Dr. Hipolito Antiporda
Dr. Hipolito Antiporda, 82, of Sun City Center, FL, died December 2, 2019, at home due to complications of cancer, which he had suffered for the past six years. He was born in the Philippines on January 30, 1937, to the late Proceso and Felicidad Antiporda. After graduating from the University of Santo Tomas Medical School in Manila, he came to New York City for his surgical training. He practiced surgery for many years with the staff of Mary Immaculate Hospital in Queens, New York.
In 1964, he married Teresa McInerney, and they had three children. In 1979, the family moved to Carlsbad, New Mexico. While there, he served terms as director of surgery, chief of staff and was on the board of trustees at Carlsbad Medical Center. He was a board-certified surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons; he retired in 1999.
Lito was an avid golfer, who loved the sport whether playing on the links or watching professionals in-person or on television. Over the years, he scored a hole-in-one six times.
In 2005, he and Terry moved to Florida, living the last six years in Kings Point, Sun City Center, FL.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Terry; children: Maria LePage and husband Peter of Williamsburg, VA, Katie Antiporda of Lithia, FL, and Mike Antiporda and wife Deena of Carlsbad, New Mexico; grandchildren Logan, Sean, Riley and Evan Antiporda, Joel Service and Emily Hoop; sisters Pacita Antiporda, Penafrancia Abrams and Milagros DeLeon of the Philippines; brother-in-law Patrick McInerney of Fairfield, CT; many nieces and nephews; and dear friends Tim Cox and John Devlin, whom he regarded as family.
A funeral mass was celebrated by Fr. Brian McColl on Saturday, December 7, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Pallbearers were Harold Besch and Joe Epstein. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity of your choice.
Donna Barnett
Donna Barnett, 73, Sun City Center, FL, died November 13.
She was a graduate of Florida Atlantic University. She was the City Clerk of Coco Beach and Madeira Beach and worked for Suncoast Hospice. Donna moved to Sun City Center in 2016 where she taught line dancing.
Donna is survived by her husband of 24 years, Hugh Barnett, and a loving family.
Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 813-634-9900.
Mary Jane Bickel
Mary Jane Bickel, 88, of Virginia Beach, VA, passed away on November 29, 2019, surrounded by her family. She was born in Leona, NY, to the late Chester and Mayme Washburn. She is also predeceased by her brother, Howard Washburn and sister, Margaret Snyder.
Mary was a Realtor and real estate broker in Media, PA, and Sun City Center, FL. While in Media, she was president of the salesman division of Delaware County Board of Realtors before establishing her own business, known as “M. J. Fabregas Reality.” She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Tampa Rose Society.
She is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Theodore J. Bickel, III; children: Carol (Frank) Golden, Diana (Joseph) Mackie, Theodore (Jessica) Bickel IV, Cheryl Hickey (Chris Huczko), and Glen (Jeanette) Bickel; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Services were held at The Waterford in Virginia Beach, VA. Condolences may be offered to the family at: www.hollomon-brown.com.
Joel “Howard” Capps Jr.
Joel “Howard” Capps Jr., 61, of Balm, Florida, born in Tampa on July 14, 1958, entered into eternal rest on December 6, 2019. He was a member of Balm Baptist Church in Balm. He was a lifelong resident of Balm and owner of Creative Landscaping and More for 40 years. He was an avid fisherman and hunter.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joel and Elizabeth Capps. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sandi Capps; children: Jessica Lyons, Joel “Joey” Capps (Caroline), and Ryan Capps; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; sister, Teresa Cardwell (Michael); step-mother, Mary Capps; and many loving family members and friends.
A visitation will be held Friday, December 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 S. County Road 39, Plant City, where a funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 14, at 11 a.m. Committal to follow at Fellowship Cemetery, Wimauma. Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.
Dorothy L. Erickson
Dorothy Louise Erickson (nee:Zoelner) born September 1,1922, in St. Louis, Missouri, passed from death to life November 15, 2019, in Sun City Center, FL. She is predeceased by her husband Morris (Eric) E. Erickson, and son, Norman, in 1983. She is survived by two daughters and two sons, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Dorothy was raised in a Christian home and became a supportive Christian wife and mother for her family. All her children and grandchildren are grateful for having had a caring mother and grandma who demonstrated her love, giving and seldom, if ever, judging or complaining. The tough resilience of her character became especially evident in her later years. She will be remembered fondly.
She and Eric, career Air Force, married in 1942, moving a great deal the first 17 years of their marriage. After Eric’s retirement in 1959, the family spent nearly 30 years in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. They finally moved to Sun City Center in 1989 and had been married nearly 58 years when Eric died.
After Eric’s passing, Dorothy continued her life, being an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and volunteering at Nearly New, Meals on Wheels and the Sun City Center Security Patrol. She even continued golfing for a time and played bridge and other card games into her 80s.
A celebration, giving thanks to God for Dorothy Erickson — a life well lived — is scheduled for January 11, 2020, at 11 a.m., at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sun City Center, Rev. David Allman officiating. The family invites any of Dorothy’s friends who are able to attend to please do so. A light luncheon will be served.
James “Peter” Konkle
James Frederick Konkle, father, labor relations advocate, HR manager, carpenter and storyteller, passed away at age 71.
Born to parents Doris Wunderle and James Konkle Senior in Orange ,New Jersey, his birth certificate says “James,” but at home everyone called him “Peter.” And no, it’s not his middle name. As Peter explained, Dad won the name battle, but Mom won the war. Most of his childhood was spent in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with loving sisters Gail Konkle Myers and Carol Konkle Dawrant. By age 15 Peter would take on gymnastics, speed skating, wood work, drawing and student government at Glenbard West High School.
