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ROBERT NEWCOMBE, 67
Tradesman
LAKELAND -- Memorial services for Mr. Robert G. Newcombe Sr. of Lakeland, who died Saturday (July 24, 2004), will be at 2 this afternoon at Lakeland Funeral Home.
George Swart, 68, Sunshine Tour and Travel
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. George William "Bill" Swart of Winter Haven enjoyed working with Sertoma (Service to Mankind), a service club, his wife said. He helped raise money for the speech and hearing impaired.
Sertoma built and runs a camp, Sertoma Camp Endeavor in Dundee, for hearing-impaired children. Once a year, children have the opportunity to visit the camp and "spend time with kids they can relate to, " said Mr. Swart's wife, Madelyn "Lyn" Swart. "He got a lot of satisfaction" from working for the children, said Mrs. Swart. He was a past president of Winter Haven Sertoma Club for two terms.
Mr. Swart died of pancreatic cancer Sunday (Sept. 3, 2006). He was 68.
Born in Grand Rapids, Mich., on April 27, 1938, he came to Winter Haven from Grand Rapids in 1985.
He was the owner and operator of Sunshine Tour and Travel, a full service travel agency, for 17 years. Mr. Swart personally drove for several of the bus tours. His wife said that he always enjoyed the bus tours to Key West. Among other places, Sunshine Tour and Travel bus tours took senior citizens to dinner cruises.
"He enjoyed the people he worked with and the clients, " Mrs. Swart said.
After selling his agency four years ago, Mr. Swart became a tour guide for Fantasy of Flight in Polk City. "He loved that, " Mrs. Swart said. Her husband loved World War II and airplane facts, she said. When World War II veteran groups would go to Fantasy of Flight, Mr. Swart would research their history and background information so he could relate to them, said Mrs. Swart.
Mr. Swart was a chairman on the board of the National Council of Alcoholism for the State of Michigan. Mr. Swart was a recovering alcoholic, Mrs. Swart said.
"An important part of his recovery was to be able to help other people and set an example, " she said. He attended First Presbyterian Church in Winter Haven.
Mrs. Swart said her husband was a supportive father and husband.
In addition to his wife of 34 years, Mr. Swart is survived by his daughters, Cheryl Lyn Hellen, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Cynthia Jo Schuring, Gainesville; sister, Judith Ann Steiner, Grand Rapids; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 2425 West Havendale Blvd., Winter Haven. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church.
Memorials may be made to Sertoma Camp Endeavor, P.O. Box 910, Dundee, FL 33838.
SARAH McLEAN, 78
Vanguard School
LAKE WALES -- Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth McLean of Lake Wales died of heart failure Sunday (June 11, 2006) at Palm Garden Center in Winter Haven. She was 78.
Born in Ozark, Ala., on Feb. 17, 1928, she came to Lake Wales from Elba, Ala., 52 years ago. She was a dietitian for the Vanguard School in Lake Wales.
Mrs. McLean is survived by her daughters, Laura Crews, Valrico, Wanda Sanchious, Roswell, Ga.; sons, Jerome Goosby, Weirsdale, the Rev. Johnny Goosby, Davenport, Riley Goosby, Westerville, Ohio; 21 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Epps Mortuary, Lake Wales. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Lake Wales.
WILBUR NORTH, 80
Teacher
HAINES CITY -- Mr. Wilbur Leroy North of Haines City died of cancer June 8, 2006, at Good Shepherd Hospice. He was 80.
He was born in Green Cove Springs on Nov. 9, 1925. He taught math and science at Union Academy. He graduated from BethuneCookman College with a bachelor of science degree in mathematics. He was inducted into the Omicron Omicron Chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. He was a Navy veteran. He was a member of New Mount Zion Baptist Church in Haines City.
Mr. North is survived by his wife, Annie Wooten North; son, Wilbur North Jr., Kissimmee; daughter, Valerie North Ramsey, Atlanta; stepson, Tallaferro Adams, Winter Haven; four grandchildren..
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 this evening at Gause Funeral Home, Bartow. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 713 Eighth St., Haines City. Burial will be in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
RODNEY DERMID, 64
Conley Re-Roofing
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. Rodney Dermid of Winter Haven died of lung cancer Wednesday (June 7, 2006) at home. He was 64.
Born in Charleston, S.C., on Aug. 11, 1941, he came to Winter Haven from there in 1956. He was a roofer for Conley Re-Roofing. He was an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of The Kings Church in Winter Haven.
Mr. Dermid is survived by his wife, Angie Dermid; son, Rodney Julian Dermid, Winter Haven; daughter, Shelly Jones, Winter Haven; sisters, Susan Perry, Winter Haven, Carole Brandt, Ormand Beach.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Auburndale. Services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at The Kings Church, 4800 Lynchburg Road, Winter Haven.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Kings Church, P.O. Box 522, Winter Haven, FL 33882.
Rhonda Thomas, 51, Registered Nurse
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Rhonda Vernita Thomas followed in her mother's footsteps when she chose a career in nursing.
"Her mother was a nurse and she was her inspiration to become to nurse, " said Mrs. Thomas' sister, Felicia Williams of Fort Worth, Texas.
Mrs. Thomas died of cancer Sunday (Feb. 26, 2006) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 51.
She was born in Lake Wales on Feb. 6, 1955, and attended Lincoln Elementary and Lakeland Junior High. Mrs. Thomas graduated from Kathleen High School in Lakeland and obtained her bachelor's degree in nursing from Florida A & M University in Tallahassee. Mrs. Thomas worked as a traveling nurse throughout the state of Florida for the past several years.
"She always wanted to be a nurse, " said her mother, Rubye Walker.
Mrs. Thomas was described as outgoing and loving. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.
"She was good-hearted, there for everyone. If you had a crisis, she was there for you, " Williams said.
She was a member of First Baptist Institutional Church.
In addition to her sister, Felicia Williams, and mother, Rubye Walker, Mrs. Thomas is survived by her husband of 25 years, Abra Thomas; daughters, Yaheiya "Heidi" McClendon and Talae Thomas, both of Lakeland, and Abria Thomas and Talicia Thomas, both of Tallahassee; stepdaughter, Donna Thomas, Plant City; son, Abra Thomas II, Lakeland; sisters, Patty Parnell, Miami, Kay Riley and Linda Holt, both of Atlanta; brother, Johnny Parham Jr., Orlando; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Institutional Church, 932 Martin Luther King Ave., Lakeland. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lakeland.
Alexander Funeral Home, Winter Haven.
