Gloria Prebish Brannen
Mrs. Gloria Prebish Brannen, age 67, of Fort Walton Beach, passed away Friday, Oct. 15, 1999, in a local hospital. Mrs. Brannen was born May 11, 1932 in Glen Lyon, Pa., to the late Theodore and Anna Prebish. She was a resident of Fort Walton Beach for the past 36 years, moving here from England. She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, enjoyed social activities with friends and spending time with her family. Mrs. Brannen was a nurse in the United States Air Force for 10 years.
Mrs. Brannen is preceded in death by her brother, Theodore Prebish Jr. She is survived by her husband, Robert Brannen; son, Ted Brannen; daughter, Nikki Brannen, all of Fort Walton Beach; four grandchildren, Amanda Brannen, Robbie McKuhen, Cody Brannen and Chris Brannen.
Funeral services for Mrs. Brannen will be Saturday morning, Oct. 23, 1999, in Glen Lyon, Pa. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in Hanover Township, Pa. Services will be conducted by George A. Strish Funeral Home, 105 N. Main Street, Ashley, PA 18706, (570) 822-8575.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the St. Michael's Bisontine Church in Glen Lyon, Pa. in memory of Mrs. Gloria Brannen.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 is in charge of the arrangements.
Stewart H. Clawson
Retired Lt. Col. Stewart H. Clawson died of a heart attack at his home in Shalimar early Friday, Oct. 15, 1999. Born in Holdenville, Okla., in 1937, he retired from a 30 year U.S. Air Force career in 1989. Following his Air Force retirement, he was an active volunteer at St. Simon's On-the-Sound Episcopal Church.
Stewart was preceded in death by his parents, D.E. and Catherine Stewart Clawson, and two sisters, C. Irene Kopcak and Nedra Carter. He is survived by his wife, Linda Clawson; son, Lawrence "Rance"; daughter-in-law, Lisa Lynn-Clawson; three grandchildren, Kristina Lynn, Kayla Lynn and Jerry Lynn; and one step-grandchild, Joey Yahr. His mother-in-law, V. Gretchen Lowsley, still lives in Norman, Okla., where Stewart and Linda spent their childhood. They were married in the St. John's Episcopal Church in Norman in 1959. Stewart has 12 nieces and nephews with families in Florida, Ohio, Texas and Australia. In the Fort Walton Beach area, he was the adopted "Grandpa" to a number of children and young adults.
Stewart was a lifetime member of the University of Oklahoma Alumni Association and the Air Commando Association, Inc. He was a Vietnam veteran, a Blackspot crew member and an honorary member of the EOD Masterblasters.
A memorial service, followed by a reception, will be held at St. Simon's on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The family requests no flowers, but donations be made to St. Simon's Building Fund in Stewart's name.
Esther T. Sexton
Esther T. Sexton, age 79, of Crestview, Fla., died Sunday, Oct. 17, 1999, at Crestview Nursing and Convalescent Home.
She was born in East Liverpool, Ohio, on April 23, 1920, to Nick Sr. and Esther R. Young Trua and had resided in the Northwest Florida area since 1960. Mrs. Sexton was a veteran of the Women's Army Air Corps and was a veteran of World War II. She was a 52-year member of American Legion Post 221 and a member of the Women's Army Air Corps Veterans Association.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William A. Sexton, in August 1975 and by several brothers and sisters.
Survivors include her brother and sister-in-law, Nick Jr. and Doris Trua of Warren, Ohio; brother, Frank Trua of East Liverpool, Ohio; nephew, Scott Trua; nieces, Nicki Landfried, Julie Peterson, Marti Atkinson and Esther Rose Lodge.
A time of visitation will be conducted at Whitehurst Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Funeral services will be conducted in the chapel of Whitehurst Funeral Home at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, with the Rev. Frank Dole officiating. Additional graveside services and interment, with simple military honors, will be conducted at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Monday, Oct. 25, at 9 a.m.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, Crestview.
Earle Dewey Kitchen
A memorial service for Earle Dewey Kitchen, age 80, of Hartselle, Ala., was conducted at noon on Oct. 18, 1999, at the home of Ford and Gates, 56 Church Road, Hartselle.
