Monday, February 10, 2003

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Belleair Bluffs

• MUNYAN, RALPH W. SR., 77, of Belleair Bluffs, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at Largo Medical Center. He was born in Camden, N.J., and came here in 1965 from Somerdale, N.J. He was the retired founder of Munyan Painting in Clearwater. An Army veteran of World War II, he served with the 90th Infantry and received a Purple Heart. He was Protestant. Survivors include three sons, Kenny, Belleair Bluffs, Ralph Jr., Largo, and Bill, St. Petersburg; a daughter, Debbie Hall, Woodstock, Ga.; a sister, Evelyn Leonhardt, Clearwater; eight grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Serenity Gardens Chapel, Largo.

Clearwater

• AUDETTE, TERRANCE L., 58, of Clearwater, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at home under the care of Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. He came here in 1981 from his native Burlington, Vt. He was a truck driver. He was Catholic. Survivors include his wife, Patricia A.; four sons, Jason, Clearwater, Mark and Joe, both of Burlington, and Kevin Perry, Bolton, Vt.; two daughters, Penny Stackhouse, Land O'Lakes, and Michelle Dubois, Burlington; a brother, Gregory, Colchester, Vt.; and 13 grandchildren. Abbey Affordable Cremation & Funeral Services, Largo.
• BEAUDRY, MARIA GONSALVES, 74, of Clearwater, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater. She was born in Ludlow, Mass., and came here in 1980 from Springfield, Mass. She was a homemaker and a tailor. She was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Largo. Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Willard S.; two daughters, Doreen Lee Lanning, Lexington, N.C., and Anita Louise Reilly, Springfield; a sister, Idalina Ferreora, Clearwater; three brothers, Joaquim Leal, Largo, August Leal, Hollywood, and Antonio Leal, Ludlow; and five grandchildren. E. James Reese Funeral Home & Crematory, Seminole.
• GRIMES, NONA OLENE, 91, of Clearwater, died Sunday (Feb. 9, 2003) at Mease Countryside Hospital, Safety Harbor. She was born in Murphysboro, Ill., and came here in 1972 from Springfield, Ill. She was a homemaker. She was an avid bridge payer. She was a member of the Great Books Club and the Cousteau Society. Survivors include two daughters, Nancy Cappetta, Largo, and Georgia L. Pedigo, Eaton, Colo.; a son, Charles, Inverness; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, Clearwater.
• HAAG, CHARLES F. SR., 89, of Clearwater, died Saturday (Feb. 8, 2003) at Palm Garden of Clearwater nursing home. He was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and came here in 1963 from Columbus, Ga. He retired from the Army with the rank of lieutenant colonel after 22 years of service and remained active in the Army Reserve. In 1965 he founded Chief Charley's Restaurants with locations in Clearwater, Dunedin, St. Petersburg, Seminole, New Port Richey and Brooksville. He retired in 1990. He was a member of Light of Christ Catholic Church, Clearwater. Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Stephanie; three daughters, Patricia Brunette, Clearwater, Teri Ogden, Dunedin, and Carol Haag, Seattle; two sons, John, Orlando, and Charles F. Jr., Denver, N.C.; a stepdaughter, Susan Raffel, Celebration; a stepson, Bruce Cardinal, Clearwater; and nine grandchildren. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Belcher Road Chapel Clearwater.
• HILL, VIRGINIA M., 91, of Clearwater, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at home. She was born in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., and came here in 1972 from Scituate, Mass. She was a homemaker and an accomplished pianist who worked as a rehearsal pianist for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She was Catholic. Survivors include three daughters, Charlene A. Comeau, Clearwater, Virginia Hill, New York, and Christe Such, Duxbury, Mass.; two sons, Charles E. Jr., Holiday, and Ronald C., Mendon, Mass.; and nine grandchildren. Rhodes Funeral Directors, Druid Chapel, Clearwater.
• KOWALSKI, WILLIAM A., 91, of Tonawanda, N.Y., and a seasonal resident of Clearwater, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at Morton Plant Rehabilitation Center, Clearwater. He was born in Buffalo, N.Y., and had been coming here annually since 1981 from Tonawanda, where he was a member of the Carpenter's Union. He was Catholic. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Rose; a son, William, Waxahachie, Texas; two daughters, Marjorie Rohe, Libertyville, Ill., and Susan Butera, Depew, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Belcher Road Chapel, Clearwater.
• SEIBERT, GRACE, 85, of Clearwater, died Saturday (Feb. 8, 2003) at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and came here in 1974 from the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. She was a homemaker. She enjoyed crafting stained glass, gardening and golf. Survivors include her husband of 65 years, George J.; two daughters, Carole Young, Largo, and Kay Quackenbush, Dunedin; a son, Gregory, Largo; six grandchildren; and three great-grandsons. Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, Clearwater.
• WELCH, WILLIAM C., 75, of Inverness, formerly of Clearwater, died Thursday (Feb. 6, 2003) at Monroe Regional Medical Center, Ocala. He was born in Urbana, Ill., and moved to Inverness in 1999 from Clearwater. He worked as a handyman in a restaurant. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the Vineyard Church and the East Inverness Community Club. Survivors include his legal guardian, Betty Reid, Inverness; three nieces, Traci and Cathy Reid, both of Clearwater, and Alley Reid, Inverness; a nephew, Robert Reid, Homosassa; Wilder Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.
• WOLFSON, SUE, 94, of Clearwater, formerly of Tampa, died Saturday (Feb. 8, 2003) at Menorah Manor, St. Petersburg. She was born in Poland and came here in 1979 from Tampa. She worked as a financial adviser with IDS for 35 years. She was a member of Congregation Rodeph Sholom, Tampa, for 30 years and a member of Temple B'Nai Israel, Clearwater, the Brandeis Women and Hadassah and past president of B'nai Brith Women. Survivors include two nieces and a nephew. Beth David North Chapel of David C. Gross Funeral Homes, Clearwater.

