Shirley Loudene Bengston
Shirley Loudene Bengston passed away from dementia at 5:23 p.m. on April 7 in Flint, Mich. Shirley was well know in Sun City Center as a piano artist; she was the organist for the Ruskin Christian Science Church for 10 years and the pianist at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center.
A celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 24, at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center. She is survived by her loving husband Wayne Bengston; son Erik and his wife Star; and two grandchildren, Aero and Ever.
Theda A. Bennett
Theda Annette (Gray) Bennett, loving wife of the late Ellis (E. A. “Speed”) Bennett, died at the age of 94 in Sun City Center, Hillsborough County, Florida, early in the morning on May 7, 2019. A dutiful daughter, Theda was the youngest of three girls, born to John Edward “Bud” Gray and Lorena Bell (McDonald) Gray on March 4, 1925, in their family home near Clearmont, Nodaway County, Missouri. Her older sisters, to whom she was devoted, Iola (Gray) Reynolds and Delores (Gray) Porter, preceded her in death. Her beloved husband, Ellis “Speed,” passed away in 2002. Also preceding her in death were her father and mother-in-law, E. Gordon and Bess (Porter) Bennett, her brother-in-law Lawrence Bennett, and her sisters-in-law Hannah Lou Bennett, Elizabeth “Bunty” (Bennett) Hartwig and husband Kenneth Hartwig, and Jenny Rose (Bennett) Wood and husband Harold Wood.
Theda is survived by her nephew and his wife, Donnis and Carol Reynolds, of Sun City Center, and Don’s children and grandchildren, who include son Phil Reynolds of Kansas City, Kan.; his children: Mark Reynolds, Robert Reynolds and Jennie Peterson; and daughter Sandra Steadward of Barling, Ariz.; and her children and grandchildren: Christina Moore and Ashley Ingram, Tyler Ingram and Tristan Ingram. Additionally, she is survived by her sister-in-law Elizabeth “Betty Bennett” Eulinger of Independence, Mo., and many Bennett-Hartwig-Wood family nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren, all who loved Aunt Theda dearly.
Following her wishes, Theda will be laid to rest with her much-loved husband Ellis in the Maitland Cemetery, Maitland, Holt County, Missouri. Memorial services to be announced.
Samuel A. Fuller
Samuel A. Fuller of Sun City Center, Fla., died May 10, 2019. Mr. Fuller was 94 years old. He is survived by his brother, John G. Fuller; three daughters: Mary Cheryl Hargrove, Karen E. Wolfe and Deborah R. Fuller; and one grandchild, Carolyn Marie Wolfe. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Winn (Hamilton) Fuller, and two grandsons, Jon Ashby Hargrove and James Fuller Hargrove.
Mr. Fuller was a lawyer who practiced in Indianapolis, Ind., primarily as a trial lawyer, first with the firm Stewart, Irwin, Gilliom, Fuller and Meyer and later with Lewis, Kappes, Fuller and Eads. He was educated at the University of Cincinnati where he received a Bachelor of Science in general engineering in 1946 and Juris Doctor in 1947. He received his designation as a Certified Financial Planner from the College for Financial Planning in 1989. He was admitted to practice law in Ohio (1948), Ind. (1951) and Fla. (1984). During his career he belonged to and was active in the following professional and social organizations: American Bar Association, Indiana State Bar Association (board of managers, 1986-1988), Indianapolis Bar Association (treasurer, 1961-1962), 7th Circuit Bar Association, The Florida Bar, Indianapolis Bar Foundation, Fellow American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis (president, 1966), Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (recorder, Inpls, 1970-1976, commander, 1977), Indiana Pioneer Society, Sons of the American Revolution, American Contract Bridge League, Central Indiana Bridge Association (president, 1969), Brookshire Homeowners Association (president, 1973), English Speaking Union (treasurer, Indpls branch, 1974-79), Woodland Country Club (president, 1956), Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Phi, Mystic Tie Lodge No 398, and the Scottish Rite.
He started his career as a claims representative for the Manufacturers and Merchants Indemnity Insurance Company in Cleveland, Ohio, then went with the Indemnity Insurance Company of North America as a claims supervisor. In 1950 he returned to Indianapolis to practice with Murray, Mannon, Fairchild and Stewart (later Steward, Irwin, Gilliom, Fuller and Meyer). He was president and director of Irsugo Consolidated Mines Ltd, director of Midland Electric Coal Corporation, director Indiana Public Health Foundation (1972-84), staff instructor Purdue University Life Insurance Marketing Institute (1954-61), instructor American College of Life Underwriters (1964-74), director Southwest Social Center, president and director Westminster Village North, member Indiana State Board of Law Examiners (1985-98).
At the end of 1989, he retired from Lewis, Kappes, Fuller and Eads and moved to Sun City Center where he was active in the Sun City Center Bridge Association. He was a bridge director and teacher. He served on the legal committee of the Sun City Center Community Association on several different occasions. He served on the Sun City Center Security Patrol for several years. He was an usher at Prince of Peace Catholic Church.
