Melford W. Lewis
Col. Melford W. Lewis, U.S. Air Force retired, age 80, of Shalimar, Fla., died Thursday, Nov. 11, 1999, in a local hospital.
Col. Lewis retired at Eglin Air Force Base on Dec. 30, 1972, after completing 29 years and eight months of active service. He completed his last assignment as Wing Commander, 6th Strategic Wing (SAC), Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, during which time he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Achievement Award.
Col. Lewis flew 52 combat missions in the Korean conflict, for which he was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
He is survived by his loving wife, Rosa Lewis of Shalimar; sons, Jerry D. Lewis of Monroe, La., James B. Lewis of Anza, Calif., and Jeffrey Alan Lewis of Shalimar; brother, Myrland Lee Lewis of Omaha, Neb.; and four grandchildren.
Private graveside services will be conducted at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Fla., at a later date.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., entrusted with arrangements.
Jimmy Ronald Money
Jimmy Ronald "Ronny" Money, age 50, of Niceville, Fla., passed away Monday morning, Nov. 15, 1999, peacefully at his home.
He was born in Florala, Ala., was an offshore crane operator, a Baptist by faith and had resided in this area all his life. Ronny was a disabled U.S. Army Vietnam veteran.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Eva M. Jinks; and grandmother, Lettie V. Rowell.
Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Delores Money; son, Ronald Dwayne Money; daughter, Kelli K. Money; father, James T. Jinks; brother, Arnold Money and wife Toni, all of Niceville; sister, Rosiland Rine and husband Tom of Choctaw Beach, Fla.; granddaughter, Kayla V. Renee Jones; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17.
Funeral services will be conducted at McLaughlin Twin Cities Chapel at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, with the Rev. Donnie Cadenhead officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Cemetery, Valparaiso, Fla.
Pallbearers are Randy and Rodney Cook, Buster Bush, Mike Spooneyburger Jr., Clary Jones and Jonny Grantham. Honorary pallbearers are Mike Spooneyburger Sr., Ronny Bush, Truman Myers, James Kelly, Jack Tolbert and Bobby Stevenson.
Floral tributes are accepted.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
Patricia Molly Van Rees
Patricia Molly Van Rees, age 78, loving wife and mother, passed away Nov. 11, 1999, at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, after a short illness. She was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1921 and was a past resident of Baldwin, N.Y., and St. Simons Island, Georgia.
Pat is survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, Richard Van Rees of Niceville, Fla., her son, U.S. Air Force Col. (Ret.) Richard Van Rees and wife Judith of Niceville, her grandchildren, Tracy Van Rees of Anchorage, Alaska, Richard Van Rees of Niceville, Kelly Rimes and husband Daniel of Niceville and her great-granddaughter, Bailey Rimes.
Her son, Peter James Van Rees, whose ashes will be interred with his beloved mother, preceded her in death.
The family will receive friends at the McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home in Niceville on Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at the McLaughlin Twin Cities Chapel Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow beginning at 2 p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla. Family and friends will meet at the cemetery.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to a favorite charity. Either choice will fill the family with gratitude.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
Evelyn Marsh Pace
Evelyn Marsh Pace, age 82, of Mary Esther, Fla., and a native of Crestview, Fla., died Friday, Nov. 12, 1999, at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla.
Mrs. Pace was employed with Ruth's Uniform Shop of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., for 25 years. She was a life member of the V.F.W. 7674, Ladies Auxiliary, of Fort Walton Beach. She was also a member of the Cinco Baptist Church. Hers was a beautiful life that touched all those that knew her. We love you, Mimi, and will always miss you.
Survivors include her mate of 44 years, Dallas Pace, of Fort Walton Beach; daughter, Pat Reed of Crestview; three granddaughters, Devanie Brophy of Crestview, Lessa and her husband Tommy Moody of Fort Walton Beach and Tricia Reed of Tallahassee, Fla.; one grandson, Charles Mitchel Shamburg of South Florida; six great-grandchildren, Trista Brophy of Crestview, Daniel Reed of Tallahassee, Logan Thomas Moody of Fort Walton Beach, Christopher, Charles and Krislei Shamburg of Daytona Beach, Fla.; brother and sister-in-law, Titus and Virginia Prescott; four sisters and brothers-in-law, Milo and C.A. Williams, Mary Charles Bonta, all of Crestview, Yvonne and Ronnie Steele of Fort Walton Beach and Etoyle and Bud Manush of Sheffield, Ala.; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Dorothy and James Jones of Batesville, Ark. Mrs. Pace was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie and Eunice Prescott, her daughter, June Shamburg, her great grandson, Patrick Ryan Reed, and her brother, Billy Joe Prescott.
