Louis Vergara
SEPT. 25, 1922 -- APRIL 1, 2004
DELTONA -- Louis Vergara, 81, of Giovanni Street, who retired as a warehouse supervisor of a veterans hospital in Long Island, N.Y., died Thursday at Florida Hospital-DeLand.
Mr. Vergara, an Air Force veteran, was born in Puerto Rico, and came here in 1990 from Long Island. He was a member of Our Lady of Lakes Catholic Church. He enjoyed watching television.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Fredesvinda; two sons, Ernest, Norfolk, Va., and Edward, Charleston, S.C.; a daughter, Nanntte Gontis, Florida; a brother, Henry, Columbus, Ohio; a sister, Mary Bottari, San Diego; and seven grandchildren. Carpenter-Curry, DeLand, is in charge.
Elaine Thompson, 55, dies
DELTONA -- Elaine Thompson often joked that while she liked her newspaper career most of the time, she cared more for her family and early spring in Florida.
Thompson, a newspaper editor and former photographer for The Daytona Beach News-Journal who made the remarks in an online breast cancer forum, was dedicated to her career and serving her community.
Thompson died March 30 at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial, Orange City. She was 55.
Thompson was born in Rochester, N.Y., and moved to Deltona in 1980.
She snapped pictures of her children as a hobby and later turned photography into a full-time career. She served as a photographer for the Enterprise Newspaper and later The News-Journal and the DeLand Sun News.
Thompson formed her own newspaper, the Southwest Volusia Reporter, in 1993 and served as its editor and as a reporter-photographer. The newspaper later merged with the Four Towns Beacon, for which she wrote a weekly column.
"She cared very much for her community of Southwest Volusia and civic activities, particularly through her newspaper, " said friend and former employer David Wiggins. "She inspired me very much, especially for her commitment to life and her commitment to her family."
Thompson was a champion against breast cancer and fought the disease for almost eight years. In 1999, the American Cancer Society honored Thompson with its Courage Award for her fight against breast cancer.
Thompson served on the board of directors of the Southwest Volusia YMCA and was instrumental in bringing facilities to Deltona. She also contributed to several community organizations including The House Next Door, Students Reach Out, the Deltona Arts and Historical Center and the Pine Ridge Fellowship Community Connection.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Thompson of Deltona; her children Mark , Scott and Cheryl , all of Deltona, and daughter Karen Thompson-Piela of Memphis, Tenn.; three grandchildren; her mother, Elvira Friedman and her sister Bonnie Halenkamp, both of Fort Lauderdale, and her brother Gary Friedman of Orlando.
Deltona Memorial is in charge of arrangements.
Timothy Arnett
AUG. 30, 1971 -- MARCH 30, 2004
OAK HILL -- Timothy Michael Arnett, 32, of Eleanor Street, a concrete finisher for F&M Concrete, Edgewater, died Tuesday at Halifax Medical Center, Daytona Beach, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident Friday on Massey and Edgewater Canal roads, Edgewater.
Mr. Arnett came here in 1973 from his native Painesville, Ohio. He enjoyed riding his four-wheeler and stock car racing.
Survivors include a son, Timothy, and a daughter, Brianna, both of New Smyrna Beach; his mother, Deborah Sulle, Oak Hill; two brothers, Jeremy Arnett, Eustis, and Shannon Jordan, Oak Hill; a sister, Selecia Jordan, and two stepbrothers, James and Shawn Sulle, all of Oak Hill; a stepsister, Melissa Sulle, Fort Walton Beach; and his longtime companion, Robin Mason, New Smyrna Beach. Alavon Direct Cremation, South Daytona, is in charge.
John Clements Jr.
AUG. 18, 1922 -- MARCH 26, 2004
SANFORD -- John E. Clements Jr., 81, of Sanford, a Holly Hill resident from 1962 to 2003, died Friday at Central Florida Regional Hospital.
Mr. Clements, an Army veteran, was born in Sale City, Ga. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in Daytona Beach, and he also was a former president of the Postal Clerk Union. Mr. Clements was a member of Cathedral of the Incarnation in Orlando. An avid hunter and fisherman, he also was a member of the National Rifle Association.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Ann; two daughters, Judith Reimann, Daytona Beach, and Linda Miller, Sanford; two brothers, Richard, Jacksonville; and James, Fort Lauderdale; two sisters, Carolyn Abney, Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Mary Keller, Tallahassee; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home Oaklawn Chapel, Sanford, is in charge.
Donald Drury
FEB. 4, 1931 -- MARCH 30, 2004
ORANGE CITY -- Donald Arthur Drury, 73, of Vespers Way, a retired Greyhound Bus station agent, died Tuesday at Hospice Care Center, Port Orange.
Mr. Drury, a Navy veteran of the Korean War, was born in Newfane, N.Y., and came here in 1999 from Sanford. He enjoyed playing poker and golf.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Patricia; two daughters, Kim and Tamra Drury, both of Winter Garden; a brother, Manuel, Newfane; a sister, Lucille Connor, Winter Park; and two grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Volusia - Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129. Alavon Direct Cremation, South Daytona, is in charge.
