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PEGGY JOHNS, 62
Wal-Mart
LAKE WALES -- Ms. Peggy R. "P.J." Johns of Lake Wales died of multiple organ failure Monday (Aug. 22, 2005) at Lake Wales Medical Center. He was 62.
Born Nov. 23, 1942, in Helena, Ark., she came here from Brandon in 1997. She worked in the photo lab in Wal-Mart.
Ms. Johns is survived by her daughters, Cheryl Key, Winter Park, Colo., Yvonne Hudnall, Lake Wales; Kelli Lynn Lawless, Spring Hill, Jenna O'Keefe, Riverview; brothers, Teddy Winney, Bella Vista, Ark., and Randy Winney, Gonzales, La.; sisters, Crystal Winney, West Helena, Ark., Mary Lou Simone, Mount Carmel, Tenn., and Lena Marie Parenteau, Sanbornton, N.H.; four grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.
Visitation will be 10 a.m. Friday at the Marion Nelson Funeral Home, Lake Wales. Services will follow at the funeral home chapel. Interment will be 2 p.m. Friday at Hillsborough Memorial Gardens, Brandon.
Marion Nelson Funeral Home.
LOLA HOSTETLER, 83
Teacher
ATLANTA -- Mrs. Lola Hostetler of Lakeland died of cancer Friday (Aug. 19, 2005) in Atlanta. She was 83.
She was born Jan. 26, 1922, in Burlington, Iowa. She was a teacher. She attended College Heights Methodist Church, Lakeland.
Mrs. Hostetler is survived by her sons, Richard Hostetler, Lakeland, Paul Hostetler, Atlanta, and Richard Hostetler, Hamilton, Ill.; daughter, Carolyn Anderson, Nashville, Tenn; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday at College Heights Methodist Church, Lakeland.
MARY AURICH, 80
Secretary
LAKELAND -- Ms. Mary K. Aurich of Lakeland died of cancer Saturday (Aug. 20, 2005) in Lakeland. She was 80.
Born Feb. 10, 1925, in Bartlesville, Okla., she came here from Bartlesville in 1965. She was a secretary for the city of Lakeland for 15 years. She was a member of Frontiersman, Lakeland Organ Club, Treasure Hunting Club, and a charter member of Local Bridge Club. She played in several tennis leagues in Lakeland. She attended Victory Assembly of God Church.
Ms. Aurich was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Nelson W. Aurich. She is survived by her son, Robert Aurich, Lakeland; daughters, Elaine Smith, Lakeland, and Kathy Piwowar, Yukon, Canada; brother, Robert Twyford, Cheyenne, Wyo.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Lakeland Funeral Home Chapel.
MINNIE KRESS, 63
Auto-Owners Insurance
DONALDSONVILLE, Ga. -- Ms. Minnie Kress of Donaldsonville, Ga., died of cancer Thursday (Aug. 18, 2005) in Donaldsonville. She was 63.
She was born Aug. 6, 1942, in Durant, and was formerly a resident of Plant City.
Ms. Kress is survived by her husband, Bill Kress; son, Chuck Kress, New Orleans, La.; daughter, Pam Johnson, Plant City; brother, Leo Houck, Plant City; sister, Joann Armachain; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Hopewell Funeral Home, Plant City. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home chapel.
Hopewell Funeral Home.
ALICE BAKER, 89
Eaton Corp. Inspector
HAINES CITY -- Mrs. Alice Christina Baker of Haines City died of heart failure Sunday (Aug. 14, 2005) in Winter Haven.
She was born on March 6, 1916, in Minturn, Ark., and moved here from Marshall, Mich. She was an inspector for the Eaton Corp. in Battle Creek, Mich., for 32 years. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Winter Haven.
She is survived by her sons, Thomas Whitmire, Winter Park, Fred Whitmire, Battle Creek, and Larry Whitmire, Florida; daughter, Patricia Welch, Battle Creek; brothers, John Smith, Monroe Smith and Larry Smith, all of Arkansas; sisters, Ruby Grigsby and Delena Webb, both of Arkansas; and five grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Services will be held Tuesday in Michigan. Burial will be in Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Mich.
Oak Ridge Funeral Care.
