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Victoria C. Arena
Victoria Cecilia (Eizember) Arena, 32, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died June 15, 2001, in Port Charlotte.
Born Nov. 19, 1968, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Thomas and Marion (Harsey) Eizember, she had been a resident of Port Charlotte for four years, coming from Cleveland. Ms. Arena was a devoted animal lover and considered by her family to be "a one-woman humane society."
She was interested in ceramic arts and crocheting and was a NASCAR and baseball fan. She attended St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grove City, Fla.
Survivors include her mother and stepfather, Marion and Anthony Kovacs of Port Charlotte; sisters, Carol Lavender of Rotonda West, Fla., Patty Wilson of Tavernier, Fla., Judy Eizember of Medina, Ohio, Janny Raker of Solon, Ohio, Katie Beck of Ontario, N.Y., and Lisa Phillips of Dublin, Ohio; brothers, Tony Kovacs of Hudson, Ohio, and Jeff Kovacs of Cleveland; nieces, Jessica, April and Rachael; and nephews, Sean and Anthony.
Family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday at Englewood Community Funeral Home, 3070 S. McCall Road. A prayer service will be said at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi Parish with Father Bartholomew Larkin officiating.
Burial will follow at Gulf Pines Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in loving memory of Victoria may be made to the Suncoast Humane Society, 6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood, FL 34224.
Arrangements are by Englewood Community Funeral Home.
Joseph F. Castro
Joseph F. Castro, 88, of Swansea, Mass., died June 17, 2001.
He was born in Madeira Island, Portugal, the son of the late Manuel F. Castro and the late Wilhemina (Gouveia) Castro, and had resided in Bristol, R.I., during his youth before moving to Swansea in the 1950s and had wintered in Port Charlotte, Fla., since 1980. Mr. Castro was educated in schools in Bristol, and was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. Mr. Castro was past-president and co-owner of Star Pickling Corp. in Swansea from 1955 until his retirement in 1978. He was treasurer for the Portuguese Independent Club of Bristol for 18 years and director of its band from 1948-1994 and has been a member of the band since 1926. He was also a member of the Swansea Community Band and was a member of the Charlotte County Concert Band in Port Charlotte. Mr. Castro was also a communicant of St. Dominic's Church in Swansea.
Surviving are three sons, Joseph C. Castro, David P. Castro and Wayne M. Castro, all of Swansea; one daughter, Cynthia A. Thibault of Bradenton, Fla.; one brother, John F. Castro of Bristol; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Beatrice (Gonsalves) Castro.
His funeral will take place at 10 a.m. June 23 from the 'Brichcrest' Home of Waring-Sullivan, Ashton, Coughlin, Driscoll, 189 Gardners Neck Road, Swansea, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Dominic's Church GAR Highway, Swansea. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Swansea.
M. Arthur Johnson
M. Arthur "Art" Johnson, 66, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Sunday, June 17, 2001, at his home.
He was born Aug. 24, 1934, in Lakewood, Ohio, and moved to this area five years ago from Cleveland, Ohio. He was a friend of the Salvation Army Church and Stella Maris in Cleveland.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean war. He was a member of American Legion Post 110 and served on the Board of Directors of the Easy Does-it Club.
He will always be loved and missed by his wife, Judy Kramer, of Port Charlotte; daughter, Barbara (John) Williamson of Parma, Ohio; and grandson, John Connor Williamson of Parma.
His family and friends will be celebrating Art's life Thursday at 10 a.m. at Salvation Army Church. Major Mc Williams will be officiating.
Memorials can be sent to the Salvation Army Harbor Light Corp.
Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Helen J. Ogilvie
Helen J. (Lennon) Ogilvie, 85, of Port Charlotte, Fla., and formerly of N. Quincy Mass. for 50 years, died June 18, 2001, at Charlotte Regional Medical Center, Punta Gorda, Fla.
Helen was born in Arlington, Mass. She was a secretary for South Shore Bank in Quincy for eight years, Boston Archgear Works for several years and other downtown Boston corporations. She was active in Oak III Condominium Association in Port Charlotte, where she lived, and loved playing bocci and card playing.
Wife of the late Arthur H. Ogilvie, beloved mother of Jane Connolly of Port Charlotte, Robert Ogilvie of Avon, Mass., Richard Ogilvie of Port Charlotte and Claire Tizio of Valleystream, N.Y. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral Mass at 10 a.m. June 22, at the Sacred Heart Church, North Quincy. Visiting hours are private. Internment at Mt. Benedict Cemetery, Boston.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Port Charlotte. Arrangements are by the Lydon Funeral Home, Guy Hancock St., Quincy, MA.
Mary English
Mary "Muff" English, 75, of Englewood, Fla., passed away June 17, 2001.
