Elmer W. Mahon
Elmer W. Mahon, age 79, of Niceville, Fla., and formerly of Mount Holly, N.J., died Thursday morning, May 6, 1999, at his home in Niceville.
Mr. Mahon was a retired engineer with the New Jersey Bell Telephone Co., and a member of the Bell Telephone Pioneers Association, McCully Chapter. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, and received the Bronze Star. He was also a member of VFW Post 4914 in Willingboro, N.J. He had resided in Mount Holly for 27 years before moving to Niceville six months ago, where he was a member of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Bernadette C. Mahon of Niceville; children, Patricia C. Kramer of Niceville, Kathleen A. Barnes and husband Richard of Hampton, Va., Robert W. Mahon and wife Elaine of DeSoto, Texas, Michael J. Mahon and wife Susan of Williamstown, N.J., Pamela B. Spear and husband Paul of Hampton, and Wendy S. Heller and husband Rick of Delran, N.J.; brothers, James, Jack, Charlie, Robert and Donald Mahon, all of New Jersey; 14 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church in Niceville on Monday at 10 a.m. with Father Craig Williams officiating. Interment will follow at 1:15 p.m. in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla. Family and friends will meet at the cemetery.
Mr. Mahon's sons and grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
Wallace Harrison
Mr. Wallace "Wally" Harrison, age 82, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away in a local hospital on Thursday, May 6, 1999, after a brief illness.
He was born on Nov. 14, 1916, in Portland, Ore., to the late Walter and Lillian May Holston Harrison. He moved to the area 20 years ago from Brookhaven, Miss., where he was owner and operator of the Mississippi Wood Pro-cessing Co-mpany.
Wally was a 32nd-Degree Mason and member of Ashlor Masonic Lodge, No. 209 F.&A.m. in Portland, Ore., and the Tangiers Shrine Temple in Omaha, Neb., and a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies in Omaha. Wally was a member and past Commodore of the Fort Walton beach Yacht Club; a past president of the Blue Gavel Club; a member of the Lions Club of Brookhaven, Miss.; a graduate of Oregon State University and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Wally was Presbyterian by faith and enjoyed woodworking, working with stained glass and sailing.
Mr. Harrison is survived by his wife, Mary K. Harrison of Shalimar; son Robert Wallace Harrison of South Carolina; daughter Barbara Lee Cote' and her husband Ronald J. of Palm Harbor, Fla.; step-daughter Linda Marie Harris of Omaha; grandchildren Lisa Ann Hall and Gregory Robert Harrison, both of South Carolina; and great-grandchild Abigale Marie Hall, also of South Carolina.
A memorial service will be conducted at 4 p.m. today in the Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Sam Nelson officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association, 222 NE Hospital Drive, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, or to the American Diabetes Associ-ation, 1-800-741-5957, in memory of Wally Harrison.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 is entrusted with arrangements.
Catherine E. Prince
Catherine Elizabeth Prince, age 73, wife of G.L. "Jack" Prince Jr., of 636 W. Sunset Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed from this world to be with the Lord on Friday evening, May 7, 1999, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Catherine was precious and lovely in nature and known for her genuine love and dedication to her family, friends, business associates and community. She and her husband came to Fort Walton Beach in 1959. They founded Prince Inc. (Piggly Wiggly Grocery Stores) and Wright Shopping Center, where she served as corporation secretary and treasurer for 40 years. Catherine was born Feb. 14, 1926, in Rossville, Ga. She graduated from Issac Litton High School in Nashville, Tenn., and attended West Georgia College in Carrollton, Ga., where she was a member of the touring college choir. After her marriage in 1947, she and her husband moved to Fort Walton Beach, where she was a member of the Fort Walton Beach Women's Club, Yacht Club, Power Squadron, Fantaptics Ladies Tap Dancers and First Baptist Church of Fort Walton Beach.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Jack Prince; son Mark M. Prince, daughter Mitzi Prince Henley and son-in-law Crawford W. Henley. Catherine loved her three grandchildren, Lauren, Ford and Jacklyn Henley, and her sister, Louise Burch of Calhoun, Ga. Catherine cherished her four brothers-in-law, four sisters-in-law, six nieces and seven nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, P.K. Pennington, and mother, Martha Lou Pennington of Rome, Ga.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at McLaughlin Funeral Home, Fort Walton Beach. Funeral services will be held at the First Baptist Church at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, 1999, with interment service following at Beal Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Church New Sanctuary Building Fund, (P.O. Box 2977, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549) or the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Research (114 NW Beal Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.)