Helen Engelhardt
NOV. 8, 1934 -- MARCH 30, 2004
PORT ORANGE -- Helen Elizabeth Engelhardt, 69, of Oxford Drive, who retired as manager of the bookkeeping department in the Family Practice Center at Halifax Medical Center, Daytona Beach, died Tuesday at home.
Mrs. Engelhardt was born in Albany, N.Y., and came here in 1975 from Clifton Park, N.Y.
She was a member of Church of the Epiphany and enjoyed travel and bowling.
Survivors include a son, Wayne Lasher, Niskayuna, N.Y.; three daughters, Michelle and Colleen Majury, both of Port Orange, and Deborah Johnson, Clifton Park; three brothers, Kenneth and James MacGilfrey, both of Port Orange, and Thomas MacGilfrey, Albany; three sisters, Ruth Mullaney and Jeannette Kampfer, both of Port Orange, and Emily Gowie, Castleton, N.Y.; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 555 W. Granada Blvd., Suite A-1, Ormond Beach, FL 32174. Volusia Memorial, Port Orange, is in charge.
Lawrence Fierle
MAY 5, 1917 -- MARCH 30, 2004
HOLLY HILL -- Lawrence G. Fierle, 86, of Walker Street, who retired as a press operator in the aerospace industry, died Tuesday at Halifax Medical Center, Daytona Beach.
Mr. Fierle, a Navy veteran of World War II, moved here in 1982 from his birthplace, Buffalo, N.Y. He was a member of Calvary Christian Church.
Survivors include his wife, Doris; two daughters, JoAnne White, Buffalo, and Judith Dangler, San Diego; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Ormond Funeral Home, Ormond Beach, is in charge.
Donald Gulick
MARCH 22, 1955 -- MARCH 30, 2004
DAYTONA BEACH -- Donald Gulick, 49, of Hillside Avenue, a mechanic for the U.S. Postal Service, died Tuesday at Halifax Medical Center.
Mr. Gulick was born in Newark, N.J., and moved here in 1987 from Toms River, N.J.
He was a member of Church of the Epiphany, Port Orange. Mr. Gulick enjoyed motorcycle riding, cooking, computers and his pet bird.
Survivors include a son, Jason Brannan, South Daytona; his mother, Jessie Gulick, Phoenix; a brother, Fred Wendell, North Arlington, N.J.; two sisters, Beverly Morgan, Beechwood, N.J., and Kathy Giunta, Phoenix; and two grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1620 S. Clyde Morris Blvd., Suite 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32119. Cardwell & Maloney, Port Orange, is in charge.
Henry Hill
JAN. 10, 1937 -- MARCH 27, 2004
PALM COAST -- Henry Joseph Hill, 67, of Wilden Place, a retired general manager of New York Life Insurance Co. in New York, died Saturday at Florida Hospital-Ormond Memorial.
Born in Brooklyn, Mr. Hill, who retired after 20 years of service as a master sergeant in the Air Force, moved here in 1999 from Somerset, N.J. He also was the owner of Global Financial Services in New York. Mr. Hill was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. He enjoyed the history of wars, politics and current events and playing golf.
Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Yvonne "Faye"; three sons, Clive Chin, Florham Park, N.Y., Craig Hill, Temecula, Calif., and Phillip Hill, Somerset; two daughters, Karen Hill-Davis, Homer Glen, Ill., and Tatyana Hill, Suffolk, England; his mother, Catherine Hill, and a brother, Robert Hill, both of Brooklyn; and 10 grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Gift of Remembrance Headquarters, 1101 N. Lake Destiny Road, Suite 415, Maitland, FL 32751-7105. Craig-Flagler Palms, Flagler Beach, is in charge.
Edwin Kloppenburg
AUG. 3, 1922 -- MARCH 28, 2004
LAS VEGAS -- Edwin H. Kloppenburg, 81, of Las Vegas, a resident of Edgewater from 1991 to 2001, died Sunday at Progressive Hospital.
Mr. Kloppenburg, a Navy veteran of World War II, was born in Jamaica, N.Y., and was a retired aerospace engineering technician. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed building model boats.
Survivors include two daughters, Jill Carr, Bowling Green, Ohio, and Lynn Rosenbach, Las Vegas; and five grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to New Smyrna Beach Regional Library, 1001 S Dixie Freeway, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168; or to a charity of one's choice. Settle-Wilder, New Smyrna Beach, is in charge.
Freddie Mann
MARCH 21, 1929 -- MARCH 30, 2004
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Freddie Mann, 75, of Dimmick Street, an electrician for Daytona Beach Community College before his retirement, died Tuesday at Hospice Care Center, Port Orange.
Born in Alachua, Mr. Mann, an Air Force veteran, lived in Daytona Beach before moving here in 1976. He also operated the Honey Room, a pool room in New Smyrna Beach. He was a 1945 graduate of the former Campbell Street High School in Daytona Beach and was a member of American Legion Post 204. Mr. Mann enjoyed fishing and gardening.
Survivors include two sons, Freddie and Gregory Mann, and four daughters, Linda and Sharon Mann and Carol and Deborah Williams, all of Daytona Beach; two brothers, Horace Jr., Boston, and Gene, St. Petersburg; 13 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Gainous-Wynn is in charge.
