Huge Marriages Search Engine!
Paul Michael Ptacek
Paul Michael Ptacek, 34, of Deep Creek, Punta Gorda, Fla., died Friday, July 29, 2005, in Port Charlotte, Fla.
He was born Nov. 17, 1970, in Kalamazoo, Mich.
He moved to this area seven and a half years ago from Opa Locka, Fla. He was a former manager for the formerly Ptacek-family operated Lake Suzy Food and Beverage in Lake Suzy, and he worked closely with his family in speculative residential real estate in Charlotte County. He was an avid golfer, NASCAR and motorcycle enthusiast.
Survivors include his wife, Francine E. Ptacek; parents, Jerry P. and Jean Ann Ptacek, all of Deep Creek; four sisters, Joyce Schmidt, Christine Rantz, Jody Ptacek and Wendy Jennings, all of Michigan; and several nieces, nephews, uncles and aunts.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, at the Punta Gorda Chapel of Roberson Funeral Home Chapel, 215 Mary Street. A private committal will be held at a later date by the Ptacek family.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory, Punta Gorda chapel.
Robert L. Quaile Sr.
Robert Louis Quaile Sr., 87, of Port Charlotte, Fla., and formerly of Turnersville, N.J., passed away Thursday, Aug. 4, 2005.
He was born Jan. 22, 1918, in Philadelphia, Pa.
Robert worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for 35 years as a marine machinist prior to his retirement in 1972. He was a member of the Elks in Englewood, Fla., and a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
He is survived by his loving wife Jennie (nee Buck) "Jean" Quaile; a son, Robert Jr. (Janice) of Mays Landing, N.J.; daughters, Jean Harker (David Sr.) of Gloucester Township, N.J.; Nancy Quaile (formerly, Overholt) of Gloucester Township; nine grandchildren, Robert Quaile III, Jennifer (Quaile) Andrews, Scott Quaile, David Harker Jr., Richard Harker, Deborah Harker, Heather Overholt, Benjamin Overholt and Nicholas Overholt; nine great-grandchildren; and sisters, Ida Lindemayer of Colmar, Pa., and Madelyn Loftus of Folcraft, Pa.
Memorial services will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Charlotte.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Building Fund, 2565 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL 33952.
George Pfeffer
George Pfeffer, 68, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005, surrounded by his loving family.
George was born in northern Minnesota, where he lived and raised his family in the Minneapolis area. He enjoyed hunting and boating with family and friends. He served for three years in the U.S. Navy. He was a self-taught design engineer accredited with 10 U.S. patents.
While in his retirement, George pursued a passion for golfing and traveling thoughout the U.S. before settling in Punta Gorda.
He will be greatly missed by his wife Joan of Punta Gorda; daughter Kristin of Minneapolis, Minn.; his son Erich (Shari) and grandson Evan of Stevens Point, Wis.; his sister Jean (Fred) Dang of Vancouver, Wash.; his brother Robert (Katie) of Cloquet, Minn.; his aunt Betty McLean of Roseville, Minn.; and many friends and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernie and Lorraine Pfeffer of Duluth, Minn., and his brother Dr. Bill Pfeffer of Edina, Minn.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, at the San Antonio Catholic Church with Father Philip Cheff officiating.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34238.
Funeral arrangements are by Kays-Ponger Funeral Homes, Port Charlotte chapel.
Lila F. Thorp
Lila F. Thorp, 76, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Monday, July 18, 2005, at Charlotte Harbor Healthcare.
She was born Nov. 7, 1928, in Hale, Mich.
She moved to this area in 1969. For the past 16 years, she worked at Fawcett Memorial Hospital as a communications operator.
She is survived by three sons, Robert Thorp of Port Charlotte, Steven Thorp of Punta Gorda, Fla., and David Thorp of West Branch, Mich.; daughter, Mary Thorp of Port Charlotte; three grandchildren; and two great grandchildren.
Inurnment will be at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla.
Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger Funeral Home, Port Charlotte chapel.
Paul Willey
Paul Willey, 84, formerly of Punta Gorda, Fla., died Saturday, July 30, 2005, in Maine.
He was born in Readfield Depot, Maine in November 1920, and was the son of Walter Frances and Blanche Dow Willey.
He learned to fly at the Waterville Airport 65 years ago. He graduated from Waterville High School.
During World War II, he was assigned by the Military Air Transport Command to fly for Pan American Grace Airways (PANAGRA) in Lima, Peru South America, which is where he met his wife of 62 years, Marie.
He returned briefly to Maine in the early 1950s to finish college at Colby and worked at radio station WTVL as an announcer while completing these studies.
