Rebecca O'Neal
Rebecca O'Neal, age 87, of Havana, Fla., died July 29, 2001, at her residence.
Mrs. O'Neal was a native of Abbeville, Ala., and lived in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., for many years before moving to Havana. She was Protestant by faith and a member of the Church of Christ in Fort Walton Beach.
She is survived by her sons, John D. O'Neal of Havana, and Nathan E. O'Neal of Sacramento, Calif.; daughter, Patricia Stiles of Havana; sister, Jewel Henderson of Mobile, Ala.; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A cryptside service will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, in Beal Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. at Little Chapel Funeral Home, Beal Parkway.
Arrangements by Bevis' Sasser-Morgan-McClellan Funeral Home in Quincy, Fla.
Clifford E. Buffham
Clifford E. Buffham, age 70, a longtime resident of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday morning, Aug. 1, 2001.
He served his country for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a staff sergeant in 1968. He was then employed by the City of Fort Walton Beach, retiring as chief building inspector in 1989. He was a member of Alpha Masonic Lodge 172 in Fort Walton Beach, VFW 7674, and American Legion Post 235.
Clifford enjoyed woodworking, fishing, and most of all people. His smile and sense of humor will be missed by many.
Survivors include his wife of 21 years, Barbara Buffham; son, Glen Buffham, both of Fort Walton Beach; daughters, Ginita (Leon) McAnelly of Alma, Ark., Georgena Gates of Bridgeport, N.Y., (and Cliff's grandson, Corey Gates); brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Nancy Buffham of Madrid, N.Y., Wesley and Martha Buffham of Potsdam, N.Y., Leland and Virginia Buffham of Canton, N.Y.; sister, Betty Mitchell of Webster, N.Y.; uncle, Bill Barclay of Madrid, N.Y.; and brother-in-law, Suami Jnaneshvara Bharati.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, at the funeral home, conducted by Alpha Lodge 172. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, friends who wish may contribute to the Knights Templar Eye Founda-tion, 195 S.W. DeLuna Road, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; or to a favorite charity in Cliff's memory.
Arrangements under the direction of Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Billy Jo Calloway
Billy Jo "Bill" Calloway, age 70, beloved husband, son, brother, father and friend, passed away July 31, 2001, at West Florida Medical Center in Pensacola, Fla. He was a resident of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Bill was born on March 31, 1931, to Ruby Lee Marshall Calloway and William David Calloway in Dalhart, Texas. He graduated from Boling High School, where he lettered in football and track. His love for flying earned him his glider pilot license while in high school. He went on to attend Tulane, Texas Tech and Syracuse universities.
In 1951, he volunteered for active duty in the U.S. Air Force. He served in Japan during the Korean War. His other military duty stations took him to Europe and Texas. After 12 years in the military he was honorably discharged. He continued to work with government affiliated businesses for many years. He was a computer analyst. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he owned his own fiberglass business.
On May 25, 1988, he earned a United States Coast Guard license to captain steam or motor auxiliary vessels. He was an avid sailor who loved the ocean for its freedom and challenges. His best times were spent with his wife, Carolyn Sue, sailing the many ports of call along the Gulf Coast.
Bill was a natural storyteller. He loved life and lived it to its fullest and always had a tale to share about it. He surely will be missed by his family and all those who came in contact with him. His spirit will survive in the memories of his beloved family, friends and neighbors.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Sue; mother, Ruby Lee Calloway of Irving, Texas; sister and spouse, Elaine and Alfred Greer of Irving, Texas. He leaves behind six daughters and their spouses, Patricia and Leonard Groholski, Phyllis and Robert Romine, Leslie and Paul Wenkel, Juli Anna Calloway, Denise and Norman Bash, and Leslie and Randy Fear; three sons and their spouses, Billy Jo Calloway Jr., Michael and Tina Jinson, and Terry and Theresa Jinson. He also leaves 19 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at St. Agatha Church in DeFuniak Springs on Saturday, Aug. 4, at 2 p.m. with Father Brown officiating. Following the service, family and friends are invited to the Calloway home for refreshments.
