Marcus Wilson Fletcher
Marcus Wilson Fletcher, born in Tampa, FL on January 13, 1957, died in Bradenton, FL on Dec. 12, 2012. Marcus, known as Marc to his friends, Buddy or Bo to his parents and sister, and Uncle Buddy to his nephews, was born and raised in Ruskin, FL, was a 1975 graduate of East Bay high school and served in the U.S. Coast Guard. He worked for Hillsborough County for 33 years and was a member of De Soto Masonic Lodge in Riverview, FL.
He was an artist, loved playing the guitar, fishing and being on the water. He also grew hot peppers, made his own sinus-clearing hot sauce and loved telling stories. Marcus loved his family, friends, and church. He lived by the words of one of his favorite songs, Simple Man: “Oh, take your time, don’t live too fast; troubles will come and they will pass; you’ll find a woman and you’ll find love. And don’t forget, son, there is someone up above. Boy, don’t you worry, you’ll find yourself. Follow your heart and nothing else. And you can do this, oh baby, if you try. All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied. And be a simple kind of man. Oh, be something you love and understand; baby be a simple kind of man. Oh, won’t you do this for me, son, if you can.”
Marcus was preceded in death by his mother Margie Fletcher. He is survived by his wife, Judy Fletcher; father, John D Fletcher; sister, Carolyn Gill (Jerry Gill); nephews Nick Gill and Drew Gill; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
A memorial service was held at Ruskin United Methodist Church on Saturday, December 15, 2012, at 2 p.m. Donations may be made in Marcus’ name to the Ruskin United Methodist Church, 105 4th Ave. NW, Ruskin, FL or the American Cancer Society.
Douglas Hugh Foreman, Sr.
Douglas Hugh Foreman, Sr., 75, of Sun City Center died December 31, 2012. Born in Northville, Michigan to Hugh and Lucille Foreman, he was a U.S. Navy veteran, with two tours in Vietnam, from 1956-76. He was a proud member of the Moose Lodge.
He was the owner of Rivergate Family Campground in Hastings, MI, and former owner of Fleet Repair in Mt. Pleasant, MI, and Top of the Hill German Car Repair in Hawaii.
He is survived by wife Denise Rae Foreman; son Douglas Hugh Foreman, Jr.; daughters Janet Lee West (Philip), Joanne Lucille Barnard (Tommy), and Jean Louise Foreman; brother Michael Gordon Foreman (Debbie); sister Sandra Lee Gidos; daughter-in-law Tammy Foreman; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Keith Leroy Foreman, and brother-in-law John Gidos.
Donations in his memory may be made to Moose Lodge 813, 1212 E Shell Point Rd. Ruskin, Fl 33570-5004.
Rolland Bruce Kingston
Rolland Bruce Kingston died December 28, 2012. He went west into the sunset never to be alone.He was loved by all, survived by sister Ellie, nieces and nephews, and by companion Doris Long. Rolland was cremated by Lewers Funeral Home.
Donald M. Morse
Donald M. Morse, 91, passed away in Sun City Center, FL on December 13, 2012, the son of Arthur and Madge Morse of Wells, Maine. He was born on March 2, 1921.
Don attended the Wells schools and was a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston. He joined the U.S. Army and served in the South Pacific.
Returning home he and his brother Edward started their family lumber and building materials business, which they owned and operated for over four decades.
Don was a people person, making them his number one hobby; others were gardening, golfing, hunting, fishing, lobstering, bridge, other card and board games and lawn bowling.
He had served as a corporator of Kennebunk Savings Bank and Southern Maine Medical Center. He was a director of Cape Grundel Golf Course in Kennebunkport, Ocean National Bank and Howell Labs of Bridgton.
He was a Mason, member of the Kora Temple and a Shriner for well over 50 years each.
He is survived by Nancy, his wife of 41 years, nephew Martin; niece Barbara; and several loving cousins.
Thanks and appreciation goes out to Dr. Brynes and the staff and employees of Plaza West for the loving care of Don. They and many dear friends, who visited, gave Don comfort and contentment in his waning days.
In lieu of flowers, those that wish may donate to the Shriners Children’s Hospital.
A Memorial service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Sun City Center Funeral Home, 1851 Rickenbacker Drive, in Sun City Center.
There will be a later Memorial Service in Kennebunkport, ME in June, 2013.
Richard Pompei
Richard Pompei (Dick), 79, of Sun City Center FL, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 26 at 1:37 a.m. at LifePath Hospice.
He was born September 3, 1933 in Lorain, Ohio, to the late John and Helen (née Ricco) Pompei.
