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OBITUARIES

 
Published April 18, 2003|Updated Sept. 1, 2005

Belleair Beach

McGAVOCK, FRANCIS JOSEPH, 79, of Belleair Beach, died Saturday (April 12, 2003) at the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines. Born in Chicago, he came here from Ashland, Wis. He was a field manager and was a World War II Army veteran. Survivors include a brother, Thomas H., Beloit, Wis. Holloway Funeral Home, Oldsmar.

Clearwater

ALLEN, MILDRED W., 87, of Clearwater, died Wednesday (April 16, 2003) at Glen Oaks Health Care Center, Clearwater. She was born in Richmond, Vt., and came here in 1989 from Palatka. She was a homemaker and Catholic. Survivors include four sons, Ralph, Clearwater, Paul, Hollister, Dayle, Richmond, and Harold, Bethel, Conn.; four daughters, Lois Belair and Carolita Pratt, both of Clearwater, Phyllis Huff, Hampton, Va., and Cheryl Greenwood, Southbury, Conn.; five sisters, Patricia Cernak, Clearwater, Muralin Washborn, Ormond Beach, Leatha Brown, Starksboro, Vt., Mavis Stevens, North Hampton, Mass., and Audrey Liberty, Huntington, Vt.; a brother, Stanley Weston, Fairhaven, Vt.; 27 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Serenity Gardens Chapel, Largo.

FARRI, JAMES D., 51, of Clearwater, died Sunday (April 13, 2003) at Mease Countryside Hospital, Safety Harbor. He came here in 1990 from his native St. Louis. He worked as a produce clerk at Winn-Dixie and formerly worked at Albertsons. He enjoyed traveling, oil painting and his flower garden and he was a St. Louis Cardinals fan. Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Mary; his father, Joseph A., Suitland, Md.; his mother, Alice Farri, St. Louis; and a brother, Joseph F., Sarasota. Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, Clearwater.

GARDNER, ROBERT MICHAEL "MIKE," 56, of Clearwater, died Saturday (April 12, 2003) at the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines. He was born in Columbus, Ga., and came here in 1995 from Texas. He worked as a manager for a telecommunication company. He retired from the Army in 1993 after more than 20 years. He was a Gulf War veteran and served in Panama. He was a member of VFW Post 2550, Dunedin. Survivors include his wife of three years, Dodie; a son, Brian, Texas; a daughter, Tina West, Alabama; a stepson, Danny Nielsen, and a stepdaughter, Chelsea Fusco, both of Clearwater; two brothers, Ron and Randy, both of Texas; and six grandchildren. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Belcher Road Chapel, Clearwater.

HARNER, NORMAN L., 77, of Clearwater, died Sunday (April 13, 2003) at home. He came here from Indiana, where he was a retired educator and basketball coach. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He played on the state championship basketball team in 1941 for the Washington Hatchets and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a former Indiana state basketball official. He graduated from University of Indianapolis and Indiana and Butler universities. He attended St. Paul United Methodist Church of Largo and was a member of the Clearwater Men's Golf Club. Survivors include his wife, Barbara (Holtz); three daughters, Neysa Winters, Carmel, Ind., Le-Ann Zimmerman, Palatine, Ill., and Kristi Ghidotti, Columbus, Ohio; a son, Greg, Tampa; a sister, the Rev. Wilma Allen, Franklin, Ind.; a brother, Dale, Lafayette, Ind.; and nine grandchildren. Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Center, Carmel, Ind.

LASCHKE, RUDOLPH JR., 70, of Clearwater, died Tuesday (April 15, 2003) at Mease Countryside Hospital, Safety Harbor. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and came here in 1989 from Queens, N.Y. He retired as assistant treasurer for Chase Manhattan Bank, New York City, and was a Navy veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Safety Harbor. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Jane A.; three sons, Jason E., Clearwater, and Kurt A. and Eric T., both of Queens; and three grandchildren. Curlew Hills Funeral Home, Palm Harbor.

PLANT, THERESA M. (BOISVERT), 72, of Florahome, formerly of Clearwater, died Friday (April 11, 2003) at home. She was born in Manchester, N.H., came to Clearwater in 1976 from Fort Lauderdale and moved in 1991 to Florahome. She was Christian. She enjoyed travel, antiques and the beach. Survivors include two sons, Kenneth, Minneapolis, and Steven, Largo; four daughters, Patricia, Marjorie, Audrey and Janice; a brother, Roger; a sister, Dorothy; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Watts Funeral Home, Palatka.

