Martha Kennard Atherton-Fleetwood
Martha Atherton-Fleetwood passed away peacefully on February 20, 2014, just one month shy of her 99th birthday.
Born in Chicago in 1915, Martha was the daughter of Ida Mae Menter and Oliver Layfayette Kennard. In 1928, Martha relocated to Holt, Fla., where she attended elementary and high school. She then went on to attend business school in Pensacola, where she learned skills that she applied throughout her life.
Martha was married to Sumner (Coonie) Atherton in 1939 and, shortly thereafter, set up home in West Lebanon, N.H., where they would reside until the late 1960s.
In addition to raising five children, Martha was instrumental in assisting with the development and operations at the Lebanon Municipal Airport and Connecticut Valley Airways. Summers were spent helping to operate the family-owned Twin Spruce Lodge & Cabins on Lake Wallace in Canaan, Vt. She worked with sales at the Valley News, and operations at WNNE-TV.
After their relocation to Sarasota, Martha created and developed her own travel service, which allowed her to enjoy one of her great passions, traveling the world. Continuing to live on the Gulf Coast of Florida after her first husband’s passing in 1975, Martha was remarried to Dr. Raymond Fleetwood in 1979, with whom she would share wonderful times, dancing, playing cards, visiting with family and traveling. In 1992, Martha relocated to Kings Point in Sun City Center, where she developed strong friendships and continued with her many activities.
She took great pleasure in developing a memoir of her life with the assistance of her son Jeffrey, and it may be read at http://tinyurl.com/marthabelle.
She was a loving and supportive mother, and a generous and constant friend. Enjoying her many grand- and great-grandchildren, she never hesitated to correct their behavior, as she had done with her own children. She leaves behind five children, John Atherton (Anita Chase-Atherton), Jean Hutchinson (Joe), Mary Atherton, Paul (Barbara) and Jeffrey (Natalie Oliver-Atherton); 13 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husbands, Sumner E. Atherton Jr. and Raymond Fleetwood, as well as a brother and sister-in-law, Charles and Hazel Kennard of Knoxville, Tenn.
A private interment at the West Lebanon Cemetery will take place on June 28. Donations may be made to the West Lebanon Congregational Church, 18 Maple St., West Lebanon, NH 03784 or to LifePath Hospice, 3725 Upper Creek Drive, Ruskin, FL 33573.
Burton Gelbman
Burton Gelbman, 90, of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away February 25, 2014. He was born July 13, 1923, in Yonkers, N.Y.
After retiring from the U.S. Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel, he was active in Shriners, Military Officers Association of America and the Computer Club of Sun City Center.
He is survived by his loving wife Joyce; brothers Howard and Donald (Barbara); stepson Joel; step-grandchildren Joshua, Aliya and Ben.
A Memorial Service will be held April 22, starting at 10 a.m. at Freedom Plaza’s fourth-floor auditorium, 1010 American Eagle Blvd., Sun City Center. Arrangements by Zipperer’s Funeral Home.
Penelope Chaille Weaver
Penelope Chaille Weaver, the loving daughter of Jack and Joan Chaille, born April 14, 1947, passed away peacefully April 4 at her home in Northville, Mich.
Funeral services will be held in Northville on April 12.