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GORDON JOHNSTON, 87
Coca-Cola
BARTOW -- Mr. Gordon S. Johnston of Bartow died of heart failure Wednesday (March 30, 2005) at Bartow Healthcare and Rehab Center. He was 87.
Born in Selma, Ala., on Feb. 25, 1918, Mr. Johnston came to Bartow from Fort Meade. He worked in the food division of Coca-Cola and formerly owned a dairy with his mother in Fort Meade. He was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church of Fort Meade.
Mr. Johnston was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Johnston. He is survived by his sons, James C. Johnston, Bartow, Stanley Chapman, Clearwater; three grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at Moody-Brant Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Homeland Cemetery.
Irma Benedict, 88
Teacher
GROTON, N.Y. -- Mrs. Irma Constance Dorr Benedict of Groton, N.Y., a winter resident of Winter Haven, died Friday (March 25, 2005) of complications following a fall. She was 88.
Born in Lee Center, N.Y., on Nov. 19, 1916, Mrs. Benedict became a winter resident in 1977. She graduated from Cortland State College. She was a teacher.
Mrs. Benedict was preceded in death by her first husband, Philip J. Karlson. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Roy S. Benedict; sons, Gary Karlson, Painesville Ohio, Joseph Karlson, Chicago, Daniel Benedict, Cortland, N.Y., Thomas Benedict, Vestal, N.Y.; daughter, Marie Benedict Harris, Winnetka, Ill.; brothers, Leslie and Norman Dorr; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Groton Volunteer Fire Department.
Shurtleff Funeral Home, Groton, N.Y.
HUBERT ESCALONA, 28
International Paper Co.
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. Hubert Escalona of Winter Haven died of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident Thursday (March 31, 2005) in Lake Wales. He was 28.
Born in Yonkers, N.Y., on Jan. 14, 1977, he came to Winter Haven from Miami three years ago. He was a plant manager for International Paper Co. He was an Army veteran. He was a member of St. Matthew Catholic Church.
Mr. Escalona is survived by his wife, Yamelis Garcia; father, Hubert Escalona, Miami; mother, Maria Elena Escalona, Miami; sister, Eileen Escalona, Miami.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 this evening at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 2425 W. Havendale Blvd., Winter Haven. Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home chapel.
JOSEPH TOROK, 77
Field Engineer
AUBURNDALE -- Mr. Joseph L. "Papa Joe" Torok of Auburndale died of pulmonary failure Friday (April 1, 2005) at Auburndale Oaks Healthcare Center. He was 77.
Born July 6, 1927, in Mentor, Ohio, Mr. Torok came here from Texas in 1996. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in World War II. He was a field engineer in the steel industry. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Winter Haven.
Mr. Torok is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Lou Torok; daughter, Cynthia Farmer, Perry, Ohio; son, Michael Torok, Madison, Ohio; sisters, Mary DeCola, Mentor, Jane Fay, Long Beach, Calif.; brother, Frank Torok, New Haven, Conn.; five grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church Chapel, Winter Haven.
Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale.
LIZZIE WALKER-BURKE, 96
Citrus Worker
LAKE HAMILTON -- Mrs. Lizzie Walker-Burke of Lake Hamilton died of lung failure Tuesday (March 29, 2005) at Winter Haven Rehab. She was 96.
Born in Winnsboro, S.C., on March 10, 1909, Mrs. Walker-Burke came to Lake Hamilton from there 60 years ago. She was a citrus worker. She was a member of the San Hill M.B. Holiness Church, where she chaired the mother's board.
Mrs. Walker-Burke was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford Burke. She is survived by her caretaker and granddaughter-in-law, Maxine McKinetry, Dundee; stepson, Ellis Burke, Panama City; four grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Holmes Funeral Home, 601 Claude Holmes Sr. Ave., Haines City. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at San Hill M.B. Holiness Church, 1101 Gunter Road, Lake Hamilton. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery.
FRANCES PAXTON, 85
Homemaker
LAKE WALES -- Mrs. Frances Loraine Paxton of Lake Wales died of heart failure Tuesday (March 29, 2005) at home. She was 85.
Born in Milton, W.Va., on May 14, 1919, Mrs. Paxton came to Lakeland in 1999. She was a homemaker. She attended First United Methodist Church of Hudson.
Mrs. Paxton was preceded in death by her husband, Robert B. Paxton. She is survived by her daughter, Linda G. Metzger, Lake Wales; son, John F. Paxton, Pleasant Hill, Calif.; brothers, Charles D. Wise, Milton, Fred E. Wise Jr., Charlotte, N.C.; two grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Lake Wales. Services will follow at 5 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Wellwood Grace Memorial Gardens in Hudson.
Memorials may be made to the music ministry at First United Methodist Church in Hudson or Good Shepherd Hospice, Auburndale.
PAUL GOFF, 89
Telecommunications Installer
LAKELAND -- Mr. Paul Goff of Lakeland died of kidney failure March 24, 2005, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale. He was 89.
Born in Burnt House, W.Va., on Nov. 4, 1915, Mr. Goff came to Lakeland from Sun City, Ariz., in 2001. He was a telecommunications installer. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of Lake Gibson United Methodist Church.
Mr. Goff was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Goff. He is survived by his daughter, Paule Frye, Lakeland; sons, Charles Goff, South Carolina, Kendall Goff, Alabama; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild.
Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Lake Gibson United Methodist Church.
Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel.
ALBERT HOBBS, 69
Citrus Worker
ELOISE -- Mr. Albert L. Hobbs of Eloise died of heart failure Saturday (March 26, 2005) at Valencia Hills. He was 69.
Born in Winter Haven on Sept. 7, 1935, he was a lifelong resident. He was a citrus worker. He was a Protestant.
Mr. Hobbs is survived by his son, Robert E. Hobbs, Winter Haven; daughters, Sandra Hobbs, Plant City, Christy Hobbs, Lakeland, Wendy Hobbs, Escanaba, Mich., and Patrica Wynn, Dayton, Ohio; brother, Hulon Hobbs, Lakeland; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Crisp-Coon Funeral Homes Inc., Winter Haven. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Eagle Lake Cemetery.