He had a long flying career piloting many large transports from the Douglas DC-2 to the Boeing 727. When the airlines went into hard times in the early 1960s, he and the family returned again to Maine where he ran the Collar & Willey Insurance Agency in Oakland until he was recalled to the airlines in 1967. He retired from the airlines in 1980. He lived in Punta Gorda until his recent move back home to Maine.
Paul was a loving husband, father and an admired pilot. He will be missed by his wife, Marie; daughter Paula Vestermark of Minnesota; sons Thomas of North Carolina and Michael of Oakland; six grandchildren and other family and friends.
There will be a private family service in Waterville.
Arangements are by Veilleux Funeral Home, Waterville, Maine.
Eleanor M. Welsh
Eleanor M. Welsh, 93, died Friday, July 29, 2005, in Venice, Fla.
Arrangements are by Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood chapel.
Royce Phillip Moore
Royce Phillip Moore, 60, of Arcadia, Fla., died Friday, Aug. 5, 2005.
He was born July 6, 1945, in Arcadia to Arthur and Missouri Bates Moore.
Mr. Moore was a feed mixer and store clerk for Superior Feed Mill. He was a lifelong resident of Arcadia. He loved nature and outdoor living, and taking his children and grandchildren fishing and hunting.
He attended Heritage Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret H. Moore, of Nocatee, Fla.; sons, Robert P. (Cathy) Moore, of Nocatee, Freddie E. (Patricia) Moore, of Avon Park, Fla., and Terry Alen (Kimberly) Moore, of Arcadia; daughters, Betty Jo (Juan) Moore, of Orlando, Fla., Wendy Moore, of Arcadia, and Tammy Sue (David) Christopher, of Nocatee; stepsons, Richard L. Hallman, of Nocatee, Carlis (Amy) Hallman, and David (Janet) Hallman, both of Centerville, Ala.; stepdaughters, Betty (Mike) Beam, of Centerville and Ruth (David) Angelico, of Arcadia; brothers, Gerald (Lois) Moore, of Arcadia, Herbert E. Moore, of St. Petersburg, Fla.; sister, Mary Nell Brown, of North Carolina; and numerous great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, mother; brother Freddie Moore, and sister Juanita Goldman.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, 2005, at the Ponger-Kays-Grady Chapel, 50 No. Hillsborough Ave. in Arcadia. A service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, 2005 at the chapel with the Rev. Thomas Knickerbocker officiating. Burial will follow at Joshua Creek Cemetery.
Arrangments are by Ponger-Kays-Grady, Arcadia.
William E. Dale
William Edward Dale, 85, of Fort Myers, Fla., and formerly of Arcadia, Fla., died Thursday, Aug. 4, 2005.
He was born May 4, 1920, in Anderson County, Ky.
Mr. Dale was a carpenter. He moved to Fort Myers from Arcadia one year ago.
He is survived by daughters, Joan (Richard) Beard, of Kentucky, Beverly (Tony) Powell, of Fort Myers, Helena (Gregory) Sharron, of Illinois, Juliet (John Ray) Skinner, of Arcadia, Lynnora (Roger) Skinner, Arcadia, Patricia (Scott) Holland, Orlando, Fla., Alicia (Tom) Wester, Trenton, Fla.; sons, Donald (Mary) Cox, of Kentucky, John (Terry) Dale, of Orlando, Harold Dale, of Alabama, Keena (Terry) Dale, of Kissimmee, Fla.; 27 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Mildred Dale in 2004.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 8, 2005, at the First Church of Nazarene in Fort Myers.
John H. Howarth
John H. Howarth, 73, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003.
He was born March 15, 1930, in Newark, N.J., and moved to this area in 1978 from Scotch Plains, N.J. Mr. Howarth was a retired plant manager at Weldon Industries in New Jersey and, after moving to Port Charlotte, was a warranty supervisor for McCandless Homes. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He was a national member of Veterans of Foreign Wars; and a member of American Legion Post 110 in Port Charlotte; Knights of Columbus 3rd degree in Westfield, N.J.; and a former member of the Elks in Port Charlotte. Mr. Howarth was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Port Charlotte. He enjoyed woodworking and was an avid football fan of the N.Y. Giants.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Joan; daughter, Kelly Anne Brown of Port Charlotte; sons, James F. (Holly) Howarth of North Port, Fla.; Robert J. (Dianne) Howarth of Fanwood, N.J.; William J. (Shelly) Howarth of North Port; and grandchildren, Joelle Brown, Ashley Howarth, Jacob Brown, John Howarth, Amber Howarth, Emily Howarth, Alexis Howarth and Connor Howarth.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church.
