HELEN APPLE BARROWS, 85, of Winter Haven died Thursday at Brandywyne Convalescent Center. A native of Rush, N.Y., she moved to Winter Haven from Honeoye Falls, N.Y., in 1955. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. She is survived by her husband, Donald; a son, Herbert Apple of Chicago; three daughters, Dale Mitchell of Maine, Julie Speece of Alexandria, Va., and Linda Stellon of Chicago; a stepson, William of Kissimmee; and a stepdaughter, Dona Woodhead. Ott Laughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven.
(From December 1996)
AILENE BROOKS, 65, of Waverly died Thursday at Lake Wales Medical Center in Lake Wales. A native of Harlan County, Ky., she moved to Waverly 50 years ago. She was a member of the Church of Christ, and worked at Citrus World. She is survived by her husband, Ray; three daughters, Barbara Jewell of Eagle Lake, Tresa Choate of Lake Wales, and Carolyn Jewell of Eagle Lake; three sons, Charles "Chuck" and John of Waverly, and Ricky of Lake Wales; her mother, Rosie Fields of Wahneta; five sisters, Rhoda DeMelio of Winter Haven, Evelyn McDivitt, Marilyn Berns, and Jenny Lane of Eagle Lake, and Louise Rasnak of Wahneta; two brothers, Steve Fields of Eagle Lake and Doug Fields of Wahneta; 19 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. Lake Wales Funeral Home.
(From December 1996)
CHARLES CHRISTIAN DAVIS, 96, of Auburndale died Friday at Winter Haven Hospital. A native of Cranston, Ky., he moved to Auburndale from Orlando in 1984. He was a finish carpenter, a Navy veteran and Protestant. He is survived by a sister, Eulah F. of Auburndale. Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale.
(From December 1996)
AVA LEA DEES, 83, of Lakeland died Saturday at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. A native of Opp, Ala., she moved to Lakeland from Jacksonville in 1946. She was a homemaker and member of Griffin Baptist Church in Lakeland. She is survived by two daughters, H. Gail Brower of Seminole, and Joyce Melba Vickers of Dunnellon; a sister, Annis Boles of Tampa; nine grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. Lakeland Funeral Home.
(From December 1996)
MARTHA ESTELLE EMBREY, 84, of Lakeland died Saturday at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. A native of Perry, she moved to Lakeland 55 years ago from Clewiston. She was a florist and member of the Cleveland Heights Baptist Church. She is survived by a daughter, Christine McCeldry of Lakeland; a son, William Gray of Tampa; four brothers, Edward Ethington of LaBelle, Glenis Ethington of Plant City, James Ethington of Lakeland, and Myral Ethington of Connersville; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Lanier Funeral Home, Lakeland.
(From December 1996)
WILLIAM J. ERNSTING, 76, of Lake Wales died Friday at his home. A native of Marion County, Ind., he moved to Lake Wales from Forth Lauderdale 18 months ago. He was Baptist and a gardener. He is survived by two daughters, Coral Ingersoll of Fort Lauderdale, and Sherry Youngen of Palm Beach; and two sons, Joe of Wilton Manor and Cris of Palm Beach. Lake Wales Funeral Home.
(From December 1996)
DONALD O. GRAY, 79, of Winter Haven died Thursday at Winter Haven Hospital. A native of Michigan, he moved to Winter Haven from Niles, Mich., 15 years ago. He was a power company manager and Lutheran. He was an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of the Lions Club, the Manager Club, the Rotary Club and the American Legion. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; two brothers, Walter of Michigan., and Woodard of Hoyt Lakes, Minn.; and three sisters, Kathleen Winkoski, Betty Matonich and Gloria Elliott, all of Michigan. Crisp-Coon Funeral Home, Winter Haven.
(From December 1996)
WILLIE BELLE HOGUE, 96, of Davenport died Friday at Haines City Health Care Court. A native of Smithfield, Texas , she moved to Haines City from Arlington, Texas , in 1983. She was a retired chief operator for Southern Bell Telephone Co. in Texas , and member of Northside Baptist Church of Arlington. She is survived by a daughter, Loraine Johnson of Davenport; a grandson; and a great-grandson. Lane-Holt Funeral Home, Haines City.
