Robert R. Rafferty
Robert R. Rafferty, 82 of Sun City Center, FL passed away January 21, 2012 at home with his family. He was survived by his loving wife Loys Reynolds Rafferty; 5 children, Ronald, Michael, Dorothy DesBrisay, Timothy and Robin Ariola; 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was a career military officer retiring as a Lt. Col. who served at several overseas locations, 2 tours in Viet Nam, and with NATO. He was a professional author who published 9 non-fiction books, 2 children’s screen plays and was also a well known comedy writer for cartoonists. Memorial services will be in a family gathering in Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to LifePath Hospice 12973 N. Telecom Parkway, Ste. 100, Temple Terrace FL 33637 www.lifepath-hospice.org.
Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 1851 Rickenbacker Dr. Sun City Center, FL
Jane Spencer Brunka
Jane Spencer Brunka, 92, of Vero Beach, FL, died January 31, 2012 at Royal Palm Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Vero Beach.
Daughter of the late James Brookes Spencer and Elma Sanderson Spencer, and granddaughter of the late Senator, and Mrs. Selden Palmer Spencer of Saint Louis, MO, she was born in Saint Louis, and had been a resident of Vero Beach for nearly 4 years coming from Sun City Center, FL in April of 2008.
She was a graduate of Miss Bennett’s School and attended Bennett Junior College in Millbrook, New York.
Survivors include her daughter, Brooke C. (Ronald) Tagney of Vero Beach; sons, Daniel B. (Carole) Clark of Yarmouth, ME and John S. (Kay) Clark of San Francisco, CA; stepson, Lee M. (Barbara) Brunka of Barrington, IL; 7 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren.
Contributions as a Memorial may be made to Humane Society of Vero Beach, P.O. Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961 in memory of Mrs. Brunka.
Services and Interment will be private at the convenience of the family from the Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory of Vero Beach.
An Online Guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com
Stephen J. Harrison
Stephen J. Harrison, 88, a former resident of Hyde Park, NY, and Stone Mountain, GA, died on Saturday, January 21, 2012. He was born February 5, 1923, in New York City, to Oscar and Angela Harrison. He married Barbara Keller on September 6, 1942.
Steve graduated from Wappingers High School, Dutchess Community College and Marist College. In the 1950s he was the owner of the Kalamazoo Appliance Store and Heating Business in Poughkeepsie, NY. He was employed by the State of Georgia as a Certified Public Accountant and auditor until retirement.
Steve was an active member and distinguished office holder in the Hyde Park Rotary. After they relocated, the Harrisons’ Hyde Park home known as “Greystone” became the first Greystone Programs’ community residence, serving people with developmental disabilities and autism. He was a member of the Sun City Center Investment Club and volunteered with the Sun City Center Security Patrol.
In addition to his wife, Barbara, of 69 years, Steve is survived by a daughter Fern Kaelber, Hyde Park, NY; son Stephen Harrison and wife Jean, Sunc City Center, FL; daughter in law Sharon Leimer and husband Fred, Orlando, FL; grandchildren, Charlene and Andrew Lancaster, CT; George and Betsy Kaelber, NY; Charles and Jennifer Harrison, NY; Theodore Marsh, NY Catherine and John Smith, FL; Susan and Matthew Leyshon, FL; brother, Basil Harrison and wife Alice, FL; brother, James Gregory Harrison, MA; several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by a daughter Barbara Dawn Marsh in 1988; a son, Charles J. Harrison in 2004; a brother, A. Paul Harrison in 2006. Cremation has taken place in Florida.
Louis Howard Benner
Louis Howard Benner passed away on Friday, January 27, 2012, at the age of 92. He was the devoted son of the late Martha Smith Benner and Howard Clarence Benner; devoted husband to the late Mary Alice Sinclair Benner; loving brother to the late Caroline (Elwyn) Benner Pym; wonderful father to Thomas Howard (Emily) Benner and Mary Lou (Dennis) Enix; dear grandfather of Thomas Davis Benner, Laurie Brooke Benner, Amelia (Luke) Fitzsimmons, Bonnie Enix, and Nathan Enix; and dear uncle of Anne (Mike) Pym McDonald and Judy Pym Oliphant. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter Jennifer Enix and his great-granddaughter Olivia Benner.
Lou was born on February 26, 1919, in Butte, Montana, and was a proud native of Montana and Washington State. During his lifetime he travelled to all 50 states, and lived in many of them. He graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and was employed by American Standard for over 40 years. During World War II he served in the Air Force as a flight engineer.
Lou and Mary Alice retired to Sun City Center in 1981, where they made many good friends and enjoyed retirement together until Mary Alice passed away in 1997 after 48 years of marriage. Lou loved to play bridge, golf, and volleyball, ride his bicycle, and watch baseball games on television. He served on the Sun City Center Emergency Squad for several years, and also drove for the Good Samaritans. He was a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.
Lou was a very kind and honest man, well-liked by everyone who met him. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Delmar Gardens West in Missouri for their compassionate care in his last year.
Lou’s remains will be placed next to those of his wife Mary Alice in Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. A memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Sun City Center at a date to be determined.