A time of visitation will be conducted from Whitehurst Funeral Home on Sunday, Nov. 14, 1999, from 2 to 6 p.m. The funeral service will be conducted from the First Baptist Church of Crestview on Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Fran Picker officiating. Mrs. Pace will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow the service in the Live Oak Park Memorial Cemetery in Crestview. Arrangements and services are under the direction of the Whitehurst Funeral Home, 436 West James Lee Boulevard, Crestview.
Annie Smith
Mrs. Annie Smith, 77, of Ebro, Fla., died Nov. 12 1999 in a Fort Walton Beach, Fla., medical center.
She was a native of Washington County, a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Ebro and before retiring, she, along with her husband - the late Tobe Smith - owned and operated the Tobe Smith Grocery Store in Ebro.
Survivors include six daughters and sons-in-law, Elaine and Halie Hogans of Abbeville, Ala., Bonnie and Richard Thompson, Evilla Smith, Ava Smith, all of Tallahassee, Fla., Brenda and Bro. Eli Andrews of Fort Walton Beach and Miranda and Roger Green of Ebro; five sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Elouise Smith, Bruce and Carolyn Smith, all of Ebro, Willis and Nettie Smith of Sunny Hills, Fla., Tony and Gina Smith of Chipley, Fla. and Walter and Franlisa Smith of Lynn Haven, Fla.; two sisters, Helen (Henry) Chambers of Caryville, Fla. and Maggie Jackson of Vernon, Fla.; seven brothers, Willard Jackson of Union Dale, N.Y., Alphonso Jackson of Red Bay, Fla., Carson Katherleen Jackson, Thomas Linda Jackson, Horace Elaine Jackson, Tifford Elaine Jackson and Ira June Jackson, all of Vernon, Fla; 20 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999 at 1 p.m. at Oak Grove Baptist Church in Ebro with Rev. Billy Marshall officiating.
Interment will follow in the St. Luke Memorial Garden Cemetery in Vernon, with Cooper Funeral Home of Chipley directing.
The remains will lie in state at the church two hours prior to the service.
Fred H. Commander
Mr. Fred H. Commander, 89, of the Darlington community, died at his residence on Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999.
Born on Feb. 23, 1910, in Walton County, Fla., he was the son of the late George W. and Mary Burgess Commander.
Mr. Commander was a lifelong resident of Walton County. He was Baptist by faith and a member of the Darlington Baptist Church.
Mr. Commander served our country for four years in the Army during WWII in the 832 Engineers and Aviation Battalion. He retired in 1975 from the U.S. Postal Service.
Mr. Commander was preceded in death by one brother, Wilmer Commander; and three sisters, Ruth Petrey, Mary Belser and Ada Conner.
He is survived by his wife, Martha Commander of Darlington; three sons, Carl H. Commander and wife Carolyn of Niceville, Fla., John W. Commander of Detroit and George D. Commander of Pace, Fla.; two sisters, Ruby McCrary and Mildred Campbell, both of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; five grandchildren, William Commander, Megan Commander, Ammanda Commander, Jason Commander and Brian Commander; one great- grandchild, Ally Commander and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Commander will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999, in the Darlington Baptist Church with the Rev. Frank McIntosh officiating. Burial will follow in the Darlington Baptist Church cemetery.
A time of visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 15, 1999, in the Clary-Godwin Funeral Home Chapel.
Flowers are being accepted, or donations may be made to the Bay Medical Center Hospice, 2929 Hwy. 77, Panama City, FL 32401.
Pall bearers will be Jimmy Petrey, Billy Belser, Fred David Commander, Ray Neal Commander, Wayne Campbell and Ricky Campbell. Alternate pall bearers will be Lois Ward, Ted Prior and Jerry Nelson.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Kathleen Winifred Highfield
Kathleen Winifred Highfield, 68, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Sunday, Nov. 13, 1999, in a local hospital.
Kathleen was born July 16, 1931, in Los Angeles to the late Michael Joseph and Winifred Marie Kennedy.
She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in elementary education from the University of Southern California.
She has been a resident of Fort Walton Beach since 1966.
Kathleen was a school administrator in the Okaloosa County Public School System and a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
She belonged to Serra International, Phi Delta Kappa and the American Association of University Women.
Kathleen is preceded in death by her parents and her bother, Frank C. Kennedy.
She is survived by her brother, Paul Joseph Kennedy Sr. and wife Yvonne Marie Waldock Kennedy; sister-in-law, Clara Mae Logan Kennedy; nephews, James Thomas Kennedy, Paul Joseph Kennedy Jr., Raymond Michael Kennedy, Gregory F. Kennedy, Matthew J. Kennedy and Brian T. Kennedy; nieces, Barbara Marie Kennedy and Elizabeth Anne Kennedy; two grand-nieces and two grand-nephews.
Funeral services for Kathleen will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999, at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Father Kevin Johnson officiating.
The family will greet friends at the funeral home Monday evening, Nov. 15, 1999, from 5-7 p.m.