He is listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Law. In 1989 he was listed in The Best Lawyers in America.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Catholic Charities (www.catholiccharitiesusa.org) or Season’s Hospice Foundation (www.seasonfoundation.org).
Memorial Mass was held at Prince of Peace Catholic Church at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, with a luncheon immediately following Mass in Conesa Center.
Dorothy Louise Komlanc
Dorothy Louise Komlanc, of Sun City Center, Fla. died unexpectedly May 5, 2019, at the age of 67 from injuries sustained in a car accident she was in February 7, 2019.
Dorothy is survived by her brothers Leon South, Daniel South, and Thomas South. She is predeceased by her husband Craig Komlanc, her sister Doris Valenti, and parents Otis South and Lorraine Burton.
Born in Evansville, Ind. on November 3, 1951, to Otis South and Lorraine Burton. Dorothy loved to travel and was an avid ballroom dancer when she lived in Chicago. Dorothy retired from David A Noyes in Chicago, having worked as an investment advisor for many years. She relocated to Sun City Center in 2014.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. May 16 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 702 Valley Forge Blvd, SCC, FL.
Jerry L. Merritt
Jerry L. Merritt, 67 years old, passed away March 24, 2019. He was a lifelong resident of Gibsonton, Fla., and will be missed by all his family and many friends.Jerry is survived by his sisters, Margie Rayburn and Judy Carswell, and his son, Brian Merritt.
Frances Sturniolo
Frances Sturniolo, 91, of Sun City Center, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at her home.
Friends visited Monday, May 13, at Sun City Center Funeral Home, 1851 Rickenbacker Drive, Sun City Center, 33573. A memorial celebration of life and gathering was held at 10 a.m., Monday, May 13, at Sun City Center Funeral Home. Burial followed at Sarasota National Cemetery.
Frances was born October 4, 1927, in Palermo, Sicily, to Salvatore and Maria (nee Dominicelli) Lo Verde. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1938 at the age of 11. During World War II, Frances worked as an assembly line circuit tester at the Emerson Radio factory in Manhattan, New York. While at Emerson, she was introduced, by her sister, to a young Army Air force veteran also employed there. On December 30, 1948, she married Joseph Sturniolo in Brooklyn, N.Y. Frances was a devoted homemaker and mother. She enjoyed music, dancing, listening to classical opera and swing. She loved dogs and her family owned many different breeds over the years.
Frances is survived by her daughter Carol Ann Piazza; two sons, David and Joseph Sturniolo; sister Paulina Ingemi; four grandchildren, Zachary and Tyler Sturniolo, Christopher and Brian Piazza; two great-grandchildren, Anthony Joseph and Annamarie Piazza. She was preceded in death by her parents Salvatore and Maria and her sister Rose. Also, her husband, of almost 67 years, Joseph passed away in 2015.
Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 813-634-9900.
Elaine Vaughan
Elaine Vaughan passed away on May 5, 2019. She was a longtime resident of Sun City Center.
Elaine loved her family, loved to travel and was very involved in the various communities where she lived. She was a risk taker and not afraid to follow her own path. Elaine lived in various locations and always found a foothold and made friends easily wherever she landed. She moved to Florida in the late 70s and worked in administration at the St. Pete Fire Dept. When she moved to Sun City Center, she embarked on a career in real estate. She was a people person and enjoyed meeting new residents, always finding ways to help them settle in.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, William and Clotilda (Tilly) Saltzman; sister, Claire Syiek; and brother-in-law, Fred Syiek. She is survived by her daughters Deborah Vaughan-Gowen (James) of Philadelphia, Pa.; Karen Vaughan of Manchester, N.H.; and Cheryl Forster (Richard) of Salt Lake City. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Emily Gowen (Peter Erikson), Glen Forster and Weston Forster. She will be sorely missed by her children, grand-children, many nieces, nephews and her friends.
At Elaine’s request, there will not be an immediate service, but her family will hold a Celebration of Life service later in the year.
In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the American Heart Association in her name, or to Life Path Hospice House, 3725 Upper Creek Dr, Ruskin, FL 33573.
Erleen “Molly” K. Worth-Anderson
Erleen “Molly” Katherine Worth-Anderson, 97, of Sun City Center, passed away on May 6, 2019. Molly was born on November 11, 1921, in Duluth, Minn. She was a little lady with an adventurous nature: she joined the U.S. Navy for two years. She later worked for the U.S. Army Aviation Division, where the voice transmissions on helicopters were tested. When Molly settled in Florida, she took a job at Winn Dixie supermarket, where she met a regular customer named Sunny Anderson, who would soon become her husband. Generous with her time, she volunteered at South Bay Hospital, passing out food trays. She loved to dance, especially with Sunny. Clogging, line dancing, ballroom, jitterbug––she did it all.
Molly is survived by her husband, Sunny Anderson, three children, seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son, Edward Charles Holmes.
A celebration of Life service was held at 10 a.m., May 16 at United Methodist Church of Sun City Center, Fla.
