William Roger Mitchell
Capt. William Roger "Rod" Mitchell, age 58, of Destin, Fla., passed away June 28, 1999, in Houston.
Capt. Mitchell was born in Gwinett County, Ga., on Jan. 13, 1941. He graduated from the University of Georgia and began his flying career as a naval aviator. Following six years of fleet service, Capt. Mitchell continued service in the Naval Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant commander.
In 1971, Mr. Mitchell became a pilot for Southern Airways in Atlanta and flew 28 years with his last flight as a captain for Northwest Airlines.
Mr. Mitchell was a member of Zoar Methodist Church of Centerville, Ga.
He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Susan Mitchell of Destin; son, William Rodger Mitchell; brother, Michael Mitchell of Atlanta; and many loved and treasured relatives and friends.
A funeral service will be conducted at Destin Methodist Church on Friday, July 2, at 2 p.m. Interment will follow in Destin Memorial Cemetery.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., entrusted with arrangements.
John James Maas Jr.
Master Sgt. John James Maas Jr., U.S. Air Force retired, age 89, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away early Saturday morning, June 26, 1999, in a local nursing home.
Mr. Maas was born on Aug. 1, 1909, in Bowling Green, Ohio, to the late John James and Martha Corbett Maas. He had been a resident of the Fort Walton Beach area for 20 years, moving here from Fort Worth, Texas. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church; VFW Post 7674; American Legion 235; Elks Lodge 1795; and Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Maas was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Dorothy Kerruish Maas. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Gladys Maas of Fort Walton Beach; son, John Maas of Rapid City, S.D.; son, Dennis Maas of Bowling Green, Ohio; brother, William Maas of California; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Charles Edward Wilkins
Charles Edward Wilkins, age 70, of the Dorcas community near Crestview, Fla., died Tuesday, June 29, 1999, at West Florida Regional Medical Center in Pensacola, Fla.
Mr. Wilkins was born in the Dorcas community on Oct. 15, 1928, to John and Ruth Brown Wilkins and had been a longtime resident of the Northwest Florida area. Mr. Wilkins was a self-employed wood craftsman.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his wife, Annis Wilkins, of the Dorcas community; mother, Ruth Spann, also of the Dorcas community; sons, John Wilkins of Dorcas, Ronnie Wilkins of Alachua, Fla., and Donny Wilkins of Wetumpka, Ala.; sisters, Ann Spann and Betty Spann, both of the Dorcas community; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A time of visitation will be held at Whitehurst Funeral Home from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be conducted in the chapel of Whitehurst Funeral Home at 10 a.m. Friday, July 2, with the Rev. Terry Poole officiating. Interment will follow in Dorcas Cemetery, near Crestview.
Active pallbearers will be Joe Gatlin, Don Register, David Williams, John Griffing, Mike Stanley and David Campbell.
Floral tributes will be accepted at the funeral home.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, Crestview.
James B. Degennaro
James B. Degennaro, age 53, of Mary Esther, Fla., passed away in a local health care facility Tuesday, June 29, 1999.
He was born on Feb. 19, 1946, in New York and had been a resident of this area since 1989, moving here from Elmont, L.I. He was Catholic by faith. Mr. Degennaro honorably served his country in the U.S. Army and was a Vietnam veteran. He was also an avid bowler.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Amodeo and Victoria Degennaro. Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Antoinette Degennaro; sons, James Degennaro of New York, and Mathew and wife Teri Degennaro of New York; grandchild, Steffanie Degennaro; sister and brother-in-law, Rae and Fred Scarcella of Mary Esther; brother-in-law, Angelo Capazzoli of Toms River, N.J.; and many other nephews and nieces.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. A service will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Little Chapel Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be conducted at 1:15 p.m. Friday, July 2, in Barrancas National Cemetery with Father Joseph Callipare officiating.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Henry J. Haynes
Henry J. Haynes was born to Thera-Frances Haynes (deceased) on April 8, 1930, in Florala, Ala. He departed this life on June 27, 1999.
Henry accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church in Florala. He later reunited with the church and remained a faithful member until his death.
