John W. Presley Jr.
John W. Presley Jr., age 84, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away in a local hospital on Saturday, March 11, 2000. He was born on Dec. 10, 1915, in Montgomery, Ala. He had been a resident of the local area since 1992, when he moved here from Millbrook, Ala.
He was Presbyterian by faith. He was a member of both the Masons and Shriners organizations. He honorably served his country during WW II in the U.S. Navy. He served his community as a city councilman while in Millbrook. During his working years he was a civil service employee.
Survivors include his loving wife Elnora (Jeanette) of 59 years; son, John and daughter-in-law Leslie Presley III of Cottondale, Ala.; daughter, Beth and son-in-law Delton Holmes of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; sisters, Sarah Wiggins of Mobile, Ala. and Anne Scott of Mexico; and four grandchildren, Cy Holmes, Jay Holmes, Brooklyn Presley, and Will Presley IV.
No local services will be held. Funeral services will be under the direction of Leak Memory Chapel, Montgomery, Ala., and are scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, 2000.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is entrusted with the local arrangements.
Georgia Elizabeth Booker
Georgia Elizabeth Booker, 84, of the Bullard community near Baker, Fla., passed away in a local hospital on Saturday, March 11, 2000. She was born in Monroe County, Ala. and her family moved to the Bullard community when she was a young child. She lived in the Bullard community for over 70 years. She was an active member of the Bullard Church for more than 50 years.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Julius and Linda Booker of Baker and Lamar and Lucy Booker of Baker; one daughter and son-in-law, Edna and Hugh Brooks of Prattville, Ala.; six grandchildren, Beverly (Julius) Brooks, Scott (Gaylynn) Brooks, Todd (Wanda) Brooks, Victor (Michele) Brooks, Gayle (John) Kennedy, and Crystal Booker; seven great grandchildren, Emily Brooks, Anna Brooks, Aaron Brooks, Taylor Brooks, Diana Kennedy, Drew and Dusty Kennedy; two sisters, Ruby Veazey of Malino, Fla. and Ruth Newberry of Pensacola, Fla.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 14, 2000 from the Bullard Freewill Baptist Church with the Rev. Sonny Willingham and the Rev. J.D. Kelley. Burial will follow in the Bullard Cemetery. A time of visitation will be today, March 13, 2000, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. Whitehurst Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Willis Houston Holley Sr.
Willis "Punch" Houston Holley Sr., age 76, of Panama City, Fla., died Sunday, March 12, 2000, in a local hospital.
He was born on March 14, 1923, in Cottondale, Fla., and was the owner of Holley Insurance Agency for 40 years. Mr. Holley was very active in the community. He served on the board of directors for the Heart Association and the Junior Museum. He was past president and state lieutenant governor for the Optimist Club. He was also a past member of the March of Dimes and the Chamber of Commerce, where he was named Member of The Year. He was a member of St. Andrew Baptist Church.
Mr. Holley was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Loren Holley; granddaughter, Vicki Harris Haupt; brothers, Earl and Wilburn Holley; and sister, Alice Johnson.
He is survived by a daughter, Carolyn Holley Harris of Niceville, Fla.; son, Willis H. Holley Jr. and wife Pat of Panama City; grandson, Rob Harris; granddaughters, Lin Holley Byrd and husband Dennis, and Lori Holley; sisters, Madine Owens, Gertrude Tharp, Kathleen Labrato and Aileen Wagnon; and sisters-in-law, Nell Holley and Ann Holley.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, at Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Those desiring may make a contribution to the American Heart Association in memory of Willis Holley Sr.
Wilson Funeral Home, Panama City, is in charge of arrangements.
Joseph "David" Levine
Joseph "David" Levine, the cherished son of Joseph E. Levine and his wife Rosemary of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Kathy Burgess Fabre and her husband Carlos of Baton Rouge, La., died Sunday, March 12, 2000, at 2:20 a.m. of a sudden illness at Riverview Hospital in Gonzales, La.
David, as family and friends knew him, was born on June 16, 1979, in Richmond, Va., and was raised in Fort Walton Beach, where he attended Ocean City Elementary School, Pryor Middle School and Choctawhatchee High School. He attended the Christian Life Academy in Baton Rouge and was a 1997 graduate of McKinley High School.
