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Milton F. Bailey

posted Nov 5, 2009 - 10:47:17am

DEBARY - Milton F. Bailey, 87, died Oct. 29, 2009, at his home. A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 3 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in DeBary. Interment was at DeLand Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Bailey retired in 1980 as a service manager for a car dealership. Born in Silver Creek, N.Y., he moved to DeBary 29 years ago from Belfast, N.Y.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Martha Marie Felix

posted Nov 5, 2009 - 10:46:46am

CHICKAMAUGA, GA. - Martha Marie Felix, 86, a former longtime resident of DeLand, died Oct. 27, 2009, at her home. A funeral service was held Nov. 3 at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home. Burial followed at DeLand Memorial Gardens.

Born in Huddy County, Ky., Mrs. Felix retired from environmental services at West Volusia Memorial Hospital.

She was a member of Southside Baptist Church in DeLand, and loved her family.

Mrs. Felix was preceded in death in 1997 by her husband, Harold. She is survived by two sons, Harold “Hal” of Browns Mills, N.J., and Gene of Deltona; two daughters, Marie Felix of Chickamauga, and Sandra Kleinschmidt of DeLand; two stepdaughters, Lois Herron and Zoe Faircloth, both of Jacksonville; one sister, Lucy Wyatt of Ohio; and many devoted grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Deltona Memorial was in charge.

Susan Margaret Miller-Epstein

posted Nov 5, 2009 - 10:46:14am

DELAND - Susan Margaret Miller-Epstein, 67, died Oct. 31, 2009, at the West Volusia Hospice Care Center in Orange City.

Mrs. Miller-Epstein was a special-education and elementary-school teacher. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., she moved to DeLand 20 years ago from South Florida.

She loved reading, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Clay Raymond Mullins

posted Nov 5, 2009 - 10:45:42am

DELAND - Clay Raymond Mullins, 69, died Oct. 29, 2009, at his home. A funeral service was held Nov. 3 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in DeLand. Burial was at Sodus Rural Cemetery in Sodus, N.Y.

Mr. Mullins retired as an engineer for IBM. Born in Sodus, he moved to this area 18 years ago from Manassas, Va.

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in DeLand.

Mr. Mullins is survived by his wife, Shirley; one daughter, Sherry Mullins of Alexandria, Va.; three sons, Raymond of Danville, Va., Timothy of Benjamin, Utah, and David of Bothell, Wash.; one brother, Walter Michael of South Carolina; and 11 grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129. Lankford was in charge.

Joe Michael Picallo

posted Nov 5, 2009 - 10:45:10am

DELTONA - Joe Michael Picallo, 55, died Nov. 2, 2009, at Florida Hospital-DeLand.

Mr. Picallo was an auditor for a private contractor working with several communication companies in the Deltona area. He moved to Deltona in 1995 from Tampa.

He served in the U.S. Air Force.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfandcs.com. Constantino was in charge.

Evea J. Roebuck

posted Nov 5, 2009 - 10:44:38am

DELAND - Evea J. Roebuck, 88, died Nov. 1, 2009, at Florida Hospital-DeLand. Calling hours will be 10-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at Constantino Funeral and Cremation Services, 935 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Nov. 7 at Constantino Funeral Home.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfandcs.com. Constantino was in charge.

Robert Hugh Williams Sr.

posted Nov 5, 2009 - 10:44:03am

LAKE HELEN - Robert Hugh Williams Sr., 84, died Nov. 1, 2009. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at Blake Memorial Baptist Church, 134 N. Euclid Ave. in Lake Helen.

Mr. Williams was preceded in death by his wife, Doris. He is survived by one son, Robert H. Jr., two daughters, Dorothy Pettit and Lynn Williams Bohm, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Springfield Mortuary in Springfield, Mo., was in charge.

Libby Murphy Bolin

posted Oct 29, 2009 - 11:09:18am

DELAND - Libby Murphy Bolin, 76, died Oct. 23, 2009. Calling hours will be 5-7 p.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 29, at Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home, 126 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. A funeral service and interment will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at First Baptist Church of Seville, 1804 Church St.

