U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Robert Keith Gibson
Robert Keith Gibson, age 78, went home to be with the Lord on May 1, 2000, following a valiant fight with cancer. He died at home in Shalimar, Fla., surrounded by his family.
Robert, fondly known as "Big Daddy," was born on Jan. 31, 1922, to Alma and Silas Gibson.
In 1916, the Gibson's were among the early pioneers in Okaloosa County, Fla. Bob's parents traveled by train from Canada to Pensacola, Fla., and on to Camp Walton by boat looking for a suitable place to settle with their children. Will Brooks convinced them that they had traveled far enough when the boat stopped at Camp Walton. They settled on 450 acres of land, now known as Wright.
The family started the first milk dairy operation that straddled the northwest corner of Beal and Hurlburt Field Road. Bob spent most of his early years helping with the farm. Many interesting and humorous tales have been told of the Gibson boys and the unfenced cows. The five tall, lanky Gibson brothers formed their own basketball team. They challenged and played nearby teams, including the Naval Air Base.
Being one of only two students in his class at the local school, Bob transferred to Pensacola High School in the 10th grade. He graduated from Pensacola High School in 1941, where he actively participated in several sports. In the 1941 "Tiger Tale" he was voted: "Most Attractive," "Most Popular," "Best Disposition," "Biggest Flirt," and "Best All Around" by his peers. In 1942, Bob applied and was accepted as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Forces. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1944 and flew the B-24 in World War II. He was assigned to the 4530 Bomber Group in England, where he flew 13 missions over Germany. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1945 and returned to Fort Walton Beach.
In 1955, he established the Gibson Well Drilling Company. Bob was well known in the community for his expertise in well drilling and repair. After 25 busy years he sold the business in 1980. Customers who had depended on him continued to call him for advice for many years into his retirement. Often he couldn't resist running out to lend a hand.
Bob married Janice Moore of Dozier, Ala., in 1960. He was a devoted husband and father for 40 years. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing and golf. After retiring, he and Janice spent each summer in their mountain home in Highlands, N.C. He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church, and later, after moving to Shalimar, was a member of Shalimar United Methodist Church. He also belonged to Shalimar Golf and Country Club and Highland Falls Country Club. As a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Fort Walton Beach, he was actively involved in establishing the first Crewe of Billy Bowlegs.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Donna DeBra; and brothers, Cyrus, John, Lloyd and William Gibson. He is survived by his wife, Janice of Shalimar; two daughters, Donna Duff and husband Robert of Peachtree City, Ga., and Genese Newman and husband Paul of Chapel Hill, N.C.; four grandchildren, Ally and Paige Newman, and Erin and Robby Duff; brother, Ray Gibson and wife Julie of Skid Away Island, Ga.; sister-in-law, Audrey Gibson of Shalimar; and several nieces and nephews.
Bob will be missed by all his many friends and loved ones.
Funeral services for Mr. Gibson will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Shalimar United Methodist Church with the Revs. David Chunn, John Collins and Jerry Hollis officiating. Interment will follow in Brooks Cemetery.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Shalimar United Methodist Church Building Fund or to the Children's Advocacy Center in niceville, Fla.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Devon Sweat
Devon Sweat, age 20, of Navarre, Fla., passed away Sunday, April 30, 2000.
Devon lived in Jacksonville, N.C., Albuquerque, N.M., and Madrid, Spain, before moving to Florida in 1991.
Devon attended Navarre High school and graduated from Okaloosa Applied Technology Center in 1999. He was a gentle and affectionate young man with a big heart. Devon was especially compassionate and kind to all he met as he searched over recent years for his place in this world.
Family and friends will sorely miss seeing Devon's beautiful smile.
He leaves to grieve his memory: parents, Lisa and Terry Sweat of Navarre, and Eric Emry of Chattanooga, Tenn.; his twin and best friend, Danica, and siblings, Taron, Tiffany and Kayleigh Sweat of the family home in Navarre; grandparents, Barbara and Ralph Paulin and Margaret Sweat of Navarre, Bob and Bobbi Rupell of Gulf Breeze, Fla., Juanita Crawford of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Virginia Koonce of N.C.; aunts and uncles, Patricia and Chris Rupell of Milton, Fla., Shannon Fox of Gulf Breeze, Fla., and Laura and Todd Zastrow of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; and cousins, Biniam Fox-Berhane, Tanner and Trevor Zastrow.
Devon's life will be celebrated in a memorial service at United Methodist Church of Navarre on Friday, May 5. Viewing is offered at 2 p.m. and the service will begin at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Joe Lay officiating.