Dunedin

• CAPASSO, MARJORIE B., 73, of Dunedin, died Saturday (Feb. 8, 2003) at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater. She was born in New York City and came here in 1994 from New York. She worked 25 years as a manager at the White Plains Hotel. Survivors include her husband of 40 years, Anthony "Tony;" three daughters, Susan DePencier, Clearwater, Jerri Gerner, Los Angeles, and Karen Ann Capasso, Ossining, N.Y.; and a grandson, Jason Mazza, Palm Harbor. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Dunedin Chapel.

Largo

• PUPEK, FRANK "STEVE," 83, of Largo, died Thursday (Feb. 6, 2003) at the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines. He was born in Boston and came here in 1980 from Massachusetts, where he owned and operated Acme Cleaning Service in Hanson, Mass. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was Catholic and a member of the American Legion, the Masonic Lodge and the DAV. Survivors include his wife of 13 years, Florance; two stepsons, Dean LaChance, Seminole, and David LaChance, St. Petersburg; a stepdaughter, Diane Kosiewski, Orlando; a sister, Margaret Harris, Massachusetts; a grandson, Steven, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.; nine stepgrandchildren; and five stepgreat-grandchildren. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Serenity Gardens Chapel, Largo.
• ZORNOW, BERNARD J., 79, of Largo, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at home under the care of Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. He was born in Pittsford, N.Y., and came here in 1991 from Rochester, N.Y., where he retired as traffic manager for General Motors. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. He was Catholic. Survivors include his wife of 10 years, Shirley F.; two sons, James, Webster, N.Y., and Joseph, Rochester; three daughters, Mary Anne Kostka, Fairport, N.Y., Katy Calitri, Webster, and Ellen Holtz, Gansevoort, N.Y.; a brother, Arthur, Myrtle Beach, N.C.; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Serenity Gardens Chapel, Largo.

Palm Harbor

• TAYLOR, ANNE A., 89, of Palm Harbor, formerly of Holiday, died Sunday (Feb. 9, 2003) at St. Mark Village continuing care community, Palm Harbor. She was born in Richmond, Va., moved in 1988 to Holiday from Lakeland and in 1989 to Palm Harbor. She was a homemaker. She was Catholic. Survivors include two sons, Reginald Lee Jr., Holiday, and Richard Stanley Taylor, San Francisco; a daughter, Carole Chastain, Lakeland; two sisters, Helen Noel, Palm Harbor, and Katherine Hawkins, Palm city; 11 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Thomas B. Dobies Funeral Home, Bartelt Road Chapel, Holiday
• VALEK, GEORGE W., 85, of Palm Harbor, formerly of Clearwater, died Thursday (Feb. 6, 2003) at home. He was born in Detroit, came to Clearwater in 1978 from Westland, Mich., and moved in 1984 to Palm Harbor. He retired as the owner and operator of Block and Ready Mix Co. He was an Army veteran of World War II, and a member of the DAV and SOKOL. Survivors include a daughter, Catherine Thompson, Palm Harbor; a son, Ronald G., Canton, Mich.; four grandchildren, Rhonda Thompson, Palm Harbor, Scott Thompson, Largo, Jackie McDermott, Knoxville, Tenn., and Andrea Valek, Canton; and two great-grandchildren. Curlew Hills Funeral Home, Palm Harbor.

