Tim Walters
Staff Sgt. Tim Walters, age 28, died Thursday, April 6, 2000, at Eglin Air Force Base Hospital, Fla.
Born in Alexandria, La., he was reared in Utica, Miss. Mr. Walters graduated from Rebul Academy in 1990 and entered the U.S. Air Force in December 1990. He was stationed in Korea, South Dakota and England and had been stationed at Eglin for the past two years.
He was a member of Mary Esther United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Twila Walters; a son, Levi Dean Walters, both of Fort Walton Beach; a child due to be born in July; parents, Earl C. and Peggy Broome, both of Utica; father, Trelby G. Walters of Sterlington, La.; sister, Sharon Strawbridge of Fort Myers, Fla.; maternal grandmother, Marjorie Dooley of Carpenter, Miss.; maternal grandfather, I.W. Walters of Monroe, La.; half-brother, Jarod Walters; and a half-sister, Brandi Maxwell of Crossett, Ark.
Services were held on Tuesday, April 11, at Utica Christian Church, with full military honors. Burial followed in Utica Cemetery.
A memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15, at Mary Esther United Methodist Church.
Charles J. Kaufman
Charles J. Kaufman, "Mr. Driftwood," age 72, of Navarre, Fla., went to be with our Lord and Savior on Feb. 3, 2000.
He expired at Gulf Breeze Hospital. Mr. Kaufman had resided at Bay Breeze Nursing Home in Gulf Breeze, Fla. He was born in Champaign, Ill., and had resided in this area upon retirement from civil service of 22 years at Chanute Field in Rantoul, Ill. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran and also held an honorary deaconship at East Bay Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth S. Kaufman; daughter, Mint M. Clark; son, Charles E. Kaufman; and grandsons, Brandon J. Richburg, Justin A. Clark, Charles C. Kaufman and Derek C. Betances.
He is sadly missed by family and friends, as he possessed a wonderful spirit, was a loving family man, and displayed a great sense of humor. Mr. Kaufman was a talented woodcrafter and incorporated driftwood and seashells into his works of crafts and art. Thus came his alias, Mr. Driftwood.
A private memorial will be held.
Arrangements by Milton Funeral Home.
Thomas Henry Pope
Thomas Henry Pope, age 79, of Pensacola, Fla., died Wednesday, April 12, 2000, at a local hospital.
He was a resident of Northwest Florida for over 40 years and owned his own plumbing business for over 25 years. He was a World War II veteran who served in the Army Air Corps. He was a member of VFW Post 49 in Mobile, Ala.; American Legion Post 240 in Pensacola; and a lifetime member of the Over 55 Club.
He was preceded in death by his brother, L.C. Pope. Survivors include his sons, Paul L. (Harriett) Pope of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Rusty H. (Kay) Pope of Helena, Mont., and Ray P. Pope of Pensacola; grandchildren, Mariah, Daily and Keith of Helena, Paige and Eric of Fort Walton Beach, and Daniel and Rachel of Pensacola; sisters, Ethel Jacobs of Montgomery, Ala., and Sarah Anderson of Andalusia, Ala.
Funeral services will be held at the chapel of Donnie Sowell Funeral Home at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 15, with Dr. Howard Gates officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. Saturday until time of services.
Arrangements by Donnie Sowell Funeral Home, Milton, Fla.
Porter Goolsby
Porter Goolsby, age 88, passed away in a Crestview, Fla., health care facility Wednesday, April 12, 2000.
A native of Covington County, he was the son of the late John H. and Beulah Adams Goolsby. Mr. Goolsby was a resident of Route 1, Florala, Ala., and was engaged in farming until his retirement.
His wife, Nellie, passed away in 1985.
Survivors include his five daughters, Judith Goolsby Chambers, Karen Goolsby Nighbert, both of Florala, Dolores Goolsby Rhoades of Laurel Hill, Fla., Sandra Goolsby Faver of Pensacola, Fla., and Nina Goolsby Wiley of Mariana, Fla.; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Evans Funeral Home with the Revs. Ray Armstrong and Gerald Johns officiating. Interment will be in Florala Greenwood Cemetery.
Evans Funeral Home, Florala, is in charge of arrangements.
Goldie Inez Palmer
Goldie Inez Palmer, age 75, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2000, in a local hospital.
