Obituaries: March 19, 2015

Marjorie K. Dee

Marjorie K. Dee died peacefully on March 12, 2015, just three days short of her 99th birthday.  She was born in Albany, N.Y., and spent most of her life in New York and Maryland, later enjoying many years of retirement in Florida.

She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, Thomas J. Dee, as well as her brothers, Carlton and Bob.  She leaves behind her children Sandra Kerezsi, Tom Dee (Lorraine), Brian Dee (Mary) and Nancy Crum (Tom); along with seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren (all boys!), two great-great-grandchildren, and several nephews and nieces.  She will be sadly missed by her family and friends and her cat, Cricket.

She found fulfillment in life in her many volunteer activities in hospitals, churches and hospice.  Her love of books led her to a career in the Maryland public libraries. Then her love of sunshine and warmth led her to Florida, where she worked at the Chamber of Commerce and A.G.  Edwards.

She was known for her artistic flair, which included art, fashion, decorating and redecorating!  Her many interests included travel (her car was her second home), reading, crossword puzzles, bridge, history and swimming.  She loved her German shepherds and her many kitties.

A private service was held in Sun City Center, Fla., to be followed by interment in Baltimore, Md.

Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.

 

Ruth C. Getchell

Ruth C. Getchell died peacefully on March 7, 2015.  She was predeceased by her husband Ralph in December 2012.

Ruth was born November 12, 1915, in Uniontown, Pa., to Jennie Bittner and Amos Collins.  She and Ralph were married October 10, 1942, in Hattiesburg, Miss., where Ralph was stationed in the U.S. Army.  The couple moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 1946, shortly after Ralph’s discharge from the Army in 1945.

Ruth was manager of the switchboard at the Fort  Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel newspaper until her retirement in 1977.  After retirement, the couple traveled extensively in their motorhome, visiting the Western states, New England and Canada. They frequently visited the mountains of North Carolina and northern Georgia, and built a home in Hiawassee, Ga., where they lived for a brief period of time. They relocated to Sun City in 1990, living first in Kings Point and then in SunTowers.

Ruth was a member of the United Methodist Church. She enjoyed entertaining friends and playing cards at SunTowers.

She is survived by and will be greatly missed by her nieces Janet (Tom) Larson of Jacksonville, Fla., and Sue (Ted) George of Dover, Del.; grandnieces Rachel Larson and Ashley George; grandnephews Clark (Phoebe) Larson and Ryan George; and great-grandniece Eleanor Ivy.

A memorial service was held March 17 in the Chapel at the SunTowers Residence Center on Trinity Lakes Blvd. Interment was at Bushnell Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Congregational Care Ministry of the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center, 210 Del Webb Blvd. W., whose lay ministers made so many loving visits to our aunt.

 

Edna McGahan Gobeille

Edna McGahan Gobeille, 80, of Parkland, Fla., passed away on March 9, 2015. Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Auntie, and Friend. Family meant everything to her and sustained her.

She is survived by her children Matthew and his wife Anita, Thomas, James and his wife Maureen, Eileen and her husband Earl; grandchildren Christopher and his wife Rachele, Leanne, Katherine, Michele, Kelly, Samantha, James, Kimberly and her husband Jason, and Brian; great-grandson Calum; and siblings Mildred, Edward and his wife Maureen, and Ellen and her husband Mickey.

A Memorial Service will be held 1 p.m. on Friday, March 20, at Sun City Center Funeral Home, 1851 Rickenbacker Drive, Sun City Center.

Irish Blessing: May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall softly upon your fields. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.

 

Ash McClure Hawk

Ash McClure Hawk, 78, of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away March 9, 2015.

Ash was born and raised in Ohio, the son of William McClure and Elizabeth Ash Hawk.  He attended schools in Ohio, graduating from Ohio State University in 1957. Upon graduation, he married his high-school and lifelong sweetheart, Carol Marie Williams, and began service as a U.S. Naval Officer stationed with the Atlantic Fleet. Upon completion of military service, the couple moved to Ann Arbor, Mich., where he completed his doctoral studies at the University of Michigan.

In 1972, the family moved to Minnesota, where he joined the graduate faculty of the University of Minnesota, retiring in 1994. Their Minnesota homes included a family retreat on Lake Vermillion, where they continued to reside during the summers, relocating to Florida for the winters.

Ash is survived by a caring and loving wife of 57 years; children James Parker Hawk and Cynthia Carol (Gary) Bishop; sister Adrianne (William) Geiger; loving grandchildren Parker James Hawk, Mara Marie Hawk, Erin Coleen Hawk, Ashley Carol Bishop and Eric Wayne Bishop.

A private celebration was held at his request.

Memorials may be directed to Calvary Lutheran Church, 5309 U.S. 41 North, Apollo Beach, Fla.

Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.

 

Mary M. Howe

Mary Margaret Kenihan Howe, 96 years old, a 43-year resident of Edison, N.J., passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2015, in Sun City Center, Fla., after a short illness.

She was born in Jersey City, N.J., on April 26, 1918, daughter of John Kenihan (father) and Elizabeth Colbert Kenihan  (mother), the youngest of six children.

She was married to George Joseph Howe of Manhattan, N.Y. She worked as a baker in the Edison Township School System for many years.

She was a longtime member of St. Matthew’s Roman Catholic Church in Edison. She is survived by eldest daughter Penelope Boyd and her husband William of Ruskin, Fla., James Howe and his wife Joan of Woodinville, Wash., and youngest daughter Susan Valente of Toms River, N.J.; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband George, who died on October 29, 1999; grandson Thomas Valente, who left us on October 17, 2007; her parents; and all of her siblings.