REMUS, VICTORIA H., 94, of Clearwater, died Tuesday (April 15, 2003) at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater. She was born in Shenandoah, Pa., and came here in 2000 from Ewing, N.J. She was a homemaker and Catholic. Survivors include a son, Ernest A., Clearwater; a daughter, Joann Dedyo, Yonkers, N.Y.; a sister, Josephine Lucas, New Jersey; and three grandchildren. E. Dale Gunter Funeral Home & Cremation Services, St. Petersburg.

ROBINSON, RANDALL EARL "RANDY," 54, of Clearwater, died Monday (April 7, 2003) at Tandem Health Care of Safety Harbor. He was born in Redford Township, Mich., moved in 1956 to Tampa, where he graduated from Chamberlain High School, and moved to Clearwater, where he worked as supervising contractor for Coastal Builders for 28 years. Survivors include his wife of 16 years, Carol; his mother, A. Louise Robinson, Tampa; a sister, Patricia Hutchinson, Tampa; and two brothers, William Robinson, Clearwater, and David Robinson, Lutz. Veterans Cremation and Burial Society, Clearwater.

Largo

FALIK, ERNA T., 90, of Largo, died Monday (April 14, 2003) at Largo Medical Center. She was born in Germany and came here in 1989 from New York City. She was a homemaker and a member of St. Jerome Catholic Church, Largo. Survivors include a daughter, Victoria Fosella, Seminole; a sister, Elizabeth Ahrens, Connecticut; and two grandchildren. National Cremation Society, Largo.

FISHER, MARY "MYRNA," 81, of Largo, died Wednesday (April 9, 2003) at Mariner Health Care of Clearwater. She was born in Jackson, Ohio, and came here in 1952. She retired from Barber Temple Orange Co., Largo, and was a member of the United Methodist Church. Survivors include a daughter, Sue A. Kaney, Largo; a son, Gary L., Jackson, Ohio; seven grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and six stepgreat-grandchildren. Elsnaugle-Lewis Funeral Home, Jackson, Ohio.

SMITH, RICHARD M. "DICK," 75, of Largo, died Sunday (April 13, 2003) at home. He was born in Hollywood, Calif., and came here in 1973. He was a retired upholsterer and a Navy veteran of World War II. He was Protestant. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, G. Jean; two daughters, Jacqueline R. Lauricella and Marcia J. Whitlock, both of St. Petersburg; a son, Brock R., Olney, Md.; and five grandchildren. ALifeTribute FuneralCare, St. Petersburg.

TWISS, MABEL, 87, of Largo, died Sunday (April 13, 2003) at Palm Garden of Largo nursing home. She was born in Mount Kisco, N.Y., and came here in 1995 from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She was a homemaker. Survivors include three sons, Donald, Largo, Raymond, Kansas City, Mo., and Bruce, Poughkeepsie; and two daughters, Shirley Rose and Diane Plate, both of Poughkeepsie. Gulf Breeze Cremation & Burial Society, Largo.

WALLACE, MARIAN, 92, of Largo, died Wednesday (April 16, 2003) at Sabal Palms Health Care Center, Largo. She came here in 1924 from her native Laurens, S.C., and retired as a customer service representative for GTE. She was a member of Skycrest Baptist Church and Queen Esther Chapter 4 OES, Clearwater. Survivors include a son, Eugene P., Largo; a sister, Virginia Swanson, Tampa; a brother, Charles Hipp, Clinton, S.C.; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Belcher Road Chapel, Clearwater.

WILSON, GENEVA B., 71, of Largo, died Tuesday (April 15, 2003) at Kindred Hospital Bay Area-Tampa. She was born in Cincinnati and came here in 1998 from Amelia, Ohio. She worked as a juvenile courts clerk in Clermont County, Ohio. She was a member of Church of the Isles Congregational, Indian Rocks Beach. Survivors include three sons, Guy, Hamersville, Ohio, Rick L., Bethel, Ohio, and Kenneth, Cincinnati; a sister, Dorothy Habig, Cincinnati; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Serenity Gardens Chapel, Largo.

