Peggy Ruth Freeman Booth
Peggy Ruth Freeman Booth, 89, of Sun City Center, FL, passed away peacefully at home on March 19, 2013. Peggy was born in Norwich, Norfolk, England, on October 20, 1923. She was the daughter of Maisie Eva Freeman and Laurence H. R. Freeman.
Peggy grew up in London, and during the World War II Nazi blitz on London, she worked there for the British government.
Peggy met her husband Jesse, an American soldier, and they were married in London in 1944. Although her relatives said it would never last, they were happily married for 69 years. She traveled to America on the British liner the RMS Aquitania, in September, 1944, after Jesse was stationed in France. She lived with his parents in Beaumont, TX, where she became a local celebrity as the first war bride to arrive there. She gave talks about war-time England on the radio and was a guest speaker at many schools. Peggy was also an honored guest at Beaumont High School’s homecoming that year, where she was baffled by her first American football game!
After Jesse returned from France at the end of the war, they made their home in Houston, TX, where Peggy devoted her life to raising their two daughters, and Jesse went to work for an oil company.
In 1963, they were transferred to Lafayette, LA, where Peggy organized a large chapter of the Trans-Atlantic Brides and Parents Organization. When they were transferred back to Houston in 1970, Peggy learned the jewelry business. After their move to Dallas in 1978, she continued in the jewelry business as an award-winning saleswoman. She ultimately retired from the fine jewelry department of Neiman Marcus in 1983.
In 1989, Peggy and Jesse moved to Sun City Center, where they embraced an active retirement life with many friends. Peggy studied art at the Sun City Center Art Club, where she became an accomplished artist.
Additionally, Peggy loved reading and traveling. She and Jesse traveled back to England more than 30 times, and as a result, she retained her lovely English accent her entire life. They toured every country in western Europe, especially France. They enjoyed 16 cruises together, the last one being to Australia and New Zealand.
Peggy had one sister, Pauline, whom she dearly loved, who predeceased her on Christmas Day in London in the year 2000. Peggy is survived by her beloved husband Jesse; daughters Judy Ann Richman of Tampa, FL, and Betty Jean File of Colorado Springs, CO; son-in-law Kevin File; and grandchildren Jason and Kelsie File of Colorado Springs, CO.
Peggy’s family and friends will always remember her love of family, her sense of fun and adventure, her contagious laugh, and her passion for life.
The family wishes to thank Pastor Ed Schafer from Trinity Baptist Church in Sun City Center, LifePath Hospice (green team), Peggy’s caregivers Mary and Pearl, and Peggy’s and Jesse’s many friends for their love and support.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, March 23 at Zipperer’s Funeral Home in Sun City Center. A private internment will be held at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL.
Juanita Mary Derr
Juanita Mary Derr of Hampton, Virginia, passed away on March 8, 2013. Juanita Mary (Hammond) Derr was born on April 27, 1928 in Logan, Ohio, the daughter of Elmer Ray and Edith (Denney) Hammond. On June 2, 1948, she married Dale Woodrow Derr. She and her husband lived most of their lives in Logan, Ohio. She retired from Risch’s Drugstore in Logan in 1988 after 28 years of service. Upon retirement she and Dale moved to Portage, Michigan to be close to their son and his family. Dale preceded her in death on August 19, 1988.
After nine years in Portage, she moved to Sun City Center, Florida, with her good friend Dr. Leon Tindall, and in 2008 she moved to The Chamberlin senior living community in Hampton, Virginia. In each place she lived, she was an active member of a Christian church and was thankful for her friends and neighbors. Juanita loved God, her family, and her friends, and loved to fish and boat, lawn bowl, and “play games, all sorts.”
Her son and daughter-in-law, Glenford Ray and Katherine May Derr, live in Williamsburg, Virginia. Also surviving are granddaughters Mary Katherine Hunter (husband David Hunter) and Laura Elisabeth Sim (husband Albert Sim), and great- grandchildren Elliot Dale Sim and Lydia Katherine Sim. Juanita leaves one surviving brother, Lester Hammond, in Newark, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her parents and three other brothers (Heskell, Oakey, and Junior).
A private graveside service will be held at the Portage South Cemetery in Portage, Michigan, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, any gifts be directed to a local hospice organization.