Mrs. English was born May 29, 1926, in Johnson City, N.Y., to Clarence and Bertha (Rowell) Harden. Her father was vice-president of Harden Furniture, the family's furniture manufacturing company in McConnellsville, N.Y. She attended Cornell University and graduated from Stephens College with a degree in aviation. She married William R. "Bill" English on Aug. 31, 1948, and continued to pursue her other love by obtaining a multi-engine rating and flight instructor's certificate. She was a member of the Ninety-nines, an organization of women pilots and flew in the Powder Puff Derby, a transcontinental air race for women in 1964. In addition to flying her interests covered cooking, photography, reading, African wildlife, and travel. "Muff" English traveled extensively in Europe, the Caribbean, plus five trips to Africa on photographic safaris. Her volunteer activities included the Junior League of Battle Creek, Mich. and Utica, N.Y., Kirkland Art Center, Clinton, N.Y., the Junior Museum, Utica, Friends of the Elsie Quirk Library, Englewood, Great Books and Great Decisions discussion programs, and the Monduli Juu Eye Hospital in Arusha, Tanzania.
She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Bill English of Englewood; a son, David English of Somerville, Mass.; daughter and son-in-law, Jan English Leary and John Leary; grandsons, James and William Leary, all of Winnetka, Ill.; a brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Beverly Harden of McConnellsville, N.Y.
A memorial celebration service will be held at 11 a.m. June 23, at Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood Chapel, with the Rev. Gale Williamson officiating. Private inurnment will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Friends of the Elsie Quirk Public Library, 100 W. Dearborn St., Englewood, FL 34223.
Veta M. Thigpen
Veta M. Thigpen, 98, of Arcadia, Fla., passed away June 19, 2001, in the Lakeside Terrace Skilled Nursing Center, Sarasota, Fla.
She was born in Sarasota and had lived in Arcadia for the past 65 years, moving here from Sarasota. She was a charter member of the Florida Farm Bureau, the Sheriff's Boys Ranch and Girls Villa, the Arcadia Saddle Club. She was a charter member of the DeSoto County Fair Association, and the DeSoto County Home Extension Association. Veta was also a member of the Peace River Chapter of the Eastern Stars Chapter No. 30. She was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Ephriam Baptist Church, Arcadia. She loved everyone and was loved by her many friends.
Survivors include three cousins, Sallie Matthews, Mildred Martin and Lillie Johnson, all of Sarasota. Mrs. Thigpen was predeceased by her husband, David Roy Thigpen in 1994.
Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 21, from the Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Home Chapel, Arcadia. Grave side services will be held at 11 a.m. June 22 from the Tatum Ridge Cemetery, Sarasota, with the Rev. David Kniss officiating. Burial will be in Tatum Ridge Cemetery.
Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches, P.O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, FL, 32064-9984.
Elmer G. Johnson
Lt. Col. Elmer G. Johnson, U.S. Army, retired, 89, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Monday, June 18, 2001, at South Port Nursing Center in Port Charlotte.
He was born July 2, 1911 in Lynn, Mass. and grew up in Anderson, Ind. He moved to Port Charlotte in 1974 from Elwood, Ind. He was the retired owner and operator of Johnson Apparel Store, Elwood, and spent most of his life in apparel merchandising with J.C. Penny Co.
He was a veteran of World War II and was called into service in April 1941. He was part of the initial group landing on Utah Beach in the Normandy invasion of France. He served in the Fourth Armored Division which was the spearhead of General George S. Patton's Third Army. Col. Johnson was awarded two Bronze Stars with Oakleaf Clusters, five battle medals with ribbons, the Division Presidential Citation, the French Cadix De Guerre medal and several division citations. Col. Johnson has been active in many civic and fraternal organizations including being a 50-year-plus member of the Masons Scottish Rite, the Order of the Eastern Star, the American Legion, and the National Sojourners, all in Elwood. He was a member of the Retired Officer Association of Charlotte County and has been a member of the Port Charlotte Yacht Club since 1978.
He is survived by a daughter, Emily A. (Robert) Reeder of Anderson; a son, Eric Johnson of Englewood, Fla.; a brother, Paul Johnson of San Angelo, Texas; a sister, Florence Lukens of Grass Valley, Calif.; five grandchildren, John (Lori) Reeder of Anderson, Paul Reeder of Muncie, Ind., Richard Johnson of Three Rivers, Mich., Nicole Brown and Heather Johnson of Huntington, Ind.; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys Johnson, who died last year.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at the funeral home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel. Entombment and military honors by the U.S. Army will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens, Port Charlotte. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Geraldine C. McDermott
Geraldine Cornelison McDermott, 82, died June 18, 2001.