David loved music, reading, playing pool, riding bikes and spending time with his many friends. His life, in short, has made an incredible mark on many people's lives and he will be missed more than mere words can express.
Other survivors include his two loving and devoted sisters, Emily and Amy Levine; grandparents, Mildred and Mayer Levine, Marianne Burgess and Arthur Fabre; uncles and aunts, Steve and Nancy Andrews, Kerry and Pat Smith, Nancy and Mike Sharp, Jim and Mary Alice Deatherage, Joyce and Mike Pulatie, Brian and Wanda Smith, Theresa Levine, Marcus Fabre, Donald Bigot, Charlie and Maria Morekis, and Tony and Sherry Bigot; cousins, John and Matthew Timmerman, Victoria and Katrina Smith, Nicole and Scott Sharp, Jennifer Deatherage, Benjamin, Natalie and Naomi Pulatie, Ian and Molly Smith, Christopher McWilliams, Demitre Morekis, Amanda Bigot and Paul Bigot. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Scurry Burgess, Marva Fabre and Louise Bigot.
The family will receive friends at Rabenhorst East Funeral Home in Baton Rouge from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Graveside services will follow at 2 p.m. in Resthaven Gardens Cemetery in Baton Rouge.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Shelter House, P.O. Box 220, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549, in memory of David.
We love you David, and will miss you very much.
Blanch V. Buharp
Blanch V. Buharp, age 93, of Niceville, Fla., passed away Sunday evening, March 12, 2000, in a local hospital.
Mrs. Buharp was born on Oct. 10, 1906, in Clearsprings, Md., to the late Cyrus Courtney and Louisa Dennis Grosh. She was a longtime resident of Niceville, moving here from Williamsport, Md. She attended First United Methodist Church in Niceville and the Senior Citizens Ceramic Club in Valparaiso, Fla. She enjoyed reading books and working with home crafts.
Mrs. Buharp was preceded in death by her husband, Nathaniel S. Buharp Sr., who died in December 1968; her parents; three sisters; and her brother. She is survived by her sons, Nathaniel S. Buharp Jr. and wife Jane of Niceville, and Gary L. Buharp and wife Edith of Clearwater, Fla.; grandchildren, Matthew K. Buharp and wife LeAnne, and Eric S. Buharp and wife Shannon, all of Paxton, Fla.; two great-grandchildren, Tanner and Jessie Buharp, both of Paxton; and other extended family.
Mrs. Buharp's wishes were to be cremated and buried alongside her husband in Maryland.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to a charity of your choice in memory of Mrs. Blanche V. Buharp.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Eleanor Cowell Susko
Eleanor Cowell Susko, "Miss Ellie," age 83, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Monday, March 13, 2000, at 8 a.m.
She was born in Pittsburgh on Dec. 27, 1916. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Jay Susko; her sister, Betty George; and a granddaughter, Alethea L. Susko.
She was a graduate of Wilkinsburg High School and received a bachelor of business administration degree from Westminster College in 1938. She attended the University of Pittsburgh and was awarded a master of arts in business administration in 1964, where she was a graduate assistant for the year, studying under Dr. George Anderson.
She had been secretary to the head of the Business and Economics Department at Westminster College from 1934-1938; business teacher at Wilkinsburg Junior High from 1938-1941; and head of the Business Department at Neshannock High School from 1957-1967. She taught the dental/medical secretary at Lawrence County Vo-Tech from 1967-1974. She was an administrator in charge of 20 shops at Lawrence County Vo-Tech from 1975-1979.
She was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Walton Beach, and previously of St. Johns Lutheran Church in New Castle, Pa. She had been president of Lutheran Church Women; a member of the choir; and Priscilla Circle. She was also a member of the American Business Women; Shenango Area Lioness Club; American Legion Auxiliary; Pennsylvania Retired School Employees Association; and the National Retired Teachers Association.
She is survived by two daughters, Patricia S. Kline of Fort Walton Beach, and Pamela S. Dibbley of Lake Charles, La.; son, John P. Susko of Fort Walton Beach; sister, Marjorie Durick of Pittsburgh; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
The family will receive friends at McLaughlin Mortuary from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 15.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 16, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Steve Marko officiating.