Mrs. Bolin was a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher for 30 years, spending most of her teaching career at Lake Silver Elementary School in Orlando. She was named Teacher of the Year, and enjoyed other recognitions as a talented educator. Born in Jacksonville, she spent her teenage years in Palatka with her parents, Art and Mamie Murphy. She moved to Orlando in 1962 with her husband, J.T. The couple retired to their family homestead property in Seville, living there for 10 years, and moved to DeLand six years ago to a smaller property.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from the University of Florida.

It has been said Mrs. Bolin was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, teacher, mentor and friend. She was an encouraging influence to numerous students, loved ones, friends and fellow educators. Many of her former students and their families stayed in touch with her as their lives progressed. Through the years, her family members would frequently be asked, “Are you related to Libby Bolin, the teacher from Lake Silver?” One particular gentleman who regularly sees her son at church always greets him with “There he is, the son of the greatest school teacher ever!”

She was appreciated and loved by so many whose lives she impacted in memorable ways. She was a positive person, who overflowed with God’s love to all who came into her life. In one word, she “encouraged” you, no matter what the circumstance was; you felt better after being in Mrs. Bolin’s company. While living in Seville, she was involved in the community and church, mentoring young mothers and children, teaching Sunday school, playing the church piano, and enjoying her friends, old and new.

Mrs. Bolin and her husband built Camp BoMax, which provided fun activities for their grandchildren and children in the community.

She loved Jesus Christ and cherished her faith in him. “She is gone from us but with Him and her loved ones and friends who were there waiting for her as God escorted her into Heaven.”

She was preceded in death eight years ago by one grandson, Brent Bolin. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, J.T.; two children, Debbie Maxwell and her husband, Mike, and Ted Bolin and his wife, Tracey; five grandchildren, Jessica and Jacque and their spouses, and Joe, Bryce and Christo; and three great-grandchildren, Brent, Jonathan and Ricardo.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Denzel Milton ‘Jack’ Lackey

posted Oct 29, 2009 - 11:06:24am

DELAND - Denzel Milton “Jack” Lackey, 89, died Oct. 24, 2009, in Tazewell, Tenn., while visiting. Calling hours will be 10-11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, in Allen-Summerhill Memorial Chapel, 126 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Oct. 30 in Allen-Summerhill Memorial Chapel in DeLand. Interment will follow at Oakdale Cemetery, corner of West Plymouth and North Clara avenues in DeLand.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Wilfredo Occiano

posted Oct 29, 2009 - 11:05:39am

ST. AUGUSTINE - Wilfredo Occiano, 55, died Oct. 21, 2009. Calling hours will be 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 31, at Constantino Funeral and Cremation Services, 935 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. A Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Oct. 31 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 359 W. New York Ave. in DeLand.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfandcs.com. Constantino was in charge.

William E. Osborne

posted Oct 29, 2009 - 11:04:54am

ORANGE CITY - William E. Osborne, 78, a 43-year resident of Volusia County, died Oct. 23, 2009. A memorial service was held Oct. 27 at Orange City United Methodist Church.

Mr. Osborne was a member of Orange City United Methodist Church, the Landmark Lodge, Bahia Temple, West Volusia Shrine Club and Noble Truckers Unit, was a Boy Scout leader, a Little League coach, and an elementary school PTA president, and was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman. It has been said he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend.

He served in the U.S. Navy.

Mr. Osborne is survived by his wife of 57 years, Delores S. Osborne; two sons, Michael and his wife, Lisa, of Tampa, and Patrick and his wife, Ivy, of Deltona; one daughter, Janet Dixon of Orange City; three granddaughters, Brittney Coates of Orange City, Kristin Osborne of Tampa, and Chantelle Osborne of Deltona; one goddaughter, Amanssa Poirier of Daytona Beach; and many nieces and nephews.

His memorial reads, “Gone fishing in the river of life.”

Lankford was in charge.

Eunice V. Wild

posted Oct 29, 2009 - 10:58:39am

LONGWOOD - Eunice V. Wild, 92, a former resident of Orange City, died Oct. 24, 2009. Calling hours were scheduled for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 29, at Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home, 126 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. The Rev. Thom White will officiate at a memorial service at 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home in DeLand.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Patricia T. Wilder

posted Oct 29, 2009 - 10:58:01am

DEERFIELD, OHIO - Patricia T. Wilder, 74, died Oct. 26, 2009. Per Patty’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and there will be no services.

