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Oscar Collins, 60 Security Guard
LAKE WALES -- Mr. Oscar "Ed" Collins of Lake Wales worked side-by-side with his wife as a security guard.
Mr. Collins died of heart failure Saturday (Aug. 27, 2005). He was 60.
Born April 5, 1945, in Norton, Va., Mr. Collins moved to the Lake Wales and Winter Haven area as a child. He was Baptist.
Mr. Collins' wife, Linda L. Collins, said she was attracted to her husband's way of life.
"He just enjoyed life and liked to have a good time, " she said. Together they bowled, played pool and watched NASCAR races.
The two met while Mr. Collins worked as a cab driver. Shortly after they married they began working at Budd's Security Company, working shifts together guarding condos in Winter Haven.
"I'd never done anything like that. He was the one that got me into it, " she said.
At the office, Mr. Collins often left bouquets of flowers for his wife to find.
"He wouldn't tell you he loved you, but would do things to show you, " his wife said.
Mr. Collins is survived by his wife, Linda L. Collins; sons, Brian Edward Johnson, Lake Wales, Mark Anthony Hall, Alfa; stepsons, Dennis J. Albritton, Lake Wales, Charles Edward Teeter Jr., Lake Wales; and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Marion Nelson Funeral Home, Lake Wales.
Donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale FL 33823.
MYRTLE HAYNES, 85
Homemaker
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Myrtle A. Haynes of Lakeland died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on Wednesday at Palm Terrace of Lakeland. She was 85.
Born May 3, 1920, in Hawley, Minn., Mrs. Haynes moved to Lakeland from Casselberry 14 months ago. She was a homemaker. She was a Lutheran.
Mrs. Haynes was preceded in death by her husband, Dale R. Haynes. She is survived by her daughters, Diana Herchig, Lakeland, Nancy Lord, Leawood, Kan., Susan Osius, Ann Arbor, Mich.; son, Richard Haynes, Fort Myers; sisters, Julia Albright, Des Moines, Iowa, Rose Kessler, Phoenix, Frances Killmer, Virginia; brothers, Lloyd Anderson, Hawley, Richard Anderson, Bloomington, Minn.; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church.
Heath Funeral Chapel, Lakeland.
Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.
William Puckett, 69, Professor
LAKELAND -- Mr. William "Ron" Puckett of Lakeland, an American literature teacher for 46 years, traveled the country visiting the homes of the authors he loved.
Mr. Puckett died of heart failure Thursday (Aug. 25, 2005). He was 69.
Born March 30, 1936, in Vansant, Va., Mr. Puckett moved here from Grundy, Va., in 1959.
Mr. Puckett began teaching at Southwest Junior High in 1959 and eventually left to teach at Polk Community College in Winter Haven.
When the college opened its Lakeland campus, he was one of the first teachers to transfer.
Family members said Mr. Puckett's teaching style was marked by a dry wit, practical jokes played on his students and encouragement to pursue education.
"He got all his energy from being around students, " said his daughter, Karen Merritt of Lakeland.
Five years ago, PCC awarded Mr. Puckett an endowment that allowed him to spend a summer traveling to his favorite authors' homes around the country. Among them were the homes of Mark Twain and Louisa May Alcott. He recorded his travels, along with insights on their work, in his book "Icons of American Literature."
"Just to be there and know that this was where his favorite authors lived and wrote was a great feeling for him, " said his wife, Edith, who accompanied him on the trip.
Outside the classroom, Mr. Puckett coached tennis and won several high rankings in county and state competitions.
Mr. Puckett inspired his students to become teachers, and some of them later taught his grandchildren. PCC twice named him its Outstanding Professor.
"He was pretty spectacular, even if you weren't related to him, " said his daughter, Sheila McElwee of Lakeland.
Mr. Puckett is survived by his wife of 48 years, Edith W. Puckett, Lakeland; son, R. Alan Puckett, Lakeland; daughters, Karen Merritt and Sheila McElwee, both of Lakeland; three grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church. Services will follow at 11:30 a.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Polk Community College Foundation, in honor of Ron Puckett.
Lakeland Funeral Home.
DOROTHY MARTORANA, 73
Homemaker
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Dorothy N. Martorana of Lakeland died of complications following a stroke Thursday (Aug. 25, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 73.
Born in Manhattan, N.Y., on Aug. 10, 1932, Mrs. Maratorana came to Lakeland from Manorville, Long Island, in 1981. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Wedgewood Homeowner's Association.
Mrs. Martorana is survived by her husband, Anthony Martorana; sons, John Martorana, Anthony Martorana, both of Lakeland; brothers, Richard Gray, Long Island; three grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Gentry-Morrison Northside Funeral Home. Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel.
SHAWN ARMSTRONG, 32
Construction
LAKELAND -- Mr. Shawn Armstrong of Lakeland died Wednesday (Aug. 24, 2005) at Lake Parker. The cause of death is pending autopsy results. He was 32.
He was born in Bartow on Aug. 10, 1973. He worked in construction.
Mr. Armstrong is survived by his father, Richard Armstrong; brothers, Ronald A. Valle and Ryan Williams, both of Lakeland; daughter, Kylee Armstrong, Madison; grandmother, Jean D. Albritton, Marianna; grandfather, Waymon A. Byars, Auburndale.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Gentry-Morrison Southside Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel.
