Tilman John Chambers
Tilman John Chambers of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., who was born in Sidon, Ark., on Aug. 2, 1931, has passed on to his Heavenly Home on Aug. 17, 1998.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Joyce L. Chambers; and their four children, Danita Clark, married to James Clark, Tilman John Chambers Jr., married to Bettye J. Chambers, Mitchell Chambers, and Sena C. Adams, married to Capt. Brian W. Adams, U.S.A., also, his seven grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at Abundant Life Church in Fort Walton Beach.
Those parties desiring to send flowers should send them to 233 Hill Ave., Fort Walton Beach.
Cynthia Renae Howard
Cynthia Renae Howard, age 33, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1998, of complications from diabetes.
Renae was born Sept. 26, 1964, to James Howard, former police chief of Niceville, Fla., and Mary Ellen Howard, a teacher at Ruckel Middle School. Both parents are deceased.
Renae graduated from Niceville High School and was active in the First Assembly of God churches in Niceville and Valparaiso, Fla. She resided in Van Nuys, Calif., where she continued her walk with the Lord, serving and praising Him as a talented vocalist.
Renae is survived by her maternal grandmother, Annie Pearl Wyrosdick of Elba, Ala.; uncles and aunts, Billy and Frankie Wyrosdick, Jean Hodge, and Louise Farris of Elba; Walter Howard of Niceville; Lottie Fay Howard of Pink Hill, N.C.; Clayton and Evelyn Whayley, and Dorothy and Wilson Smith of Deep Run, N.C. Renae is also survived by several cousins in Niceville, Elba and the North Carolina area.
Visitation for Renae will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wyatt Funeral Home on Hwy. 331 south in Opp, Ala.
Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, in Sunset Cemetery, Valparaiso.
Wyatt Funeral Home, Opp, is entrusted with the services and arrangements.
Martha C. Kilpatrick
Martha C. Kilpatrick, age 66, of Niceville, Fla., died Monday, Aug. 17, 1998, at her home.
She was born in Sanford, Fla., where she had resided all of her life before moving to Niceville two months ago. In Sanford she held memberships in Grace United Methodist Church and the Pilot Club, and was active in the Reach for Recovery Breast Cancer Support Group.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Kilpatrick.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Don Deal of Niceville; brother, George Chapman of Evans, Ga.; and sister, Barbara Moore of Summerville, S.C.
Funeral services will be conducted at Gramkow Funeral Home, 500 E. Airport Blvd., Sanford, FL 32773, on Friday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dave Liddell officiating. Interment will follow in Oaklawn Memorial Park of Sanford.
The family will receive friends at Gramkow Funeral Home one hour prior to services.
Floral contributions are accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 4 Jackson St. N.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548; or to Habitat for Humanity, 238 Eglin Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with local arrangements.
Travis A. Locke
Travis A. Locke, age 84, of Navarre, Fla., went to be with the Lord on Aug. 18, 1998.
Travis was born on April 20, 1914, to John and Mary Locke. He had been living in this area since 1953. Travis enjoyed fishing and really loved working in his garden and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and a good friend to many and will be missed by all who knew him.
Travis is survived by his son, Charles A. and wife Bonita Locke of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; brother, Ray and wife Betty Locke of Arcadia, Fla.; sisters, Francis and husband Arcody Bowers of Bonifay, Fla., Gladys Griffis of Merritt Island, Fla.; grandchildren, Tamie and Jeffrey Ehlers, Terry and Bill Dennis, Charles and Sherri Locke, John and Caroline Locke, Jeffrey and Annie Locke, Tanya Locke, Theresa and Kevin Dennie; great-grandchildren, Jason Weaver, Brianna Weaver, Michael Locke, Andrew Locke, Matthew Locke, Brodie Locke, Dalton Locke and Taegan Locke.
A visitation will be held at McLaughlin Mortuary from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at McLaughlin Mortuary. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Nellie Elizabeth Buchtel
Nellie Elizabeth Buchtel, age 70, formerly of Crestview, Fla., passed away Aug. 17, 1998, in Greenville, S.C.
Mrs. Buchtel was born in New Orleans on Jan. 29, 1928. She was retired from civil service, where she was a legal secretary, and was a member of Westwood Church of God in Simpsonville, S.C.
Mrs. Buchtel is survived by her son, Harley Frank Buchtel of Simpsonville; daughters, Sharon Elizabeth Beaver of Arch Dalen, N.C., Connie McWilliams of Boston, Jo Ann Helton of Austin, Texas, Dixie Mary Lee Disotell of Knotz Springs, La., Georgia Marie Buchtel of San Antonio, Texas, and Margurite Rose Calabrese of Mapleton, Maine. She leaves 16 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She will be missed by all who knew her.
A graveside service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday in Almarante Cemetery in Laurel Hill, Fla. Her son, Harley Frank Buchtel, will officiate, and burial will follow.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Warren G. Potter
Warren G. Potter, age 76, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Monday, Aug. 17, 1998, in a Pensacola, Fla., hospital.
Mr. Potter was born on Oct. 17, 1921, to William A. and Hattie M. Morgan Potter in Sasawaka, Okla. He moved to this area in 1977 from San Antonio, Texas, and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving his country during World War II and the Korean conflict. He was a minister for seven years in Virginia and a substitute teacher at Fort Walton Beach High School and a church elder at Fort Walton Church of Christ.