Mrs. Wilder was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and grew up all over the country as a result of her father’s Army career. After marriage and two children, she pursued a career as a laboratory technician. She settled in the DeLand area in the 1970s and worked in the lab at West Volusia Memorial Hospital. In 1997, she moved to Ohio to live close to her daughter and grandchildren.

Patty loved the simple things of life: a really good cup of coffee, an interesting book to read, the birdsong out her window. She loved watching the seasons change — autumn and spring were her favorites. Most of all, she enjoyed her sewing room. Creating clothes while listening to classical music was an enjoyable pastime for her.

She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas Wilder. She is survived by her daughter, Cameron Huffman and her husband, Derek; one sister, Cameron Simms and her husband, Stanley; and three grandchildren,

Carrmon Conant, Tina Paroline and her husband, David, and Nathan Huffman and his wife, Rachel.

Memorial donations may be made to Hospice at Robinson Memorial Hospital, 6847 N. Chestnut St., Ravenna, OH 44266. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.newcomerakron.com. Newcomer Funeral Home in Akron, Ohio, was in charge.

Ethel Workman

posted Oct 29, 2009 - 10:57:12am

DELAND - Ethel Workman, 83, died Oct. 26, 2009, at her home. A funeral service was scheduled for 11 a.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 29, in the Powell Family Chapel of First Baptist Church of DeLand, 725 N. Woodland Blvd. Interment was to be at DeLand Memorial Gardens, 600 E. Beresford Ave.

She was a member of First Baptist Church of DeLand.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

John A. Young Jr.

posted Oct 29, 2009 - 10:56:06am

DELEON SPRINGS - John A. Young Jr., 83, died Oct. 25, 2009. The Tall Cedars and St. John’s Lodge will officiate at a funeral service at 6 p.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 29, at Constantino Funeral and Cremation Services, 935 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Road.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfandcs.com. Constantino was in charge.

William Wesley Selph Bagot

posted Oct 26, 2009 - 10:46:22am

DELAND - William Wesley Selph Bagot, 57, died Oct. 20, 2009, at University Center East in DeLand. He will be buried in Resurrection Cemetery in Kentucky at a later date.

Mr. Bagot loved to drive, drove everything from taxis to 18-wheelers, and enjoyed traveling music.

It has been said he was kind and loving to children and critters, had a marvelous sense of humor, and never met a lady he didn’t like.

University Center East had been Mr. Bagot’s home for the past 12 years, and the staff had been his caring family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Chester Selph, his adoptive father, Charles Bagot, and his younger brother, Allan Bagot. He is survived by his mother, Alice Bagot; one brother, Jesse Selph; two nephews, Brian Selph and Jason Bagot; and one niece, Jessica Bagot.

Memorial donations may be made to Haven Hospice in DeLand, or to Western Kentucky Hospice in Owensboro.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfandcs.com or www.glennfuneralhome.com. Constantino Funeral Home in DeLand and Glenn Funeral Home in Owensboro, Ky., were in charge.

Janie J. Farmer

posted Oct 26, 2009 - 10:45:38am

DELEON SPRINGS - Janie J. Farmer, 89, died Oct. 21, 2009, at Woodland Terrace in DeLand.

Mrs. Farmer was a nurse. She was a lifetime resident of her birthplace of DeLeon Springs.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

John Robert Jerico

posted Oct 26, 2009 - 10:45:02am

EMPORIA - John Robert Jerico, 87, died Oct. 20, 2009.

Born in Emporia, Mr. Jerico was a rancher. Earlier, he retired from the federal civil service.

He attended Emporia Elementary School, and graduated from Central High School in Barberville.

Mr. Jerico served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, in the European Theater.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Michael Warren Keiper

posted Oct 26, 2009 - 10:44:26am

CASSADAGA - Michael Warren Keiper, 56, died Oct. 14, 2009, at Orlando Regional Medical Center. A celebration of his life, with family and friends, will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, in the Four Seasons Condominium clubhouse, 600 N. Boundary Ave. in DeLand.

Mr. Keiper was a writer and a teacher. He was a reporter for the DeLand Sun News, and wrote a column for The DeLand-Deltona Beacon. He also wrote many award-winning short stories, some of which were published in anthologies of collected short stories. “Ploughshares” won first place in 1996 in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future contest. “Stand Like a Lion” was published in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and Mr. Keiper was a recipient of the Writers in the Park Award from Winter Park. He also wrote a novel, Bending the Landscape. Born in Morgantown, W.Va., he moved to this area 30 years ago from Pennsylvania.

