Marion H. Hodges, 92
LECANTO — Marion H. Hodges, 92, a retired registered nurse, died Sunday, June 25, 2000.
A native of Clinton, Maine, she moved here from Gulfport eight years ago. Mrs. Hodges was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in St. Petersburg, and a life member of the St. Petersburg Opera Guild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan C. Hodges.
Survivors include her nieces, Eleanor Lester, Lecanto and Elaine Payson, Sun City West, Ariz.; and one nephew, David Lester, Lecanto.
Homosassa Chapel-Hooper Funeral Homes provided information.
Lewis J. Howard, 73
OCALA — Lewis J. Howard, 73, a machinist, died Monday, June 26, 2000.
A native of Miami, he moved to Ocala from Miami in 1990. Mr. Howard was an active member of the Ocala Central Jehovah's Witnesses. He was a U.S. Navy veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria Howard, Ocala; sons, Lyle Howard, North Carolina, Larry Howard, Miramar and Ralph Howard, Ocala; daughter, April Kennon, Pottstown, Pa.; brothers, Ernest Howard, Miami, James Howard, Georgia and Chuck Howard, Deltona; sister, Lily Dubois, Orlando; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Florida Cremation Society provided information.
Harold V. Johnson, 75
SILVER SPRINGS — Harold V. Johnson, 75, a retired superintendent, died Thursday, June 22, 2000.
A native of Boston, Mass., he moved here from Boston in 1977. Mr. Johnson was an employee for Interstate Distribution Trucking Company. He was a member of the Forest Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his sons, Bill H. Johnson, Silver Springs and Charles V. Johnson, Quincy, Mass.; and three grandchildren.
Roberts Downtown Chapel provided information.
Mary E. Knuff, 59
DUNNELLON, Mary Elizabeth Knuff, 59, a homemaker, died Monday, June 26, 2000, at her home.
A native of Pontiac, Mich., she moved here from Temperance, Mich. in 1996. Mrs. Knuff was a member of the Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Citrus Springs. She was also a member of the Women's Evangelical Lutheran Church group of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Temperance.
Survivors include her husband, Michael E. Knuff, Dunnellon; sons, Michael E. Knuff, Jr., Monroe, Mich. and Thomas M. Knuff, Erie, Mich.; daughter, Kimberly B. Knuff, Toledo, Ohio; brothers, Phillip Metevia, Tennessee and Henry Metevia, Pontiac; sisters, Ethelyn A. Kimrey, Houghton Lake, Mich. and Denise Green Union Lake, Mich.; and two granddaughters.
Contributions can be made to the Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Fero Funeral Home provided information.
Cleon B. Lott, 68
WILDWOOD — Cleon " Buster" Lott, 68, a retired engineer for CSX Transportation, died Tuesday, June 27, 2000.
Mr. Lott was a native and lifelong resident of Wildwood and a life-long resident of Sumter County. He was Baptist,., He was and an active member of the First Baptist Church of Wildwood, and he was also a member of the American Legion post. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War.
Survivors include his wife, Quay Lott, Hollywood; son, Greg Lott, Fruitland Park; daughters, Nancy J. Spaulding, Clifton, Va. and Susan Q. Ragan, Oklahoma City, Okla.; sister, Mary E. Smith, West Palm Beach; and four grandchildren.
Banks-Page-Theus Funeral Home provided information.
Daniel L. Merrill, 37
INVERNESS — Daniel Lee Merrill, 37, an automotive mechanic, died Saturday, June 24, 2000.
A native of San Diego, Calif., he moved here from Michigan 12 years ago. Mr. Merrill was an active member of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship in Inverness.
Survivors include his wife, Cheryl L. E. Merrill, Inverness; daughters, Danielle Merrill and Shannam Merrill, both of Michigan; step-daughters, Mary Alexander and Heather Alexander, both of Inverness; stepson, Caleb Alexander, Inverness; father, Alfred Merrill; mother, Shirley T. Merrill, both of Hernando; brother, Robert Merrull, Michigan; and sister, Charlene Holgrem, Hernando.
Inverness Chapel-Hooper Funeral Home provided information.
John H. Wheeler, 76
OCKLAWAHA — John H. Wheeler, 76, a retired produce manager for Winn-Dixie Supermarket, died Saturday, June 24, 2000.