Seminole

ANGLE, ALLIE BAYARD, 94, of Seminole, formerly of Tampa, died Wednesday (April 16, 2003) at home. Born in Bartow, he came here in his youth. He attended St. Petersburg High School and St. Petersburg Junior College and the University of Florida, then moved to Tampa. He was self-taught through LaSalle Extension and passed the Florida Bar exam in 1933 and was among the last surviving charter members of the Hillsborough County Bar Association. He was a World War II Coast Guard veteran and remained in the reserve, retiring as a captain in 1968. He became a U.S. collector of customs for Florida in 1961 and retired after 10 years. He was a member and past president of the Lakeland Highland Citrus Co-op Association and a member of the Retired Officers Association of Tampa. Survivors include a companion, Mary Mitchell Johnston; two nephews, Ralph C. Dell and Joe Elbon, both of St. Petersburg; and two nieces, Rosalie Wyrick, Redington Shores, and Marion J. Paterson, Oklahoma City. John S. Rhodes, East Chapel, St. Petersburg.

HERTER, DOROTHY T., 81, of Seminole, died Wednesday (April 16, 2003) at Cristina Home assisted living facility. She came here in 1950 from her native Bloomfield, N.J. She was a floral shop secretary in Jacksonville. Survivors include a daughter, Debra Herter, Seminole; and a son, Jeffrey A. Herter, Casselberry; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. E. James Reese Funeral Home & Crematory, Seminole.

MODRIC, DRAGO, 69, of Granite City, Ill., formerly of Seminole, died Tuesday (April 15, 2003) at Gateway Regional Medical Center, Granite City. Born in Yugoslavia, he came here in 1994 from Edwardsville, Ill. He was a retired assembler for General Motors. He was Lutheran and a member of the Croatian Fraternal Union. He served with the Yugoslav armed forces. Survivors include a son, Mike, Granite City; a daughter, Cherry Sachs, Seminole; a stepson, Peter Wirtz, Springfield, Mo.; a brother, Milan, Yugoslavia; and two grandsons. Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, Clearwater.

St. Petersburg

ADAMS, JOSEPH "JOE," 54, of St. Petersburg, died Friday (April 11, 2003) at St. Anthony's Hospital. He came here in 1968 from his native Edgefield, S.C. He was a laundry worker for Home Service Laundry and National Linen in St. Petersburg. He was a member of Lord House in St. Petersburg. Survivors include his father, H.L. Price, Edgefield; two brothers, Jesse Adams, Edgefield, and Ernest Lee Anderson, Columbia, S.C.; and a sister, Georgia May Anderson, Plumbranch, S.C. ALifeTribute FuneralCare, St. Petersburg.

BOWMAN, DORCILE I., 82, of St. Petersburg, died Tuesday (April 15, 2003) at Menorah Manor. She came here in 1970 from her native Erie, Pa. She owned Bowman Jewelry in Pinellas Park for 20 years. She was a member of New Apostle Church in St. Petersburg and its choir. She was a volunteer for the Salvation Army. Survivors include a daughter, Vivian Bowman-Granese, St. Petersburg. National Cremation Society, St. Petersburg.

BYRNE, ROY E., 75, of St. Petersburg, died Thursday (April 17, 2003) at Gracewood Nursing Center. Born in Hackensack, N.J., he came here 30 years ago from New Jersey. Survivors include a companion, Jerry Wolf, St. Petersburg. Abbey Affordable Cremation & Funeral Services, Largo.

CORNELIUS, RICHARD A. "DICK," 59, of St. Petersburg, died Monday (April 14, 2003) at Palms of Pasadena Hospital, South Pasadena, after a long battle with cancer. He moved to Tampa in 1952 from his native Brockton, Mass., and moved to St. Petersburg in 2000. He was a systems analyst for GTE, retiring in 1996. He was an Army veteran. He was an avid golfer and was the 1994 club champion at Hunter's Green in Tampa. Survivors include his wife, Carole L.; his mother, Anna Cornelius, Tampa; a stepdaughter, Cathy Ball, and a stepson, David Porter, both of St. Petersburg; a brother, Don, Littlerock, Calif.; a sister, Carol Long, Tampa; two grandchildren; six nieces; and two nephews. Brett Funeral Home & Cremation Services, St. Petersburg.