(From December 1996)
BESSIE LaRUE JONES, 99, of Mulberry died Tuesday at Bartow Health Care and Rehabilitation Center. A native of LaRue County, Ky., she moved to Mulberry from Homeland 68 years ago. She was a housewife and member of the First Baptist Church in Mulberry, a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the Golden Age Club, and a Polk County Pioneer. She is survived by a daughter, Fran Jones Whidden of Lakeland; a brother, Dean C. LaRue of Lakeland; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A.M. Seigler Funeral Home, Mulberry.
(From December 1996)
FANNIE HILL KIDDY, 83, of Auburndale died Friday at Integrated Health Services of Florida in Auburndale. A native of Athens, Ala., she moved to Auburndale from Arkansas in 1949. She was a homemaker and Methodist. She is survived by a son, Charles of Lake Alfred; a daughter, Judy Reynolds of Lake Wales; a brother, Rollie Hill of Fort Wayne, Ind., three sisters, Annie Mae Samuels of Weiner, Ark., Georgia Wakefield of West Memphis, Ark., and Mary Brummil of Athens, Ala.; 12 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Crisp-Coon Funeral Home, Winter Haven.
(From December 1996)
EVAN STANFORD LAWHORN JR., 84, of Haines City died Saturday at home. A native of Pelham, Ga., he moved to Haines City 77 years ago. He was a pharmacist for Walgreens, Rexall and worked independently. He was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church of Haines City. He is survived by his friend and caregiver, Ellen Dickinson; a son, Keith Willis; two brothers, Thomas Irven and James Normal, all of Haines City; four grandchildren; and six great- grandchildren. Lane-Holt Funeral Home, Haines City.
(From December 1996)
ETHELEEN I. LEWIS, 93, of Tarpon Springs, formerly of Polk County, died Friday at Tarpon Bayou Convalescent Center in Tarpon Springs. A native of Maysville, Ga., she moved to Polk County in 1926 from Georgia. She was a fruit picker, and member of the Church of God in Dundee. She retired from Lang-Lawless of Winter Haven. She is survived by four sons, Joe Thompson of Haines City, Charles Thompson of Mims, Doyle Thompson of Winter Haven, and Lamar Thompson of Avon Park; two daughters, Etheleen Palecek of Avon Park, Faye Hamm of Odessa; 25 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven.
(From December 1996)
J.C. "RED" MOSES JR., 73, of Auburndale died Friday at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. A native of Lafayette County, he moved to Auburndale from Mayo in 1940. He was a retired paint salesman for Scotty's, and worked for Auburnale Lumber Co. He was Protestant, and a member of the Woodmen of the World Lodge No. 106, Eagle Lake. He is survived by his wife, Mary Katherine of Auburndale; a son, Jesse Clayton III of Cincinnati; a daughter, Linda K. Dale of Winter Haven; two brothers, James R. of Auburndale and Homer O. of Jacksonville; a sister, Elouise Whidden of Auburndale; one granddaughter; one step-grandson; and one step-great-grandson. Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale.
(From December 1996)
JEWELL JOAN PARRISH, 77, of Lake Wales died Friday at Lake Wales Medical Center. A native of Charleston, W. Va., she moved to Lake Wales seven years ago from Waltham, Mass. She was retired as a retail sales clerk after 25 years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lake Wales. Survivors include her husband, Harry Benford; two sons, Harry David and George Stephen, both of Lake Wales; four daughters, Brenda Kaye Hunneshagen of Depew, N.Y., Saundra Jayne Hansen of Wakefield, Mass., Sharon Hale LaTorre of Berlin, N.J., and Trina Elaine LaBlanc of Hull, Mass.; two brothers, Rex Hale of Charleston, W.Va., and Jess Hale of Gallatin, Tenn.; two sisters, Rita Campbell of Lake Wales, and Lillian Barker of Cortland, Ohio; 22 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Johnson Funeral Home.
(From December 1996)
ROY M. POLK, 44, of Frostproof died Friday at University Community Hospital in Tampa. A native of Avon Park, he was a lifelong resident of Frostproof. He owned a citrus and cattle operation. He was a Mason, Scottish Rite Shrine, AMORC and CIRCES. He is survived by his wife, Theresa of Frostproof; a son, Brian, and a daughter, Jennifer, both of Frostproof; two brothers, Richard and Otto, both of Frostproof; and a sister, Charlotte Latimer of Greenville, S.C. Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home, Avon Park.