Gerry was born Feb. 13, 1919 in Fort Worth, Texas, and was the last surviving, seventh, and youngest child of Elmyra Loveless and Jesse Union Cornelison. She moved with her family to Coconut Grove (now Miami) in 1924 and graduated from Coconut Grove High School.
Gerry had been secretary to the Miami city attorney, secretary to the mayor of Miami, served as secretary to the Finance and Taxation Committee of the Florida House of Representatives, and had been executive vice president of the Coral Gables Board of Realtors before her relocation to Punta Gorda. She was associated with First Federal Bank of Charlotte County (a predecessor of SouthTrust Bank) prior to her retirement. After moving to Charlotte County in 1977, Gerry became interested in the history of Punta Gorda and worked for its preservation. She was a very active member of First United Methodist Church of Punta Gorda.
Gerry is survived by her niece, Kathryn Thorpe Weiner of Winston-Salem, N.C.; nephews, the Rev. Don A. Henderson of Springfield, Mo., Col. John C. Thorpe of Johnson City, Tenn., Alex H. McGlinchey of Aledo, Texas, Jesse C. Cornelison of Houston, Texas, and Dale Cornelison of Miami; 27 great-nieces and nephews, including Robin Weiner of Winston-Salem.
A memorial service in celebration of Gerry's life will be held at 11 a.m. June 22, at First United Methodist Church of Punta Gorda. Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services.
William H. Miller
William H. Miller, 82, of Punta Gorda, Fla., died June 18, 2001 at IHS of Port Charlotte, Fla.
Born May 28, 1919, in Irvington, N.J., he moved to Punta Gorda 14 years ago from Rockaway, N.J., where he owned and operated a printing business, Litho Services. He was a veteran, having served in the Navy during World War II.
He was the past president of the Rockaway Rotary, served as governor's aide, and was a two-time recipient of both the Paul Harris Fellow and Rotarian of the Year awards. He was also a member of the American Legion; the Deep Creek Golf Club and Men's Association; and a former member of the Delaware Water Gap Country Club in Pennsylvania, where he was the co-founder of the "Over-The-Hill Gang."
Survived by his loving companion of 30 years, Barbara of Punta Gorda; two daughters, Patricia Eaton of Jacksonville, Fla. and Cheryl Frey of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; a son, Thomas Miller of Chattanooga, Tenn.; three stepchildren, Charles Gerald and John Gerald, both of Woodland, Calif., and Debra Prommel of Fredon, N.J.; a sister, Ethel Frech of Rockaway; six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 21, at Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel. Services will follow at 3 p.m. with the Rev. J. Ralph Burton Jr. officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 22107 Elmira Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33952. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Nancy J. Warren
Nancy J. Warren, Port Charlotte, Fla., formerly of Kalamazoo, Mich. and Chicago, Ill., passed away June 1, 2001 in Southfield, Mich.
Nancy was born June 13, 1921 in Springfield, Ohio, daughter of Frank and Margaret (Thrasher) Warren and sister of Joe, Gale, Virginia, Louise, Wayne and John Lyle, who preceded her in death. Nancy worked more than 30 years for Northwest Airlines at Kalamazoo and O'Hare Airports. Nancy was a talented athlete and member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, 1946-1954, dramatized in the movie "A League of Their Own." She was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Beloved by surviving nieces, Patricia (Michael) Keller, Vicksburg, Mich., Barbara (Tim) Bateson, Xenia, Ohio, and Vicky (Rick) Swart, Kettering, Ohio; nephew Robert Warren, Chicago; great-nieces and nephews Jeffrey Lehmann, Michelle (Chris) Albery, Tonya Swart, Andrea Flory, Maggie and Jordan Keller; great-great-nieces Chelsea Lehmann, Olivia Albery, and lifelong friends Patricia Barringer and Barbara Liebrich, Port Charlotte. Her fiery spirit, wisdom and humor live on in lives she touched and in her paintings.
After cremation, there will be a memorial celebration of Nancy's life in Vicksburg on June 16. Friends may call (616) 649-3638. Memorial contributions may be made to National Wildlife Federation, 1110 Wildlife Center, Reston, VA 20190; or Save The Manatee Club, 500 N. Maitland, Maitland, FL 32751.
Stanley W. Giner
Stanley W. Giner, 84, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Friday, June 15, 2001, at Mariner Health of Port Charlotte following an extended illness.
He was born Sept. 29, 1916 in McAdoo, Pa. and moved here in 1978 from Rochester, N.Y. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of the American Legion, VFW and Disabled American Veterans.