Mr. Kitchen died Tuesday, Oct. 12, at his residence. He was born on Oct. 28, 1918, in Georgia to Albert B. and Mae Pope Kitchen. He was the store and zone manager for 44 years at the Sears Department Store in Montgomery, Ala. He attended New Center Baptist Church in Hartselle. Mr. Kitchen was a World War II veteran serving in the Army Air Corps.
He was very active in numerous organizations prior to moving to Hartselle about two years ago. Some include president of the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce; president of the Exchange Club in Montgomery and Niceville, Fla.; Vestry of Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Montgomery. He had served as chairman of the Montgomery United Way Campaign Fund and was a member of the Rotary Club. He also served as a volunteer court mediator in Florida and was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Hospice of the Valley or to a favorite charity.
Survivors include his sons, David Kitchen of Pembroke Pines, Fla., Al Kitchen of Atlanta, Ford Gates of Hartselle and Lee Kitchen of Montgomery; daughter, Alice Kay Kitchen of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; brothers, Al Kitchen of Augusta, Ga., and Harry Kitchen of Daytona Beach, Fla.; sisters, Charlotte Bryngelson and Katherine Foran, both of Augusta; stepdaughters, Sharon Dekle of Montgomery, and Neal Sessions of Peachtree City, Ga.; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Peck Funeral Home, Hartselle, is in charge of arrangements.
Frank L. Gibson
Frank L. Gibson, age 73, of Holt, Fla., passed away Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999, in a Pensacola, Fla., hospital.
He was born in River Falls, Ala., and had lived in Okaloosa County, Fla., since 1930. Mr. Gibson retired from the Okaloosa County Road Department.
He never met a stranger and was known to spin a yarn.
Mr. Gibson was preceded in death by a granddaughter; his wife, Mae Gibson; and sisters, Georgia Grice and Lucille Jordan. Survivors include his children, Mr. and Mrs. Carl (Randall) Gibson of Mission Veijo, Calif., Mr. and Mrs. Claude Gibson of Valinda, Calif., Clinton Frank Gibson of Covina, Calif., and Carolyn Ellen and Richard Elmore of La Verne, Calif.; brother and sister-in-law, Willie Lee and Lillian Gibson of Holt; sister-in-law, Lucille Gibson of Baker; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 21, at Shady Grove Assembly of God with the Rev. Darby Rhoades officiating. Burial will follow in Old Holt Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Gibson will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the funeral service.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
William H. Barker Sr.
Retired Maj. William H. "Bill" Barker Sr. passed away at his home Sunday evening, Oct. 17, 1999.
Maj. Barker's 26-year career with the U.S. Air Force started in 1939 when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He became a fighter pilot with the 428th Fighter Squadron, "The Geyser Gang," flying the P-38 Lightning in the European Theater. He was involved in many campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge, earning numerous medals for his combat missions, including the Air Force Air Medal. During his career, he amassed over 4,000 hours as a command pilot, flying many different types of fighter, bomber and transport aircraft.
Mr. Barker is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ernestine Mapoles Barker; sons, William H. Barker Jr. and David Vern Barker; daughter, Jocelyn McMahan; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded death by his youngest daughter, Nancy.
Mr. Barker was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the 474th Fighter Group alumni. Maj. and Mrs. Barker hosted the 50th anniversary of the Fighter Association at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in 1993.
Services will be conducted Thursday, Oct. 21, at First Methodist Church of Crestview. Visitation will begin at the Sanctuary at 1 p.m., with the service following at 2 p.m. Interment will follow in Live Oak Park Memorial Cemetery.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Mary R. Sutton
Mary R. Sutton, age 88, formerly of Kinston, N.C., died Monday, Oct. 18, 1999, at The Manor at Bluewater Bay, Niceville, Fla.
She was the wife of the late Charlie Clyde Sutton Sr., and was preceded in death by a son, Charles Sutton Jr. Mrs. Sutton was a member of Wheat Swamp Christian Church.
Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 22, in Pinelawn Memorial Park.
She is survived by three children, Marilyn Sutton Worthington of Niceville, Ray West Sutton of Kinston, and Barbara Sutton Hardy of Wilmington, N.C.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.
Rouse Funeral Home, LaGrange, N.C., is in charge of arrangements.
Florence O'Brien Lockhart
Florence "Flo" O'Brien Lockhart died Oct. 17, 1999, in Crestview, Fla.