Dick was a Korean war veteran, serving aboard the aircraft carrier Coral Sea. He is past commander of the Italian American Veterans Post 1 in Lorain OH and a member of American Legion Post 67. He was employed at Thew Shovel in Lorain OH. In 1980 he moved to Noblesville IN, and was employed as materials manager at GlassCraft Corporation in Indianapolis, IN.
In 1995 Dick and Betty retired to Sun City Center, FL. Dick enjoyed many years of travel and crusing. He loved dancing, fishing, playing poker and his family and friends.
Survivors include his loving wife of 57 years, Betty (née Fam); daughters Dolly (Jim Arbucle), Shari (Rick Randall), and Patty (Ryan Hughes); brother Bob (Judy) Pompei, of Mansfield OH; and sister Donna Greeley (Dana Schaff), Denver, CO. He also leaves 11 grandchildren: Alan, Richard and Michael Baltzell; Annie, Andy, Camie, and Maranda Arbuckle; Katie Longbottom; Julie Peterson; Jake and Shane Hughes; and three great grandchildren, Alan and Alyssa Baltzell and Rodney Sidebottom III. Also many nieces and nephews.
Graveside services and interment with Military Honors were at Sarasota National Cemetery on Friday, Dec. 28, 2012.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to LifePath Hospice, the SCC Emergency Squad or charity of your choice.
Marie P. Siatkowski
Marie P. Siatkowski passed away at age 69 at her home in Sun City Center, FL on December 31, 2012. She was born in Providence, RI on April 1, 1943, and moved to Florida in 1979, where she lived in Ruskin and Sun City Center.
She was employed at Thunder Bird Lanes and was a loving wife, mother and friend to everyone she met.
Marie is survived by husband Bob Siatkowski; son Robert Siatkowski; daughter Debra Hoffman; three grandchildren, Charlie, Joey and Deidre; and three great-grandchildren.
She will be loved and missed by everyone who knew her.
Services will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church in Ruskin on January 12, 2013 at 11 a.m., followed by a get-together at the Church Hall.
Melvin E. Sims
Melvin E. “Chip” Sims, 47, of Ruskin, FL passed away January 5, 2013. Survivors include his father Melvin H. Sims and his wife Dee; his mother Fran Sims and her fiancé Doug Browth; his sister and brother-in-law Beth and Scott Howard; his daughter Hannah Renee Sims; his wife Cheryl and their daughters Sydney and Olivia and stepdaughter Brittany Wollslager; and many extended loved ones.
The funeral was Wednesday, January 9 at Sun City Center Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the national Kidney Foundation.
Donald Calvin Wilhelm
Donald Calvin Wilhelm, 88, passed away on January 5, 2013 in Sun City Center, Florida. He leaves behind his wife of 66 years, “Mari” Marion and four children: daughters Sheryl (Donald) Hall and Cynthia Ann (Tony) Morton; sons Donald Kevin Wilhelm and Joel David Wilhelm; 11 grandchildren;14 great-grandchildren; and six great- great-grandchildren. He also leaves brother and sister-in-law Norman and Suzanne Serle; sister and brother-in- law Carol and Henry Rusyn; sister-in-law Peggy Serle, along with many loving nieces and nephews.
Mr. Wilhelm was a Navy World War II veteran in the Pacific theater. His professional career in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, where he was affectionately called the “Mayor” by his close friends, was with Bellows-Valvair, where he worked for 42 years.
He excelled in sports and had many softball, golfing, fishing and pool buddies. Don loved reminiscing about his Navy years with his veteran buddies, traveling, and was a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan. In his later years in Florida, where he loved the warm climate, he enjoyed playing pinochle and bingo with his friends.
Services will be 11 a.m. on Friday, January 11, 2013 at Sun City Center Funeral Home, 1851 Rickenbacker Drive, Sun City Center, Fla. Interment with Military Honors at the Sarasota National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society https://donate.nmcrs.org/page/contribute/nmcrs-donate.
Ruth Lam Willson
Ruth Lam Willson of Sun City Center, Florida, went to be with our Lord on December 30, 2012.
Born on May 5, 1921, in Elkton, Virginia, she was the daughter of Samuel Irvin Lam and Leva Florence Shifflett.
She married Layton Brown Burner, Jr., on July 5, 1941. He died on August 28, 1954 in Elkton, Virginia. Their son Larry Wayne Burner was born on June 21, 1943, and died on Feb 13, 2010 in Danville, Virginia. She later met and married Frederick M. Willson in 1958 and was happily married for 47 years. He died in October, 2003 in Sun City Center, Florida.