Bertha Lavell Hagwood
Bertha Lavell Hagwood entered into eternal rest on Aug. 2, 2001, after a brief illness at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Mrs. Hagwood was born on April 19, 1922, in Tallassee, Ala. She worked for Remington Rand for many years and owned a business with her husband Charles F. Hagwood in Montgomery, Ala., and later in Leeds, Ala. Bertha moved to Fort Walton Beach, Fla., in 1995. She was a member of Mary Esther United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles F. Hagwood. Survivors include her brother, Preston O. Evans and wife Winona of Stone Mountain, Ga.; sister, Mary Catherine (Kitty) Butler and husband Thomas Heflin of Mary Esther, Fla.; brother-in-law, Louis Hagwood and wife Margaret of Leeds, Ala.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, at Greenwood Cemetery, 909 Lincoln Road, Montgomery, Ala. Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. before the service.
The family, in loving memory of Bertha, will graciously accept floral arrangements or donations to a charity of your choice.
Greenwood and Serenity Funeral Home, Montgomery is in charge of arrangements.
Scott Griffin Straub
Scott G. Straub, age 42, died Aug. 1, 2001, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla., after a short illness.
Scott was born in Indianapolis on Jan. 21, 1959, attended elementary and middle school in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and was a 1977 graduate of Choctawhatchee High School. He was also a graduate of Florida Institute of Technology.
Prior to his death, he served in the medical profession at various facilities in the Gainesville area. His last employment was as area health and safety officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Scott married Leslie E. Arnold of Long Island on June 9, 1985, and the couple resided in Gainesville since that time.
He is survived by his wife, Leslie Elizabeth Straub of Gainesville; parents, retired Lt. Col. and Mrs. Peter G. Straub; brother, Peter Blish Straub of Fort Walton Beach; mother-in-law, Mrs. Gail Arnold of Flagler Beach, Fla.; father-in-law, Mr. Rudy Arnold of Stanton, Texas; and brother-in-law, Jeffrey Arnold of Long Island.
Visitation will be conducted at Emerald Coast Funeral Home in Fort Walton Beach at 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 6, followed by a procession to Beal Memorial Cemetery for a 10 a.m. graveside service.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of local arrangements.
Lawrence E. Hackney
Lawrence E. Hackney, age 73, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away Aug. 2, 2001, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Lawrence was born in South Carolina and raised in Bonifay, Fla. He served in the Merchant Marine during World War II. After the war, he joined the Army Air Corps and then served in the U.S. Air Force for over 21 years, including a tour of duty in the Korean Conflict. Upon retiring from the military he worked for NASA on the Apollo missions at Cape Canaveral.
Lawrence was a member of VFW and an avid ham radio operator.
He was preceded in death in 1970 by his wife, Sarah Broxson Hackney. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, Roger E. and Anna Hackney of Navarre, Fla.; his longtime companion, Betty Bailey of Fort Walton Beach; sisters, Barbara (Rocky) Stillings of Fort Walton Beach, and Martha Ann (James) Warren of Williams, S.C.; brothers, Russell Hackney of Ehrhardt, S.C., Tresvant (Laura) Hackney of Sumter, S.C., and Rodney Hackney of Fayetteville, N.C.; several nieces and nephews; and his devoted coffee klatch friends.
Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, Aug. 6, at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Heritage Gardens Cemetery in Niceville, Fla.
Pallbearers are Joe McDanial, Joe Newsom, Bill Cooper, Mark Williams, David Williams and Bill Phagan.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Arrangements under the direction of Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach.
Chance William Maulden
Chance William Maulden, age 11 months, of Mary Esther, Fla., passed away Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2001, in Pensacola, Fla.
Chance touched the lives of countless people during his short life. He was very special to his parents and will be remembered for his big brown eyes and chubby cheeks.
Survivors include his parents, Darren and Cynthia Maulden of Mary Esther; sisters, Jayla of Moody, Ala., and Melinda of Mary Esther; brother, Michael of La Grange, N.C.; grandparents, Mike and Janice Purdom of La Grange, and Rick and Cathy Hayden of Snellville, Ga.; aunt, Wendy Maulden; and second cousins, Stephen and Douglas Jones.
The family would like to send a very special thank you to Vic Deal for his kindness and support.