He was a 1984 graduate of Stetson University.

Mr. Keiper was preceded in death by his father, Theol E. Keiper, one brother, Mark Gary, and his lifetime companion, Sondra Thomas. He is survived by his mother, Josephine M. Keiper; three stepsons, Robert Davidson, Gary Davidson and Jeff Davidson; one uncle, Louis Mihalic and his wife, Carol; 11 grandchildren, Sean Eames, Scott Eames, Christopher Eames, Courtney Davidson, Heather Davidson, Bobby Davidson, Benjamin Davidson, Emily Davidson, Samuel Davidson, Max Davidson and Rebecca Davidson; his godmother, Irene Snyder; and many more aunts, uncles and cousins.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Foundation. Personal condolences may be sent to the family at 29531 Central Blvd., Paisley, FL 32767.

Vicky Gloria Longenecker

posted Oct 26, 2009 - 10:43:27am

DELAND - Vicky Gloria Longenecker, 50, died Oct. 21, 2009. A funeral was scheduled for 2 p.m. today, Monday, Oct. 26, in the chapel of Constantino Funeral and Cremation Services, 935 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. Interment will follow at Oakdale Cemetery, corner of West Plymouth and North Clara avenues in DeLand.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfandcs.com. Constantino was in charge.

Eleanor Tilson Otley

posted Oct 26, 2009 - 10:42:43am

BROOKEVILLE, MD. - Eleanor Tilson Otley, 93, a former resident of Deltona, died Oct. 21, 2009. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated today, Monday, Oct. 26, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Rockville, Md. Interment is in Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Otley was preceded in death by her husband, William; two brothers, Thomas Tilson and John Tilson; and one sister, Anna Nowell. She is survived by one sister, Mary T. Collins and her husband, Tom, and many nieces and nephews.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.devolfuneralhome.com. DeVol Funeral Home in Gaithersburg, Md., was in charge.

Sandra Sherman

posted Oct 26, 2009 - 10:42:02am

CASSADAGA - Sandra Sherman, 73, died Oct. 21, 2009, at her home. A graveside service was held Oct. 23 at Lake Helen-Cassadaga Cemetery.

Mrs. Sherman retired in 2003 as a Spiritualist in Cassadaga. She lived in Cassadaga for 28 years, moving from Deltona.

She enjoyed oil painting, and spending time with her family and the Spiritualist community.

Mrs. Sherman is survived by two sons, Herb Hoffman Jr. of Deltona, and George Hoffman of Cassadaga; two daughters, Rachelle Albarran of Cassadaga, and Janet Tipton of Redford, Mich.; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Edward William Ford

posted Oct 22, 2009 - 11:18:14am

DELEON SPRINGS - Edward William Ford, 98, died Oct. 17, 2009, at the West Volusia Hospice Care Center in Orange City. A memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at St. Peter Catholic Church, 359 W. New York Ave. in DeLand.

Mr. Ford was self-employed as a building contractor. Born in Fairmont, W.Va., he moved to DeLeon Springs in 1952.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Jesse B. Lee

posted Oct 22, 2009 - 11:17:35am

DELTONA - Jesse B. Lee, 87, died Oct. 11, 2009, at Florida Hospital-Fish Memorial. Chaplain Larry Hanson will officiate at a graveside service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road in Gotha.

Mr. Lee retired as an insurance salesman. Born in Appomattox, Va., he moved to Deltona in 1985 from Orlando.

Lankford was in charge.

Emma Katherine Murphy

posted Oct 22, 2009 - 11:17:02am

DELAND - Emma Katherine Murphy, 88, died Oct. 20, 2009, at Florida Hospital-DeLand. The Rev. Owen Stricklin will officiate at a funeral service scheduled for 2 p.m. today, Thursday, Oct. 22, in the chapel of Lankford Funeral Home, 220 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. Further services and burial will be at Lone Oak Cemetery in Leesburg.

Mrs. Murphy was born in Leesburg, and had been a resident of DeLand since 1981.

She graduated from Florida State College for Women, with a master’s degree in education. She was a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Phi Epsilon sororities.