Floral arrangements are welcome.
For those who wish to honor Devon's life with a gift, it is suggested that a donation be sent in his name to an animal humane society or organization.
Lewis Funeral Home, Navarre Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Ollie Russ Curry
Ollie Russ Curry, age 69, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Monday afternoon, May 1, 2000, at her daughter's residence.
Mrs. Curry was born on Feb. 5, 1931, in Carryville, Fla., to the late Willie and Ruby Lee Russ. She was a lifelong resident of Northwest Florida and a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Ponce de Leon, Fla.
Mrs. Curry was preceded in death by her husband, Randall Curry. She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Taylor and husband Gene of Fort Walton Beach; daughter, Pamela Woodall and husband Tim of Prosperity, Fla.; daughter, Claudia Boy and husband Joseph of Boise, Idaho; sister, Julia Doggett of Cordelle, Ga.; brother, Archie Russ and wife Ann of Brantley, Ala.; six grandchildren, Shelia Denise Everidge and husband Lee of Phoenix City, Ala., Travis Ward of Fort Rucker, Ala., Melissa Miller and Zachery Woodall of Prosperity, John Randall Boyd and Joseph Boyd of Boise; seven great-grandchildren; and many extended family and friends.
The family will greet friends on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sims Funeral Home in Bonifay.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, May 5, at Mount Zion Baptist Church, with interment following in Westville Cemetery in Westville with Sims Funeral Home conducting the service.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Clio Alvis Jones
Clio Alvis Jones, age 82, died May 2, 2000, in DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Mrs. Jones was born on March 31, 1918, the daughter of the late Arthur and Viola Adams Adkison in Walton County, Fla., where she remained a lifelong resident. She was the owner and operator of Jones' Grocery Store for the past 59 years. She devoted her heart and life to the running of the store and was known as an icon in the Liberty Community. She was Baptist by faith.
Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her grandson, Brian Sharp.
Mrs. Jones is survived by her husband of 63 years, Austin Ford Jones; son, Gene Austin Jones and wife Carolynn; daughters, Pat Bottoms and husband John, all of DeFuniak Springs, and Tammy M. Henely and husband Tom of Panama City Beach, Fla.; and grandchildren, Michelle Jones, Sam Jones, Emmitt Bottoms, Eric Henely and Adam Henely.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday at Comander Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Cluster Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.
Comander Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, is in charge of arrangements.
Malinda Gard Lowe
Malinda Gard Lowe, age 58, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away Monday evening, May 1, 2000, at her residence.
She was born on Dec. 23, 1941, in Houston and was raised in Houston by her late parents, Walter S. and Margaret W. Gard. She was a resident of Shalimar for the past 20 years.
Malinda graduated from Bellaire High School and the University of Houston. She retired as an office manager of El Matador Condominium Association. She met and married Donald Lowe while a student at the University of Mississippi. They were assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in 1977. Malinda lovingly gave her time to volunteer work with Alkalize Medical Assistance Center and her church. She was a member of Shalimar United Methodist Church and Alpha Delta Phi Sorority.
Malinda is survived by her husband, Donald; son, Bryan Lowe of Tallahassee, Fla.; daughter, Averil Lowe of Alexandria, Va.; daughter, Heather Lowe of Denver; and sister, Margo Macomson of Winston-Salem, N.C.
She loved all her family dearly and they were everything to her.
Funeral services for Malinda will be conducted at 9 a.m. Friday, May 5, at Shalimar United Methodist Church with the Revs. David Chunn, John Collins and Jerry Hollis officiating. Interment will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery.
The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Xuripha M. Stanley
Xuripha M. Stanley, age 87, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Wednesday morning, May 3, 2000.
She was a native of Washington County, Fla., and had lived there before moving to Crestview 12 years ago. Mrs. Stanley was a member of New Hope United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J.B. Stanley. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Mozelle and John Folmar of Crestview; granddaughters, Elizabeth Hughes of Greenville, S.C., and Patricia (Kay) Folmar of Palm Springs, Calif.; great-grandson, Matt Jones of Greenville; brother, Ernest Marshall; and sisters, Lucille Brackin and Muriel Edwards, all of Vernon, Fla.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, May 5, at New Hope United Methodist Church in Vernon with the Revs. Wesley Spivey, John May and Randy Bielinski officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Mrs. Stanley will lie in state at the church one hour prior to services.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Anthony J. Brown
Anthony J. Brown, age 71, of Crestview, Fla., passed away at his residence on May 1, 2000.
