U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Ronald Kelly Sholes
Ronald Kelly Sholes, age 51, of Basin Bayou near Freeport, Fla., died at his home on Friday evening, Aug. 7, 1998.
As a member of the U.S. Air Force's elite pararescue team, Ron served a tour in Vietnam and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with one award, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, the NCO Professional Military Education Ribbon, the Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with three devices, the National Defense Service Medal, the Air Force Overseas Service Longtour Ribbon, the Vietnam Service Medal with two devices, the Air Force Presidential Unit Citation, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one award, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with two awards, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with one device, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with one device.
Having pursued a 20-year career in the Air Force, Ron retired with his wife of 31 years, Kathleen, and son, Brian, to Freeport, 12 years ago. His wife will continue to reside in Freeport, while his son now lives in DeFuniak Springs, Fla., with his wife Karen and their two children, Jamie, age 7, and Jessica, age 11/2.
Ron is also survived by his parents, Bud and Sylvia Sholes of Jacksonville, Fla.; and his sister, Melony Sholes Smith of Evergreen, Colo.
Funeral services, with full military honors, will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., on Wednesday at 2 p.m. with Mr. Richard Barr officiating. Friends are welcome to attend these graveside services.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in memory of Ronald K. Sholes be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida Inc., 2001 Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32501. The family will be forever grateful for their compassionate care and support during the last weeks of Ron's life.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, Fla., entrusted with arrangements.
Florence M. Zeff
Florence M. Zeff, age 73, of Baker, Fla., died Tuesday, Aug. 11, 1998, in a local nursing facility.
She was born in Pittsburgh and had been a resident of the Baker area since 1995. Mrs. Zeff was Jewish by faith.
Survivors include her daughter, Ruth Barnhill of Baker; son, Harry S. Zeff of the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area; brother, Sanford Middleman of Pittsburgh; sisters, Zella Davidow and Rhoda Friedman, all of Pittsburgh; grandson, David Barnhill; and great-grandson, Dakota Riley Barnhill.
There will be private burial services at a later date.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, Crestview, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Mildred Jetsen Davis
Mildred Jetsen Davis, age 78, of Destin, Fla., passed away early Saturday morning, Aug. 8, 1998.
Millie was born in Yankton, S.D., on May 5, 1920, to the late Hans and Emma Jepsen. She moved to Destin in 1986 from McLean, Va., where she worked as a secretary for the Fairfax County, Va., school system.
Mrs. Davis was an active member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church of Destin. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, sister, grandmother, good neighbor and friend.
Her interests included volunteer work for her church, gardening, reading, caring for her family and three cats -- Tiki, Buzz and Midnight -- and assisting Okaloosa-Walton Community College with the classification and display of the antique glass collection donated to the college by her and her late husband, L.R. Davis, who died in 1994.
Millie is survived by her daughter, Maryetta Doss of Destin; son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Susan Davis of Spring Hill, Fla.; granddaughters, Heather Davis of Newport, N.C., and Eve Hosley of Spring Hill, Fla.; brothers, Wayne and Glennys Jepsen, and Johnie and Mary Jepsen, both of Gayville, S.D., and their families; and brother-in-law, Selby Davis and wife Barbara of Richardson, Texas, and their family.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Destin.
In lieu of flowers, Millie requested donations be made to the National MS Society, 9550 Regency Square Blvd., Suite 104, Jacksonville, FL 32225.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., entrusted with arrangements.
Edna Lucille Nowling
Edna Lucille Nowling, age 78, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., died Aug. 11, 1998, at an area hospital.
Mrs. Nowling was born on May 9, 1920, and was a lifelong resident of Walton County, Fla. She was a devout Christian and a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in DeFuniak Springs. Mrs. Nowling loved gardening and was a well-known seamstress in the DeFuniak Springs area.
Mrs. Nowling was preceded in death by her parents, Solomon and Lula Pippin; brothers, Woodrow Pippin, Roy Pippin and Jake Pippin; and sisters, Sarah McKinney and Ruby Stokes.
Mrs. Nowling is survived by her husband, Howard Taft Nowling of DeFuniak Springs; daughter, Linda Sue Nowling Hudson and husband Kerry James Hudson of Luling, La.; brothers, Calvin Pippin of Minor Hill, Tenn., and Coolidge Pippin of Blountstown, Fla.; sisters, Rachel Morris of East Point, Fla., and Maude Yon of Altha, Fla.; and granddaughter, Hayley Noelle Hudson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Clary-Godwin Chapel. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home parlor.
Flowers will be accepted.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Christian Pittman
Mary Christian Pittman, age 78, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., died Aug. 12, 1998, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.
Mrs. Pittman was born on April 14, 1920, and was a lifelong resident of Walton County, Fla. She was Methodist by faith and a member of First United Methodist Church in DeFuniak Springs. Mrs. Pittman was very active in the church and was a member of Beta Sigma Phi for 47 years. She was also a Pink Lady volunteer for Walton Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Pittman was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Raymond Pittman.
Mrs. Pittman is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Mason and husband Ken Mason of Fort Pierce, Fla.; sister-in-law, Marion Hurst of Quincy, Fla.; grandchildren, Dustin and Kevin Mason; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bobby Ellison and Jessie Evans officiating. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, is in charge of arrangements.
William Roy Henley
Retired Tech. Sgt. William "Bill" Roy Henley, age 63, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Monday evening, Aug. 10, 1998, at his residence.