Donald W. Berglund
Donald W. Berglund, 74, U.S. Army retired, went to be with his heavenly father on Saturday, May 8, 1999.
Sgt. Berglund, born in Dubois, Pa., proudly served his country for over 23 years. Part of the 17th Airborne Division during World War II, he received the Bronze Star for Valor and two Purple Hearts for action in the Battle of the Bulge.
A golfer of many years, he also enjoyed fly fishing, travel and his dogs. Mr. Berglund has been a resident of Niceville, Fla., since 1992.
He is survived by his loving wife Jane; daughters, Dawn M. Pochel of Pensacola, Fla., Jacqueline K. Pearcy of Indianapolis, Ind., and Kimberly A. Tekel of Cantonment, Fla.; and sons, Donald L. Berglund of Spring, Texas, Timothy J. Berglund of Indianapolis, Ind., and Scott A. Berglund of Bethel, Maine, along with ten grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and three stepdaughters.
Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, May 11, 1999, at 11 a.m., at Saint Jude's Episcopal Church in Niceville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
Leland Dwight Wamsted
Col. Leland Dwight Wamsted, U.S. Army retired, age 77, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away in a local hospital on May 7, 1999.
Col. Wamsted was born on Aug. 1, 1921, in Tracy, Minn., to the late Kenneth and Lillian Fruke Wamstad. He moved to Destin in 1982 coming from Fort Monmouth, N.J. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska, Omaha, and a master's degree from the University of Arizona. With over 32 years in service, he retired from the U.S. Army Signal Corps on February 28, 1975. Col. Wamsted served during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
He was a member of the Destin United Methodist Church; the Power Squadron and the Fort Walton Beach Yacht Club. He enjoyed the water and boating.
Col. Wamsted is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marjorie M. Wamsted of Destin, Fla.; three sons and daughters-in-law, Micheal Wamsted and wife Margaret of Augusta, Ga., Ronald Wamsted and wife Patricia of Austin, Texas and Dennis Wamsted and wife Laura of Washington, D.C.; one daughter and son-in-law, Jan Wamsted Lang and husband Thomas of Cleveland, Ohio; and nine children.
Funeral services for Col. Wamsted will be conducted on Wednesday, May 12, 1999, at 9:30 a.m. in the Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. John C. Friedman of the Destin United Methodist Church officiating.
Burial and graveside services, with military honors, will follow at 12:30 p.m. in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla.
The Wamsted family invites their friends to share lunch and fellowship at the Hurlburt Field Soundside Officers Club at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your favorite charity in memory of Col. Leland D. Wamsted, or to the Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Dr., Suite 100, Arlington, Va., 22030.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Rd., N.E. Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Albert Edward Freathy
Albert Edward Freathy of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and formerly of Clinton, Miss., passed away early on May 10, 1999, after a short illness.
He was born in Tonbridge, England, on April 2, 1901, and emigrated to the United States through Canada in 1919. After a short time working for the Chevrolet Assembly Plant in Flint, Mich., he enlisted in the Aviation Branch of the Signal Corps. He was truly an aviation pioneer and loved to regale listeners with stories of the early days. His memories included Gens. Benjamin Foulois, "Hap" Arnold, and many others when they were just lieutenants.
Mr. Freathy was commissioned in 1938 and eventually completed 31 years of active duty in the U.S. Army, the Army Air Corps, and the U.S. Air Force when he first retired in 1951. Having completed school in England at age 14, he fulfilled a dream by attending college at Mississippi College in Clinton, and Tulane University in New Orleans, where he received his master's degree in social work. He continued by teaching sociology and psychology at Mississippi College until he retired for the second time.
Mr. Freathy is survived by Delta Stubblefield Freathy, his loving wife of 57 years; one son and daughter-in-law, Al and Kay Freathy of Shalimar, Fla.; a daughter-in-law, Barbara Freathy of Indianapolis; grandchildren, Sharon and Jason Segars of Wetumpka, Ala., and Brad and Sara Freathy of Orlando, Fla.; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, A.B. and Doris Stubblefield; and his great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by another son, Edward Freathy of Indianapolis.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach.