Mr. Brown was born in Perth Amboy, N.J., to the late Antoin and Mary Braun, where he resided until retiring to the Panhandle of Florida 15 years ago. While living n New Jersey, Mr. Brown owned and successfully operated numerous large construction companies throughout the state while licensed as a general contractor. Mr. Brown spent many years playing semi-professional football as well as serving in the armed forces.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge, Florida Greyhound Association, and the State Harness Racing Associations of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine and Delaware.
Tony, as he was known to friends and family, had a giving personality that bore him many acquaintances and strong, friendly relationships with numerous people.
Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, Adeline of Crestview; three daughters, Tia of Mobile, Ala., Tiffany of Birmingham, Ala., and Tara Brown Hodgson; son-in-law, Adrian Hodgson; granddaughter, Alexa Danielle Hodgson of Covington, La.; mother-in-law, Margaret Magdon of Crestview; and numerous relatives and friends residing in New Jersey.
Anthony will be loved and remembered by many.
A private ceremony will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests Mass cards be donated for Mr. Brown to St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; or contributions made to Hospice of Northwest Florida, in his memory.
James M. McAndrew
James M. McAndrew, age 70, died May 2, 2000, at his home in DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Mr. McAndrew was born on Feb. 27, 2000, in Bradford, Pa., the son of the late John L. and Marion Walther McAndrew. He was a resident of DeFuniak Springs for the past three years after moving from Huntington Beach, Calif. He was a Catholic by faith and a member of St. Margaret's Catholic Church.
Mr. McAndrew is survived by his wife, Lucy McAndrew of DeFuniak Springs; sons, James McAndrew Jr. and wife Janie of Boise, Idaho, and Michael McAndrew of Cypress, Calif.; daughter, Maureen Zelenak and husband Bill of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.; and grandchildren, Brett Zelenak, Jimmy McAndrew, Sean McAndrew, Ryan McAndrew and Mallory McAndrew.
Memorial services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, May 5, at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in DeFuniak Springs with Mrs. Lucy Andrew's brother, Father Frances Lechiara of Palm Beach, Fla., officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida and the American Cancer Society.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, is in charge of arrangements.
Joanne K. Dodd
Joanne K. Dodd, age 56, of Destin, Fla., went to be with Yeshua Ha'Maschiach (Jesus Our Messiah) on Tuesday evening, May 2, 2000.
She was born in Pontiac, Mich., raised in Memphis, and had lived in Destin for 26 years. Joanne loves her Lord Jesus Christ with all her heart and ministered his love to all she met. She was co-founder of the Noah's Ark Preschool Ministry of St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church and active in various ministries of the church.
She was nicknamed "Joy" by the many Russian and Ukranian immigrants that she helped. Joanne was named "Disabled Professional Woman of the Year" by the Fort Walton Beach Pilot Club of the Miracle Strip in 1992. This was three years before the Lord Jesus healed her completely of multiple sclerosis. She was past president of the Episcopal Women of the Church, St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea in Destin.
She is survived by her husband of 35 years, James M. Dodd; son and daughter-in-law, James Jr. and Debbie Dodd; grandchildren, Brandon and Audrey, all of Milton, Fla.; son, Michael Dodd of Cleveland, Tenn.; mother, Thelma Draper of Destin; sisters and brothers-in-law, Nancy and Richard Veldman of Destin, and Jackie and John Wetzel of Montrose, W.Va.; brother and sister-in-law, Harry and Terri Draper of Memphis; aunt, Marilyn Goggins of West Caldwell, N.J.; and aunt and uncle, Helen and Roy Bowlin of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.
Funeral services will be conducted at St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Destin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6, with Father Mike Hesse officiating. Interment will follow in Destin Memorial Cemetery. A reception will follow interment at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to St. Andrew's-by-the-Sea, earmarked Uganda Fund, P.O. Box 338, Destin, FL 32540.
"I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day."
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Stephen P. Marbry
Stephen P. Marbry, a resident of Destin, Fla., was born on Dec. 23, 1959, in Memphis. He passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2000.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and is mourned by brothers, Tim Marbry of Kansas City, Mo., Rod Marbry of Statesboro, Ga.; sisters, Sue Myers of Drummonds, Tenn., Lucretia Kelley of Bartlett, Tenn.; and longtime friend, Leda Suydan of Niceville, Fla.
Stephen was active in efforts to improve the lives of the handicapped and in the preservation and enhancement of the beauty and glory of nature. He was a loving brother and friend with great joy and love for life. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
A memorial gathering to note and commemorate his life will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