Mr. Henley was born on Jan. 28, 1935, in Cumberland, Md., to the late Roy and Inez Henley. He was a longtime resident of Fort Walton Beach and regularly attended Trinity United Methodist Church.
He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1973 after honorably serving 21 years. Mr. Henley enjoyed woodworking, riding motorcycles and antique cars. He was a member of Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 2193, serving as past governor of the lodge; PAC Car Club; VFW Post 7674; and American Legion Post 235.
Mr. Henley was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Frank and Inez Lyons. He is survived by his wife, Sandra C. Henley of Fort Walton Beach; daughters, Rochelle Garcia and husband Fedenico of Moorehaven, Fla., and Lori Turman of Fort Walton Beach; brother, Harold Henley and wife Beverly of North Olmstead, Ohio; grandchildren, Mariah Turman of Fort Walton Beach, David, Sandra and Rochelle Garcia, all of Moorehaven; and many cousins and nephews.
The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, with a Loyal Order of Moose Service at 5 p.m. with officers and members of Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 2193 officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 1005 W. College St., Suite B, Niceville, FL 32578, in memory of Mr. William Roy Henley.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Nellie Elliott Turner
Nellie Elliott Turner, age 93, of Destin, Fla., passed away Wednesday, Aug. 12, 1998, at Destin Health Care and Rehabilitation Center.
Mrs. Turner was born in McDonough, Ga., where she lived all her life until she came to Destin with her daughter and son-in-law in retirement in August 1996. She was a homemaker all her married life and a member of First Baptist Church of McDonough.
In addition to being the best mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was a wonderful friend to everyone who knew her. She lived at the Baptist Inn in Stockbridge, Ga., for 11 years before coming to Destin, and for the past two years at Destin Health Care, where she considered everyone there, especially her nurses, to be her friend.
Mrs. Turner was preceded in death by her husband, Edward E. Turner, who died in 1985 in McDonough. She was a wonderful, loving and giving mother to a daughter Betty and her husband John C. Pope of Destin; son, Joseph E. Turner and his wife Josephine of Conyers, Ga.; son, Richard E. Turner and his wife Rose of Sterrett, Ala.; a loving grandmother of Ed, Johnny, David, Linda, Ronnie, Denise, Gary and Angela; and a great-grandmother to nine.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. John C. Friedman of Destin United Methodist Church officiating.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Graveside services and interment will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in McDonough City Cemetery in McDonough with Dr. James Bradshaw of McDonough First Baptist Church officiating.
Those who desire may make memorial contributions in memory of Mrs. Nellie Elliott Turner to the Destin United Methodist Church or to First Baptist Church of McDonough.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 N.E. Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Barbara E. Brackins
Barbara E. Barnhill Brackins, age 80, of Pensacola, Fla., passed away in a Pensacola hospital on Saturday, Aug. 15, 1998. She was born on April 12, 1918, in DeFuniak Springs, Fla. She had lived all her life in Northwest Florida, residing in both Pensacola, and Crestview. She had been a member of the Assembly of God church in Crestview, Fla. She loved God and was a very faithful Christian. Family and friends would all say she was a very caring and loving person. The family would like to express a special thanks to Mr. Harvey Peyton for his loving and caring of Barbara as her caregiver and a special friend.
She was preceded in death by her husband and sister.
Survivors include her brothers: Daniel, Walter, and Malcolm Owen; sisters: Noma Godwin, Myrtice Brabiston, Bernice Shelby, Jessie Ewing; and a host of nieces and nephews and friends.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, 1998. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, 1998, at the McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Early Skipper officiating. Burial will follow in Live Oak Park Cemetery, Crestview, Fla.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, 492 E. Pine Ave., Crestview, Fla., entrusted with the services and arrangements.
Jason C. Ruckel
Jason Christopher Ruckel, age 27, died Monday, Aug. 10, 1998, in Chamonix, France, while climbing in the French Alps.
Jason was a student of bio-chemistry at the University of Heidelburg in Germany, and an accomplished mountain climber.
Jason also served in the United States Marine Corps, and graduated as Platoon 1099 Honor Man in San Diego.
A visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, 1998, at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church.
A funeral Mass for Jason will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, 1998, at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Church, with father Howard Lesch as celebrant. Interment will follow at Heritage Gardens Cemetery, Niceville, Fla.
Survivors are his parents James P. Ruckel, Niceville, Fla., and Diane Rivera Seabrook, Texas; sister Melissa Carter, Houston, Texas; brothers, Michael Carter, Denison, Texas, Howard Madison Ruckel, Niceville, Fla., Daniel Dorrian, Seabrook, Texas, James P. Ruckel Jr., Niceville, Fla.; and the grandparents are Col. W.E. and Gilda Barber, Gulfport, Miss., and Mr. and Mrs. C. Walter Ruckel, Niceville, Fla.
McLaughlin Twin City Funeral Home Niceville, Fla., is entrusted with the arrangements.
Frank Gabbard
Frank Gabbard, age 63, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Sunday morning, Aug. 16, 1998, at his home.
He was a native of Elkatawa, Ky., and had lived in Crestview since 1985. Mr. Gabbard retired from the U.S. Air Force as a technical sergeant with 20 years of service.
Survivors include his wife, Peggy Gabbard of Crestview; daughters, Stella Higginson and Ruby Smith, both of Arkansas; sister, Ruby Fentress of Kentucky; and five grandchildren.
Private services and burial will be held in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