Survivors include his loving wife of 53 years, Bess Potter of Fort Walton Beach; sons, Larry Potter of Ottawa, Kan., and Tony Potter of San Antonio; daughters, Patty Campbell of Lakeland, Fla., and Karen Sue Frederick of Avondale, La.; brother, Jim Potter of San Antonio; sisters, Inez Perkins of Orem, Utah, and Veyda Burbridge of Oklahoma City; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services will be conducted at Fort Walton Church of Christ on Thursday at 10 a.m. with Mr. Ross Mitchell and Mr. Billy Moore officiating. Mr. Potter will be placed in the church one hour prior to services.
Additional services and interment will be under the direction of Hackney-Gish Funeral Home, 304 S. Washington, Hobart, OK 73651.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fort Walton Church of Christ, P.O. Box 1720, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Lula Merle Hughes
Lula Merle Hughes, age 93, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., died in a local hospital Tuesday, Aug. 18, 1998.
She was born on April 21, 1905, in Walton County, Fla., and had been a resident of DeFuniak Springs for the past 30 years. Mrs. Hughes was Methodist by faith and a member of First United Methodist Church of DeFuniak Springs.
Mrs. Hughes was preceded in death by her husband, C.A. Hughes; and one sister, Vertie J. Caswell.
She is survived by a daughter, Helen Hughes Woodford of Fort Collins, Colo.; brother, Russell Johnson of DeFuniak Springs; sister, Wanda Ward of Freeport, Fla.; grandson, Wendell Woodford of California; three nieces; and six nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Thomas Sowell officiating. Visitation will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday in the chapel. Interment will follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
Flowers are accepted, or memorial donations may be made to your favorite charity.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Esther M. Baylet
Esther M. Baylet, age 93, died Aug. 20, 1998, while a resident of Walton County Convalescent Center.
She is survived by a daughter, Dorothy Geisler and son-in-law Robert Geisler, both of Orlando, Fla.; and a son, Warren W. Baylet of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Esther Baylet had strong faith and belief in Jesus Christ and worshiped him with other Christians in the Methodist Church.
She was born in Pittsburgh and had lived in Florida for the past eight years.
Also surviving her are six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Orlando with family and friends.
Arrangements are being handled by the National Cremation Society.
Billy Ralph Simmons Sr.
Billy Ralph Simmons Sr., age 56, of Freeport, Fla., died in an area hospital Aug. 19, 1998.
He was born on Oct. 18, 1941, in DeFuniak Springs, Fla. Mr. Simmons was a lifelong resident of Freeport. He was a member of Damascus Assembly of God. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and was always willing to lend a helping hand.
Mr. Simmons was preceded in death by his father, Willie Simmons; and brother, Guy R. Simmons.
Mr. Simmons is survived by his mother, Lela Simmons of Freeport; companion, Patsy Thompson of Freeport; son, Billy R. Simmons Jr. and wife Michelle of Villa Tasso, Fla.; daughters, Bama Sellers and husband Robert of DeFuniak Springs, Teresa Simmons of Basin Bayou, Fla., and Celia Simmons of Ozark, Ala.; brothers, Hugh Simmons, Wayne Simmons, Charles Simmons and Miles Simmons, all of Freeport, and Joe Simmons of Louisville, Ky.; sisters, Odessa Matthews of Westville, Fla., Thelma Camara of Freeport, and Dell Martin of Freeport; grandchildren, Shiloh Oxley, Travis Knauber, Mallory Simmons, Nathan Green, Tyler Simmons, David Simmons and Kyle Simmons; and lifelong friend, A.C. Ward.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Damascus Assembly of God with the Rev. Louis Taunton officiating.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Damascus Assembly God in Freeport. Interment will follow in Hatcher Cemetery.
Flowers are accepted or memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association.
Pallbearers are Sidney Gilly, Kip Jackson, Charlie Simmons, Shiloh Oxley, Clay Simmons, Michael Simmons and Travis Knauber. Honorary pallbearers are the bus drivers of Walton County, Fla.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, is in charge of arrangements.
June White Decker
June White Decker, age 75, of Shalimar, Fla., died Friday, Aug. 21, 1998, at her home. She was the owner/operator of June's Dunes in Destin and was recently honored by having the proposed public beach park in Destin named for her.
Her friends come from many countries and states. She has been an avid supporter of many environmental and animal protection organizations. June was born on June 25, 1923, in Braxton County, W.Va., and resided in this area for the past 55 years. She was a member of the Shalimar Presbyterian Church.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. C.C. "Bud" White, in 1964, as well as three brothers and six sisters.
She is survived by her husband, Wilbur E. Decker of Shalimar; her son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Mary Alice White; and her grandsons, Clint White and Taylor White, all of Destin; her sister, Zell Perkins of Harrisville, W.Va.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., today from 5 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at Shalimar Presbyterian Church on Monday, Aug. 24, 1998, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Thomas Tidwell officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be John Bass, John Merrell, Larry Wick, James Decker, Clint White and Taylor White.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to either the American Cancer Society, 4 Jackson St. NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, or to Feline Friends of Destin.
McLaughlin Mortuary, Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