She was born in New York City to Laurence Joseph and Anna Catherine O'Brien.
She is survived by two beloved daughters and their husbands, Elizabeth Ann and Joseph Edward Schafer of Yuba City, Calif., and Florence Marie and William Joseph Cunningham of Crestview; five precious grandchildren, Kimberly Ann Schafer, Christine Marie Smith, Donald Romero Schafer, Beth Erin Cunningham and Scott Michael Cunningham; and three of the greatest great-grandchildren, Jessica Nicole Jones, Lain Tyler Schafer and Brenndan Joseph Schafer.
She began her career in the business world modeling clothing and shoes. Having served in the U.S. Coast Guard Women's Reserve during World War II, Flo was a charter member of the All Women's American Legion Post 447 in Trenton, N.J. She served as chaplain, adjutant, membership chairman and vice commander, besides chairing and serving on committees too numerous to mention. She also served as historian for the Mercer County American Legion for two years.
Flo worked for two years in the office of Alfred E. Driscoll when he was governor of New Jersey; was a secretary at NEPCO in New Jersey; and retired from Raytheon Company Missile Systems Division in Bedford, Mass., after 25 years of service. She resided in Tyngsboro, Mass., before moving to Crestview in 1992. Her hobbies included playing bridge, working crossword puzzles and reading when time allowed. She served as secretary of Crestview AARP; was a member of Senior Friends; and a registered charter member of the Women in Military Service Memorial in Washington, D.C.
A rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Crestview, 550 Adams Drive.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at the church immediately following the rosary at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Father John Kelley as celebrant.
Mrs. Lockhart will be cremated at her request and her cremains will be scattered at sea by her family, with the U.S. Coast Guard.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Leukemia Society of America, National Office, 600 Third Ave., New York, NY 10016, or to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10021.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, Crestview.
William H. Ray Sr.
Bill Ray Sr., age 73, of Milligan, Fla., died at his residence Tuesday evening, Oct. 19, 1999.
Mr. Ray was born in Andalusia, Ala., on Sept. 21, 1926, to Lorenzo Vaughn and Evelyn Rushton Ray and had been a resident of the Northwest Florida area since 1961. Bill was in the furniture upholstery industry until his health no longer permitted it. He was minister of the gospel with Blackmon Church of Christ and a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy.
He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Mr. Ray was preceded in death by a son, William H. Ray Jr. Survivors include his loving wife of 54 years of marriage, Nena L. Gleaton Ray of Milligan; daughters, Brenda Ray of Milligan and Susan Josey of Baker, Fla.; son, Mike Ray and wife Aletha of Andalusia, Ala.; nine grandchildren; one great-grandson; several nieces and nephews; brother, Bob Ray of Montgomery, Ala.; and sisters, Mickey Echols of Montgomery, and Jerrie Wiseman of Quanta, Texas.
The family wishes to thank Hospice for all their loving care and help.
A time of visitation will be conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Whitehurst Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted in the chapel of Whitehurst Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, with Minister Mike Ray officiated, assisted by Mr. Jim Ward and Mr. Rick Lawson. Interment will follow in Union Hill Cemetery in Union Hill, Ala., near Wing.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, Crestview.
Harold A. Fyke
Master Sgt. Harold A. Fyke, U.S. Air Force retired, age 64, of Niceville, Fla., died Thursday morning, Oct. 21, 1999, at his home.
Harold was born in Wellsburg, W.Va., to the late Herald and Virginia Sherwood Fyke and had resided in this area since 1966. He spent over 23 years on active duty, including Vietnam. Master Sgt. Fyke was a member of Abundant Life Church in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; DAV Chapter 72 in Fort Walton Beach; and the NCO Club at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
Survivors include his wife of 36 years, Toshiko Fyke of Niceville; son, John Fyke and wife Lynn; stationed with the U.S. Navy in Mayport, Fla.; daughter, Debra Hogan of Colorado Springs, Colo.; sisters, Evelyn House of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Carolyn Smith of Wellsburg, W.Va.; and grandson, Steven Hogan of Colorado Springs.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home.
Graveside services, with full military honors, will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., with a military chaplain officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 4 Jackson St. N.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.
McLaughin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