Tarpon Springs

• VILLIARD, DUWAYNE BERNARD, 70, of St. Petersburg, formerly of Tarpon Springs, died Thursday (Feb. 6, 2003) at St. Anthony Hospital. He was born in Radisson, Wis., came to Tarpon Springs in 1949 from Exeland, Wis., and moved to St. Petersburg in 1979. He worked as a dairy foreman for Pansy-Bryan Dairy for 20 years and later for Salls Dairy in Tarpon Springs. He retired as grounds maintenance foreman for Paradise Shores in St. Petersburg after 13 years of service. He was a member of Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg. He enjoyed camping, fishing and playing cards. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Dolores; five daughters, Bernadine D. Clark and Lucy Ammons, both of Palm Harbor, and Donna Tsangaris, Vicky Villiard and Paulette Hooper, all of Tarpon Springs; a son, Jerome, Holiday: five sisters, Alma Swan, Eau Claire, Wis., Lila Hall and Mary Brandt, both of Hayward, Wis., Marge Gapinski, Exeland, and Doris Ostic, Minneapolis; three brothers, James, Grays Lake, Ill., Roger, Lake Villa, Ill., and Lynn, Antioch, Ill.; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Sylvan Abbey Funeral Home, Clearwater.

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Seminole

• FLESCH, EDWARD RAYMOND, 80, of Seminole, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines. Born in Chicago, he came here in 1978 from Barrington, Ill., after retiring as a district manager at Illinois Bell Telephone Co. Locally, he worked as a building inspector for the city of Pinellas Park for five years. He served in the Air Force signal corps during World War II. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, the Ameritech Pensioners Club Sun Coast, Clearwater Central Telephone Pioneers, American Legion Post 252 in Seminole and the Teddy Bears travel club. Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Dorothy; three daughters, Janet Hill-Hazlett and Jacquelin Baracani, both of Seminole, and Joanne Ywanauskas, Fort Myers; a brother, Frank W., Colorado Springs, Colo.; two sisters, Ruth Doyle, Punta Gorda, and Ethel Mae Stewart, Mineral Point, Wis.; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Lewis W. Mohn Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Seminole.

Gulfport

• GEERDES, IRENE E., 82, of Gulfport, died Saturday (Feb. 8, 2003) at Palms of Pasadena Hospital, South Pasadena. Born in Charter Oak, Iowa, she came here in 1987 from Olean, N.Y. She was a schoolteacher in Iowa and also worked for the International Walther League in Chicago. She was a Bible class instructor and mission director at Our Savior Lutheran Church and a member of the church's women's groups. Survivors include her husband of 54 years, the Rev. Bernard; four daughters, Jenene Karamon, Stamford, Conn.; Jan Anderko, Des Plaines, Ill.; Jeri Montalto, Akron, Ohio; and Jody Wallace, St. Louis; two brothers, John "Bud" Ehler, Holstein, Iowa, and DeWayne Ehler, Ankeny, Iowa; a sister, Elaine Sahl, Minot, N.D.; and eight grandchildren. Gee & Sorensen Funeral Home and Cremation Services, St. Petersburg.

Pinellas Park

• THOMAS, WILLIAM, 79, of Pinellas Park, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at Hospice House Woodside, Pinellas Park. Born in Spartanburg, S.C., he came here in 1976 from Rock Island, Ill. He was a lineman for Carolina Power & Light. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Wanda Scott Thomas; two sons, William "Bill" Jr., Palm Harbor, and Kenneth, Brandon; a daughter, Julie Whitman, Pinellas Park; a brother, Frederick Rosser, Arlington, Va.; five sisters, Virginia Newman, Mount Pleasant, S.C.; Leona Bullard and Juanita Boroughs, both of Charleston, S.C.; and Mary Thomas and Helen Hinesley, both of Carthage, N.C.; and three grandchildren. Veterans Cremation & Burial Society, Clearwater.