The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, at McLaughlin Mortuary. Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. with Chaplain C. Allan Ford officiating. Interment will be in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Mary Viola Malone
Mary Viola Malone, age 78, a 36-year resident of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died peacefully at her home on Saturday morning, August 4, 2001, with her family.
She was born May 28, 1923, in Cairo, Ill. She was the daughter of the late Charles Stroud and Dexter May Stroud.
She was preceded in death by her husband James Malone of Fort Walton Beach on October 28, 1999.
She is survived by three sons Robert W. Sells of Gulf Breeze, Fla., Michael L. Sells of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Harold E. Sells of Destin, Fla.; six grandchildren, Michael T. Sells of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Kimberly D. Engler of Robertsville, Mo., Sonya M. Sells of Florence, S.C., Robert F. Sells of Minneapolis, Minn., Leya D. Sells of Irvine, Calif., Scott C. Sells of Boulder, Colo.; three great-grandchildren, Ashley, Amanda and Jacob of Robertsville; two sisters, Martha Schmidt of Cairo and Freda Stanley of Paducah, Ky.; three brothers, Wayne Stroud of Norfolk, Va., George Stroud of Paducah, and Robert Stroud of Rock Falls, Ill.
She died after a long but fierce battle with ovarian cancer. She celebrated life and all the pleasures that family could bring. She will be greatly missed by all but no doubt is happy once again with her husband James Malone, who passed away in 1999.
She was a member of the Hurlburt Chapel on Hurlburt Field. She was also an avid bowler.
Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. on Monday, August 6, 2001.
Funeral services will be conducted at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7 at McLaughlin Mortuary. Burial will be private at the family convenient at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Fla. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to American Cancer Society, 4 Jackson St. NE Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 32548. McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Helms Purkey
Mary Helms Purkey, age 43, of Crestview, passed away Friday, August 3. Mary was born on August 25, 1957, in Fort Walton Beach and was a lifelong resident of Okaloosa County.
Survivors include her father Everett Helms of Crestview, Fla.; mother JoAnn McMahon of Baker, Fla.; son, Glen Everett Purkey; two sisters, Pat Helms of Belton, Texas, Cindy Carter of Seminole, Fla.; brother, Billy Helms of Plant City, Fla.; two half-brothers, Kenny McMahon of Pensacola, Fla., Vaughn McMahon of Niceville, Fla.; paternal grandmother, Susie Spinks of Baker; two nieces and one nephew.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, Aug. 6 at noon from the New Beginnings Church in Crestview with Reverend Raymond Williams and Francis A. Picker, Jr. officiating.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of the arrangements.
Kristofer Paolo L. Villanueva
U.S. Marine LCpl Kristofer Paolo L. Villanueva, age 22, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away Thursday, July 12, 2001 at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Lance Corporal Kristofer Paolo L. Villanueva, the proud son of retired MSgt. Cristino and Elizabeth Villanueva, loving brother of Nona and Marlo Villanueva, dear grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Guillermo R. Villanueva of Bergenfield, N.J., and the late Dr. and Mrs. Cecilio V. Lapira of Manila, Philippines, was born on February 5, 1979, while stationed at Kadena Air Force, Okinawa, Japan.
Kristofer enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on June 21, 1997, and graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., on February 12, 1999. Following his graduation from training, Kristofer successfully completed training at the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He was then assigned to the Marine Corps Artillery Detachment at Fort Sill, Okla., where he underwent training in his Military Occupational Specialty, Field Artillery. Upon completion of his field training, he was assigned to First Battalion 12th Marines, third Marine Regiment at Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. During his assignment, Kristofer was awarded the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.
Besides Kristofer's pride and dedication to the United States Marine Corps, he was a loving son and loyal brother. Kristofer's spirit was an inspiration to all and touched many lives he encountered. Paolo will be greatly missed. May God grant him peace and happiness and welcome him into His kingdom.
A mass will be held Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2001, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church followed by a viewing from 5 to 7 p.m. at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, NE Fort Walton beach, Fla., 32547, (850) 864-3361. A rosary prayer will be said at 6 p.m. Interment will be follow at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Aug. 9, 2001, at 3 p.m. A mass will precede the interment at 2:45 p.m. at the Old Post Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to Fort Walton Beach High School scholarship fund in memory of Kristofer Paolo L. Villanueva.
