis, Mo., she moved here in 1980 from Salem, Mo. Mrs. Graham was a homemaker. She was Baptist and a member of Sumter 44 Lions Club. She was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Lea. Survivors include her parents, Stanley and Peggy Terry of Wildwood; husband, Jack of Wildwood; son, Jayce Lea of Wildwood; daughters, Peggy Sue Martinez of Kissimmee, Michelle Lea of Wildwood, Maria Hernandez of Wildwood; brothers, Terry Lea of Salem, Mo., Jerry Lea of Salem, Mo., James Branson of Arkansas, Danny Terry of Lake Panasoffkee; sisters, Penny Naylor of Gravois Mills, Mo., Elzetta Lea of Springfield, Mo., Elaine Butler of Fruitland Park, Elissa Brower of Lady Lake, Sherrie McIntosh of Bushnell, and three grandchildren. Funeral services were held May 12 at Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home with Dr. John Reichard officiating. Burial was at Pine Level Cemetery, Oxford. Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home, Wildwood, handled the arrangements.
Pearl Hess, 90, Homemaker
Pearl Hess, 90, of Spring Hill, died Thursday, May 8, 2003, in Spring Hill. A native of Honaker, Va., she moved to Florida in 1943. She was a resident of Tampa and Sumter County before moving to Spring Hill. Mrs. Hess was a homemaker and a member of First Baptist Church of Center Hill. Survivors include a son, Ira Hess of Tampa; three daughters, Nadine Bridges and Jean Burgess, both of Spring Hill and Anne Carter of Center Hill; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Cecil Compton of New Port News, Va.; and two sisters, Elizabeth Lasley of Bristol, Va. and Gaynell Honaker of Tampa. Services were held on May 13 at Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell, with Rev. Mark McDowell and Rev. Ray Brannen officiating. Interment at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Albert "Buddy" Lunday, 76, Forester
Albert "Buddy" Lunday, 76, of Bushnell, died Monday, May 5, 2003, in Bushnell. A native of Leesburg, he was a resident of Sumter County since 1965, formerly of Madison, Fla. Mr. Lunday was a retired forester for Sumter County and former employee of Natural Resource Planning Services, Inc. He was a Navy veteran. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Bushnell. Survivors include his wife Bea; son, Tim Lunday of Sumterville; daughter, Lynn Lunday Freed of Bushnell; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and a sister, Flora Fritz of Orlando. A memorial service was held May 8 at the Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Brent A. Summers, 45, Truck driver
Brent Alan Summers, 45, of Lake Panasoffkee, died Monday, May 5, 2003, in Jacksonville. A native of Huntington, W.Va., he moved to Central Florida in 1995 from South Carolina. Mr. Summers was a driver in the trucking industry. He was an Army veteran and Jewish. Survivors include his wife, Jamie Roy; daughter, Shelley Schakett of Calera, Ala.; and mother, Evelyn Sutton of Columbus, Ohio. Funeral services for Mr. Summers were held May 7 at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, with military honors rendered by the Marine Corps League #708. Interment at Florida National Cemetery. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Matthew J. Titone, 26, Mason
Matthew James Titone, 26, of Lake Panasoffkee, died Wednesday, May 7, 2003, in Lake Panasoffkee. A native of Nashua, N.H., he was a resident of Sumter County since 1998, formerly of New Hampshire. Mr. Titone was a mason in the construction industry. He was Baptist. Survivors include his mother, Sandra Gray of Deltona; sister, Stacy Wheeler of Nicholasville, Ky.; nephew, Justin Wheeler of Nicholasville, Ky; and grandparents, Mac and Betty MacArthur of Deltona. Purcell Funeral Homoe, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Ronald Williamson, 68, Retired
Ronald "Ronnie" Williamson, 68, of Wildwood, died Friday, May 9, 2003, in Orlando. A native of Akron, Mich., he moved here in 1955 from Bay City, Mich. Mr. Williamson was a retired Seaboard Airlines. He was a member of New Life Presbyterian Church of Fruitland Park. Survivors include his wife, Kay; son, Ronald "Tad" Williamson of Marietta, Ga.; daughter, Lynn Moore of Wildwood; granddaughter, Summer Meeniz of Deland; brothers, Mike Williamson and Al Williamson, both of Bay City, Mich.; sister, Vivian Grew of Orlando. Memorial services for Mr. Williamson will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2003, at 6 p.m. at New Life Presbyterian Church in Fruitland Park with Rev. John Blake and Rev. Dan Baumann officiating. Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home, Wildwood, handled the arrangements.
Donald Butler, 88 Citrus Hills
Donald Richard Butler, 88, Citrus Hills, died Friday, June 6, 2003, in Gainesville.
A native of Holyoke, Mass. he was born April 10, 1915, to Clarence and Melvina (Mann) Butler. He moved to the area in 1985 from Vernon, Conn.
He worked for 25 years as a quality assurance inspector with Pratt and Whitney Aircraft, East Hartford, Conn., where he retired from in 1978.
Mr. Butler was a veteran of World War II who served in the Army as a ranger and was highly decorated.
He was a member of the National D.A.V. and Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Beverly Hills. He also enjoyed fast cars especially in his younger years, as well as acrylic painting, woodcarving, fishing and boating.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Nellie L. Butler of Citrus Hills; two sons, Donald R. Butler II and his wife, Debi, of Bellow Falls, Vt., and Shawn Butler and his wife, Laurel, of Newtown, Conn.; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Stella Delinski, 85 Inverness
Stella Delinski, 85, Inverness, died Friday, June 6, 2003, in Crystal River.
A native of Canada she was born April 20, 1918. She moved to the area in 1983 from Sterling Heights, Mich.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Delinski was a past member of the Rainbow Springs Golf and Country Club. She loved golfing, bowling and was an avid reader. She attended Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Inverness.
Her husband, Leonard F. Delinski, preceded her in death on March 1, 1996.
Survivors include her granddaughter, Diana S. Danyluk and her husband, Bohdan, of Livonia, Mich.; three great-grandchildren; and a niece.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