St. Petersburg

• BERNIER, RITA L., 79, of St. Petersburg, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at Palms of Pasadena Hospital, South Pasadena. She was born in Manchester, N.H., and came here in 1988 from Laconia, N.H. She was a retired electronics assembler for RCL Electronics and Arcidy Electronics, both in Manchester. She was Catholic. Survivors include a son, Norman R. Bernier, St. Petersburg; a daughter, Louise Y. Bernier, and a sister, Claire Levesque, both of Manchester; a granddaughter, Billie Gregorio, and two great-grandchildren, Darcy and Kelsey, all of New Boston, N.H. Veterans Cremation and Burial Society, Clearwater.
• DeGRAW, WILLIAM T., 65, of St. Petersburg, died Saturday (Feb. 8, 2003) at home. He came here in 1943 from his native Beaver Falls, Pa. He worked in maintenance at the St. Petersburg Police Department for more than 28 years. He graduated from St. Petersburg High School. He served in the Air Force from 1955 to 1963 and in the Navy Reserve from 1963 to 1983. He was a member and former trustee of AMVETS Post 1 and was involved in community service. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. He was an avid motorcyclist. Survivors include a brother, John G., Williamstown, N.Y. National Cremation Society, St. Petersburg.
• JOHNSON, JOSIAH "JOE," 85, of St. Petersburg, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at Concordia Manor Healthcare Facility. He was born in Meridian, Miss., and came here in 1944 after serving in the Army during World War II. A professional cook, he started a business selling pies and other baked goods; he was known as the Pie Man. He also was a cook at the Chatter Box Restaurant, Webb's City and Bradford Coach House. He retired in 1983 as the head cook for the St. Petersburg City Jail. He was a deacon for 42 years and co-founder of Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, and served on the deacon and trustee boards. Survivors include five sons, Harrie Jones Jr., Japan; Johnny Johnson, Philadelphia; Melvin Johnson, Rockledge; and Jonathan "Joe" Johnson and Wallace Johnson, both of St. Petersburg; four daughters, Julia Lyons, Margie Smith, Athena Grooms and Shirlen Johnson, all of St. Petersburg; a twin sister, Bessie Burton, St. Louis, Mo.; 14 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren. Creal Funeral Home, St. Petersburg.
• LaSONDE, MICHAEL G., 53, of St. Petersburg, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines. He was born in Wyandotte, Mich., and came here 35 years ago from Detroit. He was a welder. He was a Navy veteran and a member of American Legion Post 125. He was Protestant. Survivors include his wife, Melody S.; three sons, Dale LaSonde, San Diego; Jacob Davis, Connersville, Ind.; and Brian Maris, Hudson; two daughters, Susan LaSonde, Tarpon Springs, and Charity Davis, Richmond, Ind.; his mother, Greta Mason, Hudson; a brother, Gary LaSonde, Port Richey; and four grandchildren. Abbey Affordable Cremation and Funeral Services, Largo.
• QUICK, GLADYS W., 83, of St. Petersburg, died Thursday (Feb. 6, 2003) at home under the care of hospice. She came here in 1994 from her native Toronto, where she was a legal secretary for Swift & Co. for 27 years. She was Protestant. Survivors include her husband, Dan F. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Bobbitt Chapel, St. Petersburg.
• SHEDRICK, ISAAC, 62, of St. Petersburg, died Sunday (Feb. 9, 2003) at the Clearwater Center. He came here in 1945 from his native Savannah, Ga., and was a 1959 graduate of Gibbs High School. He retired as an environmental technician for Pinellas County. He was a member of Glad Tidings Assembly of God in Christ. Survivors include his wife, Lynn; three sons, Alton, Tampa; Jason, St. Petersburg; and Isaac Jr., Baltimore; a daughter, Katrina Shedrick, Baltimore; two brothers, Richard Donaldson, Rochester, Mich., and Earl Simmons, St. Petersburg; and eight grandchildren. Creal Funeral Home, St. Petersburg.
• SWITZER, GLADYS R., 79, of St. Petersburg, died Sunday (Feb. 9, 2003) at the Masonic Home of Florida. She was born in Detroit and came here in 1995 from Tavernier. She was a former grand matron of the Florida OES Grand Chapter and was a member of the Daughters of the Nile. She was Baptist. Survivors include a daughter, Lana Coan, Plantation; two sons, Noyace Switzer, Saline, Mich., and Gary Switzer; and three grandchildren. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Ninth Street Chapel, St. Petersburg.
• WHITESIDE, RALPH J., 91, of St. Petersburg, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at Carrington Place, St. Petersburg. He came here in 1977 from Chicago, where he retired after 42 years at Swift and Co. He was an avid golfer, fisherman and hunter. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Mary; a son, James B., Littleton, Colo.; two daughters, Carolin M. Salvino, Frankfort, Ill., and Marylin Watson, Crawford, Colo.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Homes & Cremation Tribute Center-Ninth Street Chapel, St. Petersburg.
• WITHAM, PRISCILLA, 67, of St. Petersburg, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at Egret Cove Nursing Home. She was born in Rochester, N.H., and came here in 1990 from Dover, N.H. She worked in the credit and collection department for Hunter Douglas Window Fashions. Survivors include a sister, Rachel C. Godrey, Haverhill, Mass. R. Lee Williams & Son Funeral Home & Crematory, 49th Street N Chapel, St. Petersburg.
• ZIPFEL, BLANCHE MARTIN VOISIN, 93, of St. Petersburg, died Saturday (Feb. 8, 2003) at Arbor Oaks. Born in Mullan, Idaho, she came here in 1968 from Maine. She was a member of the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. Survivors include seven sons, Alray Zipfel, Belleville, Ill.; Frank Zipfel, Smithton, Ill.; Richard Zipfel, St. Petersburg; Larry Zipfel, Belleville; Jimmy Joe Zipfel, Kansas City, Mo.; Gary Zipfel, West Palm Beach; and Steven Zipfel, Kansas City; a daughter, Charmaine Hughes, St. Petersburg; 16 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Memorial Park Funeral Home, St. Petersburg.
 





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