She was born in Bradley, Ala., and was a longtime resident of Okaloosa County, Fla. She was a homemaker and a member of United Pentecostal Church in Crestview.
Survivors include her husband, William L. Palmer of Crestview; sons, B.J. Bray of Crestview, and Don Bray of Lodi, Calif.; stepson, Ronnie Palmer of Mobile, Ala.; daughter, Karen Smith of Mossy Head, Fla.; and brother, Archie Durant King of Arlington, Texas.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Whitehurst Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. George Marler officiating. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Crestview.
A time of visitation will be conducted from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Whitehurst Funeral Home, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Allie Mae LeMarchand
Allie Mae Armstrong LeMarchand, age 86, entered into eternal rest April 12, 2000, at a Crestview, Fla., nursing home after a lengthy illness.
She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Pensacola, Fla. She was born to John Henry and Ida Mae (Jeter) Armstrong on Nov. 28, 1913, in Covington County, Ala. She lived all her adult life in Pensacola until she was stricken with illness.
Mrs. LeMarchand was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 57 years, Lucien J. LeMarchand; daughter, Dorothy June (LeMarchand) Bellah; infant grandson, Williamson; brother, Tramel Oresta Armstrong; and sister, Roma Lee Armstrong.
Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Eunice Marie (LeMarchand) and Carl M. Williamson, Carolyn Ann (LeMarchand) and Curtis A. Reedy, all of Pensacola; one son and daughter-in-law, Lucien and Betty J. (Copeland) LeMarchand of Baker, Fla.; sisters, Lavada Redmon and Pearl Smith; brother, Brenson Neal Armstrong, all of Pensacola; grandchildren, Wayne and Pam Williamson, Steven and Violet Williamson, Carla (Williamson) and Larry Mixson, Brenda (LeMarchand) and Woody Bullard, Barbara (LeMarchand) and Don Griffiths, Tina (LeMarchand) and Rex Cadenhead, Jon Bellah, George and Jenifer Bellah III, Alissa (Bellah) and Ed Raub; 18 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 16, at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel.
Funeral services will be conducted at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 17, with the Revs. Bruce Crawford and Don Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Bayview Memorial Park in Pensacola.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and great-grandsons, Adam Cadenhead, Joshua Cadenhead, Jason Cadenhead, Jon Bellah and Wayne Williamson; and nephew, Ervin Brantley.
Mrs. LeMarchand's Sunday school class, the Goldens, from Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Baker will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Flowers or Gideon Memorial Bibles are acceptable. The Memorial Bibles may be obtained at 1-850-689-1611.
Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, Pensacola, is in charge of arrangements.
Jimmie Lee Patterson
Jimmie Lee Patterson, age 70, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 12, 2000, in a hospital in Houston.
Jimmie was born on Feb. 6, 1930, in Akron, Ohio. He was a former resident of Jane Lew, W.Va., and worked for the Lewis County Glass Co. before entering the Army/Air Force in 1947. He retired from the Air Force in 1974 at Lowry Air Force Base, Colo. He was a veteran of the Korean conflict and Vietnam. His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Commendation, Air Force Outstanding Unit, Army Air Force Good Conduct, Air Force Good Conduct, National Defense Service, Vietnam Service, Republic of Vietnam Campaign, Air Force Longevity Service, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship.
His entire career was devoted to fire protection/fire prevention. He served in many parts of the world - Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; France Field, Panama Canal Zone; McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.; Thule Air Force Base, Greenland; Greenville Air Force Base, Miss.; Sidi Slimane Air Force Base, Morocco; Castle Air Force Base, Calif.; Lajes Field, the Azores, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; Tanson Nhut Air Base, 7th Air Force Headquarters, Chief of Fire Protection for Vietnam; and Takua Air Base, Thailand.
Upon retiring from the Air Force he was employed at Hurlburt Field, Fla., civil service and transferred to Eglin Air Force Base in 1977 as Chief of Technical Service (fire protection), retiring in 1992.
Jimmie was a member of the Elks Lodge 1795, Alpha Lodge 172, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of HADJI Shrine Temple, (Emeritus Aide) and Fort Walton Beach Shrine Club. He held commission of (colonel) in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.
