Sophie Hosmer
MAY 10, 1943 -- FEB. 23, 2005
DELTONA -- Sophie A. Hosmer, 61, of Whitemarsh Avenue, a resident since 1975, died Wednesday at home.
Mrs. Hosmer, a homemaker, was born in the Bronx, N.Y. She moved to this area from New York.
Survivors include a son, Rod, New Jersey; two daughters, Gina and Lucille Hosmer, and her parents, James and Lucy Pungello, all of Deltona; a brother, Mario Pungello, and a sister, Lisa Owens, both of New York; and two granddaughters. Baldauff, Orange City, is in charge.
Roxie Merchant
MARCH 15, 1937 -- FEB. 23, 2005
PORT ORANGE -- Roxie R. Merchant, 67, of Hawks Ridge Road, who retired as an administrator in the hotel industry, died Wednesday at home.
Born in Lafayette, Ga., Mrs. Merchant came to this area in 1977 from Savannah, Ga. She enjoyed reading, gardening and talk shows.
Survivors include her husband of 25 years, Donald; a son, Robert Fowler, Grand Prairie, Texas; and a sister, Tommye Hollingsworth, Englewood, Tenn. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1620 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Suite 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32119. Cardwell & Maloney is in charge.
Carol Peludat
DEC. 24, 1934 -- FEB. 22, 2005
DAYTONA BEACH -- Carol Jayne Peludat, 70, of South Beach Street, a resident since 1959, died Tuesday at home.
Mrs. Peludat, a former registered nurse, was born in Hutchinson, Kan., and moved to this area from Berkley, Mich. She was a member of White Chapel Church of God, South Daytona, and former member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, South Daytona, where she was an organist.
Survivors include her husband, Gerald; three sons, Gerald, Port Orange, Charles, Edgewater, and Christopher, New Smyrna Beach; two daughters, Lisa Voll, Ormond Beach, and Carla Moorhouse, Port Orange; a brother, Carlton Payne, Bassett, Va.; a sister, Ernestine Weiss, Fort Wayne, Ind.; and 15 grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the White Chapel Church of God, 1730 S. Ridgewood Ave., South Daytona, FL 32119. Shannon Maloney, Port Orange, is in charge.
Milton Prather Jr.
DEC. 22, 1927 -- FEB. 23, 2005
EDGEWATER -- Milton H. Prather Jr., 77, of Date Palm Drive, a former director of communications for Pan American Airlines, died Wednesday at Bert Fish Medical Center, New Smyrna Beach.
Mr. Prather, an Army veteran of the Korean War, was born in Atlanta, and moved here in 1984 from Davie. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Miami. He was a member of the American Legion, New Smyrna Beach. Mr. Prather enjoyed watching the History Channel and stockcar racing. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and boating.
Survivors include his wife, Lynda; two sons, Michael, Phoenix, and Douglas, Rio Verde, Ariz.; a stepson, Thomas Mock, Edgewater; a brother, Charles, Lutz; a sister, Ann Michael, Beverly Hills, Fla.; and six grandchildren. Settle-Wilder, New Smyrna Beach, is in charge.
Elizabeth Varrallo
SEPT. 17, 1928 -- FEB. 22, 2005
ORMOND BEACH -- Elizabeth "Liddy" Varrallo, 76, of Kenilworth Avenue, a resident since 1995, died Tuesday at Bridgeview Center.
Ms. Varrallo moved to this area from her native South Orange, N.J.
Survivors include a brother, Philip Varrallo, Ormond Beach; and two sisters, Louise Marino, Livingston, N.J., and Grace Gordon, Dallas. Lankford, DeLand, is in charge.
Gertrude Weber
MARCH 31, 1916 -- FEB. 24, 2005
DAYTONA BEACH -- Gertrude Weber, 88, a former supervisor of personnel with the New York City Department of Education, died Thursday at the Health Center of Daytona Beach.
Mrs. Weber was born in New York City, and came here in 1977 from Elmhurst, N.Y. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Ormond Beach.
Survivors include a son, Ronald, New York City; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Haigh-Black, Ormond Beach, is in charge.
Martin Cohen
JUNE 23, 1935 -- JAN. 29, 2004
ORMOND BEACH -- Martin C. "Marty" Cohen, 68, of Rising Moon Trail, an accomplished pianist who performed at the former Martingail's Restaurant and Piano Bar, died Thursday at Halifax Medical Center, Daytona Beach.
Mr. Cohen, an Air Force veteran of the Korean War, was born in Baltimore. He moved here eight years ago from Seminole County. He retired as an advertising specialty salesman.
Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Gail; a son, Martin, Laurel, Md.; two stepdaughters, Carol Colosimo, Deltona, and Brenda Bishop, Winter Springs; a sister, Harriet Cohen, Altamonte Springs; and two grandchildren. Woodward, Holly Hill, is in charge.
