Lucille V. Tomberlin
Lucille V. Tomberlin went to be with her beloved husband Grady and infant son on Sunday, May 24, 1998, after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born in Hamilton Crossroads, Ala., on Oct. 9, 1914, to Alto and Nancy Shiver. She had resided in Niceville, Fla., since the early 1940s and had been a longtime devoted member of the Pine Lake Church of Christ.
Lucille was preceded in death by her husband Grady Tomberlin, their infant son, and brothers Cecil Shiver and G.B. Shiver.
Surviving family members are brothers Virgel Shiver, of Phenix City, Ala., Elmer Shiver and wife Mary, of Phenix City, Donald Ray Shiver and wife Joyce, of Phenix City, and Bennett Shiver and wife Betty, of Niceville; much loved nephew Danny Shiver and niece Tina Coleman; a very special sister-in-law Thelma Harding, who showed so much love and support; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.
Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, May 27, at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home in Niceville with Terry Hanna officiating. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. followed by services at 10 a.m. Graveside services will be held at Hamilton Crossroads at 2:30 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Bennett Shiver, Danny Shiver, Larry Shiver, Mike Shiver, Preston Shiver and Wayne Hebert. Honorary pallbearers will be Virgel Shiver, Elmer Shiver and Donald Ray Shiver.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home of Niceville is entrusted with arrangements.
Jean Ann Decker
Jean Ann Decker, age 70, of Crestview, Fla., went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, May 24, 1998, from North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview.
Mrs. Decker was born in Lynnbrook, Long Island, N.Y., on Aug. 31, 1927, to Albert F. and Margaret Ann Kittle Armand, and had been a resident of the Northwest Florida area since moving here from Interlachen, Fla., in 1998. She was a member of First Methodist Church of Interlachen.
She was a devoted and loving wife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Survivors include her husband of 52 years of marriage, Ritter Edward Decker of Crestview; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Howard Eastlack of Laurel Hill, Fla.; son and daughter-in-law, Ritter A. and Elaine Decker of Shirley, N.Y.; grandchildren, Richard Eastlack of Waycross, Ga., Rebekah Hansford of Crestview, Barbara Decker, Ritter B. Decker and Kari Decker of Shirley, N.Y.; and great-grandchildren, Tyler Hansford, Rodney Hansford, Rebekah Lynn Hansford, Brittany Eastlack, John-Carl Wagner and Samantha Kay Wagner.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Jean Ann Decker will be conducted from the chapel of Whitehurst Funeral Home on Thursday, May 28, at 5 p.m. with the Rev. Carroll Senn officiating. Interment of Mrs. Decker's remains will be in Pineview Cemetery in Interlachen at a later date.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, Crestview.
Joe Gill Gillespie
Retired Col. Joe Gill Gillespie passed away Sunday, May 24, 1998, in Longwood, Fla., from Alzheimer's disease.
Col. Gillespie was a longtime resident of the Fort Walton Beach, Fla., area. He most recently reside d near Orlando, in Longwood.
Col. Gillespie was born to Joe Gill and Margaret Dean Gillespie in Petersburg, Tenn., on Feb. 14, 1915. His family moved to Savannah, Ga., in the 1920s. He graduated from the University of Georgia, Athens, in 1938, with a B.S. in chemistry. He excelled as a member of the University of Georgia track team. He was a member of the ROTC Detachment at Georgia and received a reserve commission as a second lieutenant in the cavalry. After serving one year as a cavalry officer, he transferred to the Army Air Corps and entered flight training, graduating from flying school in 1940.
In 1944, he was stationed at the Orlando Air Base where he met and married his wife of 54 years, Orlene Fay Cox of Orlando. Immediately after his wedding, Col. Gillespie received his first duty in World War II in antisubmarine work on the East coast. His distinguished military career included serving as commander of a night photo-reconnaissance squadron from D-Day until the end of the war in Europe. In 1946, he opened the first Air Force ROTC detachment at the University of Florida, where he was professor of air science and tactics until 1950. He was then assigned to Far Eastern Air Forces headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. He returned to the U.S. in 1953 to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. In 1955, he was assigned to the Air Force Cambridge Research Center and in 1960 to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. At Eglin he was deputy and director of electronic systems, chief of Plans and Requirement Office, and special assistant to the vice commander, Air Proving Ground Center.
Col. Gillespie retired from the Air Force in 1967 and remained in the Fort Walton Beach area where he pursued two of his greatest passions -- fishing and golfing. He briefly owned a transmission repair service in Fort Walton Beach and developed real estate in Santa Rosa County. He was active in Rotary International Chapter, serving as Fort Walton Beach chapter president in 1975/76. He was recognized for his outstanding service to Rotary in 1980. He chaired the annual Billy Bowlegs benefit golf tournament in 1972 and 1973. He also contributed to the founding of the Air Force Armament Museum. In 1996, he moved to Longwood.
Survivors include his wife, Orlene of Longwood; his children, Gail Rogers of Carrboro, N.C., Donna of San Francisco, Calif., Jo Ann Jackson of Longwood, and Gill of Renton, W.Va.; grandchildren, Amy Rogers, Nora Rogers, Tessa Jackson, Alexis Jackson, Carly Jackson and Taylor Self, and a seventh grandchild expected in November; brothers, Edward of Montgomery, Ala., and John of Savannah, Ga.; and a sister, Marguerite (Tats) Meadows of Signal Mountain, Tenn. A second sister, Mildred Booker, is deceased.
Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 2010 Mizell Ave., Winter Park, FL 32792.
Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, May 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. and funeral services will be conducted on Friday, May 29, at 11 a.m. in Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home in Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Arthur E. Campbell
Arthur E. Campbell, born July 13, 1927, passed away May 22, 1998.
A native of Gloucester, Mass., and New Orleans, he was a resident of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., for six years.
Survivors include a loving and devoted wife, Lorraine O. Campbell; two daughters; one son; and five grandchildren.
Missed and remembered by those who loved him. He was a Korean and World War II veteran who served not only the country he loved but all of humanity proudly. Artist, carpenter, welder, he gave tirelessly to the building trades and enjoyed his active and busy life.
Lillie Bell Nelson
Lillie Bell "Nana" Nelson, age 84, departed this life on May 22, 1998, at her home.
She was a longtime resident of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. "Nana" was born in Union Springs, Ala., on April 11, 1914, to the late Mollie and Horace Robinson.
The funeral will be conducted at High Ridge Baptist Church in Inverness, Ala., at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 30. Interment will follow in Mount Olive Cemetery.
Mrs. Nelson is survived by her daughter, Alma Mitchell and husband James of Fort Walton Beach; sons, Chester (Johnnie) Munn of Union Springs, and Fred Munn of Fort Walton Beach; 24 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 29.
Carter Funeral Home, Union Springs, is in charge of arrangements.
Marilyn J. Allen
Marilyn J. Allen, age 59, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., died May 26, 1998, after a brief illness.
Mrs. Allen is survived by her loving husband, John Allen; daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Jim Carroccia; son, Tim Allen; stepdaughter and son-in-law, Connie and John Smith; and stepdaughter and son-in-law, Chris and John Dietrich. She will also be missed and remembered by six granddaughters; and one great-granddaughter.
She and her husband began retired life in Santa Rosa Beach 10 years ago after residing in New York state.
Marilyn led an active life, traveling in their RV. She leaves countless friends who will always remember her zest for life and her limitless generosity.
An informal memorial service to celebrate her life will be held waterside at Cessna Park, Hogtown Bayou, on Friday, May 29, at 4 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, her family requests donations be made to South Walton Caring and Sharing (267-2866); P.O. Box 2122; Neally Business Village; Santa Rosa Beach; FL 32459.
Lloyd Pat Holt
Lloyd Pat Holt, age 52, of Crestview, Fla., died Wednesday, May 27, 1998, in a local hospital.
He was born in Milligan, Fla., on Dec. 4, 1945, to Pasco and Velma Holt. Pat was retired from civil service at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and was a lifelong resident of Okaloosa County, Fla.
Survivors include his mother, Velma Holt of Crestview; daughter and son-in-law, Victoria and James Vieux of Bossier City, La.; sister, Katie Bell Shakley of Milligan, Fla.; nephew, Ricky Holt of Holt, Fla.; niece, Patricia Holt of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; and grandchildren, Timothy C. Vieux and James P. Vieux.
The family will receive friends at McLaughlin Chapel in Crestview from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, May 29, at McLaughlin Chapel in Crestview with the Rev. Ted Jernigan officiating. Burial will follow in Milligan Cemetery.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Juan Jose Sotuyo
Juan Jose "Johnny" Sotuyo, age 34, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Wednesday, May 27, 1998, at his home.
He formerly owned his own moving business in Fort Walton Beach and was a Baptist by faith. He was born in Pinehurst, N.C., and had resided in the Fort Walton Beach area all of his life.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Antonio Sotuyo, in 1988.
He is survived by his parents, Jose C. and Bernice D. Sotuyo of Fort Walton Beach; brothers, Jose C. Sotuyo of Maryville, Tenn., and Thomas L. Sotuyo of Fort Walton Beach; maternal grandmother, Lucille Wilburn of Maryville; uncle, Thomas Sotuyo and wife Irma of McAllen, Texas; and aunt, Rachel Harris of McAllen.
Johnny will be taken to Miller Mortuary, 915 W. Broadway, Maryville, TN 37801, for services with burial at the Chilhowee View Cemetery in Maryville.
McLaughlin Mortuary, Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Rodney Duane Smith
Rodney Duane Smith, age 29, of Spring Lake Park, Minn., passed away May 13, 1998, and was buried on May 19 in Hibbing, Minn.
He was born on Dec. 9, 1968.
Rodney is survived by his wife, Kelli of Spring Lake Park; mother, Venita June Castleberry; stepfather, Randall Lee Castleberry; brother, James Russell Smith of Crestview, Fla.; father, James Harold Smith of Hibbing; and brother, Russell (Tigger) Smith of Spring Lake Park.
Rodney lived in Crestview from 1980 to 1986. He attended Southside Elementary, Richbourg, Crestview High School and Southside Baptist Church. He worked as a tool and dye maker and enjoyed pheasant hunting with his spaniel, Wishbone.
The family requests donations to the Arthritis Foundation or Suicide Prevention Center. They would like to extend a special thank you to New Beginnings and Raymond Williams.