In lieu of flowers, the family aks that donations be made to the national Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at www.cff.org.

She will truly be missed, for Heaven gained an angel.  And, in an Irish saying in memory of her: “May joy and peace surround you, contentment latch your door, and happiness be with you now, and bless you evermore.”

Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.

 

Eleanor McClew

Eleanor “Ellie” McClew, 94, passed away peacefully in her home on January 29, 2015, with family by her side. Ellie was preceded in death in 2003 by her beloved husband of 61 years, Malcolm “Mac” McClew.  They lived in Newfane, N.Y., before relocating to Sun City Center in 1979.

Left here to remember her beautiful smile and cherish her memory are her three loving and devoted children: Doug McClew (Cathey) of Monroe, N.C.; Cindy Johnson (Scott) of Virginia Beach, Va.; and David McClew (Sheila) of Cincinnati, Ohio; grandchildren Mason McClew, Melanie Thomas (Ryan) and Perry Harwell McClew; as well as great-grandchildren Blake Thomas, Hope McClew and Douglas McClew.

Ellie was an active member and volunteer in her community throughout her life. She faithfully participated in the United Community Church, was an award-winning weaver with the Sun City Center Weavers, and bowled and traveled with the Sun City Center Lawn Bowling Club for many years. She also cherished spending time with her family, playing Hand and Foot weekly, delivering Meals on Wheels, playing the organ, and attending many activities throughout the Tampa area with her dear friends. She stayed active by walking each day, swimming, doing yoga, line dancing and enjoying life. Ellie moved through life with a quiet reserve and kindness in her heart.

A memorial service to celebrate Ellie’s life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, at the United Community Church in Sun City Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to LifePath Hospice, Development Department, 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 410, East Temple Terrace, FL 33637, or online at www.chaptershealth.org.

 

Capt. William Bryan Mohin

Captain William Bryan Mohin, (Ret.) U.S. Coast Guard, 79, peacefully passed away February 21, 2015, in Sun City Center, Fla., of a hemorrhagic stroke.

He was born in Middletown, New York, on April 7, 1935, and was predeceased by his parents, Mary and Joseph Mohin, and three brothers, Joseph, Richard and Michael.  He attended Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, N.Y., then graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1956. Upon completion of two sea duty assignments, he was selected for postgraduate training and earned an Electronics Engineering degree at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. This enabled him to be a key force in the development and expansion of the Coast Guard’s Loran-C positioning system, supporting military and civilian air and sea navigation in Europe, Southeast Asia and the North Atlantic, plus coastal areas of Canada, Alaska and the Continental U.S. He was awarded two Coast Guard Commendation Medals for Performance of Duty.

In 1979, he retired to raise sheep in central New York, where he and his wife Ann lived self-sufficiently on their Anchor Farm for 25 years. During that time, Bill developed his consulting firm, Applied Systems Technology, which allowed him to continue his work with Vessel Traffic Control Systems worldwide.

In 2001, he retired once again, dividing his time between Florida and New York.  Bill was politically active, a proud liberal, a man of varied interests and talents, but in his later years he was happiest when walking with his beloved airedale terrier, Woody.

Captain Mohin is survived by Ann, his loving wife of nearly 40 years; daughter Andrea Mohin and her husband Jack Robertiello of Brooklyn, N.Y.; son Timothy and his wife Catherine Mohin of Austin, Texas; granddaughter Theresa and her husband Jeffrey Carroll of Philadelphia, Pa.; grandson Jacob and his wife Antonina Mohin of Pittsburgh, Pa.; sister Jean and her husband Pete Ramsey of Asheville, N.C.; sister Rita and her huband Richard Igoe of Saluda, N.C.; and brother Brian and his wife Alyssa Mohin of Troy, N.Y. He is also survived by an ex-wife who is the mother of his children, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service at Sarasota National Cemetery and a celebration of Bill’s life at the Cypress Creek Golf Club will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill’s memory may be directed to C.A.R.E., Critter Adoption and Rescue, in Ruskin, Fla.

 

Richard H. Thiffault

Richard H. Thiffault, 92, of Hopedale, Mass., passed away Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Milford Regional Medical Center, Milford, Mass. He was the husband of the late Lillian (Nelson) Thiffault, and was predeceased by his first wife, Agnes B. (McDonald) Thiffault.

Richard was employed with the MBTA for more than 30 years before retiring. He had worked part time in the Boston Garden ticket office.

He was born on June 4, 1922, in Brookline, Mass., the son of the late Henry and Zoa (Varnum) Thiffault and served in the U.S. Army during World War II

He is survived by his children:  Richard H. Thiffault Jr., of Mansfield, Mass.; Victor J. and his wife Kathleen Thiffault of Uxbridge, Mass.; John J. and his wife Linda Thiffault of Apollo Beach, Fla.; Paul M. and his wife Nancy Thiffault of Natick, Mass.; Judith M. Thiffault and her wife Jennifer Mason of Florence, Mass.; Nancy T. and her husband Daniel Callahan of Litchfield, N.H.;  Kevin J. and his wife Marianne Thiffault of Woburn, Mass.; Robert M. Thiffault and his partner Kathleen Clark of Cincinnati, Ohio; stepdaughter Lois and her husband Leroy Futch of Plant City, Fla.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were held March 18, at Massachusetts National Cemetery.

Arrangements by Buma-Sargeant Funeral Home in Milford.

 

In Loving Memory