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Ruth Nielsen-Rice, Palmetto
Ruth Nielsen-Rice, 92, died January 25, 2004.
She has been a longtime resident of Palmetto.
She is survived by her son, Steve Rinder of Bradenton; her two stepsons, Fred Rice of Hattiburg, Miss., and John Rice of Winchester, Ky.; three brothers, Paul Dunford of Louisville, Ky., Ernest Roberts of Davis, Calif., and David Roberts of Columbus, Ohio; her sister, Pearl Mae Taylor of Colorado Springs, Colo.; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son Donald Nielsen, her husband, Maynard Nielsen; and her late husband, John Rice.
Ms. Nielsen-Rice has served the citizens of Palmetto and Manatee County as a political activist in both the political and private to improve their quality of life. She served the 20,000 member Federation of Manatee County Community Association with distinction for 25 years, leading the association for 2½ years. She has been a volunteer at the Manatee Players Riverside Theatre for 23 years and has served as a member of the Board for 15 years. She is presently an honorary Board member. She has been Chairman of the Manatee Memorial Hospital Association, which fought for a better agreement for indigent care and patient care for the citizens of Manatee County. She continued her involvement in the Tropic Isles Member Association, where in the past, she was a board member for 32 years and served as President for eight years.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Ellenton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bill Pless, Crossville, Tenn.
Bill Pless, age 61, of Crossville, Tenn., formerly of Parrish, died Monday, January 26, 2004, at Cumberland Medical Center.
He was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Bradenton, a member of the Sons of the American Legion Squad 309, and the Palmetto Moose Lodge No. 2117.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Mary Pless of Crossville, Tenn.; one daughter, Kara Pless McPherson of Hoover, Ala.; one son, Kenny Pless of Florence, Ala.; a granddaughter, Claire McPherson; two grandsons, Coleman McPherson and Colin Pless; one brother, Richard Pless of St. Petersburg; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Kicliter Funeral Home in Palmetto, with visitation starting at 12:30 p.m. until funeral time at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Burial in Gillette Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, or to a charitable organization of your choice.
Elizabeth J. Togher, Palmetto
Elizabeth J. Togher, 61, of Palmetto, died Wednesday, January 28, 2004, at Manatee Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Togher formerly worked as a Patrolman for the Boston Police Department for 18 years. She moved to Bradenton 15 years ago, coming from Boston. Locally, she was the former manager of the Bradenton Kiwanis Hall.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Edward, of Palmetto; and daughter, Beth Ann Fedor of Boston.
Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2004, at the Shannon Funeral Home, Town Chapel, 1015 14th St. W., Bradenton.
Ira E. Upper, Palmetto
Ira E. Upper, 88, of Palmetto, died January 28, 2004, at Palmetto Nursing & Rehab.
Griffith-Cline Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to American Parkinson Disease Association, 1250 Hylan Blvd., Suite 4B, Staten Island, N.Y. 10305.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 26, 1915, he came to Manatee County from Norwalk, Ohio, in 1985. He was a retired salesman with Mead Paper Co. formerly called Union Paper & Twine. He was a Lutheran. He was a past commodore of the Sandusky Yacht Club, and a member of Elks and Plum Brook Country Club.
Survivors include daughters, Judith C. Upper of Michigan, and Linda L. Upper of Massachusetts; brother-in-law, Franklin Mitchell; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Helen Louise Upper, and also his brother, Leonard J. Upper.
Richard B. Comstock, Palmetto
Richard B. Comstock, 70, of Palmetto, died January 28, 2004.
Visitation will be held Monday, February 2, 1-2 p.m. at Parrish United Methodist Church with service to follow at 2 p.m. Entombment will be at Mansion Memorial Park, Ellenton. Griffith-Cline Funeral Home, Mansion Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Blanche Reed Beard Petker, Indianapolis
Blanche Reed Beard Petker, 88, of Indianapolis and formerly of Clinton, passed away Thursday, January 29, 2004, in Indianapolis.
She was born March 2, 1915, in Indiana, the daughter of Frank Reed and Nellie Jackson Reed. She had worked for R.C.A. for over 10 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Perry Beard in 1964, two brothers; and one sister. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Larry A. and Karen Beard of Indianapolis, Ind.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services will be Monday, February 2, 2004, at 2:30 p.m. at Frist Funeral Home, with Reverend Don Perry officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Clinton. There is no visitation.
