Victoria Picard, 83
OCALA — Victoria Picard, 83, a retired self-employed seamstress, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2000, at Marion House Health Care Center. A native of Alexandria, Egypt, she moved here from New York in 1995. Survivors include her husband, Maurice Picard, New York; daughters, Brigitte Lanfranca, Ocala, and Victoria Daley, New York; son, Bob Picard, Brooklyn, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Roberts Funeral Home, Downtown Ocala Chapel, provided information.
Ruth V. Romano, 86
OCALA — Ruth Vernie Romano, 86, a retired sales clerk for Montgomery Ward, died Friday, Sept. 29, 2000, at Marion House Health Care Center. A native of Springfield, Vt., she moved here from Vermont in 1986. Mrs. Romano was Catholic. Survivors include her husband, John Romano, Ocala; son, Richard F. Romano, Ocala; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Roberts Funeral Home, Jennings-Archway Chapel, provided information.
R. Stella Stanton, 88
INVERNESS — R. Stella Stanton, 88, died Monday, Oct. 2, 2000. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, she moved here from Tampa 16 years ago. Mrs. Stanton was a member of Peninsula Christian Church of Tampa and Azalea Garden Club of Tampa. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert M. Stanton. Survivors include her son, Michael; daughter, Sharon; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness, provided information.
Philip H. Stuart Jr., 45
OCALA — Philip H. Stuart Jr., 45, a tree surgeon, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2000, at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. Mr. Stuart was a native and a lifelong resident of Ocala. He was of the Christian faith. Survivors include his mother, Elizabeth "Beth" Sellers, Ocala; father and stepmother, Philip H. and Yvonne Stuart Sr., Ocala; sisters, Phylis Whigham, Sorrento, Elaine Sexton, Smithville, Tenn., and Elisa Artman, Wildwood; brothers, Harvy Everhart, Donald Sellers and Ronald Sellers, all of Ocala; three nephews; and a niece. Hiers Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Laverne G. Swiontek, 70
BELLEVIEW — Laverne G. Swiontek, 70, a homemaker, died Monday, Oct. 2, 2000, at Munroe Regional Medical Center. A native of Cook County, Ill., she moved here from Kalamazoo, Mich., one year ago. Mrs. Swiontek attended St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church. Survivors include her daughter, Francine Head, Belleview; sons, Stephen Swiontek, Summerfield, Joseph Swiontek and Richard Swiontek, both of Belleview; sister, Shirley Sarni, Lake Zurich, Ill.; and 10 grandchildren. Hiers Belleview Funeral Home provided information.
Corinne E. Bloom, 82
CITRUS SPRINGS — Corinne Bloom, 82, a retired payroll clerk for the U.S. government, died Sunday, Oct. 1, 2000, at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness.
A native of York, Maine, she moved here from Guam 26 years ago. Mrs. Bloom was Lutheran. She was a member of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church of Citrus Springs, Women of the Moose Lodge No. 2308, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Edward W. Penno, Post No. 4864 of Citrus Springs, and American Legion Post No. 58 in Dunnellon.
Mrs. Bloom was preceded in death by her daughter, Janyce Richardson and a grandson, Alan S. Bloom.
Survivors include her husband, Leo Bloom, Citrus Springs; sons, Victor A. Bloom, Kissimmee, and Bruce A. Bloom, Amesbury, Mass.; daughters, Shirley A. Jamison, Santa Rosa, Calif., and Denise "Dee" A. Forsyth, Citrus Springs; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Beverly Chapel Fero Funeral Home provided information.
Anthony J. Engle, 78
SUMMERFIELD — Anthony J. Engle, 78, a retired machinist for Bethlehem Steel, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2000, at Estelle's Hospice House.
A native of Lebanon, Pa., he moved here from Pennsylvania 35 years ago. Mr. Engle was a member of St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church, Belleview; Knights of Columbus, Council 8012, Belleview; Orange Blossom Hills Neighborhood Watch; and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Pennsylvania. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Betty A. Engle, Summerfield; daughter, Lynda Kinard, Lady Lake; son, Frederick E. Engle, Panama City; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Marion County.
Hiers Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Eleanor S. Eshleman, 78
OCALA — Eleanor S. Eshleman, 78, a retired teacher for Lancaster City School System in Pennsylvania, died Sunday, Oct. 1, 2000, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
A native of Columbia, Pa., she moved here from Lancaster, Pa. Mrs. Eshleman was a member of North Lake Presbyterian Church of Lady Lake.
Survivors include her husband, James W. Eshleman, Ocala; sons, Edward J. Eshleman, West Chester, Pa., and Jack F. Eshleman, Lititz, Pa.; brother, Robert G. Stoner, McAlisterville, Pa.; sister, Mary Gassman, Guilford, Conn.; four grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Roberts Bruce West Chapel Funeral Home provided information.
Lester L. Exum, 51
OCKLAWAHA — Lester Lavon Exum, 51, a meat cutter for Winn Dixie Supermarket, died Sunday, Oct. 1, 2000, in Tampa.
A native of Moultrie, Ga., he moved here from Tampa 14 years ago. Mr. Exum was Baptist. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War.
Survivors include his wife, Donna S. Exum, Ocklawaha; parents, Grady and Louise Exum, Tampa; sons, Troy L. Exum, New Port Richey, and Travis L. Exum, Ocala; brothers, Jack Exum, David Exum, both of Tampa, and Wayne Exum, Naples; and one grandchild.
Donations may be made to Wildlife Foundation of Florida for Ocala Hunters Education and Becoming an Outdoors Woman.
Hiers Funeral of Ocala provided information.
Pearl B. Gibson, 90
BEVERLY HILLS — Pearl B. Gibson, 90, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2000.
A native of Crumpler, W.Va., she moved here from Jacksonville two months ago. Mrs. Gibson was Protestant.
Mrs. Gibson was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Gibson.
Survivors include her brother, Carl Bowles, Perry; sisters, Hazel Adkins, Virginia Beach, Va., Marguerite Liddon, Ocala, and Nelle Reed, Beverly Hills.
Inverness Chapel Hooper Funeral Home provided information.
Madeline L. Gutekunst, 90
OCALA — Madeline L. Gutekunst, 90, a retired Methodist church secretary, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2000, at her home.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., she moved here from Missouri 30 years ago. Mrs. Gutekunst was an active member of United Methodist Church in Williston.
She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Virginia Franklin, Ocala; and two grandchildren.
National Cremation Society, Fruitland Park, provided information.
Donald A. Hankins, 86
OCALA — Donald A. "Sandy" Hankins, 86, a retired self employed real estate agent, died Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000, at Harborside Healthcare of Ocala.
Mr. Hankins was a native of Lawrence County, Ohio, and a resident of Ocala. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Ocala, and a former deacon. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Mr. Hankins was preceded in death by his wife, Betty H. Hankins in 1995.
Survivors include his daughters, Betty Ann H. Parrish, Orlando, and Sandra H. Moutz, Baton Rouge, La.; half-sister, Marie H. Allen, Brandon; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Hiers Funeral Home of Ocala provided information.
