Avlee S. Askew
Avlee Sewell Askew, 88, of Bartow, died of heart failure July 1, 2009, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale.
Born Oct. 23, 1920, in Ocala, Mrs. Askew had been a resident of Bartow since 1925. She was a personnel director for the clerk of circuit courts for Polk County for many years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Bartow.
Mrs. Askew was preceded in death by her husband, Ambrose B. Askew, Jr.
Survivors include a daughter, Susan Prather and husband Michael of Bartow; a brother, Arthur Sewell, Jr., and wife Sandy of Bartow; three grandchildren, Bradley Chivington, Bryan Chivington, and Brendan Chivington; and two great-grandchildren, Jaydis Chivington and Talen Chivington.
Visitation: Monday July 6, 6 to 8 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow.
Funeral: Tuesday, July 7, 10 a.m., First United Methodist Church of Bartow.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 455 South Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33830.
John Gresham
John Alex Gresham, 70, died June 10, 2009, in Louisville, Ky.
A 1957 graduate of Summerlin Institute, Mr. Gresham worked in the engineering division of the Florida Road Department. In the early ’70s, he moved to Southern California, where he eventually transitioned to a new career as a chef. In January of 1981 he married his present wife, Judith. In 1996 they moved to Louisville, Ky., for her job. He remained a loyal member of the Masons, Tuscan Lodge #6.
Virtual memorial service: Sunday, June 14, 11 a.m.
David Abner, Sr.
David Lee Abner, Sr., 67, of Blairsville, Ga., died June 23, 2009.
Born June 27, 1941, Mr. Abner was the former owner of D & J Automotive in Bartow.
Mr. Abner is survived by his wife, Judy Abner; two daughters, Tina Bowling and husband Richard, and Deborah Harbin and husband Ollie; three sons, David Abner, Dennis Abner and wife Melody, and Lee Abner and wife Carol; two sisters, Kay Bunkin and husband Harris, and Patty Manchester and husband Russ; a brother, Fred Bacher and wife Suzy; 17 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Funeral: Friday, June 26, 10 a.m., Mountain View Funeral Home Chapel, Blairsville, Ga., with Rev. Fred Bacher officiation.
Interment: Meadow View Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Regency Hospice.
Nancy Zetta Gibson
Nancy Zetta Gibson, 89, died June 29, 2009 at Palm Terrace Nursing Center in Lakeland.
Born Aug. 14, 1919, in Lilly, Florida, Mrs. Gibson moved to Fort Meade from Hardee County in 1952. Mrs. Gibson was a bookkeeper working for many years for W.T. Grant in Bartow and a longtime volunteer at Bartow General Hospital. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Fort Meade. She was a 1937 graduate of Hardee County High School and also attended St. Petersburg Business College.
Mrs. Gibson was preceded in death by her parents, Isham Riley Coker and Mary E. Williams Coker; her husband, John Milton Gibson; a son, Wayne Milton Gibson; and a granddaughter, Jody Norris.
Survivors include a son, Jerry Gibson and wife Jennette (Redding) Gibson of Bartow; two daughters, Phyllis Gibson Norris and husband Gordon of Zolfo Springs, and Marcia Gibson Beach and husband Cecil of Fort Lauderdale; and a brother, J.L. (Jake) Coker of Tampa.
Visitation: Thursday, July 2, 6 to 8 p.m., Hancock Funeral Home, Fort Meade.
Funeral: Friday, July 3, 10:30 a.m., First Baptist Church of Fort Meade with Rev. Kenny Slay officiating.
Interment: Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Meade.
Marie Starling
Marie Starling, 60, of Lakeland, died June 30, 2009, at Palm Terrace Hospice.
Born Aug. 1, 1948, in Bartow, Mrs. Starling was a lifelong resident of the area. She was a caregiver and a Baptist.
Mrs. Starling was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret Starling; and a sister, Tammy Starling.
Survivors include her father, John E. Starling of Lakeland; a son, Shannon Jennings and wife Jennifer of Deltona; three daughters, Trina Jones and husband Chip of Tallahassee, Sherri Hausknecht of Moses Lake, Wash., and Pam Arnold and husband Glen of Fist Rock, Mich.; a brother, Donald Starling and wife Peggy of Lakeland; a sister, Rebecca Noonan and husband Roy of Lakeland; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Visitation: Thursday, July 2, 10 to 11 a.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home.
Funeral: Thursday, July 2, 11 a.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home.
Interment: Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow.
Katherine Allen
Katherine Mary Wall Allen, 69, of Highland City, died June 26, 2009, at her home.
Born Oct. 3, 1939, in Norwich, Conn., Mrs. Allen moved to Highland City from New London, Conn., in 1957. She was a custodian for the school board and hospital. She was a member of First Community Church of Highland City.
Mrs. Allen was preceded in death by her son, Melvin E. Allen, Jr.
Survivors include her husband, Melvin Allen of Highland City; two daughters, Susan Schwarzkopf of Lakeland and Karen Hielscher of Alturas; three sisters, Ann Marie Hoffman, Peggy Coyer, and Mary Satterson, all of Norwich, Conn.; three brothers, James Wall, Jr., Tommy Wall, and Timmy Wall, all of Norwich, Conn.; seven grandchildren, Brandy Souvannarath, Wesley Hielscher, Jack Edmund, Justin Edmund, Teresa Schwarzkopf, Cory Schwarzkopf, and Lesli McCoy; a great-granddaughter, Mikalynn Souvannarath.
Visitation: Monday, June 29, 6 to 8 p.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow.
Funeral: Tuesday, June 30, 10 a.m., Whidden-McLean Funeral Home.
Interment: Oak Hill Burial Park, Lakeland.
Hazel Gauger
Hazel Barfield Gauger, 84, died June 23, 2009, in her home in Green Acres.
Born Dec. 28, 1924, in Bartow, Mrs. Gauger moved to Waterloo, Iowa, after finishing school and lived there until 1970.
Mrs. Gauger was preceded in death by her husband, Don Gauger; and a son, Steve Gauger.
Survivors include two sons, Richard Gauger and David Gauger; and a daughter, Sharon Padghem.
Interment: Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow.
Barbara Allgood
Barbara Ann “Bobbie” Allgood, 55, died June 30, 2009, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale.
Born May 28, 1954, in Bartow, Ms. Allgood was a lifelong resident of Fort Meade. She was an employee of the Polk County School Board and worked in the cafeteria at Lewis Elementary in Fort Meade. She attended the New Beginning Church of God in Fort Meade.
Ms. Allgood is survived by two sons, Billy Kerst and Staff Sgt. Wesley Kerst, both of Frostproof; her parents, James and Martha Pierce of Fort Meade; two sisters, Sandy Shiver and husband Ronnie and Martha Harris and husband Lennie, both of Fort Meade; two nieces, Annette Crews and Brandy Skinner, both of Fort Meade; and four grandchildren, Riley Kerst, Courtney Kerst, Clayton Kerst and Colton Kerst.
Visitation: Thursday, June 2, 6 to 8 p.m., Hancock Funeral Home, Fort Meade.
Funeral: Friday, June 3, 2 p.m., Hancock Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Reggie Palmer officiating.
Interment: Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Meade.