Funeral services will be conducted at First Baptist Church at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, with Dr. Howard L. Gates officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
The family requests that those who prefer an alternate to flowers may make memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church, New Sanctuary Building Fund, P.O. Box 2977, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.
Harold W. Harvey
Master Sgt. Harold W. Harvey, U.S. Air Force retired, pararescueman, passed away Friday, May 7, 1999, at Fort Walton Beach medical Center after a heroic battle with cancer.
Born on Aug. 27, 1927, in Deer Park, Md., and formerly of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., he resided in Bullhead City, Ariz., and returned to this area to attend the annual Jolly Green reunion.
His distinguished military career included being a graduate of the first formal pararescue class in 1947 at Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Fla. He completed two tours in SEA. Among his numerous decorations is the Silver Star he received for the daring raid to liberate American POWs from the infamous compound at Son Tay, North Vietnam.
He is survived by his wife, Geraldine; and two sons, Wayne and Jeffery; grandchildren, Michelle, Dustin and Dylan; sister, Betty Wolf; and two half-brothers, Jimmy and Tommy.
He was a longtime member of VFW, DAV, American Legion, Elks, Pararescue Association, and the Jolly Green Association.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.
A memorial service will be held at the Hurlburt Field Chapel at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Orene Miller
Orene Miller, age 82, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Sunday, May 9, 1999, in a local hospital.
She was born in Andalusia, Ala., and had lived in Okaloosa County, Fla., most of her life. Mrs. Miller was a member of First United Methodist Church in Crestview.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ivy Justice Jackson; her second husband, George Richard Miller; and her eldest son, Ivy Jackson Justice Jr. She is survived by her children, Linda Miller Faust, Patricia Miller Dunn, Jonathan R. Miller, Phillip Miller, James S. Miller, David S. Miller, George R. Miller and Robin J. Miller; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Madge C. Lowe of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, at First United Methodist Church in Crestview with the Rev. John Wesley Spivey officiating. Burial will follow in Live Oak Park Memorial Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Miller will lie in state at the church one hour prior to services.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Herschel E. Vaughn Jr.
Herschel E. "Arky" Vaughn Jr., retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant, age 77, left this world for a better place on Sunday, May 9, 1999, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Arky was preceded in death by his son, Steven Edward Vaughn, and is survived by his wife, Adah Vaughn; sons and daughters-in-law, Garry and Marilyn Vaughn, and Mark and Karen Vaughn; daughter and son-in-law, Pamelia and Michael Hawk; as well as three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Arky will be laid to rest in Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach following a graveside service which will be attended by family members only, as per his wishes.
In lieu of flowers, Arky asked that remembrances be made to the American Cancer Society, 4 N.E. Jackson St., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Edna Nelson Cheney
Edna "Edie" Cheney, longtime resident of 374 Gardner Drive, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away at 8:26 p.m. May 9, 1999, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center after a protracted illness with Alzheimer's disease and stroke.
Edie was the eldest of seven children born to Mildred Watson Nelson and J.R. "Bob" Nelson of Leonia, Holmes County, Fla. She was a kind and gentle person and she did much over the years to help her younger sisters and brother and their families. Edie was a certified nurse anesthetist for 40 years in local hospitals where she was known as "E E". She has done much to alleviate the pain and suffering of thousands of the citizens of this area.
She was a member of First Methodist Church on First Street in Fort Walton Beach, the Gulf Area Garden Club, the Womens Fitness Center, and a life member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. She served in the Army Nurse Corps in World War II.
Edie is survived by her husband of 29 years, Victor E. Cheney; sisters, Mary Gann and Mildred Penney of Fort Walton Beach; sister, Eunice MacDonald of Crestview, Fla.; brother, Robert Quinton Nelson of Huntsville, Ala.; nieces, Lisa Courtney, Jan Estevez and Faye Cadenhead; daughters-in-law, Vikki Berry of Los Angeles, and Joyce Helms of Fort Walton Beach; and son-in-law, Michael Cheney of Crestview.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave. S.E., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with funeral arrangements.
Visitation will be at McLaughlin Mortuary from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 12.
A memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 13, at McLaughlin Mortuary with the Rev. James Ross officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