Memorial donations may be made to Mother of God House of Prayer, 17880 Cypress Creek Road, Alva, FL 33920.
Norma L. Koons
Norma L. Koons, 84, of Port Charlotte Fla., passed away at her home on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2003.
She was born Sept. 19, 1918, in Florence, Ala. She was co-owner, with her daughter, of a kindergarten and day-care service for 10 years in Sheffield, Ala. She spent several years providing private home health care in Sheffield, until she moved to Cullman, Ala., in 1985 to live with her daughter. Norma moved to Port Charlotte with her daughter in 1997. She was a member of Port Charlotte Church of Christ.
Norma will be best remembered for her dedication to making others happy through the many devoted hours she spent corresponding with them. The countless cards and letters she composed deeply touched the lives of many individuals.
Norma will be greatly missed by her daughter, Glenda Fleming; brother-in-law, Don Fleming; granddaughter, Hollie Watson; and two great-grandchildren, Griff Howard and Jordan Howard.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003, at Port Charlotte Church of Christ.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Norma L. Koons to Port Charlotte Church of Christ Building Fund, 20484 Midway Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33952; or Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238. Arrangements are by Paul Schelm Funeral Home, 3044 Caring Way, Port Charlotte, Fla.
Vauneta Sellers
Vauneta Dockery Sellers, 80, of Punta Gorda, Fla., died Friday, Aug. 1, 2003, at Charlotte Regional Hospital in Punta Gorda.
She was born, April 18, 1923, in Dandrige, Tenn., the daughter of Herman and Martha Chambers Dockery. She spent many years working in health care, but cherished her role as a wife, mother and an active member of her church.
She is survived by her daughter, Jolene Mowry, of Punta Gorda; son, Dean Sellers of Belmont, N.C.; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Joe Thomas Sellers; her parents; a brother; and two sisters.
Richard R. Shakeshaft
Richard R. Shakeshaft, 78, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away, Monday, Aug. 4, 2003, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte.
Richard, known as "Dick" by friends and family, was born March 2, 1925, in Bronxville, N.Y. He served in the Marine Corps in World War II and received the Purple Heart for injuries incurred in the battle for Okinawa. Dick served with the 29th Marine Company E of the 6th Marine Division.
Dick moved to Florida in 1958 and resided in Port Charlotte for nearly 45 years. He owned and operated his own lawn mower shop, owned and operated a delivery service for Sears Department Stores, and was the golf course superintendent at Punta Gorda Country Club for 17 years before retiring. He is survived by his brother, Russell Shakeshaft of Port Charlotte; his sister, Madelyn Yopp of Jacksonville, N.C.; and 11 nieces and nephews.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at Paul Schelm Funeral Home, 3044 Caring Way, Port Charlotte.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association, Florida/Puerto Rico Affiliate, P.O. Box 21475, St. Petersburg, FL 33742. Arrangements are by Paul Schelm Funeral Home.
Charles G. Stevens
Charles G. Stevens, 86, of Punta Gorda, Fla., died Monday, Aug. 4, 2003. A retired courier, formerly of Franklin Park, Ill., he resided here for the past 15 years.
Mr. Stevens is survived by a son, Lester (Beverly) Stefanis of Punta Gorda; and a grandson, George Stefanis of Chicago, Ill.
Services were held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are by North Fort Myers Memorial Funeral Home.
John J. Vallant
John J. Vallant, 87, of Gulf Cove, Fla., died Monday, Aug. 4, 2003, at Englewood Community Hospital in Englewood, Fla.
Mr. Vallant was born May 13, 1916, in West St. Paul, Minn., to Ferdinand and Dorothea (Dietz) Vallant. John was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Merchant Marine at the rank of chief carpenter and made more than 14 crossings transporting troops and supplies. Mr. Vallant was a carpenter by trade and worked out of the Carpenter and Joiners Union Local 87 in St. Paul, and was the general foreman for several of the Veterans Administration hospitals and banks in the Minnesota area. Following retirement, he and his wife, Hazel, moved to the Englewood area in 1980 from St. Paul.
He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Hazel (Kvanbeck) of Port Charlotte; daughters, Linda C. Hansen of Davenport, Iowa, and Elaine M. Vallant of St. Paul; son, Paul D. Vallant of Eagan, Minn.; sister, Dorothy Haider of Chandler, Ariz.; three grandchildren, Nancy Hollen, Allison Vallant and Katherine Vallant; and great-granddaughters, Hannah and Naomi Hollen.
Visitation was Wednesday, Aug. 6, at Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood chapel. Funeral and burial will be later in St. Paul.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Salvation Army, 1051 Albee Farm Road, Venice, FL 34292. Arrangements are by Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood chapel.
