Barbara Springer Bennett
Mrs. Barbara Springer Bennett, age 66, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000, in a local hospital after a long illness.
Mrs. Bennett is survived by her husband of 46 years, Martin Richard Bennett, her sons and daughters-in-law Stephen Richard and Karen Bennett of Gainesville, Fla., Craig Scott and Melica Bennett of Suwanee, Ga., Alan Charles Bennett of Fort Walton Beach, Brian Howard Bennett of Duluth, Ga.; her daughter and son-in-law Susan Bennett and Colby Guilbeau of Lawrenceville, Ga.; her grandchildren Lisa Michelle Guilbeau, Nicole Louise Guilbeau, and Lauren Danielle Guilbeau of Lawrenceville, Ga; and Kyle Martin Bennett and Laura Rose Bennett of Gainesville; her brother and sister-in-law Howard B. and Susie Springer of Darlington, Md.; her sister and brother-in-law Ann L. and Russell Lohsen of Havre de Grace, Md.; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
The family will receive friends at the McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Memorial services will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Monday, Jan 10, 2000, at 10 a.m. with Pastor William H. Tyson officiating. Entombment will follow at 11:45 a.m. in Roselawn Cemetery, Gulf Breeze.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2 Woodham Avenue, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 32547.
McLaughlin Mortuary, Fort Walton Beach, has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Billy Gene Miller
Billy Gene Miller, age 65, of Fort Walton Beach, U.S. Air Force retired, died Friday, Jan. 7, 2000, at his residence.
Mr. Miller was born Feb. 12, 1934, in Geneva County, Ala., to the late Oyer and Mabel Miller. Billy had lived in the Fort Walton Beach area for the last 30 years. He retired from the Air Force after more than 20 years of service, attaining the rank of MSGT as a communications spe#####t. Mr. Miller also worked in town at Al's Chevron service station as an automobile mechanic.
Billy is preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Levy, Buford and Rex. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Shirley Miller of Fort Walton Beach; two daughters, Sherry Thrasher and Lori "Carrie" Allison and her husband Rich; son, Christopher Miller and his wife Cynthia; four brothers, Louie Miller and his wife Doris, Edsel Miller and his wife Sarah, Henry Miller, and Harry Miller and his wife Phyllis; sister, Sara-Frances Gautney and her husband E.B.; mother-in-law Lora Rawls; five grandchildren, Ashley, Nichelle, Derek, Kaitlyn and Kyle; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services for Billy Miller will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at the Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dwight E. Shirley officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547, is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Charles K. Marshall Jr.
Mr. Charles K. Marshall Jr., age 61, of Freeport, Fla., died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000, in DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Born on April 26, 1938, in Mobile, Ala., he was the son of the late Charles K. Marshall Sr. and Cecil Allen Marshall. Coming from Fort Walton Beach, he had resided in the Freeport area for the past 20 years.
Mr. Marshall was Methodist by faith. He was a general contractor in the Fort Walton Beach area for the past 38 years. His company developed Lake Lorraine Estates, Bluewater Bay and Piketa Bayou in the Fort Walton area. Mr. Marshall was preceded in death by two brothers, Herman and Robert Marshall.
Mr. Marshall is survived by his wife, Betty C. Marshall of Freeport; four sons, Dennis Marshall of Freeport, David Marshall of Mobile, Clark Marshall of Mobile and Chad Marshall of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; one brother, William E. Marshall of Germany; two sisters, Carolyn Goff and Barbara Holmes, both of Mobile; six grandchildren, Chase Marshall, Parker Marshall, Hope Marshall, Taylor Marshall, Heather Marshall and Chandler Marshall.
Funeral services for Mr. Marshall will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, in the Comander Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Hatcher Cemetery, Freeport.
A time of visitation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, in the Comander Funeral Home Chapel, 21 West Main Street, DeFuniak Springs.
Comander Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Estell Fuqua Robinson
Mrs. Estell Fuqua Robinson, age 85, passed away Friday, Jan. 7, 2000, in the Walton County Convalescent Center.