After completing grammar school in Florala and attending Covington County High School in Andalusia, Ala., Henry worked at the Colonial Hotel in Florala as a waiter and cook's assistant. On Nov. 25, 1951, Henry was inducted into the U.S. Army where he completed a course in cooking and served as a quarter master cook. He received an honorable discharge from the Army on Nov. 26, 1953. During the next eight years he completed his obligation with the U.S. Army Reserves.
Sometime after leaving the Army, Henry moved to Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and continued his cooking career. His last position, before retiring, was with the Wharf in Destin, Fla. After retiring from work, Henry took up residence again in Florala, where he remained until God called him home.
Henry, loved by all who knew him, leaves to cherish his memories, a beloved father, James W. Bryant, whom he cherished dearly, a loving James Franklin Bryant (Mary) of Fort Walton Beach; four sisters, Hazel Lee of Houston, Jenny Ruth Lynn (Robert) of Detroit, Mary Nell (Marion) of Decatur, Ga., and Sylvia Dianne Tyler (Hosea) of Detroit; uncle, J.C. Bryant of Florala; aunt, Inez Haynes of Clearwater; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Four special relatives/friends are Curtis Haynes of East Orange, N.J., Malcolm Skanes, Willie J. Harris and his wife Ida Mae Harris, all of Florala. Three siblings preceded him in death: Frances Louise Jackson, Dorothy Jean Edwards and Fredrick Haynes.
A visitation will be conducted on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hammonds Funeral Home in Florala.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 3, at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church in Florala with Dr. A.C. Hammond officiating.
"For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Mary Nola Coin
Mary Nola Coin, age 77, of Destin, Fla., died Saturday, July 3, 1999, at her residence.
Nola was born on June 29, 1922, in Livermore, Ky., to the late Joseph W. and Bobbie Crowder Garst.
She spent most of her life in Kentucky before moving to the Destin area 11 years ago. Mrs. Coin worked for General Elec-tric as an assembly line welder.
She attended Island Baptist Church and the Livermore General Baptist Church, both in Kentucky. She was a homemaker who loved to paint and sew, and is best remembered for her cooking and baking. Mrs. Coin will be missed by all.
Nola was preceded in death by her parents and three husbands, Hayden Daugherty, Gerald Everly and Allen Coin. She is survived by her daughter, Janis "Jan" Risley and husband Jack of Destin; brothers, Wesley Frizzell and wife Eunice, John Garst and wife Nadine, all of Livermore, and Allen Garst and wife Jean of Owensboro, Ky.; sisters, Frances Hughes, Laura Peters and husband L.C., Ruth Jenkins and husband Jack, and Ruby Puckett, all of Livermore, and Dean Hatfield and husband Raymond of Owensboro; granddaughter, Jackie Davis and husband Philip of Vancleave, Miss.; and great-grandchildren, Jessica, Matthew, Kyle and Laura Davis.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 8, at Muster Funeral Home Chapel in Livermore with the Rev. Lynn Harmon officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hope Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 7, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 490 Highway 85 north, Suite C, Niceville, 32578, in memory of Mary Coin.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is in charge of local arrangements.
Alma Wright Ryan
Alma Wright Ryan, of San Francisco, Calif., died June 24, 1999.
Born in Wright, Fla., the daughter of John Thomas and Ethel Rogers Wright, she was a graduate of Fort Walton High School, the Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Pensacola, Fla., and attended The University of San Francisco. She practiced as a registered nurse and teacher for many years. She is remembered for having been instrumental in the establishment and operation of the original EMT/paramedic program for the City of San Francisco.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, John J. Ryan, her sister and brother-in-law, Irma and O.M. (Pete) Earley, and sisters Bonnie McCullough, Jean W. Wheeler and brother Riley Q. (Buck) Wright.
She is survived by her husband Edwin J. Ryan, daughters Diane Porter, Maureen R. Surette and son-in-law John E. Surette, sister Bobelle W. Harrell, brothers Eldridge P. Wright and Thomas Wright, five grandchildren, numerous beloved nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Juanita Weekes Melvin
Juanita Weekes Melvin, age 84, died July 2, 1999 in her sleep at her home on Blackwater Bay.
