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HAROLD GIBSON, 82
Banker
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. Harold C. Gibson died of heart failure Saturday (April 16, 2005) at Winter Haven Hospital. He was 82.
Born Dec. 18, 1922, in Shadyside, Ohio, he came here from Brunswick, Ohio, in 1987. He was a banker. He was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and an Air Force veteran of the Korean War, serving as a B24 and B29 bomber pilot. He was a member of First United Methodist Church.
Mr. Gibson is survived by his wife, Joanna M. Gibson; sons, Ret. Col. Douglas F. Gibson, Kansas, and Brig. Gen. Marke F. Gibson, Alaska; daughters, , Gina F. Thollot, Colorado; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
Steele's Family Funeral Service.
BETTY DANIELS, 70
Watson Clinic
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Betty Roberta Daniels of Lakeland died Monday (April 18, 2005) at the Good Shepherd Hospice at Palm Terrace as a result of a cerebral vascular condition. She was 70.
Born in Indianapolis in May 9, 1934, she came to Lakeland from Indianapolis in 1979. She worked at Watson Clinic. She was a housekeeper. She was a member of First Baptist Church at the Mall.
Mrs. Daniels is survived by her son, Terry Lee Crook of Mulberry; daughters, Charlotte Ann Myers, Rhonda Lynn Alfonso and Telea L. Runda of Lakeland; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Calling hours will be this evening from 6 to 8 at David Russell Funeral Home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the David Russell Funeral Home at the Oak Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Good Shepherd Hospice.
David Russell Funeral Home.
THOMAS PAYNE, 76
Polk Federal Savings and Loan CEO
NAPLES -- Mr. Thomas R. Payne Jr. of Naples, formerly of Polk County, died of heart failure April 9, 2005, in Naples. He was 76.
Born in Miami on Nov. 1, 1928, he lived in Polk County before moving to Naples. He was president and CEO of the Polk Federal Savings and Loan and Association. He formerly owned Western Auto of Cocoa. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Rotary Club. He was a member of the Lakeland Yacht Club and Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, where he served on the Education Committee, Research Committee and Legislative Committee. He was a member of the National Society of Controllers and Financial Officers. He was past president of the West Central Florida Chapter and past treasurer of the Exchange Club of Lakeland. He was a member of the Lakeland Scottish Rite and Tampa Consistory Valley of Tampa 32nd degree Scottish Rite. He was a member and past president of the Lakeland Shrine Club. He was a member of the Egypt Temple AAONMS. He was a member and past treasurer of the Toastmasters' International. He was a past member of the board of directors and treasurer for the Campfire Girls. He was past Indian Guide Chief of Tribe for the Lakeland YMCA. He was past treasurer and publicity chairman of Carlton Palmore Elementary PTA. He was a member of the board of directors, treasurer and a charter member of the Water and Air Conservation Council Inc. He was a member of the American Bowling Congress. He was a member and past president of the Executive Club of Lakeland. He was a Christian.
Mr. Payne was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine "Joy" Payne. He is survived by his daughters, Holly Payne Cooper, Lakeland, and Sandra Payne Gafney, Manhatten Beach, Calif.; son, Ralph Payne, Naples; and eight grandchildren.
Beachwood Society, Naples.
MARY OLSON, 72
Publix Warehouse
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Olson of Lakeland died of heart failure Sunday (April 17, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 72.
Born in Lakeland on March 2, 1933, she was a lifelong resident. She worked in food service for Publix Stores Warehouse for 30 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church at The Mall.
Mrs. Olson is survived by her husband, Robert C. Olson; sons, Charles Norton and Steven Norton, both of Lakeland; daughter, Allison Halstead, Lakeland; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at Lakeland Funeral Home. Graveside services will follow at 11 a.m. at Lakeland Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Southeastern Guide Dog Inc., 4210 77th Ave. E., Palmetto, FL 34221.
JOYCE METZLER, 78
Missionary
WINTER HAVEN -- Mrs. Joyce Kayhart Metzler of Winter Haven died of liver failure Sunday (April 17, 2005) at Tandem Health Care in Winter Haven. She was 78.
Born in Summitt, N.J., on Sept. 10, 1926, she came to Winter Haven from Olcott, N.Y., 15 years ago. She was a missionary for the American Mission for Opening Churches. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lake Alfred.
Mrs. Metzler is survived by her husband of 58 years, the Rev. Walter Robert Metzler; sons, Greg Metzler, Bound Brook, N.J., Jeff Metzler, Boynton Beach, and Dr. Keith Metzler, Lynchburg, Va.; daughter, Sharon Thomas, Lakeland; and eight grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 this afternoon and 6 to 8 this evening at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 2425 W. Havendale Blvd., Winter Haven. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.
Memorials may be made to American Mission for Opening Churches, P.O. Box 130, Olcott, NY 14126, or Lakeland Christian School, 1111 Forest Park St., Lakeland, FL 33802.
DONNELL KNIGHT, 90
Homemaker
BOWLING GREEN -- Mrs. Donnell Knight of Bowling Green, formerly of Winter Haven, died of heart failure Monday (April 18, 2005) at home. She was 90.
Born in Baxley, Ga., on Sept. 23, 1914, she moved to Bowling Green from Winter Haven in 1948. She was a homemaker. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Bowling Green.
Mrs. Knight was preceded in death by her husband, K.L. Knight. She is survived by her sons, Jerold Knight, Miami Beach, and Larry Knight and Perry Knight, both of Bowling Green; daughters, Luna Prestwood and Diane Driskell, both of Bowling Green; brothers, Morgan Mincie, Winter Haven, and W.Q. Mincie, Lake Alfred; nine grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Robarts Garden, Wauchula. Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel.
ROBERT HUGHES, 79
Lena Vista Shell Station
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. Robert E. Hughes of Winter Haven died of pneumonia Sunday (April 17, 2005) at Winter Haven Hospital. He was 79.
Born in Mitchell County, N.C., on Dec. 4, 1925, he came to Winter Haven from there in 1959. He was a mechanic, and owned and operated Lena Vista Shell Station in Auburndale for 16 years. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Lake Alfred.
Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by his wife, Elene G. Hughes. He is survived by his son, Kenny D. Hughes, Auburndale; sisters, Marie Peterson and Florence Gouge, both of Burnsville, N.C., Sylvia Wright, Green Mountain, N.C., and Conie Thomas, Hudson, N.C.; brothers, Riley Hughes, Troy Hughes, Ross Hughes, Malone Hughes, Tommy Hughes and Mark Hughes, all of Mitchell County; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Lakeland Funeral Home. Services will follow at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home chapel.
DEAN HENDRICKS, 79
Lake Wales News
LAKE WALES -- Mr. Dean G. "Frenchy" Hendricks of Lake Wales died of complications following a stroke Saturday (April 16, 2005) at Lake Wales Medical Center. He was 79.
Born in Upper Darby, Pa., on July 8, 1925, he came to Lake Wales from Orlando in 1965. He was a retired photographer for the Lake Wales News. He was a Protestant.
Mr. Hendricks was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Hendricks. He is survived by his brother, Leonard "Rick" Hendricks, Fort Myers.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Lake Wales.
Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.
