Marlene Vilardi, 61 Citrus Springs
Marlene D. Vilardi, 61, Citrus Springs, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, in Inverness.
Born Sept. 19, 1941, in Flushing, N.Y., she came here from Oceanside, N.Y., in 1975.
She was a bank teller with the Bank of Inverness, Beverly Hills branch, for more than 20 years.
She was a member of the Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, Citrus Springs. She was very involved in church activities.
She enjoyed sewing. She loved caring for her family.
Survivors include her husband of 42 years, Frank G. Vilardi Jr., of Citrus Springs; son and daughter-in-law Frank T. and Sheri Vilardi of Citrus Springs; daughter and son-in-law, Toni and Shaun Tuthill of Beverly Hills; parents, Thomas and Elizabeth Brown of Bayside, N.Y.; and two grandsons.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Robert Bliss, 44 Crystal River
Robert Anthony Bliss, 44, Crystal River, died Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003, at his home.
Born Dec. 7, 1958, in Tarpon Springs to Ray Frank and Carolyn (Oxendine) Bliss, he came here 17 years ago from Hudson.
He attended Land O' Lakes High School, Land O' Lakes.
Mr. Bliss was a self-employed commercial fisherman and shrimper.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing and spending time with his family and friends.
He was a member of Bible Baptist Church.
Mr. Bliss was preceded in death by his brother, Rodney Bliss, and his sister, Robin Sekinger, in 1995.
Survivors include his wife, Denise Bliss of Crystal River; four sons, Ben Parker of Franklin, Ga., David Bliss, Robert Bliss Jr. and Michael Bliss, all of Crystal River; three daughters, Crissy Goodman (Terry), Theresa Bliss and Sara Bliss, all of Crystal River; his parents, Ray Frank and Carolyn Bliss of Hudson; and two brothers, Ray Frank Bliss Jr. and Richard Wayne Bliss, both of Hudson.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
Robert Gibson, 78 Floral City
Robert C. Gibson, 78, Floral City, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, in the Good Shepherd Hospice House of Lakeland.
A native of Winter Garden, he was born Oct. 9, 1924, to John C. and Dessie (Faulk) Gibson. He moved here in 1980 from St. Petersburg, where he was employed with the city of St. Petersburg as an electrician for more than 29 years.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War.
He was Protestant.
Survivors include his wife, Wilda Gibson; two daughters, Donna Lee Garner of Lakeland and Deborah Lynn Powell of Mulberry; one sister, Catherine Lowers of Lakeland; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Robert Johnson, 49 Crystal River
Robert Ellis Johnson, 49, Crystal River, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003, in Crystal River.
Born Nov. 17, 1953, in New Smyrna Beach to William Earl and Sharon Elaine Johnson, he was a lifelong resident of central Florida and moved here 22 years ago.
Mr. Johnson was a self-employed trim carpenter.
He was an avid fisherman.
He was Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Deborah Johnson of Crystal River; son, Paul E. Tillinghast III of Homosassa; daughter, Sara A. Champy of Crystal River; three brothers, Russell E. Johnson of Cocoa, Herb E. Johnson and Tom E. Johnson, both of Crystal River; four nieces; three nephews; one great-niece and two great nephews; two aunts and an uncle; and two grandchildren.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
Otto Kotal Jr., 81 Homosassa
Otto W. Kotal Jr., 81, Homosassa, died Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003, in Crystal River.
Born in Chicago, Ill., he came here 19 years ago from Berwynn, Ill.
Mr. Kotal retired after 37 years with General Electric as a quality control specialist.
He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran.
He was Christian Scientist.
Survivors include his wife, Bertha M. Kotal of Homosassa; stepdaughter, Margaret Youngandreas and husband, Rick, of Catskill, N.Y.; stepson, William Moran and wife, Mindi, of Queens, N.Y.; brother, Richard Kotal and wife, Helen, of Sarasota; sister, Florence Rooney of Berwynn, Ill.; several nephews and nieces; and five grandchildren.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
William Poe, 78 Webster
William H. Poe, 78, Webster, formerly of Hernando, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003, in Wildwood.
Born March 25, 1925, in Tampa to Walter and Lucille Poe, he moved to Webster several years ago from Hernando.
Mr. Poe was a retired asphalt paver.
He was a World War II Marines veteran.
He is survived by a friend, Sandra Hendrix of Inverness.
Hooper Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inverness.
Lloyd Schrade, 74 Crystal River
Lloyd R. Schrade, 74, Crystal River, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003, in Gainesville.
Born Dec. 19, 1928, in Wimbleton, N.D., to Glen Schrade and Alma Bischoff, he came here in 1991 from Fargo, N.D.
Mr. Schrade was a retired partner of SS Electronics, Fargo, N.D.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He was a member of the American Legion in North Dakota, The Moose in Crystal River, and a member of VFW Post 07564.
He loved the outdoors, including wildlife and fishing.
He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Evelyn (Huber) Schrade of Crystal River; sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff Schrade (Gabby) of Crystal River and Steven Schrade (Karen) of Fargo, N.D.; daughter and son-in-law, Sandy Looney (Mike) of Livermore, Calif.; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two brothers, Meary Schrade of Priest River, Idaho, and Harlass Schrade of Louisville, Ky.; and one sister, Lois Baker of Jamestown, N.D.
Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.
Donald Van Orden, 59 Beverly Hills
Donald Van Orden, 59, Pine Ridge, Beverly Hills, died as a result of an automobile accident in Crystal River Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003.
He was born in Patterson, N.J., to Gilbert and Mary (McKinny) Van Orden and came here 12 years ago from West Milford, N.J.
Mr. Van Orden was a sales associate for Love Nissan-Honda of Homosassa. He was a mortgage officer in New Jersey and in Florida.
He was a graduate of Butler High School, Butler, N.J., and then joined the U.S. Army. He was immediate past president and chairman of the board of directors of the Citrus Sertoma Club and was a tireless volunteer for the organization. He enjoyed golf, family and friends.
He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church of Lecanto.
Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Jane Van Orden of Pine Ridge; his mother, Mary Van Orden of Pine Ridge; a sister, Doris Van Voorhis of Ocala; a niece, Donna DeLano; a nephew, David Van Voorhis; and mother-in-law, Marie DeLime of Pine Ridge.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