(From December 1996)
VELMA IRENE REELEY, 67, of Davenport died Friday at home. A native of East Detroit, she moved to Davenport from Thonotasassa in 1990. She was a retired diet aide for the Hillsborough County Senior Citizens Nutrition program. She was a member of the Thanotasassa United Methodist Church. She is survived by her mother, Dora Bryant of Lakeland; a daughter, Cynthia Moreland of Davenport; two sons, Ronald Lehman of Algonac, Mich., and Russell Whitmire of Atlanta, Mich.; a sister, Nancy Sherry of Melbourne; eight grandchildren, and great-grandchild. Lane-Holt Funeral Home, Haines City.
(From December 1996)
THOMAS WAYNE RUSH, 48, of Winter Haven died Friday at Winter Haven Hospital. A native of Fresno, Calif., he moved to Winter Haven from California in 1993. He was a neurodiagnostic manager at Winter Haven Hospital. He was an Army veteran of the Vietname War. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; two sons, Brandon Wayne and Andrew Thomas, both of Winter Haven; and three brothers, Paul E. of New York City,Kenneth A. of Fresno, and Jerry W. of San Francisco. Crisp-Coon Funeral Home, Winter Haven.
(From December 1996)
LESLIE MICHAEL SHEPPARD, 45, formerly of Auburndale, died Thursday at his home in San Marcos, Texas . A native of Port Townsend, Wash., he was a newspaper journalist and graduate of Corpus Christi State University. He was Catholic and a Navy veteran. Survivors include his parents, Leslie W. and Chloe, both of Auburndale; three brothers, William E. of Orlando; Steven D. of of Lake Alfred, and Daniel J. of Winter Haven; and a sister, Suzanne of Lake Alfred. Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale.
(From December 1996)
LARIS ANN STOKES, 73, of Haines City died Sunday at Winter Haven Hospital. A native of Cottonwood, Ala., she moved to Haines City in 1923. She was activities director for Bishop Gray Inn in Davenport, and member of Eastside Baptist Church in Haines City. She is survived by her husband, Harry; a son, Larry of Haines City; two brothers, Howard Deese of Warner Robbins, Ga., and Harold of Auburndale; a sister, Doris Rogers of Auburndale, and Katie Steedley of Jacksonville; and five grandchildren. Lane-Holt Funeral Home.
(From December 1996)
JESSIE NELL TOLAR, 93, of Ocala and a former resident of Polk City, died Wednesday at Palm Garden Nursing Home in Ocala. A native of Hillsborough County, she was a homemaker, and member of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Polk City. She was a member of the Woman's Club, Polk City, and an advisor to the Polk City Herald. She worked for Tampa Ship Building Co. during World War II. She is survived by a daughter, Edythe Phillips of Ocala; a son, John H. of Orlando; two brothers, Burton Webb of Auburndale and W.D. Webb of Chicago; two sisters, Eurena Fussell of Auburndale, and Othello Harper of Lake Wales; six grandchildren; and 11 great- grandchildren. Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale.
(From December 1996)
AUGUST J. TULAK, 90, of Winter Haven died Friday at Winter Haven Hospital. He was born in New York City and moved to Winter Haven 12 years ago from there. He retired from the New York Police Department after 30 years. He was Catholic. Survivors include a friend, Goldie B. Brown of Dundee. Johnson Funeral Home, Lake Wales.
(From December 1996)
GEORGE LESLIE WEST, 77, of Winter Haven died Saturday at Winter Haven Hospital. A native of Jackson County, he moved to Winter Haven from Dothan, Ala., 47 years ago. He was a retired citrus worker, and member of Life and Praise Temple, Auburndale. He is survived by his wife, Mary; two daughters, Barbara Yolland and Betty Stephens, both of Winter Haven; two half-brothers, Larmar West of Mayo, Ga., and Max West of Lakeland; two half-sisters, Glenda Hackenburg and Mary E. Warren, both of Auburndale; three grandchildren, and four great- grandchildren. Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale.
(From December 1996)
