James W. Sproles, 81
HERNANDO — James Wilson Sproles, 81, a retired furniture salesman, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001, in Inverness.
A native of Greenwood, S.C., he moved here from Maxton, N.C., in 1970.
Mr. Sproles was Protestant. He was a U.S. Army veteran who served in Pearl Harbor during World War II. He was a member of Leroy Rooks V.F.W. Post No. 4252 and was Past District 7 commander, Pup Tent 76, Military Order of Cooties.
Survivors include a son, James W. Sproles IV, Hernando; daughter, Karen Janota, Lecanto; sisters, Mary Frances Hart, Denver, Colo. and Lynn Wilkie, Anderson, S.C.; one grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne Sproles.
Hooper Funeral Homes, Inverness, provided information.
Ann Stack, 80
OCALA — Ann Stack, 80, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001, at Marion House Nursing Home in Ocala.
A native of Pittsburgh, she came here from East Stroudsburg, Pa., six months ago. Mrs. Stack was a member of St. Matthews Roman Catholic Church and was also a member of the church's Altar & Rosary Society.
Survivors include her daughter, Maureen Boutros; son, Jack Stack, both of Ocala; and five grandchildren.
Joseph J. Pula Funeral Home Inc. of Stroudsburg, Pa. provided information.
Lillian S. Day, 97
SILVER SPRINGS — Lillian Sherman Day, 97, a retired nurse's aide for the State Hospital in Connecticut, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001, at her home in Silver Springs.
A native of Richmond, R.I., she came here six years ago from Cobalt, Conn.
She was Protestant.
Mrs. Day is survived by her daughters, Nellie Cooper, Silver Springs, Janet Ketchen, Calais, Maine, Mildred Pilch, Charleston, R.I.; sons, Ronald Sherman Day, Middletown, Conn., and James Day, Portland, Conn.; 22 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and three great great-grandchildren.
Information was provided by Hiers Funeral Home in Ocala.
Opal Fowler, 87
LECANTO — Opal Fowler, 87, a retired drugstore cosmetician, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2001.
A native of Madison, W.Va., she came here 35 years ago from Madison.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Crystal River.
She is survived by a brother, Con C. Smarr, Madison; and a sister, Sybil Workman, Largo.
Information was provided by Fero Funeral Home with Crematory in Beverly Hills.
James W. Aldrich Sr., 67
OCALA — James Wesley Aldrich, Sr., 67, the owner of Aldrich Trucking and Logging, died Monday, Dec. 24, 2001 at his home.
Mr. Aldrich was a lifelong resident of Ocala. He was Episcopalian and was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Survivors include his wife, Theresa Aldrich, Ocala; son, Joseph Aldrich, Ocala; brothers, Edward Aldrich, Daytona, and George Aldrich, Ocala; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Suzanna Aldrich, and two sons, James Jr. and Jay Aldrich.
Hiers Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Ilse Boecke, 79
INVERNESS — Ilse Boecke, 79, a homemaker, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001.
Mrs. Boecke was born in Eisleben, Germany, and moved to Inverness from Hicksville, N.Y., in 1985. She was Lutheran.
Survivors include her son, James Boecke, Georgia; daughters, Marilyn Pasquarella, Middleburgh, N.Y., Janet Gonzalez, Inverness, and Diane Boecke, Farmingdale, N.Y.; and a sister, Marion Gungor, Orlando.
Information was provided by Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Earl H. Hickman, 80
OCALA — Earl Harry Hickman, 80, a retired electrical superintendent for Detroit Edison Electrical Utility, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001 at Sylvia's Hospice House in Ocala.
