Obituaries: June 19, 2014

Rev. Robert E. Gately

Rev. Robert E. Gately, 89, of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away June 9, 2014. He was born in Watertown, Mass., and was ordained May 22, 1952, by Bishop Michael Ready at the former St. Charles Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. He served as assistant pastor at Columbus Holy Cross (1952), Marion St. Mary (1952 – ’54), Coshocton Sacred Heart (1954-’56) and New Lexington St. Rose (1956) churches; as a temporary substitute at the Church of the Atonement in Crooksville and Columbus St. Aloysius (both in 1956); and as chaplain at the former Mercy Hospital in Mount Vernon, Ohio, before becoming a chaplain in the Navy in 1958.

Before retiring from the military in 1979, he served with the Navy and the Marines in California, Florida, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Okinawa. His sea duty included tours on the guided missile cruiser USS Topeka and with the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War.

He served the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Fla., at parishes in St Petersburg, Tampa, Dunedin and Sun City Center, and as a member of that Diocese’s Tribunal.

Survivors include nephew Michael Gately and his wife Allie, and many grand-nieces and -nephews. A Vigil was held Wednesday, June 11, and a funeral Mass was on Thursday, June 12, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Sun City Center. Burial was with military honors at Sarasota National Cemetery.

Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.

 

William (Bill) Graham

Bill entered into rest on Tuesday, June 10, 2014. Bill was from New Haven, Ct., and migrated to Florida.

He is best remembered by his quick wit and wonderful smile.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Jo Anne; daughters Diane Graham, Dorothy Becker and Carolyn Graham; grandchildren Sara and Alex Potocsny, Brian Graham, Richie and Gracie Becker; and one great-grandson, Talon Graham, all of Connecticut; one brother, John, in South Carolina; a sister, Katherine, of Massachusetts. He was pre-deceased by a brother, George.

Bill leaves behind many friends and family. He was a member of the Bradenton Elks, and the Irish Club of East Haven, Ct.

There will be a memorial service and luncheon Saturday, June 28, at 11 a.m., at Riverside Hayes Bayou Clubhouse in Ruskin.

 

Ria Riley

Ria Riley passed away June 7, 2014, after a long battle with kidney disease. As a career educator, community volunteer and bridge player, she touched many lives in Central New York; Sun City Center, Fla.; and Austin, Texas.

Aurelia Marie Frone was born March 21, 1937, in Albany, N.Y., the only child of Agnes Aiossa and Fred J. Frone. She grew up in Clinton Park, East Greenbush, and attended St. Mary’s School until the eighth grade. After graduating from Columbia High School, Ria desired to go away to college, but her father promised her a car if she stayed home and attended SUNY Albany. Little did she know her father wouldn’t give her the car until after graduation!

She earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1955. She quickly accepted a job in Syracuse to start her teaching career, and also graduated from Syracuse University with a master’s degree and ABD (all but dissertation) in education.

During the summers off, Ria and her friends rented a lake house in the Finger Lakes. It was there she met the love of her life, Charles B. Riley. Ria and Chuck were married July 30, 1960, on Chuck’s 27th birthday, and shared more than 50 happy years together.

Ria taught business at Central Square High School, Central City Business Institute, Most Holy Rosary High School, and Cicero-North Syracuse High School, where she ended her career as Dean. She was a passionate and beloved educator who always advocated for the children she taught. She firmly believed teachers are professionals, and crossed the picket lines during the 1976 North Syracuse teachers’ strike. Ria was honored to be the 1978 commencement speaker at North Syracuse High School.

After retiring in 1992, Ria and Chuck played duplicate bridge, achieving Life Master status. As they made plans to move to Sun City Center, Fla., Ria was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease. She endured several rounds of dialysis in Syracuse and then in Sun City before receiving a life-saving kidney transplant in March 1998. Although her recovery was long and difficult, she worked hard to take care of her kidney, and never suffered a rejection episode in 16 years as a transplant recipient.

Ria served the community in several ways: as a SCORE volunteer, as board member of the Sun City Center Community Association, and as a bridge director. In 2007, she moved to Austin to be closer to her daughter. She served as president of the Covered Bridge Gardens homeowners association before moving to The Summit at Westlake Hills, and finally, Atria at the Arboretum.

Ria leaves her husband, Chuck Riley; daughter and son-in-law Pam and Joe Horn; son and daughter-in-law Scot Riley and Tracy Labonte; grandchildren Kevin Jefferson Horn and wife Lindsay Sunshine Horn, Jillian Ria Horn, Carolyn Jane, Michael Peter, John Christopher and Benjamin Andrew Riley; and great-grandson Rainn Robert Horn.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 28, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at Remembrance Gardens, 4214 Capital of Texas Highway North, Austin, TX 78746. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Association of University Women, 1111 Sixteenth St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036; www.aauw.org/contribute.

 

Farewell My Friends

 

It was beautiful as long as it lasted
The journey of my life.
I have no regrets whatsoever
save the pain I’ll leave behind.
Those dear hearts who love and care…
And the heavy with sleep ever moist eyes.
The smile, in spite of a lump in the throat
And the strings pulling at the heart and soul.
The strong arms that held me up
when my own strength let me down.
At every turning of my life I came across good friends.
Friends who stood by me,
Even when the time raced me by.
Farewell, farewell, my friends
I smile and bid you goodbye.
No, shed no tears for I need them not
All I need is your smile.
If you feel sad do think of me
For that’s what I’ll like.
When you live in the hearts
of those you love, remember then…
You never die.