Mrs. Murphy is survived by her husband of 60 years, Glen E.; two sons, James and his wife, Susan, of DeLeon Springs, and Thomas of Corpus Christi, Texas; one daughter, Julie Wilson-Bush of Corpus Christi; two brothers, Ira “Buster” Adams of DeLand, and Robert Adams of Leesburg; and three grandchildren.

Lankford was in charge

Charles Michael ‘Mike’ Purchis

posted Oct 22, 2009 - 11:15:53am

DELAND - Charles Michael “Mike” Purchis, 59, died Oct. 16, 2009, at Florida Hospital-DeLand.

Mr. Purchis worked for an air-conditioning company.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Elba Rivera

posted Oct 22, 2009 - 11:15:19am

DELTONA - Elba Rivera, 47, died Oct. 17, 2009, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville.

Mrs. Rivera was a homemaker. Born in Puerto Rico, she moved to this area in 1990 from Long Island, N.Y.

She was Catholic.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfandcs.com. Constantino was in charge.

James ‘Larry’ Sheffield

posted Oct 22, 2009 - 11:14:28am

DELAND - James “Larry” Sheffield, 64, died Oct. 16, 2009, at Florida Hospital-DeLand.

Mr. Sheffield was the concessions manager for Clyde Beatty Cole Bros. Circus for many, many years. He was a true showman, one of the last of a dying breed.

Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfandcs.com. Constantino was in charge.

Morgan Pierre ‘Pete’ Slaughter

posted Oct 22, 2009 - 11:13:36am

DELAND - Morgan Pierre “Pete” Slaughter, 63, died Oct. 20, 2009, at Florida Hospital-DeLand. Calling hours will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home, 126 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. Father Don Lyon will officiate at a funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 319 W. Wisconsin Ave. in DeLand. Interment will be at Oakdale Cemetery, corner of West Plymouth and North Clara avenues in DeLand.

Mr. Slaughter began his career with the DeLand Police Department as a dispatcher, and then as a road officer. He then worked for the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, where he achieved the rank of corporal in the marine division. He also worked in security for Disney World, and then became an investigator for the Best and Anderson Law Firm. He was a lifetime resident of DeLand.

He was preceded in death in 2002 by his wife, Chyera. He is survived by one son, Michael S. and his wife, Leah, of Sorrento, and their daughters, Melynda and Morgan; one daughter, Brandy Robert and her husband, Arnal, of Colorado Springs, Colo., and their daughter, Chyera; and one brother, Richard of DeLand, and his children, Rafe Slaughter and Kayla Broadbent.

Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice in Pete’s name. Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Mable Louise Kelly Weaver

posted Oct 22, 2009 - 11:06:37am

DELAND - Mable Louise Kelly Weaver, 82, died Oct. 15, 2009. A funeral service was held Oct. 19 at Allen-Summerhill Funeral Home in DeLand.

Mrs. Weaver was a nurse. She moved to this area 43 years ago from her birthplace of Andalusia, Ala.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Harrell Drury

posted Oct 19, 2009 - 10:45:40am

DELEON SPRINGS - Harrell Drury, 78, died Oct. 15, 2009, at the West Volusia Hospice Care Center in Orange City. The Rev. Mel Himes and Becky Wilson were scheduled to officiate at a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. today, Monday, Oct. 19, in the Allen-Summerhill Memorial Chapel in DeLand. Interment will be at Pinehurst Cemetery in DeLeon Springs.

After serving in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Drury worked as an electrician for the Florida Department of Transportation. Born on June 23, 1931, in DeLeon Springs, he was a lifetime resident of West Volusia.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of DeLeon Springs, and loved hunting, fishing, and reading and studying the Bible.

Mr. Drury is survived by his wife of 36 years, Joyce; one son, Joseph and his wife, Cheryl, of Chuluota; one stepson, Casey Johns and his wife, Jeannette, of DeLand; two stepdaughters, Sherry Payne and her husband, Rusty, of DeLeon Springs, and Tina Cato of Port Orange; one brother, Winston and his wife, Bonnie, of DeLeon Springs; one sister, Gail Martin and her husband, Frank, of DeLeon Springs; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Robert L. Foss

posted Oct 19, 2009 - 10:45:03am

ORANGE CITY - Robert L. Foss, of Orange Tree Village, died Sept. 15, 2009.