MARY PHELPS, 52
Mid-Florida Credit Union
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Mary Ann Phelps of Lakeland died of cancer Sunday (Aug. 14, 2005) at Valencia Hills Health & Rehab Center. She was 52.
Born March 26, 1953, in Miami, she moved to Lakeland from Fort Lauderdale in 1996. She worked for Mid-Florida Credit Union. She attended Lake Gibson Church of the Nazarene, where she joined the choir and attended Sunday School.
Mrs. Phelps is survived by her husband, James Phelps; son, Christopher Michael Simmons, Fort Lauderdale; mother, Mary L. Benson, Nashville, Tenn.; brother, Michael Benson, Pensacola; sister, Verneena Bohlin, Fort Lauderdale; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Lake Gibson Church of the Nazarene.
Jim Spencer, 92, Construction
HAINES CITY -- During his years in the construction industry, Mr. Jim "Pee-Wee" Spencer participated in the original construction of Walt Disney World, Haines City High School and many homes in Polk County and Florida.
The retired builder and citrus worker died of heart and lung failure Sept. 1, 2005, at Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 92.
"He worked as a construction builder when Disney first broke ground to build and until the completion of Disney World, " his daughter, Mary Baker of Haines City said. "When they completed Disney, all the families were given passes to go to the park before they opened it to the public."
Born in Midway, Ala., on June 27, 1913, Mr. Spencer came to Haines City from there 70 years ago. He worked in construction for many years, and worked for several companies, including Charles Mosely and Bill Harding Construction Co.
He was involved in building subdivisions in Cocoa and Polk County, including "The Hill" in Haines City, and proudly pointed out his work to his family. Mr. Spencer later worked in citrus for Haines City Citrus Co. and others before his retirement.
Mr. Spencer was an outdoorsman who enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing.
He was a member of New Beulah Baptist Church.
In addition to his daughter, Mary Baker, Mr. Spencer is survived by his wife of 42 years, Juanita Spencer; sons, Willie Spencer, Tallahassee, and John Spencer, Orlando; daughters, Yvonne Streeter, Atlanta, Melinda and Vanessa Spencer, both of Haines City, and Reba Thornalant, Orlando; brother, L.C. Spencer, Haines City; sisters, Alice Scott, Detroit, and Carrie Smith, Chicago; 15 grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Holmes Funeral Home, 601 Claude Homes Sr. Ave., Haines City. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Beulah Baptist Church, 1706 N. 12th St., Haines City. Burial will be in New Oakland Cemetery.
Danny Freeman, 60 Air Force
AUBURNDALE -- Mr. Danny Lewis Freeman of Auburndale met his future wife, Betsy, in high school. They married 38 years later.
Mr. Freeman, who served for 21 years in the Air Force, died of cancer Friday (Aug. 12, 2005) at his home. He was 60.
He was born on Oct. 3, 1944, in Chillicothe, Ohio, and moved to Lakeland 19 years ago.
In the Air Force, he served as a master sergeant in Vietnam, Korea and Alaska.
When he settled in Lakeland to be close to his mother, he began appraising real estate for R.D. Little & Associates.
Betsy Ann Bergman Freeman, his wife, met Mr. Freeman in high school while growing up in Ohio. He had a reputation for his sense of humor. "He was a little on the outs with the teachers and had a convertible he tooled around in, " she remembered.
Shortly before they attended their 38th high school reunion in 2000, Mr. Freeman received an e-mail from her and learned she lived in Kissimmee.
"His looks had changed. He was more mature but still had a good sense of humor. He was someone I wanted to keep seeing, " she said.
The two grew closer after the reunion and married.
"It was a nice, quiet ceremony in front of a stone fireplace, " Mrs. Freeman said. It took place at a friend's home, a notary with which Mr. Freeman was close. "Afterward we had a reception at Riverrock's for anyone who wanted to come, and then we went to Disney World."
Mr. Freeman was a member of the Moose Lodge and AMVETS. He was a Protestant.
He is survived by his wife of four years, Betsy Ann Bergman Freeman; daughter, Katherine Fosberg, Washington; stepdaughter, Catherine Brandner, Loveland, Ohio; and three step grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Kersey Funeral Home, Auburndale. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, Attn: Web, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, GA 30368-2454.