A native of Turner County, Ga., he moved here from Orlando in 1998. Mr. Wheeler was a member of the Solid Rock Bible Church in Moss Bluff. He was U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen P. Wheeler.
Survivors include his son, Thomas Wheeler, Jacksonville; daughter, Ruth McKeever, Ocklawaha, Lori Jones, Lake City and Tracey Grwoden, Orlando; brother, Robert Wheeler, Altamonte Springs, Roman T. Wheeler, Morgantown, Ga. and Albert Wheeler, Shelbyville, Ky.; sisters, Faye Henderson, Orlando and Estelle Nettles, Ocoee; 16 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Donations can be made to the Hospice of Orange County.
Florida Cremation Society provided information.
Helen M. Warnock, 87
FORT MCCOY — Helen M.Warnock, 87, a homemaker, died Tuesday, June 27, 2000, at New Horizon Rehabilitation Center.
A native of Philadelphia, Pa., she moved here from Miami 38 years ago.
Survivors include her daughter, Beverly Nevers, Fort McCoy; son, William Warnock, Manchester Tenn.; two granddaughters; three great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Hiers Funeral Home provided information.
Edward O. Baldwin, 73
OCALA — Edward O. Baldwin, 73, a residential construction project manager, died Tuesday, June 27, 2000, at Ocala Regional Medical Center.
A native of Mingo County, W.Va., he moved here from Mason, W.Va., in 1966. Mr. Brown was Catholic. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4781, and a member of the West Marion Moose Lodge 2356. He enjoyed fishing and camping.
Survivors include his wife, Helen A. Thompson Baldwin, Ocala; sons, Thomas F. Baldwin, Bradenton, William H. Baldwin, Ocala, and Matthew A. Baldwin, Lakeland; daughter, Carole Ann Tomczak, Sarasota; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Edward O. Baldwin.
National Cremation Society, Fruitland Park, provided information.
Charles F. Beagle, 69
BEVERLY HILLS — Charles F. Beagle, 69, a truck driver, died Wednesday, June 28, 2000, at his home.
A native of Philadelphia, he moved here from New Jersey in 1979. Mr. Beagle was Baptist. He was a former race car driver.
Survivor include his wife, Theresa M. Beagle, Beverly Hills; daughter, Theresa M. Staats, Atco, N.J.; mother, Ellen M. Beagle, Beverly Hills; brother, Robert J. Beagle; and a sister, Dorris M. Roth, Maryland; and three grandchildren.
Fero Beverly Hills Chapel Funeral Home provided information.
Gladys Brown, 72
OCALA — Gladys Brown, 72, a homemaker, died Wednesday, June 21, 2000, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
A native of Ocala, she moved here from Miami five years ago. Mrs. Brown was a Christian.
Survivors include her daughter, Erana Stansloski, Ocala; sisters, Helen Palmer, Miami, Vardell Henry, San Diego, Calif., and Mary Lee Jackson, Ocala; seven grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Summers Funeral Home provided information.
Margaret C. Dickson, 81
OCALA — Margaret Cole Dickson, 81, a homemaker, died Monday, June 26, 2000.
A native of Waveland, Ind., she moved here from Ponce de Leon in 1960. Mrs. Dickson was Protestant. She was a member of the First Christian Church of Ocala and a volunteer at Munroe Regional Medical Center. She also was an avid supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Survivors include heris son, Ronald I. Cole, Silver Springs; daughters, Patty Roberts, Dunnellon, and Donna Grice, Ocala; sisters, Agnes Dale, Darlington, Ind., and Doris Taylor, New Albany; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Roberts Funeral Home, Dunnellon, provided information.
Edward A. Franczyk, 65
BELLEVIEW — Edward "Ed" A. Franczyk, 65, a retired delicatessen butcher, died Sunday, June 25, 2000, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
A native of Nowy Sacz, Poland, he moved here from Manhattan, N.Y. in 1972. Mr. Franczyk was a Jehovah's Witness.
Survivors include his wife, Maria Franczyk, Belleview; sons, Gerald K. Franczyk, Mesquite, Texas, and Ronald A. Franczyk, Chicago; and stepbrother, Stefan Halatek, Poland.
Hiers Belleview Funeral Home provided information.