“An incredibly good friend to those who accepted his friendship, and an implacable foe to those he mistrusted or those who mistreated him.”

Born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., Mr. Foss retired from New York State Government service as a lease negotiator for the Office of General Services in Albany. Preceding that, he spent several years, described as “the happiest years of my life,” at the Missile and Armament Division of General Electric Co. in Burlington, Vt., as an engineering writer/editor.

During his combat service with the U.S. Army in World War II, he was actively engaged in multiple amphibious assaults in the South Pacific Theater.

Mr. Foss was an avid fan of jazz music of the ’40s and ’50s, worldwide travel, fine dining, model-building, and sports. He was a lifetime member of Elks Lodge No. 346.

The major portion of the estate will be equally shared by the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, the American Humane Association, and the American Indian College Fund.

Mr. Foss is survived by one daughter, Kristine of Oneida, N.Y., and two grandchildren, Emily and Brian.

Allen-Summerhill was in charge.

Claire Kirchhof

posted Oct 19, 2009 - 10:44:24am

GAINESVILLE - Claire Kirchhof, 77, a former resident of this area, died Oct. 12, 2009. A memorial service was held Oct. 17 at Milam Funeral Home Chapel in Newberry.

Born in Hartford, Conn., Mrs. Kirchhof retired as a legal secretary for Volusia County.

She enjoyed genealogy and crafts, and was said to be a loving mother and grandmother.

Mrs. Kirchhof was preceded in death by one son, George Kirchhof. She is survived by one daughter, Callie E. Williams and her husband, Tim; three sons, Tom Scully and his wife, Kayla, Joe Kirchhof, and Robert Kirchhof and his wife, Robin; and four grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity, 2317 S.W. 13th St., Gainesville, FL 32608. Milam Funeral Home was in charge.

Edith C. Morris

posted Oct 19, 2009 - 10:43:47am

DELAND - Edith C. Morris, 90, died in her sleep Oct. 2, 2009.

Born in Plains, Ga., on April 30, 1919, Mrs. Morris attended Shorter College in Rome, Ga., where her father, James Craft, was pastor of First Baptist Church. Her mother, Edith Craft, served as principal of East Rome High School. The family traces its roots back to George Galphin, partner of James Oglethorpe in the original Georgia Colony. Proud of her Southern heritage, she was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution and the American Association of University Women.

Edith graduated from Shorter with a B.A. in education, and began teaching school.

At the outbreak of World War II, Edith married Charles Morris Jr. of Rome, and the couple moved to Raleigh, N.C., where Charles accepted a position with Southern Bell. There, Edith delivered a son, Charles III, in late 1946. Six months later, the couple transferred to Miami. There, Charles pursued his engineering career, and Edith accepted a teaching position at Kensington Park Elementary School. The family attended Riverside Baptist Church.

By 1950, they had saved enough money to purchase their first home in Northwest Miami. At the new home in 1952, Edith interrupted her career to bring into the world a second son, John, called Jack, after one of Edith’s favorite uncles.

The young couple raised their two boys in the rapidly developing South Florida area, amid frequent hurricanes and un-air-conditioned living conditions. Each summer, the family would load up their 1949 Plymouth sedan and drive up the coast on U.S. Highway 1 to visit grandparents.

In 1959, Edith spent the first of two summers pursuing a master’s degree in education counseling at Appalachian State Teachers’ College, in Boone, N.C. Edith returned to education, becoming a guidance counselor at Palmetto Junior High School in South Miami, where she completed her teaching career.

Charles retired from the phone company in 1980, with 40 years of service.

In 1981, the couple retired to DeLand, where they dove into the joys of retirement, including golf (Charles’ favorite pastime) and bridge (Edith’s), punctuated with occasional vacation trips overseas. They were members of the DeLand Country Club and Stetson Baptist Church in DeLand.

In 1987, Edith lost Charles to cancer.

Edith continued her travel schedule and her beloved bridge game well into her 80s.

In 2008, Edith set up residence at Woodland Towers. As she approached 90, her mobility slowed and her well-honed bridge-playing skills began to falter.

She will be missed.

Her ashes will be scattered by her family, with those of her late husband.

Gestures of remembrance may be sent to Stetson Baptist Church, which she actively supported for many years.