She was born Aug. 16, 1914, in Sneads, Fla., the daughter of Molly Yon and W.A. Hutchinson. Mrs. Robinson lived her life in this area, raising her children, being a homemaker while working in various jobs.
She was employed by Nelson's Laundry and later at the Walton Hotel, where she worked in food service, and finally at Showell Farms, where she retired after 19 years.
She had a love of gospel music, loved to read, and her very favorite of all past times was fishing. It was pure delight for her to sit at a pond for countless hours as she relentlessly tried to catch the "big one." She was preceded in death by her two husbands, J.T. "Buck" Fuqua and George W. Robinson, a son, William Fuqua, and two stepsons, Don and J.D. Robinson.
She is survived by her daughter, Peggy Carter and husband Paul of DeFuniak Springs; a son, Joe Dan Fuqua of DeFuniak Springs; a brother, W.A. Hutchinson Jr. of Chattahoochee and three grandchildren, Joni Bunyan and husband John and Charlene Fuqua, all of Pennsylvania and Shellie Carter of DeFuniak Springs.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000, in the chapel of Jerry Evans Funeral Home with the Rev. James Campbell officiating. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery with Jerry Evans Funeral Home of DeFuniak Springs in charge of arrangements.
Frances Dreyfuss Selber
Graveside service for Frances Dreyfuss Selber will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, at Forest Park Cemetery, Shreveport, La. Rabbi Harold Robinson of B'Nai Zion Temple will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport.
Mrs. Selber, a native and lifelong resident of Shreveport, was born at the turn of the century in her parents' home, which was located at the corner of Travis and Edwards streets, now the site of the chamber of commerce building and formerly the Shreveport Memorial Library. She had resided at The Glen for the past several years prior to her death on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, at the age of 99.
A graduate of Shreveport High School and Newcomb College of Tulane University, Mrs. Selber was active in educational and religious affairs and was a lifelong member of B'Nai Zion Congregation. Her late husband, Aaron Selber Sr., was a founder of the Selber Brothers department store chain, which was a leading clothing merchandiser in Shreveport from its inception in 1907 until it was sold in 1988.
Mrs. Selber was preceded in death by her husband, Aaron Selber Sr., and is survived by one daughter, Nancy Selber Goldstein and her husband Bernard; two sons, Aaron Selber Jr. and wife Peggy and Leonard Selber and wife Mary Anne; nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to B'Nai Zion Congregation, Newcomb College of Tulane University or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Leah M. Kyler
Leah Murphy Kyler, 83, died Jan. 8, 2000, at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center after a lengthy illness.
Mrs. Kyler was born in Johnstown, Pa., May 7, 1916, to the late John B. and Luella Thompson Murphy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clarence E. Kyler and her brother John B. Murphy Jr.
She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jo and George W. Mehling; nieces, Joni Mehling Snyder and Sally Murphy Shaffer; local loved ones, Joan Mehling Hegarty, John and Mary Quinn and her nurse Judy Absher.
According to her wishes there will be no local services. Interment will be in Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown, Pa. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions, if desired, may be sent to the Waterfront Mission of Fort Walton Beach for the homeless.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home is in charge of the local arrangements.
William Edward "Bill" Stant Sr.
William Edward "Bill" Stant Sr., 80, of Niceville, Fla., went to be with the Lord Saturday afternoon, Jan. 8, 2000, from the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
He was born in Washington, D.C., April 27, 1919, to William L. and Edith Louise Lang Stant.
Mr. Stant was a lieutenant in the Salvation Army, having graduated from Salvation Army Training College in Atlanta.
He was a WWII Army Signal Corps veteran of the Pacific Theatre and a member of American Legion Post 221 in Niceville. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church of Niceville and served on the Niceville City Planning Board.