DUSKY, RAYMOND E. "RAY," 63, of St. Petersburg, died Tuesday (April 15, 2003) at Northside Hospital and Heart Institute. Born in Berea, Ohio, he came here in 1992 from Dallas. He was a warehouse shipping clerk in Clearwater for five years. He was a member of 30th Avenue Baptist Church in St. Petersburg. Survivors include his wife of 21 years, Shirley J.; four sons, Paul Meighen and Donald Meighen, both of St. Petersburg, Daniel Estes, Holiday, and Ronald Meighen, Bradenton; three daughters, Sue Ann Marek, Parrish, Nancy Jo Jordan, Pinellas Park, and Melody Estes, St. Petersburg; two brothers, Robert Dusky, Strongsville, Ohio, and Kenneth Dusky, Michigan; 23 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. ALifeTribute FuneralCare, St. Petersburg.

FERRAL, HENRY J. "HANK," 81, of St. Petersburg, died Wednesday (April 16, 2003). Born in Glassboro, N.J., he came here in 1957 from Clifton, N.J. He was an engineer for Raytheon Systems for 40 years. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Ann D.; a daughter, Anne M. White, Longwood; four sons, John C., Madison, Ala., James H., Bradenton, Joseph J., Clovis, N.M., and Charles W. Ferral, Mooresville, N.C.; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Bobbitt Chapel, St. Petersburg.

FREY, RUTH F., 90, of St. Petersburg, died Friday (April 11, 2003) at Florida Hospital, Altamonte Springs. Born in Oswego, N.Y., he came here in 1968 from Syracuse, N.Y. He was Catholic. Survivors include two sons, Ken Frey, Longwood, and Bob Frey, Sorrento; two granddaughters, Lisa Schaible, Altamont, N.Y., and Susan Vorhis, Baldwinsville, N.Y.; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Royal Palm Funeral Chapel & Cemetery North, St. Petersburg.

HAYNES, MARY ELLEN, 80, of St. Petersburg, died Wednesday (April 16, 2003) at the Masonic Home of Florida. Born in North Manchester, Ind., she came here in 1987 from Sodus, Mich. She was a bookkeeper for Riviera Estates in Clearwater for 10 years. She was a sergeant in the Women's Army Corps during World War II. She was a member of Central Christian Church Disciples of Christ of Clearwater and OES in Dunedin. Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Robert J.; three daughters, Rebecca J. Airgood, Hartford, Conn., Nancy J. White, Dallas, and Susan J. Bonino, Stuart; a brother, Charles Anderson, Fort Wayne, Ind.; and five grandchildren. National Cremation Society, St. Petersburg.

HOFFMAN, ARTHUR G., 90, of St. Petersburg, died Tuesday (April 15, 2003) at home. Born in Pittsburgh, he moved here in 1955 from Springfield, N.J. He was a retired real estate salesman and a member of Lakewood United Methodist Church. Survivors include a son, Robert M., St. Petersburg; a daughter, Debbie Eva, Eureka, Utah; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Memorial Park Funeral Home, St. Petersburg.

LESSER, THOMAS, 83, of St. Petersburg, died Tuesday (April 15, 2003) at Grace Health Care in St. Petersburg of natural causes. He came here in 1994 from his native Baltimore. He retired as a sergeant and a military policeman for the Marine Corps. Survivors include a daughter, Shirleen Zinn, St. Petersburg; three brothers, Berrard, David and Jesse, all of Baltimore; a sister, Sonja Lesser, New York; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Veterans Cremation & Burial Society, Clearwater.

LESTER, ELSIE MAE, 90, of St. Petersburg, died Wednesday (April 16, 2003) at Boca Ciega Nursing Center. Born in Montezuma, Ga., she came here in 1995 from Byromsville, Ga. She was a domestic worker. Survivors include three daughters, Mary Worthy, Lillie Roundtree and Barbara Simpson, all of St. Petersburg; two brothers, Elijah Fields, Macon, Ga., and Oscar Fields, Atlanta; a sister, Thelma Hardy, Macon; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Zion Hill Mortuary, St. Petersburg.

WILLIAMS, AGNES T. "OOKIE," 84, of St. Petersburg, died Saturday (April 12, 2003) at Bayfront Medical Center. She came here 80 years ago from her native Jacksonville. She worked as a housekeeper for families. She was a member of Stewart Isom CME Memorial Church in St. Petersburg. She was a 1941 graduate of Gibbs High School and attended Clark University in Atlanta. Survivors include a daughter, Glorious W. Grant, St. Petersburg; a brother, the Rev. Raymond Williams, Louisville, Ky.; and a granddaughter, B'Leaka Grant, Atlanta. McRae Funeral Home, St. Petersburg.