Doris J. Blair
Doris J. Blair, 78, of Windcrest, Texas, formerly of Fort Meade, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004.
Born Oct. 31, 1925, to Nicholas James and Constance Eugenia Walton Johnston, Mrs. Blair was the youngest of 13 children.
She attended school in Fort Meade, and in her senior year of high school, she was awarded the American Legion School award for courage, character, service, companionship, and scholarship. She was a letter athlete throughout high school and graduated valedictorian with a 99.9 average.
Mrs. Blair attended college in Florida and Georgia, and did graduate studies at Auburn University. Later, she took up golf and played in major amateur tournaments in the United States, British Isles, and Europe.
She was San Antonio City Golf Champion or runner-up from 1963 to 1970, and won various other local tournaments during that time.
Mrs. Blair moved to a ranch and horse farm on the Medina River in Rio Medina, Texas, in 1970, and owned and bred thoroughbred racehorses for 32 years before moving to Windcrest in 2002.
She was preceded in death by: one son, William H. Quig; and her husbands, Col. Clayton A. Quig, General Robert F. Burnham, and Dr. James Blair. Survivors include: one daughter, Jeanne Q. Burton; five granddaughters, Traci J. Burton, Julie A. Burton, Jennifer Quig, Jessica Quig, and Amanda Quig; one brother, Sydney Johnston; and several nieces, nephews, and friends.
Dr. Eddie James Smith
Dr. Eddie James Smith, 79, of Bradley, died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, at Lakeland Hills Center.
Dr. Smith was born Feb. 27, 1924, in Mulberry.
He was a minister, and a U.S. Navy veteran.
Survivors include: three sons, Eddie J. Smith of Miami, and James D. Smith and McAnthony Smith, both of Long Island, N.Y.; three daughters, Etta D. Smith, Shailah Garcia, and Mayer D. Smith, all of Long Island; one sister, Annie Mae Simon of Bradley; and two brothers, Louis Smith, Jr., and Alfonso Smith, both of Bradley.
Visitation: Friday, Jan. 23, from 3 to 8 p.m., at Gause Funeral Home in Bartow.
The funeral: Saturday, Jan. 24, at 11 a.m., at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.
Interment: Palm Cemetery in Bartow.
Pepe Joe Bustos
Pepe Joe Bustos, 72, of Fort Meade, died Friday, Jan. 23, 2004, at Highlands Lake Center in Lakeland.
Born March 1, 1931, in Orange, Texas, Mr. Bustos moved to Fort Meade from Lubbock, Texas, 30 years ago.
Mr. Bustos worked in radio and television for some 45 years. He was president of the Spanish Broadcasting System, and was owner of the all-Spanish radio station, WIPC.
He was Catholic.
Mr. Bustos was preceded in death by one son, David Bustos. He is survived by: his wife, Otilia Bustos; three daughters, JoAnn Bustos-Fernandez (and Efrain) of Bartow, and Margo Valdez and Dora Elia Bustos, both of Phoeniz, Ariz.; three sons, Joe Lewis Bustos of Abilene, Texas, Jose A. Bostos of Bartow, and Guadalupe Wally Bustos (and Nicole) of Fort Meade; 24 grandchildren, including Mary Ann Bustos of Lakeland and Joseph F. Bustos of Orlando; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Monday, Jan. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow.
The funeral: Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 9 a.m., at Saint Thomas Catholic Church, 2180 S. Kissingen Avenue in Bartow, with Rev. Peter Mitchell officiating.
Interment: Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Meade.
Daniel H. Ford
Daniel H. Ford, 81, of Bartow, died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004, at Carrollwood Care Center in Tampa.
Born July 24, 1922, in Syracuse, N. Y., Mr. Ford was a longtime resident of Bartow.
He worked as a chemical operator for C. F. Chemicals for 35 years. He was a member of the Florida National Guard, Bartow Unit, for more than 26 years, and was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Bartow.
Mr. Ford was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia R. Ford. Survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, David F. and Francine Ford of Tampa; one daughter, Jennifer C. Ford of Deland; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation: Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow.
The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at Wildwood Cemetery in Bartow, with Rev. Derek B. Goldstein officiating.
Laurence R. Bauer
Laurence R. Bauer, 81, of Bartow, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004, in Auburndale.
Born Jan. 18, 1923, in Holgate, Ohio, he moved to Bartow 30 years ago from Findley, Ohio.
A member of First Baptist Church in Bartow, he served the church for many years. Mr. Bauer was a manager for RCA, and owned and operated rental properties in Ohio and Florida.
Mr. Bauer had traveled extensively after retiring. A pilot since 1940, he built and flew his own airplane and passed on his love for flying to his sons.
Survivors include his wife, Marie, of Bartow; two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Christy Bauer of Polk City, and Dennis and Jackie Bauer of Orlando; a sister, Anna Marie Mueller of Fremont, Ind.; five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Visitation: Sunday, Jan. 25, 2-4 p.m., Robarts Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Bartow.
Funeral: Monday, Jan. 26, 10 a.m., First Baptist Church in Bartow, with Pastor Frank Brooks officiating. Interment followed in Wildwood Cemetery.
Joe Randall Booth
Joe Randall Booth, 50, of Winter Haven, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003, at his home.
Born in Winter Haven, Mr. Booth returned to the area from Finland 20 years ago.
He was a member of Vineyard Church of God in Bartow. He served in the U.S. Army for 17 years, retiring as an E-7.
Survivors include: his wife, Kristiina Booth; one son, Dennis Randall Booth of Orlando; two daughters, Miia Melissa Booth of Winter Haven and Kimberly Dawn Booth of Arizona; one brother, Richard Dale Booth, Sr., of Kuwait; one sister, Jo An K. Music of Bartow; and nine grandchildren.
Private graveside services will be held at a later date.
Arrangements: Robarts Funeral Home and Cremation Service, LLC, Bartow.
Kenneth Walter Duke
Kenneth Walter Duke, 73, of Lakeland, died Sunday, May 25, 2003, as a result of an automobile accident in Lakeland.
Born Oct. 14, 1929, in Lakeland, Duke was a lifelong Lakeland/Winter Haven resident. He was a U.S. Army veteran, and a retired bank president of the former Kissimmee NCNB Bank, now Bank of America. He was a member of the American Legion, Optimist Club, and the Moose Lodge, all in Winter Haven.
Survivors include: his wife, Iris Duke; three sons, Kenneth Duke of Carlton, Ga., Michael Duke of Auburn, Ga., and William Payne of Lakeland; one daughter, Debra Hawks of Winter Haven; a sister, Elizabeth Mack of Lakeland; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral: Friday, May 30, 10 a.m., at Oak Hill Burial Park in Lakeland, with Rev. Jim Blizzard of the Bible Presbyterian Church officiating.
Memorial contributions: American Diabetes Association, in Duke's name: 5011-L West Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa 33634.
Arrangements: Central Florida Casket Store.