Rabindranath Tagore, Bengali poet and philosopher (1861 – 1941)

 

 

Glenn W. Strope Jr.

Glenn W. Strope Jr. of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away peacefully the morning of April 9, 2014, with family at his bedside.

Glenn was born in Montrose, Pa., on June 21, 1921.  He was the eldest son of Glenn (Joe) and Anna (Struppler) Strope. He grew up in Montrose, attending Montrose High School.  In May 1942, he enlisted in the Marines and served as a corporal in the 3rd Marine Division. He participated in several Pacific theater battles, including Bougainville and the Northern Solomons. He was Honorably Discharged at Annapolis in May 1946.

After the war, Glenn met, courted  and married Beverly Downer Strope.  They had three children: Carol S Fitzgerald (Bill) of Colchester, Vt.; Faye S Davis (Mike) of Lake Quivira, Kan.; and Billy Strope, deceased.  He has two grandchildren: Evan Fitzgerald (Colleen) of Colchester and Kyle Fitzgerald of Santa Monica, Calif. Evan and Colleen’s son, Liam, is Glenn’s great-grandson.  Glenn is also survived by sister Hazel Reinbold, brother John Strope and numerous nieces, nephews and grand-nieces and -nephews.

Glenn attended Penn State University, and in 1951 entered management at IBM in Binghamton, N.Y. In 1960, he moved his family to Colchester, where he continued his IBM career.  In 1975, he transferred to IBM’s Charlotte, N.C. office, where he worked until his retirement in 1981.
Following his retirement, he moved to Topsail Beach, N.C., where he was an unrelenting beachcomber and pier fisherman. Several years later he moved to Sun City Center, where he enjoyed his many friends in the Kings Point community, playing golf, riding his bicycle and (especially) both Big Band and square dancing.

He was active with the Marine veterans’ “Leathernecks” in Florida, attending get-togethers across the state. He was part of the ‘on field’ commemoration to U.S. veterans at the 2005 Super Bowl in Jacksonville.  Glenn was a Mason for many years, affiliated with the Montrose chapter, and a regular attendee and usher at the United Methodist Church in Sun City Center.

Throughout his life, Glenn was an active outdoorsman. In 1959, he bought a 32-foot boat, Sea Cat, which he later used to move the family to Vermont, guiding the craft through the Erie Canal system and arriving on Lake Champlain after six challenging and fascinating weeks. There were many other adventures on the Sea Cat, including docking it in Montreal for Expo ’67. Other summer outings included fishing, hiking in the Green Mountains and overnight camping at the various parks. Glenn embraced Vermont’s winters, eventually becoming a member of the Ski Patrol at Smugglers’ Notch ski area. The Easter sunrise service at the top of Mount Mansfield in Stowe was one of his favorite family events each year. Other winter pursuits included skating, ice boating, and ice fishing on Lake Champlain. Glenn continued to be active up to his 90th birthday — biking, golfing and dancing.

Glenn’s last two years were at Homewood Assisted Living Residence in Sun City Center, where he made friends with residents and staff alike.  He was “Mr. Glenn” to the staff, who adored him and took loving care of him. The family is very appreciative of their care, and also wishes to thank Eddie Rivera, who was Glenn’s doting companion and caretaker during his last several months.  In his last few days, Glenn was gently attended by LifePath Hospice of Sun City Center, which also earned the family’s lasting gratitude.

The family plans a Memorial Service with military honors at the Montrose Cemetery, Montrose, Pa., at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 21. The family asks that any memorial contributions be made in Glenn’s name to LifePath Hospice, 3723 Upper Creek Drive, Sun City Center, FL 33573.  Arrangements by Bartron-Myer Funeral Home, 382 Church St., Montrose, PA 18801.

 

Arland Douglas “Doug” Wells

Arland Douglas “Doug” Wells, of Ruskin, Florida at the age of 84 passed away Thursday, June 5th 2014, at Sun Terrace Rehabilitation Center in Sun City Center.

Born on May 29th 1930 to Hattie Eliza Brown and Odus Albert Wells in Brazil, Indiana.  They moved to Florida and lived in Jacksonville for 11 years and later moved to Tampa in 1943.  He graduated from Brandon High School in 1948 and went on to serve on submarines in the U.S. NAVY for four years. He is a KOREAN War veteran.  After leaving the Navy in 1952, he worked for the Coca-Cola company for four years.  In 1956 he began work at the Tampa Electric company where he retired after 32 years in 1989.  He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Ruskin, Florida for over 45 years.

Survivors include his three children: daughter Karol Wells of Apollo Beach, Florida; son Steven Wells of Apollo Beach, Florida; son Mark and daughter-in-law Mary Joy Wells of Clermont, Florida.  Also Including grandchildren: Jennifer Wells and 2 great grandchildren of Ruskin, Florida and Miles Wells of Clermont, Florida and numerous nieces.  He was predeceased by his parents, three brothers Edgar, Roland and Jack Wells and one sister Jean Wells-Merrill and his grandson Jason Wells.