A native of Adrian, Mich., Mr. Hickman came here from Southgate, Mich, in 1985. He was a member of Our Lady of the Springs Catholic Church and the Indian City Radio Control Club. Mr. Hickman was an avid sports fan and he enjoyed hunting, fishing and boating.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Mary I. Hickman, Ocala; sons, Earl H. Hickman, Ypsilanti, Mich., Terry Hickman, Trenton, Mich., Richard Hickman, Orlando, Alan Hickman, Grosseile, Mich., Gary Hickman, Wyandotte, Mich., and Charles Hickman, Memphis, Tenn.; stepson, Joseph Franchini, Southgate, Mich.; daughters, Patricia Hoare, Orlando, Sharon Ouellette and Charlene Shipman, both of Southgate, Mich., Pamela Blake, Allen Park, Mich., Marjorie Taulbee, Shawnee, Kan., Debra Ramsey, Flint, Mich., and Maureen Ligeski, Olathe, Kan.; brother, Col. Mearle Hickman, Granite Fall, N.C.; 34 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Roberts Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel, provided information.
Philip J. Iosso, 77
BEVERLY HILLS — Philip J. Iosso, 77, a retired industrial engineer for Otis Elevators, died Sunday, Dec 23, 2001 at his home.
A native of Newark, N.J., Mr. Iosso moved to Beverly Hills from Harrison, N.J., in 1990. He was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, was a former choir member at the church and belonged to the Citrus County Softball League. Mr. Iosso was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II and he was a Fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council 402 in New Jersey.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Iosso, Beverly Hills; daughter, Mary Theresa Bruno, Beverly Hills; two granddaughters, a brother, two sisters and many nieces and nephews.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills Chapel, provided information.
Mildred Midcap, 67
OCALA — Mildred Midcap, 67, a homemaker, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2001 at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala.
Mrs. Midcap was born in Claysville, Pa., and moved here from Rockville, Md., in 1972. She was a member of Oakcrest Baptist Church and the Air Force Sergeants Association.
She is survived by her husband, Lawrence Midcap, Ocala; son, Darryl E. Midcap, Newnan, Ga.; daughters, Kathryn A. Midcap, Ocala, and Cheryl L. Dean, Newnan, Ga.; brother, William Chapman, Waynesburg, Pa.; and four grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Robert Midcap.
Information was provided by Roberts Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel, Ocala.
Robert E. Neal, 74
OCALA — Robert Emery Neal, 74, a retired truck driver, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2001, at Sylvia's Hospice House in Ocala.
A native of Decatur, Ill., he came here in 1993 from Stanfordville, N.Y.
Mr. Neal was a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Navy. He was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Belleview, and a member of the Fellowship Masonic Lodge in Fellowship.
Survivors include his wife, Mary E. Neal, Ocala; son, Robert Neal, Newtown, Conn., daughters, Shelah Neal, Southbury, Conn., Rebecca Thrulow, Bristol, Conn., Maureen Whitney, Albuequerque, N.M. and Laurie Tarzia, Ocala; brothers, Richard Neal, Mattoon, Ill., and William Neal, Decatur, Ill.; sisters, Marybelle Zinders and Pat Thompson both of Monticello, Ill., and Dorothy Lubbers, Courtland, Ill.; seven grandchildren.
Information was provided by the National Cremation Society, Fruitland Park.
Hazel M. Neely, 90
OCALA — Hazel M. Neely, 90, a homemaker, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001 at New Horizons Rehabilitation Center of Ocala.
Mrs. Neely was born in Princeton, W.Va., and came here in 1971 from North Carolina. She was a member of Wyomina Baptist Church in Ocala.
Survivors include her brothers, Gene Shepherd, Ocala, and Fred Neely, Albuquerque, N.M.; sister, Joanne Davis, Ocala; nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 29 years, Joseph Neely.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wyomina Baptist Church.
Information was provided by Roberts Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel, Ocala.
Helge E. Olsen, Sr., 69
CRYSTAL RIVER — Helge Earnest Olsen, Sr., 69, an electrician, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2001.
A native of Alexander, Va., Mr. Olsen moved to Crystal River from Rebecca, Ga., in 1978. He was a crop duster, and he served in the U.S. Army.