Interment, with graveside services, will take place in Castleview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in New Castle, Pa., at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18, under the direction of Roger Decarbo Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Holy Trinity Lutheran Church; or to St. John's Lutheran Church.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Lilly Margaret Sole
On March 13, 2000, Lilly Margaret Whitten Truby Sole went home to be with her two loving earthly husbands, her mother and father, and seven of her eight brothers.
Lilly Margaret Whitten was born on Feb. 13, 1911, in Lathrop (Birmingham), Ala., to Hiram Samuel Whitten and Lilly Alma Jones Whitten. She lived much of her early life in LaFollette, Tenn., where she held many fond memories. When she was 13 the family moved to Akron, Ohio, where she graduated from South High School and attended secretarial school. In April 1930 she married Ralph Chase Truby and bore him two sons.
She worked for several years as a retail clerk and PBX operator in and around Akron. In 1958 Ralph died and the following year she was fortunate to meet and marry Curtis Gilbert Sole, who had also been widowed in 1958. They lived in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, until moving to Boca Raton, Fla., in 1968. Curt died in 1986 and in 1990 Margaret moved to 935 Holbrook Circle in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Since her health began declining in 1995, she was attended by excellent caregivers while residing at the Sunbridge (Westwood) Health Care Facility.
She was a member of the Akron Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star and was active in the First Presbyterian Church in Boca Raton.
Margaret is survived by a brother, Hiram Hugh Whitten of Akron; sons, Ralph D. Truby of San Jose, Calif., and Allen G. Truby of Fort Walton Beach; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.
The family will conduct private services in Boca Raton and in Northfield, Ohio. A part of her cremains will be interred with each of her two husbands.
Mary F. Phillips
Mary F. Phillips of Shalimar, Fla., died at age 91 on March 13, 2000, at the Emerald Coast Center.
Mrs. Phillips was born on Feb. 5, 1909, in Geneva, Ala., and was a resident of the local area since 1951, when she moved here from DeFuniak Springs, Fla. She was Baptist by faith and a member of Wright Baptist Church. Friends would remember Mary as the local manager of Foster Oil/Gas Station on Eglin Parkway from 1951 to 1966. She also loved working in her garden.
Mrs. Phillips was preceded in death by her husband, B.F. Phillips; and son, Royce F. Phillips. Survivors include her son, Robert and daughter-in-law Joan Phillips of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Jean T. Phillips of Shalimar, Fla.; brother, H.C. Crews of Fort Walton Beach; grandchildren, Stan, Jeff and Robbie Phillips, and Heather Boswell; and great-grandchildren, Lindsey, Madison and Hunter.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Little Chapel Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 16, at the funeral home. Mrs. Phillips' son, Robert C. Phillips, will officiate. Following services, burial will take place at 12:30 p.m. in Ponce de Leon Cemetery.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Dessie R. Latham
Dessie R. Latham, age 86, of Crestview, Fla., died Monday evening, March 13, 2000, at her residence.
She was born in Milligan, Fla., on Nov. 2, 1913. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church and had taken care of the nursery. She was on the Cemetery Committee for many years and was a lifelong resident of Okaloosa County, Fla.
Mrs. Latham was preceded in death by Gail G. Latham in 1962.
Survivors include her husband of 55 years, William J. Latham of Crestview; sons, William G. Latham of Tampa, Fla., Gary D. Latham of Marianna, Fla., and Donovan W. Latham of Crestview; brother, Billy G. Gordan of Crestview; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 16, at McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jim Jordon officiating.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
Dolores A. Wilson
Dolores A. Wilson, age 60, of Crestview, Fla., died Tuesday, March 14, 2000, at her home.
She was born in Lexington, Ky., and was a resident of the Crestview area since 1980. Mrs. Wilson was a member of First Assembly of God Church in Crestview. She was very involved in her church, being past president of the Womans Ministry. She taught Sunday school and loved her church work.
Survivors include her husband, Carl D. Wilson; son and daughter-in-law, Brad and Sharon Wilson of Crestview; brothers, Otha W. Stafford, Bill Stafford, Hubert Stafford and Clarence Stafford, all of Lexington, Ky.; sisters, Sue Wissman, Betty Spaulding, Debbie Spaulding and Shirley Spaulding, all of Lexington; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be conducted at McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home Chapel at 2 p.m. Friday, March 17, with the Rev. Mark English officiating. Burial will follow in Live Oak Memorial Park Cemetery in Crestview.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