Jimmie was preceded in death by his son, Troy L. Patterson, in December 1996; and his son-in-law, James L. Pridgen on February 1997. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Virginia H. Patterson; children, Jim W. Patterson and wife Tricia of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., Ron W. Patterson and wife Shirril of Denver, Colo., and Cherita J. Pridgen of Fort Walton Beach; grandchildren, Calla I. Patterson of Santa Rosa Beach, and Brandon J. Pridgen of Fort Walton Beach; brother, Paul Patterson and wife Mary Ellen of Lexington, Ky.; sister, Kathleen Reed and husband Warren of Canton, Ohio; and many other extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, April 17, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel. A Masonic service will follow at the funeral home. The family will greet friends at the funeral home two hours prior to the service. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery, with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to HADJI Temple, Shriners Crippled Children's Transportation Fund, P.O. Box 17113, Pensacola, FL 32522-7113; or to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030-4095 (Patient No. 359803).
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Willard "Ken" Dobson
Willard "Ken" Dobson, age 50, passed away in Fort Walton Beach Medical Center April 13, 2000, due to injuries received in an accident. Ken was a native of Holt, Fla., and was a 1967 graduate of Baker High School. He was a Vietnam veteran and resided in Fort Walton Beach for more than 20 years. Ken was employed with the Eglin Commissary for 31 years in the produce department.
Ken is survived by his mother, Erma Jean Gibson of Holt; three brothers, Greg Kerrell of Crestview, Fla., Wayne Dobson of Holt, and Marc Dobson of Anderson, S.C.; niece, Lindsay Lea Kerrell and nephew, James Joseph Kerrell, both of Crestview, and numerous other cousins, aunts and uncles.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, April 17, from the First Baptist Church of Holt with the Revs. John Stacey and Richard Martin officiating. Burial will follow in the Old Holt Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Ken will lie in state at the church for one hour prior to the service.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of the arrangements.
Elizabeth Mary Devitt
Mrs. Elizabeth Mary Devitt, age 74, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away early Wednesday morning, April 12, 2000, in a local nursing home after a three month illness. Mrs. Devitt was born Aug. 3, 1925, in Aberdeen, Scotland, to the late James and Margaret Delaney. When she was 25 she moved to Canada and met her husband then they moved to Ohio. She was employed by Chicago Bridge and Iron Company for 19 years. She was a member of the St. Simons on the Sound Episcopal Church, Fort Walton Power Squadron, St. Andrews Society of Fort Walton, Fort Walton Beach Yacht Club and the Britannia Club. Mrs. Devitt enjoyed reading and watercolor art.
Mrs. Devitt is preceded in death by her brother, Clifford Delaney. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, John "Joe" Devitt of Fort Walton Beach; son, John Clifford Devitt and wife Patricia of Naperville, Ill.; son, Brian Stuart Devitt and wife Barbara of New London, Pa.; daughter, Joanne Elizabeth Devitt-Fernandez and husband Armande of Naperville, Ill.; sister, Mabel Pierston of Glasgow, Scotland; brother, James Delaney and wife Bea of London, England; sister, Marjorie Dileo of St. Louis, Mo.; nine grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and their children.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m., Monday, April 17, 2000, at the St. Simons on the Sound Episcopal Church.
In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to the Hospice of Northwest Florida, 101 Hart Street, Niceville, Fla. 32578, in memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Devitt.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 32547, is in charge of the arrangements.
Marvin D. Thornton
Marvin D. Thornton, Major USAF/Ret., age 69 of Mary Esther, Fla., beloved husband of Patricia N. Thornton, father of Lisa Roberts, Edie Myers, and Debra Thornton, and grandfather of January, Tricia, Chris, Summer, Tawnya, Nicholas, and Anne, went to be with the Lord and Savior on April 13, 2000.
He was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, served 20 years in the USAF, retired at Lockbourne AFB, Ohio, in 1972, relocated to Fort Walton Beach/Mary Esther. He was currently employed at Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Fort Walton Beach in the electronics department and was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 2193. He will be remembered by many for his work at area convenience stores, Tom Thumb, Texaco, Shell, Double G and Variety Fare.
Memorial services will be held at Destin Assembly of God, 726 Legion Drive, Destin, Fla., on Saturday April 22, 2000, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in the name of Marvin D. Thornton. Marvin will be missed dearly by his family and numerous friends.
McLaughlin Mortuary, Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