Arrangements by Langeland Funeral Home, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Glen Campbell Hoover
Glen Campbell Hoover, 93, of Sun City Center, FL passed away on March 15, 2013. Mr. Hoover was born on August 4, 1919 in Struthers, Ohio, to Ambrose and Florence (Shingledecker) Hoover with siblings Helen Margaret (Carl) Dittmar, Bruce Campbell Hoover and George Francis Hoover. He graduated from Struthers High School in Ohio in 1937. Mr. Hoover attended the College of Wooster in Ohio until he was called to serve in the U.S. Navy from December 14, 1943 through January 20, 1946, where he was awarded the American Theater Victory Medal. While in the Navy, he married Frances Louise McMullen on July 10, 1944, in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Mr. Hoover earned his Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree from Ohio State University on June 6, 1947. After working briefly in the Struthers area, he began a 30-year career as an industrial engineer for the U.S. Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where he was a charter member and the longest continuously serving member of the F-15 Eagle fighter jet program. During his Air Force career, he and Frances had two daughters, Constance Jane and Janis Elaine.
Following his retirement in 1979, Mr. Hoover was preceded in death by his wife Frances on May 28, 1982. Mr. Hoover married Ruth Charlene (Johnson) Jeffers on August 20, 1983, in Bellfontaine, Ohio. They have enjoyed their retirement together in Sun City Center, Florida, where Mr. Hoover volunteered as an ambulance driver and was known as “The Shakermaker” for making paddle tambourines for Christian musicians around the world. Glen’s life was characterized by his strong faith in Christ and his generous service to others.
He is preceded in death by his parents, siblings and grandson, Justin P. Brindley. Glen and Frances are survived by their two children, Constance Jane (Warren) Gareiss of Centerville, Indiana; and Janis Elaine (Nick) Hoover-Haverkos of Loveland, Ohio. Glen is survived by Charlene and her three children, Brian (Susanne) Jeffers of Medina, Ohio; Valerie (Bob) Brindley of Sugar Land, Texas; and Brent (Debra) Jeffers of West Liberty, Ohio. Mr. Hoover has 13 loving grandchildren and nine beautiful great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life service led by Rev. Warren Langer was held on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at United Methodist Church of Sun City Center.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association in his memory.
George Lipkey
George Lipkey, 83, of Sun City Center, FL passed away March 18, 2013. George was born in Tampa, Florida and later moved to the Washington D.C. area where he raised a family in Clinton and Golden Beach, Maryland.
George served in the 374th Maintenance Squadron of the U.S. Air Force in the Korean War as Staff Sergeant from 1948 to 1952. He worked at the Goddard Space Flight Center and NASA Headquarters for 19 years. At the time of his retirement he was a Program Analyst in the Office of the Comptroller at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nancy Miller Lipkey; daughter Carol Connelly (Dennis); son Don Lipkey (Debra); and daughter Wendy Tankersley (Carl); grandchildren Dennis Connelly (Kathy), Brian Connelly (Jennifer), Foster Lipkey (Leslie), Amber Kusina (Robert), Genine Lipkey and Adam Tankersley (Rosanna); and six great-grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held in Arlington National Cemetery.
Michael J. O’Hern
Michael J. O’Hern, 65, of Sun City Center passed away on March 16, 2013 due to complications from malignant melanoma. Originally from Syracuse, NY, Mike attended the St. Vincent de Paul School, graduated from North Syracuse Central High School, and earned a BA in Business from the University of North Florida.
He was an Air Force Master Sergeant with an Air Frame and Power Plant Certification. After his service, he relocated to Florida where he could sail year-round. He had a long and satisfying career as a licensed 100-ton vessel captain, master boat mechanic, sailing instructor, and sailboat broker.
He served as the Executive Director of the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce and was an active member of the Tampa Sailing Squadron, serving on the Board of Directors of their Youth Sailing Program.
He is survived by his mother Mary “Peggy” O’Hern Higgins of Sun City Center; sisters Patricia Weinberg and her husband Michael of Atlanta, GA, and Celestine “Sally” Hall and her husband Jeffery of Cortland, NY; nephew Travis Hall; and niece Chelsea Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to LifePath Hospice in Ruskin, FL.