Bill was a retired technical librarian with the U.S. Civil Service at Eglin and worked for six years with the Niceville Public Library. He had resided in this area for the past 45 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by his daughter, Linda Kelch in 1982.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, nine months, Thelma L. Stant of Niceville; his son and daughter-in-law, Wes and Martha Stant of Crestview, Fla.; his daughter, Sharon Myers of Niceville; his grandchildren, Kathy Anderson and husband Alan, Kelly Gomez and husband Miguel, Butch Myers and wife Michelle, Billy Kelch and wife Tammy, Will Stant and wife Susan, Ruthie Stant, Audra Stant, Jaynie Stant, Andy Stant, Dessie Stant and Aurora Stant; and 8 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Niceville Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at 2 p.m. with the Revs. Rurel Ausley and Ed Chandler officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Cemetery, Valparaiso, Fla. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the church.
Grandsons and grandsons-in-law will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to either the Salvation Army or the charity of your choice.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with the arrangements.
Herbert Wayne Parson
Herbert Wayne Parson, 75, of Destin, Fla., died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000, at his home.
He was born in Somerset, Pa. He was retired from property management in real estate. He had been a resident of the Destin area since 1986, coming from New York.
He was a Mason, a member of the YE Host's Square Club, past president in New York, S.K.A.L. New York and Texas, Bedford, NY, Real Estate Board past president, former hotel general manager Washington D.C., New York and California, and real estate broker New York, Texas and Florida.
Survivors include his wife, Doris M. Parson of Destin; son, Kirk W. Parson of Portland, Org.; and brother, John G. Parson of Palm Coast, Fla.
A memorial service will be conducted from the Destin United Methodist Church, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at 10 a.m. with Dr. John Friedman officiating. Interment of cremains will be at the Destin Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association.
McLaughlin Mortuary entrusted with local services.
Elmeda H. Patrick
Mrs. Elmeda H. Patrick, 89, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, in DeFuniak Springs.
Born in Walton County, Fla., Jan. 10, 1910, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and George Ann Smith Hardy.
Mrs. Patrick was a lifelong resident of Walton County. She was Holiness by faith had attended New Life Holiness Church.
Mrs. Patrick was preceded in death by her husband, Wesley Patrick and one son, Ralph Justice.
Mrs. Patrick is survived by one daughter, Bety Adams of DeFuniak Springs; one sister, Mary Lou Fridge of Ocoee, Fla.; 4 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren; and she is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Elmeda Patrick will be held Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, at 2 p.m. in the Comander Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Royce Montgomery and the Rev. Kenny Montgomery officiating.
Burial will follow in Campground Cemetery in Westville, Fla.
A time of visitation will be held Monday, Jan. 10, 2000, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Comander Funeral Home Chapel.
Comander Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Sara M. Richards
Sara M. Richards, 69, of Mary Esther, Fla., passed away Jan. 7, 2000, in Pensacola, Fla.
She enjoyed her life as an Army wife, raising four children and pursuing a career in civil service.
She is survived by her mother, Sara H. Davis of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; her son Don and his wife Bev of Little Rock, Ark.; her daughter, Kim and her husband Karl of Colorado; her son Jon and his wife Dawn of Destin, Fla.; her daughter Susie and her husband Rob of Tennessee; and six grandchildren, Matthew, Corey, Collin, Colby, Brooke and Sydney.
By request, cremation and a private family memorial will be held at a later time.
Buck Gillis
Mr. Buck Gillis, 86, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000, in Pensacola, Fla.
Born in Walton County, Fla., Feb. 10, 1913, he was the son of the late Ang and Mollie Padgett Gillis.
Mr. Gillis worked in the transportation industry as a truck driver. He was a lifelong resident of Walton County. Mr. Gillis was Baptist by faith.
Mr. Gillis was preceded in death by his wife, Effie Gillis.
Mr. Gillis is survived by two daughters, Deloris Prindle and Alecia Graves; two sisters, Eloise Carroll of Ponce de Leon, Fla., and Faye Whitfield of Pensacola; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Gillis will be held Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at 2 p.m. in the Comander Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Glen Spence officiating. Burial will follow in Sandy Creek Cemetery.
A time of visitation will be held Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the Comander Funeral Home Chapel, 21 W. Main Street, DeFuniak Springs.
Comander Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
