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DOLORES GIFFORD, 74
Schoolteacher
LAKELAND -- Ms. Dolores T. Gifford of Lakeland died of cancer Sunday (Dec. 5, 2004) at Good Shepherd Hospice. She was 74.
Born Sept. 15, 1930, in Kenmore, N.Y., Ms. Gifford came here from Troy, N.Y., five years ago. She was a schoolteacher and school principal. She was a member of North Lakeland Presbyterian Church and Eastern Star.
Ms. Gifford is survived by her daughters, Karen G. Lambruschi, Rock Hill, S.C., Loren M. Gifford, Penfield, N.Y.; son, Allen P. Gifford, Middletown, R.I.; four grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.
RUTH BARGER, 75
Homemaker
KISSIMMEE -- Mrs. Ruth L. Barger of Kissimmee died of heart failure Saturday (Dec. 4, 2004) at Osceola Regional Medical Center. She was 75.
Born May 21, 1929, in Centre Hall, Pa., she came here from Centre Hall nine years ago. She was a homemaker. She was a member of United Methodist Church, Davenport.
Mrs. Barger was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Barger. She is survived by her sons, James A. Barger, Kissimmee, Craig E. Barger and Kenneth W. Barger Jr., both of Spring Mills, Pa., Kirk N. Barger, Centre Hall, Seth A. Barger, Mechanicsburg, Pa., Steven H. Barger, Huntsville; daughter, Pamela Barrett, Denver, Colo.; sister, Martha Wagner, Front Royal, Va.; brother, William Spyker, Ocala; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Davenport Methodist Church.
Memorial donations may be made to United Methodist Church, Davenport.
ELEODORO BAHENA, 36
Fruit Picker
DAVENPORT -- Mr. Eleodoro Bahena Sr. of Davenport died of injuries sustained in an auto accident north of Haines City, Thursday (Dec. 9, 2004). He was 36.
Born in Medina, Texas, on April 1, 1968, he came to Davenport in 1990. He was a fruit picker in the citrus industry. He attended St. Ann Catholic Church in Haines City.
Mr. Bahena is survived by his wife, Patricia Bahena; mother, Luisa Arrieta Bahena, Haines City; son, Eleodoro Bahena Jr., Davenport; daughters, Luisa Bahena, Noelia Bahena, both of Davenport; brothers, Pedro Bahena, Davenport, Victor Bahena, Pedrito Bahena, Adan Bahena, all of Haines City, Alejandro Bahena Jr., Dundee; sister, Mariana Bahena, Haines City.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Ann Catholic Church, 1001 Grace Ave., Haines City. Service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Haines City.
JULIUS ARLT, 79
Coca-Cola Co.
LAKELAND -- Mr. Julius Henry Arlt of Lakeland died of complications from Alzheimer's disease Thursday (Dec. 9, 2004) at Lakeland Hills Center. He was 79.
Born in Mesick, Mich., on Sept. 8, 1925, he came to Lakeland from Union City, Mich., in 1979. He worked for Kelloggs Food Co. in Michigan and for Coca-Cola Co. in Lakeland. He was an Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
Mr. Arlt is survived by his wife, Dorothy Arlt; seven sons; three daughters; one brother; three sisters; 19 grandchildren; five great grandchildren.
Central Florida Casket Store and Funeral Chapel.
Lois Ashley, 73, Polk School District
WINTER HAVEN -- For many years, Mrs. Lois Ashley and her husband enjoyed riding their Harley-Davidsons on long road trips.
"My dad had a Harley his whole life, and when they got married she got one, " said her son, Larry Ashley of Winter Haven. "They were in a Harley club and they used to ride all over the place. The club would meet every Tuesday or Wednesday night and it would always go for a long ride once a week.
"They both had the big Harley-Davidsons."
Mrs. Ashley, a retired school bus route coordinator for the Polk County School Board and letter carrier for the Winter Haven Post Office, died of complications following a stroke Tuesday (Dec. 7, 2004) at Life Care Center of Winter Haven. She was 73.
The lifelong resident of Polk County was born in Eagle Lake on Sept. 4, 1931. She married Thomas Ashley Sr. on June 1, 1951.
Mrs. Ashley's career with the Polk County School Board began with her driving a school bus route. It evolved into her coordinating the school bus routes for the school system. After her retirement, Mrs. Ashley began a career with the Winter Haven Post Office where she started as a substitute letter carrier and eventually got her own route serving the Cypress Gardens, southeast Winter Haven areas. After 28 years with the post office, she retired in the mid 1990s.
Mrs. Ashley was an animal lover and spent much of her time with her cat, Precious.
"Her cat never saw cat food. She fed it shrimp and crab legs. She would buy food for that cat from Red Lobster, " Larry Ashley said.
Mrs. Ashley was past president of the Florida School Bus Drivers Association. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Inwood.
Mrs. Ashley was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Ashley Sr., in 1993. In addition to her son, Larry Ashley, she is survived by her sons, Thomas Ashley Jr. and Randy Ashley, both of Winter Haven; sister, Joanne Branan, Wahneta; four grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one step-great grandchild.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Auburndale Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice.
Porter Anderson Harris Dies at 104
ALBANY, Ga. -- Mr. Anderson Harris Jr. of Albany, Ga., who has family in Polk County, died of natural causes associated with old age Monday (Dec. 6, 2004) at Heart of Florida Medical Center. He was 104.
Born in Albany, Ga., on Nov. 8, 1900, Mr. Harris moved to Albany from Jacksonville. He was a porter at a train station. He was a member of Hurst Chapel.
Mr. Harris is survived by his granddaughters, Lutricia Glenn and Brenda Cameron, both of Auburndale; grandsons, Mark Laster, Winter Haven, Edward Laster, Boise, Md., Clifford Laster, Dayton, Ohio; seven great grandchildren; many great great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday at James C. Boyd Funeral Home, 137 Ave. T N.E., Winter Haven. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hurst Chapel, 875 Ave. D N.E., Winter Haven.
CHESLEY ANDERSON, 96
Anderson's Grocery Store
BARTOW -- Mr. Chesley L. Anderson of Bartow died Saturday (Dec. 4, 2004) at his home. He was 96.
Born Nov. 16, 1908, in Chicora, he came to Bartow from Eagle Lake 58 years ago. He was the owner of Anderson's Grocery Store. He was a member of Edgewood Church of God, Lakeland. He was a missionary, working in Barbados, Cat Island and Jamaica.
Mr. Anderson was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma Anderson. He is survived by his daughters, Gay A. Ford, Bartow, Merry Eldridge, Webster; brother, Hubert Anderson, Lakeland; sisters, Mabel Durrance, Lakeland, Lucille McLaulin, Lawrenceville, Ga.; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