Mrs. Melvin, born July 13, 1914, was predeceased by Circuit Judge Woodrow Melvin, to whom she was married for 60 years.
She is survived by five children - two sons, Woodrow M. "Mac" (Elaine) Melvin, Jr. of Miami, and Samuel J. "Jim" (Audrey) Melvin of Milton; Judge Laura N. Melvin of Pensacola; Beulah (Matthew) Chabal of Camp Hill, Pa.; Esther V. "Ginger" (Dr. Sloan) Young of St. Petersburg; her former daughter-in-law, Jackie P. Melvin; and a large extended family including eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers, Richard Weekes, Warren Weekes and her sister Beulah E. Clark.
Mrs. Melvin attended Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee before she married Woodrow, her childhood sweetheart in 1935. After Judge Melvin retired, Mrs. Melvin obtained her BS degree from the University of West Florida.
During her long life, she was a teacher, a member of Eastern Star and active in her church. She nurtured a growing family while supporting Woodrow's political career as an elected official.
He served as Mayor of Milton, a Representative to the House, Senator and a long tenure as Circuit Judge.
She was an avid reader, a brilliant thinker and a lover of nature. Her focus in life was her family, supporting others as a wife, mothers, grandmother and great grandmother.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6, 1999, at the First Baptist Church of Milton with Rev. Joe Bamberg, an old family friend, presiding. Graveside services will be in Milton Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Lewis Funeral Home in Milton from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, July 5.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Judge Woodrow M. Melvin Scholarship Fund at Pensacola Junior College, 5988 Highway 90, Milton, Florida.
Bernard J. Bacca
Bernard J. Bacca, age 90, of Destin, Fla. passed away on July 3, 1999 at a local nursing home.
Bernard was born September 9, 1908 in Cleveland, Ohio to Joseph and Anna Bacca. He had been living in this area since 1995.
His hobbies include wood working, amateur radio operator and programming computers.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bernice Bacca and sister Florence Meter.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Richard and Marilyn Bacca of Destin, Fla.; daughter and son-in-law Phyllis and James Boyd of Augusta, Ga.; three grandchildren Therese, Jeffrey and James; three great grandchildren Zach, Luke and MacKenzie.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday July 6, 1999 at McLaughlin Mortuary from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.
A funeral mass will be held at the Resurrection Catholic Church in Santa Rosa Beach on Wednesday July 7, 1999 at 10 a.m.
Interment will be held in Stuart, Fla. Later in the week.
McLaughlin Mortuary is entrusted with the local arrangements.
Juil L. Peterson
Juil L. "Pete" Peterson, U.S. Air Force retired, age 73, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Saturday, July 3, 1999, at his residence.
He was born on Jan. 27, 1926, in Westville, Fla., to the late Purvis lee and Emma Lou Clemmons Peterson.
Mr. Peterson had been a resident of Fort Walton Beach for 32 years. Pete retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1967 after 20 years of service and went on to work for the Florida State Department of Corrections for another 20 years. He was active in the VFW Post 7674; Eagles Aerie 4045; Moose Lodge 2193; and American Legion Post 235.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen Parrish Peterson; and brothers, Tommy Junior and Haywood Peterson. He is survived by three children: daughter, Cathy M. Coons and husband Vernon of Fort Worth, Texas, son, Jerry L. Peterson and wife Sandy of Pensacola, Fla., and daughter, Teresa A. Warren and husband Larry of Mossy Head, Fla.; sisters, Betty Stone and husband Jack of Westville, Fla., and Ruthie V. Rice of Fort Walton Beach; grandchildren, Jeannie Lee Peterson, Christina Lee Fox and husband Brad, Kenneth Wayne Nagel, Jason F. Warren, Troy Coons and Jennifer Coons; and great-grandchildren, Steven Eric and Katlyn Nicole Fox.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 7, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Frank Dole officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow in Little Rock Cemetery in Bonifay, Fla., at 2:30 p.m.
Friends may visit with the family from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. A Loyal Order of Moose service will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. with members of Moose Lodge 2193 officiating.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