Hosea Gordon, Jr., 74
FLEMINGTON — Hosea Gordon, Jr., 74, a self-employed carpenter, died Monday, June 26, 2000, at the Veterans Administration Hospital.
A native of Flemington, he moved here from Bradenton 10 years ago. Mr. Gordon was a U.S. Army veteran.
He was an active member of the Greater New Bethel Baptist Church in Flemington.
Survivors include his daughters, Barbara Ann Gordon, Bradenton, Gloria Gordon Reaves, Micanopy, Linda Gordon Carley, Palmetto, Carolyn Gordon Bryant, Seffner, and Joyce Gordon Thomas, Bradenton; son, Freddie Gordon, Bradenton; brothers, Arnold Bethune, Ocala, Alonzo Gordon, Reddick, Simmie Gordon, Flemington; sisters, Altamease Tucker, Flemington; Curleane Lazier, Bradenton, Willie Lee Simmons, Lady Lake, and Rotha Johnson, Clearwater; 14 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Summers Funeral Home provided information.
Vaness Grimes, 83
TAMPA — Vaness Grimes, 83, a laborer, died Monday, June 26, 2000, at the University Community Hospital in Tampa.
A native of Kendrick, he moved to Tampa from Kendrick two years ago. Mr. Grimes was a member of the Ebenezer Free Methodist Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include his daughter, Dorothy Raglin, Tampa; six grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Cunningham's Funeral Home of Ocala provided information.
Leo Everett Jones, 77
INVERNESS — Leo Everett Jones, 77, a retired boilermaker, died Tuesday, June 27, 2000.
A native of Lanesville, Ill., he moved here from Marana, Ariz., 18 years ago. Mr. Jones was a member of the Unity Church of Citrus County.
He was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include his wife, Rosaland Elliott Jones, Inverness; stepsons, Michael Titus, Greenup, Ill., Marvin Titus, New Port Richey, David Titus, Greenup; daughters, Kathy Pride, Ellen Claypool, both of Decatur, Ill.; stepdaughter, Mechelle Felty, Washington; brother, Raleigh Jones, Flint, Mich.; sisters, Ethel Gross, Inverness, Marjorie Daniels, Taylorville, Ill., Eva Mae Jones, Pana, Ill; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Inverness Chapel-Hooper Funeral Home provided information.
Ernest W. Kokladas, 80
OCALA — Ernest W. "Ernie" Kokladas, 80, a retired electrical engineer for Westinghouse, died Monday, June 26, 2000.
A native of New Jersey, he moved here from Sun City Center eight years ago. Mr. Kokladas was a member of the Queen Peace Catholic Church, and a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4242 in Verona, Pa. He was an employee for Publix Supermarkets at Steeplechase Plaza since it opened seven years ago, and he was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Tillie B. Kokladas, Ocala; sisters, Marianne Marlowe, Murrysville, Pa., and Irene Waldorf, Columbiana, Ohio; and brothers, Theodore Kokladas and John Kokladas, both of Pittsburgh.
Hiers Memorial Chapel at TimberRidge provided information.
James W. Sloan, 78
DUNNELLON — James "Jim" W. Sloan, 78, a retired heavy equipment operator, died Monday, June 26, 2000, at Ocala Regional Medical Center.
A native of Haydenburg, Tenn., he moved here from Miami 15 years ago. Mr. Sloan was a member of the Dunnellon Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Helen L. Sloan, Dunnellon; daughter, Sheila DiIorio, Suwanee, Ga.; sister, Janice White, Nashville, Tenn.; and one grandchild.
Fero Funeral Home provided information.
Mary L. Smith, 85
OCALA — Mary L. Shephard Smith, 85, a homemaker, died Wednesday, June 28, 2000.
A native of Ocala, she was a lifelong resident of Marion County. Mrs. Smith was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Daughters of the American Revolution, founder of Happy Hearts Kindergarten, and Ocala's first duplicate bridge life master.
She was preceded in death by her husband, D.R. Smith.
Survivors include her daughters, Rhoda Richardson, Evinston, and Mary Lou Jordan, Dunnellon; sons, R. Lee Smith, Jacksonville, and David R. Smith, Jr., Charlotte, N.C.; sister, Jane Beckham; brother, John Shephard, both of Ocala; and nine grandchildren.
Roberts Downtown Funeral Home provided information.