A rosary service will be held at 6 p.m. the evening of the visitation.
Interment will be later in the week at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, Kathleen asked that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association in her memory.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547, is in charge of the local arrangements.
John Keith Greene
Lt. Col. John Keith Greene, U.S. Air Force retired, age 81, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away Nov. 12, 1999.
Keith went to be with his heavenly Father four years after the passing of his wife, Jane Gibbs Haynes, of 52 years.
Keith was born on June 7, 1918, in Detroit to the late Dewitt T. Greene and Hazel Irene Burnham. He began his long military career in the Army Air Corp in 1938 and gained his commission through the Aviation Cadets/Royal Air Force Exchange Program at Falcon Field, Ariz. Keith was a command pilot with more than 5,000 hours and a master missileman in the Atlas and Titan programs. He served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, finally retiring in 1971. During a short break in service after World War II, he served in the Louisiana National Guard and was the personal pilot to the governor of Louisiana.
Following his retirement from the U.S. Air Force, Keith and his loving wife Jane, settled in Shalimar. He obtained his BS in chemistry and worked as a chemist for the state of Florida for the next seven years.
Keith was an honorary Kentucky Colonel, member of several honorary academic fraternities, the Falcon Field Association, the 122nd Bomb Squadron Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Daedalians (Seagull Flight), the Air Force Association, the Retired Officers Association, Alpha Lodge 172 F&AM, York Rite Masons and Shriners.
Survivors include his son, Keith Greene II and daughter-in-law, Carol Murphy of Shalimar; son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, Michael, Rona and Michaela Greene of Iver Heath, England; and his niece, Kaye Brooks of Royal Oak, Mich.
A memorial service, with military honors, will be conducted at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, at St. Simon's-on-the-Sound Episcopal Church, 28 Miracle Strip Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., with the Rev. Jim Spender officiating. A private family internment at St. Simon's, with Masonic last rites, will be held the following day.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of J. Keith Greene to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 1005 W. College Blvd., Suite B, Niceville, FL 32578; or to St. Simon's Building Fund, 28 Miracle Strip Pkwy. S.W., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548-6613.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Jimmy Ronald Money
Jimmy Ronald "Ronny" Money, age 50, of Niceville, Fla., passed away Monday morning, Nov. 15, 1999, peacefully at his home.
He was born in Florala, Ala., was an offshore crane operator, a Baptist by faith and had resided in this area all his life. Ronny was a disabled U.S. Army Vietnam veteran.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Eva M. Jinks; and grandmother, Lettie V. Rowell.
Survivors include his wife of 26 years, Delores Money; son, Ronald Dwayne Money; daughter, Kelli K. Money; father, James T. Jinks; brother, Arnold Money and wife Toni, all of Niceville; sister, Rosiland Rine and husband Tom of Choctaw Beach, Fla.; granddaughter, Kayla V. Renee Jones; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Funeral services will be conducted at McLaughlin Twin Cities Chapel at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, with the Rev. Donnie Cadenhead officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Cemetery, Valparaiso, Fla.
Pallbearers are Randy and Rodney Cook, Buster Bush, Mike Spooneyburger Jr., Clary Jones and Jonny Grantham. Honorary pallbearers are Mike Spooneyburger Sr., Ronny Bush, Truman Myers, James Kelly, Jack Tolbert and Bobby Stevenson.
Floral tributes are accepted.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
Albert Patrick Gablosky
Staff Sgt. Albert "Gabby" Patrick Gablosky, U.S. Air Force retired, age 75, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Monday evening, Nov. 15, 1999, at his residence.
Gabby was born on March 17, 1924. He was a resident of Fort Walton Beach since 1965, moving here from England. He retired from the Air Force in 1969 and joined the Fort Walton Beach Police Department, where he retired in 1983. He will also be remembered by many as head bagger at the Hurlburt Field Commissary for 20-plus years. Mr. Gablosky was a member of DAV Chapter 72.
He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Gablosky. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Gablosky of Fort Walton Beach; daughter, Sheryl Letcher and husband Ed of Destin, Fla.; daughter, Vickey Zingarretti and husband Rick of Destin; daughter, Tamee Gaddis and husband Greg of Destin; son, Tim McCoy of Fort Walton Beach; mother, Blanche Lavoie Tremblay of Haverhill, Mass.; sister, Theresa Kalaus of Haverhill; brother, Robert Gablosky and wife Patricia of Haverhill; brother, Richard Gablosky and wife Regina of Leesburg, Fla.; sister, Cecile Suprin of Lady Lake, Fla.; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at Grace Lutheran Church in Destin with Pastor Paul Kummer officiating. Interment will take place later in Barrancas National Cemetery, with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 490 Highway 85 North, Suite C, Niceville, FL 32578, in memory of Mr. Gabby Gablosky.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