Survivors include his son, Helge Olsen, Jr., Crystal River; daughters, Donna Olsen, Crystal River, and Debra Dumes, Crystal River; and three grandchildren.
Information was provided by Florida Cremation Society, Ocala.
Byron E. Ramage, 89
BELLEVIEW — Byron E. Ramage, 89, a retired body and fender worker in the auto repair business, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2001.
A native of Connellsville, Pa., Mr. Ramage moved here 26 years ago from Fort Lauderdale. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Miami and he attended Shiloh Baptist Church in Summerfield.
Mr. Ramage is survived by his sons, Edward Ramage and Robert Ramage, both of Belleview; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Elizabeth H. Ransdell, 87
OCALA — Elizabeth Hamrick Ransdell, 87, a homemaker, died Sunday, Dec. 23, 2001.
A native of Cleburne, Texas, Mrs. Ransdell came here from Texas in 1992. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Ocala, the Ladies Sunday School class, the Book Club II, and the GFWC Woman's Club of Ocala.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Ransdell, in 1994.
She is survived by her daughter, Marjorie Renfroe, Ocala; a son, Tom R. Ransdell, San Antonio, Texas; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
Hiers Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Gordon L. Schild II, 47
PALMETTO — Gordon Lawrence Schild II, 47, a contractor, died Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2001 at his home.
Mr. Schild was born in Staten Island, N.Y., and lived in Palmetto since 1997. Before that, he had lived in Ellenton. He was Protestant.
He is survived by his father, Gordon Schild, Ocala; mother, Marian Schild, Ocala; daughter, Amber Schild, Pennsylvania; and sister, Linda Efstalhiou, Tuckahoe, N.Y.
Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, TimberRidge Chapel, provided information.
Ken Sinclair, 73
OCALA — Ken Sinclair, 73, a retired master electrician for the Carlings, Heillman Brewery, died at his home Friday, Dec. 21, 2001.
A native of Baltimore, Md. He came here from Perry Hall, Md., in 1993. Mr. Sinclair was a member of the IBEW No. 24 in Maryland and was a United States Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Emma Sinclair of Ocala; a daughter, Margaret Ivusich, Joppatown, Md. and two grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Marion County, P. O. Box 4860, Ocala, Fl. 34478-4860.
Information provided by Hiers Baxley Funeral Services, TimberRidge Chapel.
Reatha B. Maxey, 79
OCALA — Reatha B. Maxey, 79, a retired registered nurse, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 2001, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
A native of Asheville, N.C., Mrs. Maxey moved to Ocala in 25 years ago. She was Jehovah's Witness.
Survivors include her husband, Warnell Maxey, Ocala.
Information was provided by Cunningham's Funeral Home, Ocala.
Dorothy J. Lynn, 70
GAINESVILLE — Dorothy J. Lynn, 70, a homemaker and former answering-service operator, died Monday, Dec. 24, 2001.
She was a native and lifelong resident of Gainesville.
She was preceded in death by her husband, C.V. Lynn, and a son, Jackie L. Tanksley.
Survivors include her sons, Thomas J. Tanksley, Hawthorne, Johnny F. Tanksley, Oregon, and Richard K. Tanksley and Sidney M. Tanksley, both of Gainesville; brother, John W. Warron, Gainesville; sister, Annie Pearl Dripps, Ocala; two grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Information was provided by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home, Gainesville.
Vivian Best, 90
OCALA — Vivian Best, 90, a homemaker, died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2001, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
A native of Berwyn, Pa., she moved to Ocala in 1959 from Laurel, Md. Mrs. Best was past-president of the Florida Thoroughbred Fillies and a volunteer with ARC of Marion County.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Cyril Best, and son, Bruce Best.
Survivors include her daughter, Susan McCarthy, Ocala; one grandchild; and three great-grandchildren.
Hiers Funeral Home provided information.