Cloyd Leroy Barnes, Hurst, Texas
Cloyd Leroy Barnes, 72, of Hurst, Texas, formerly of Bradenton, died January 27, 2004.
He was born August 11, 1931, in Hartford, Arkansas. He was a manager with Montgomery Ward in Bradenton.
He is preceded in death by a daughter, Brenda Diane Barnes and brothers, John, E.B. and Fred Barnes. Survivors include his wife, Mary, of Texas; son, Terry Barnes of Oklahoma; daughter, Melody Romo of Oklahoma; stepsons, Jack Wiley and Lewis Wiley, both of Texas; stepdaughters, Mary Pruit and Susan McCloud, both of Texas; sister, Mary Bowen of Arkansas; 19 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 30, 12-2 p.m., at Griffith Cline Funeral Home, Manasota Chapel, with a service to follow at 2 p.m. Entombment will be a Manasota Memorial Park in Bradenton.
Violet Walters Saxton, Bradenton
Violet Walters Saxton, 90, of Bradenton, died January 29, 2004.
Visitation is Sunday, February 1, 2-4 p.m. at Toale Brothers Bradenton Chapel, 912 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton. Burial is in Fairview Cemetery in Painted Post, N.Y.
Violet was born in Towanda, N.Y., and came to Manatee County from Painted Post, N.Y. She was a homemaker and attended Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Survivors include her husband, Robert C. Saxton; her daughter, Kathleen Stiles of PennYan, Pa.; one sister, Mary E. Richardson of Bradenton; one grandchild; and one great-grandchild.
Toale Brothers Funeral Home, Bradenton Chapel, is in charge.
Elizabeth 'Bette', Klepper, Bradenton
Elizabeth "Bette" Klepper, 74, of Bradenton, died January 29, 2004, at Hospice House of Sarasota.
Visitation is Sunday, February 1, 2-4 p.m. and service is Monday, February 2, 11a.m., both at Griffith Cline Funeral Home, Manasota Chapel. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, Fla., 34238.
Born in Queens, N.Y., Mrs. Klepper came to Manatee County from Bohemia, N.Y., in 1987. She was a homemaker and attended Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church in Sarasota. She was an avid bowler, loved bingo, mah jong, cruises, travel and her nine grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, Edward Klepper of Bradenton; daughter, Patricia Hill of Parkton, Md.; sons, John Klepper of Plympton, Mass., James Klepper of Shirley, N.Y., and Richard Klepper of Robbinsville, N.J.; brother, Joseph Raymond Ryan of Bellmore, N.Y.; and nine grandchildren.
Griffith Cline Funeral Home, Manasota Chapel, is in charge.
Barbara J. Knott, Richards, Sarasota
Barbara J. Knott Richards, 69, of Sarasota, formerly of Bradenton, died January 29, 2004.
Viewing will be held on February 2, 2004, 1-3 p.m. at Bradenton Funeral Home, 5827 14th St. W., Bradenton.
Barbara moved in 1969 to Bradenton from the west coast, with her two children, to be with her mother after the death of her father that year.
Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, brother, Kenneth Knott, Jr., and granddaughter, Sarah Albritton. She is survived by daughter, Pamela Richards of Bradenton; son, Dean Richards of Sarasota; a brother, Gerald Knott and his wife, Rose of Texas; her uncle, James Knott and his wife, Betty of Massachusetts; three great-grandsons; and many friends that she loved over the years.
She will be missed, but never forgotten by her family and friends that loved her deeply.
Joseph Paul Farrar, St. Petersburg
Joseph Paul Farrar, 40, of St. Petersburg (formerly of Bradenton), died January 29, 2004.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, January 31, 10 a.m. at Griffith Cline Funeral Home, Cortez Road Chapel, with Pastor Carol Norton officiating. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, Fla. 34238.
Born in Dearborn, Mich., Mr. Farrar came to St. Petersburg from Clearwater in 1988. He worked in the maintenance department and did band set-up at Janus Landing in St. Petersburg. He attended St. Petersburg Lealman Church of the Nazarene.
Survivors include his companion, Deborah Riccardi of Tarpon Springs; three brothers, Richard, Steve and Daniel Dennis, all of Dearborn, Mich.; his mother, Irene Farrar and his grandmother, Laura Humphrey, both of Bradenton. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Farrar.