Mr. Giner is survived by his wife of 35 years, Margaret (Halling) Giner; a son, Stanley W. Giner III and his wife, Tepe, of State College, Pa.; two step-daughters, Alice Bird of Hammond, N.Y. and Hannah Walker and her husband, John, of Rochester, N.Y.; two half-sisters, Helen Damiano and her husband, Joseph, of Maryland and Gertrude Bielen and her husband, John, of McAdoo, Pa.; two half-brothers, Butch Giner of California and Henry Giner and his wife, Florence, of Caledonia, N.Y. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Scott Walker and Lori Walker, both of Rochester, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.
Private services will be held at a later date. The family is being served by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home, 5200 Indian Springs Road, Punta Gorda, Fla.
Robert C. Harless
Robert C. Harless, 78, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Friday, June 15, 2001 at his residence.
He was born May 4, 1923 in Alkol, W.Va. and has lived here since 1983 when he retired from Ford Motor Company and moved from Belleville, Mich. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II, serving in Europe and Africa. He was a member of the Punta Gorda Church of the Nazarene.
Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Clara (Edmondson) Harless; a daughter, Diana Gilliam of Ypsilanti, Mich.; a son, David Harless of Sandy, Utah; two step-daughters, Sue Williams and Diane Gerson, both of Monroe, Mich.; a stepson, Patrick Turner of Petersburg, Mich.; two aunts, Anna Tiffner and Barbara McClure, both of West Virginia. Also surviving is a grandson, Andrew Harless; five step-grandchildren, Robert Williams, Bill Ford, Bill Mann, Daniel Ford and Jamison Mann; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his stepdaughter, Nancy Whitman, on Jan. 30, 2000.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home, 5200 Indian Springs Road, Punta Gorda, with Pastor John H. Denby officiating. Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Entombment will follow in Charlotte Memorial Gardens with military graveside rites conducted by the American Legion and the VFW.
Esther S. Powell
Esther Stewart Powell, 91, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Friday, June 15, 2001 at South Port Nursing Center, Port Charlotte.
She was born Oct. 21, 1909 in Plainville, Ill., a rural community near Quincy, Ill. and moved to Port Charlotte in 1978 from Kankakee, Ill. She was the daughter of Oscar and Lurah Stewart. Her father died when she was a young child and she was raised by her mother and her grandparents on a farm just south of Plainfield, where the Stewarts had lived for three generations. She was educated at Plainfield Elementary School and Quincy High School. She also studied at the Chicago Training School and Illinois University.
In 1931, she married Cedric Powell, whom she had met at the Chicago Training School. Cedric Powell was a minister in the United Methodist Church, and he and Esther lived in several communities in central Illinois, including Jacksonville, Sidney, Lostant, Port Byron, Piper City, Roseville, Chillicothe, Onarga and Kankakee. Esther earned an elementary school teacher's certificate and taught early grades for several years when they lived in Onarga. After her husband's retirement they began to spend winters in Port Charlotte and moved here permanently in 1978. In 1987 they moved to South Port Square in its first year of operation.
Esther and Cedric were members of Port Charlotte United Methodist Church and often taught in the adult Sunday school class. They also volunteered as reading coaches at a nearby elementary school. After Cedric's death in 1994, Esther was able to travel and visit her children and grandchildren until she entered South Port Nursing Center in 1997.
She is survived by a daughter, Mary Lou Wagner of Bourbonnais, Ill.; two sons, Milton B. Powell of East Lansing, Mich. and William H. Powell of Baltimore, Md.; 10 grandchildren, Cynthia, Douglas, Marcia, Jeffrey, Catherine, Julie, Gregory, Adrienne, Michael and Craig; and 12 great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Thomas.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, at Port Charlotte United Methodist Church. The Rev. James R. Kuse will officiate. Visitation and viewing will be from 1 p.m. until service time Tuesday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Preachers Aid Society, 1919 Broadway, Mount Vernon, IL 62864. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Home & Crematory, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Ruby Taylor Hazelwood
Ruby Taylor Hazelwood, 92, of Arcadia, Fla., died on June 14, 2001, at DeSoto Manor Nursing Home, Arcadia.
She was born March 17, 1909, in Mississippi. Ruby married John W. Hazelwood on Dec. 24, 1943, in Mahough, Miss. John and Ruby moved to Arcadia in the late 1940s. Ruby was a retired housekeeper for several Arcadia residents. John retired from the Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande, Fla.
Survivors are her husband, John W. Hazelwood; goddaughter, Flomenta Reed; adopted son, Durward C. Smith Jr.; adopted daughters, Annie Dell Smith, Janene Smith and Suzanne Tidwell; and longtime family friend, Margie Laylor.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 17, at Hickson Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. June 18, at the funeral home chapel in Arcadia. The Rev. William H. McGirth will officiate. Burial in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Arcadia.