She is survived by daughter-in-law Nancy Burner; two grandchildren, Larry Wayne Burner, II, and Marie Burner White; three great-grandchildren, Anastasia White, Rebekah Burner, and Courtney Burner; and two stepdaughters, Patricia Hensley and Shirley Biehl; as well as two nieces, Janet and Willie; and first cousin Roselyn Chorney. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Jasper Carl Lam and Samuel Claude Lam, and four sisters, Ruby Pearl Wenk, Thelma Eugene Oney, Ila Beatrice Webster, and Violet May Lam.
She resided in Virginia and was formerly employed at Merck and Company until retirement in June 1978. She also worked in Washington, D.C., as a companion to two young children and as a cashier at Scholl’s Cafeteria in downtown D.C.
After retirement, she spent many winters in Florida, finally settling on South Lake in Sun City Center, Florida, in 1988. She loved watching the birds and ducks and discovering the different species/types. During their 47 years, Ruth and Fred travelled throughout Canada, Nova Scotia, Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean Islands, South America, Mexico and Hawaii. She loved ballroom dancing and all the Big Bands. She also enjoyed knitting and various other kinds of needlework and hand oil painting until her eyes began to fade. Her greatest love was playing cards and cooking for her friends.
To know her was to love her. She brought joy to everyone’s life that she touched. She was a member of the Methodist Church in Sun City Center, Florida.
Friends and relatives gathered to celebrate Ruth’s life at Sun Towers on Tuesday, January 1, 2013. Donations may be made in her name to the Sun City Center Emergency Squad.
Harold Lynn Wilson
Harold Lynn Wilson, 80, of Sun City Center, passed away December 15, 2012 under the care of Hospice.
He is survived by Jane, his wife of 57 years; daughters Sherilyn (Bruce) Mallory and Karen Cullen (John Self); grandchildren Michael and Lauren Mallory; and brother Richard (Faith) Wilson.
Major Wilson spent 22 years in the USAF as a fighter pilot, including three years in Vietnam. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 23 Oak Leaf Clusters.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, where he and Jane met, and earned a Masters of Science degree from the University of Southern California. Upon retirement from the USAF, he worked as Personnel Director for a banking center.
During his 27 years here, he was active in the SCC Men’s Club, assistant Chief of the Security Patrol, Secretary of the SCC Investment Club, Community Association Entertainment Committee, First President of Unit 47 POA, Eucharistic Minister and Lector at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Ballroom and Dinner Dance clubs and Golf Leagues. He was a life member of MOAA.
A Funeral Mass will be held 11 a.m. Friday, January 11, 2013 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 702 Valley Forge Boulevard, Sun City Center, Fla. Burial with Military Honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of Flowers, donations can be made to LifePath Hospice, 3725 Upper Creek Drive, Ruskin, Fla 33573 or Prince of Peace Catholic Church.
Gladys Wolfeld
Lillian Gladys Wolfeld of Sun City Center, Freedom Plaza, died on December 12, 2012 and was laid to rest on December 14 at Sharon Gardens in Valhalla, New York. She was the beloved wife of the late Maxwell Wolfeld and cherished a loving friendship with Dr. William (Bill) Roe.
Gladys was born on January 22, 1918 in Manhattan, New York to Hyman and Anna Oberman. She moved to Puerto Rico in 1945 where her husband established a button factory. They resided there for 20 years.
An active volunteer in the USO, she entertained the troops with her Ethel Merman-like voice and made numerous recordings for her “boys” to send back home.
Gladys and her husband Max helped found the first synagogue in Puerto Rico and each served on the Board for many years. Eventually, they relocated back to the USA and settled in Dobbs Ferry, New York.
Gladys is survived by three children: Eileen West of Wimauma, FL, Bennett Wolfeld of Chappaqua, NY, and Jeffrey Wolfeld of Fairlawn, NJ; seven grandchildren – Audrey Homer, Terri Anderson, Jennifer, Michael, Heath, Brandon, and Lindsey Wolfeld; seven great-grandchildren – Kate, Beth and Neal Anderson, Alexander and Abigail Homer, Maxwell and Alec Wolfeld; and brothers Paul, Philip, and Daniel Oberman. She was predeceased by two brothers: Harry and Louis Oberman.
A memorial service will be conducted by Rabbi Philip Aronson on Monday, January 14, 10 AM at Freedom Plaza, 1010 American Eagle Way.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Freedom Plaza Scholarship Fund or to Temple Beth Israel in Sun City Center.