Jean Crawford
JULY 28, 1933 -- JAN. 29, 2004
PORT ORANGE -- Jean Maree Crawford, 70, of Trail Side Drive, who worked for Vogel's Supermarket in Pekin, Ill., for 17 years, died Thursday at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Ill.
Ms. Crawford, who also managed Clark Gas Station in Pekin, was born in Elm Grove Township, Ill.
Survivors include her companion, Lowell Puckett; a daughter, Janie Wrhel, Pekin; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to Central Illinois Dream Factory, P.O. Box 1431, Pekin, IL 61554; or Tazewell Animal Protective Society, 2675 Allentown Road, Pekin, IL 61554. Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin, is in charge.
Felicia del Rosario
MAY 18, 1929 -- JAN. 28, 2004
DELAND -- Felicia del Rosario, 74, of Rochelle Lane, a resident since 1982, died Wednesday at Florida Hospital-Ormond Memorial.
Mrs. del Rosario, a homemaker, moved to this area from her native Philippines. She was a member of Saint Peter's Catholic Church and All City Travel Club. She enjoyed dancing and gardening.
Survivors include two sons, Peter, Orlando, and William, Denmark; two daughters, Ella Occiano, DeLand, and Dahlia Williams, England; and eight grandchildren. Deltona Memorial, Orange City, is in charge.
A.M. Eaches
JUNE 3, 1914 -- JAN. 29, 2004
ORMOND BEACH -- A.M. "Bert" Eaches, 89, of Polar Bear Path, a salesman with Superior Valve & Fitting Co. for 40 years before his retirement, died Thursday at Care One Nursing Home, East Brunswick, N.J.
Mr. Eaches, an Army veteran of World War II, moved to this area in 1986 from his native Pittsburgh. He was a member of Mount Lebanon Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania and Christ Presbyterian Church in Florida.
Survivors include a daughter, Sara Conway, Spotswood, N.J.; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Volusia Memorial, Ormond Beach, is in charge.
Robert Gillespy II
FEB. 7, 1926 -- JAN. 28, 2004
MORELAND HILLS, Ohio -- Robert H. Gillespy II, 77, of Moreland Hills, the twin brother of Ormond Beach resident, Dr. Thurman Gillespy Jr., died Wednesday at Lakewood Hospital, Lakewood, Ohio.
Mr. Gillespy, an Army Air Forces veteran of World War II, was born in Charleston, W.Va., and moved to Moreland Hills in 1964. He was an attorney for 40 years with Squires, Sanders and Dempsey in Cleveland before his retirement in 1991. Mr. Gillespy was a member of Garfield Memorial United Methodist Church, Pepper Pike, Ohio, and a 50-year member of the Cleveland Bar Association. He earned his master's degree from Harvard University and his law degree from the University of Cincinnati.
Additional survivors include his wife of 56 years, Mary Alberta; a son, Robert III, Springfield, Ill.; two daughters, Deborah Corbets, Solon, Ohio, and Rebecca Gillespy, Dallas; three sisters, Mildred Vaughan, Harriet Blake and Martha Childers, all of Huntington, W.Va.; and eight grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 555 W. Granada Blvd., Suite A-1, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; or to Garfield Memorial United Methodist Church, 3650 Lander Road, Pepper Pike, OH 44124. Kindrich-McHugh Steinbauer Funeral Home, Solon, Ohio, is in charge.
Leslie Goodspeed
MARCH 9, 1936 -- JAN. 29, 2004
ORANGE CITY -- Leslie Elmer "Les" Goodspeed, 67, of South Volusia Avenue, who retired as a machine operator with Lestoil in Holyoke, Mass., died Thursday at home.
Mr. Goodspeed moved to Florida in 1977 from his native Chicopee, Mass. He was a member of Volusia County Baptist Church and Independent Order of the Foresters. Mr. Goodspeed enjoyed yard sales, shopping, and playing Yahtzee and bingo.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Mary; a son, Leslie Jr., Orange City; two daughters, Pamela Brohez, Orange City, and Patricia Thomas, Winter Park; three sisters, Hazel Beckham, Orange City, Lillian Tomasko, Pittsburgh, and Bertha Hajec, Chicopee; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to Volusia County Baptist Church Building Fund, 261 S. Orange Ave., Orange City, FL 32763. Deltona Memorial is in charge.
Raymond Hebert
DEC. 27, 1917 -- JAN. 29, 2004
DELTONA -- Raymond Joseph Hebert, 86, of Plumtree Drive, a retired sheet metal engineer, died Thursday at Hospice Care Center, Port Orange.
Mr. Hebert, a Navy veteran of World War II, moved to this area in 1983 from his native Lawrence, Mass. He was a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2380, DeLand. He enjoyed golf and tennis.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Evelyn; a brother, Elphege, Palm Beach Gardens; and three sisters, Theresa Rousseau, Boyton Beach, and Doris Antonino and Loretta Parker, both of Norwich, Conn. Deltona Memorial, Orange City, is in charge.