College would bring him to DePauw University in Indiana, where he studied philosophy and religion and became a proud member of “The Men Of Note,” a particularly talented all mens choir. At the same time Peter discovered the liberal hippy inside, grew his own pot and became politically active. When Vietnam broke out, Peter lived in his VW van, touring the country, sewing patch after patch on his bell bottom jeans, singing to his guitar, attending the early concerts of some guy named Bob Dylan and waxing poetic, likely to no end. When he ultimately parked, he landed in Maine where he bonded with his best college friends, Chris Crawford and Nick Kirby, of Gorham, ME. They would continue to surround him with love and humor until the very end of his days.
Eventually Peter settled in Plainfield, VT, and restored a little house full of light, polished wood and green plants. Around this time he met his former wife, Janet Ryan, and sweet step-son-to-be, Jamie Libertoff, and seven years after that, Janet gave birth to their daughte,r Anna Konkle. Peter was an adoring father and a natural care-taker.
His daughter remembers visiting him in his Burlington office while he was an organizer for the Vermont Labor Union. Vivid in her memory is his office balcony and a chipmunk outside that her dad said was his pet. At her skepticism, he pulled out a can of honey roasted peanuts. The chipmunk descended from its tree, sauntered in and onto the desk, just inches from his hand, and nibbled on the bits. In this moment his daughter was absolutely sure of her dad’s magic. Soon after he became president of the Vermont Labor Historical Society and became passionate about the “The Bolton War,” so much so that in 2013 he self published a historical novel, “On Bolton Flats” about Vermont’s sordid history. Peter remained in Vermont for over 20 years but re-located with his family to Scituate, Massachusetts, and began his long career in human resources.
After retirement, Peter discovered Kings Point in Sun City Center, FL, and filled his days with pickleball, woodwork, volunteering and writing. He lived six lovely years here, accompanied by his best friend Victoria Harper.
Then, in August of 2019, Peter was diagnosed with lung cancer. Despite his strength, he passed a few months later. As he journeyed, his soul shone through as eccentric and exceedingly good. He made his doctors laugh in the darkest of moments, philosophized between jokes, danced to Van Morrison and showed unparalleled bravery as a devoted friend and father. In the final weeks he was surrounded by his longtime friends Chris, Nick, Gary Vassar and David White. His partner in crime, Victoria, was also there, along with Alex Anfanger, his daughter’s partner, whom Peter affectionately called “brother” and his daughter Anna, whom he told he loved every two minutes, even when he could barely speak, whom he let wash his face and comb his hair, despite being a prideful kind of person. At the end, he described his relationship with his daughter as profound. She agrees and is honored to have been by his side through his courageous journey. It was a privilege for everyone involved in his life to experience him. Peter’s grace, sharp wit, love of music, nature and all people rang out, even in his most difficult final moments.
He began as his daughter’s hero, the tamer of chipmunks, the funniest guy in the room, and left as his daughter’s hero, the gracious recipient of mortality and an incredible father.
Peter Konkle will be cremated at Cremations of Greater Tampa Bay, 110 N Macdill Ave, Tampa, FL. A memorial service will be held in his honor on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne, VT 05482, at 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend, with a reception to follow.
Eugene McElroy
Eugene McElroy, 94, passed away November 23, 2019, at JAH Veteran’s Hospital, Tampa, FL. Born in Duluth, GA, to Lawrence and Ollie McElroy, Eugene served in the Army Air Corp from 1943 to 1946 and retired as MCPO E-9 in 1964.
Eugene is survived by his daughter Patricia Lowery and proceed in death by his wife Anna and son Ronald.
Eugene’s full military honors funeral is Dec. 20, 2019, at 1 p.m. Bay Pines National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, send a memorial donation to the veterans association of your choice.
Patricia A. Totten
Patricia A. Totten of Sun City Center, FL, passed away November 27, 2019. She was 79 years old. Pat grew up in East Troy, WI, with her mother, Isabel A. Harley, and father, Jim J. Harley. She is survived by sons, Robert J. Harley of Burlington, WI., and Scott F. Harley and wife Gina of San Antonio, TX; two grandchildren, Dustin F. Harley and Chiree A. Harley; and one great-grandson, Markaid, of San Antonio, TX.
Pat and David E. Totten were married April of 1986. Dave had four boys, (Chris, Mark, Brad and Shane). Pat and Dave lived in Burlington, WI. Pat worked at Elkhorn Hospital as a histologist. She was active in her community, was a Sweet Adeline, loved camping, the Green Bay Packers fan, golf and was a great homemaker. After retiring, she and her husband became snowbirds until 2012; then they decided to move to Sun City Center.
Pat stayed active and taught many seniors to live better with arthritis at the SCC wading pool, was involved with personalized card making, was secretary of South Lake Association and was always ready to lend a helping hand.
Viewing for Pat was held on December 6, at Groover Funeral Home in Ellenton.
Lillian Upperman
Lillian Upperman of Kings Point, Sun City Center, at 97 years old, passed peacefully Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, at her daughter’s home, attended by Seasons Hospice.
She grew up in Lansing, Ohio, married Howard (Lefty) Upperman in 1943 and had two children, Edward and Judith. She and her husband owned two Dairy Queens in Bridgeport, and Martins Ferry, Ohio, and were avid ballroom dancers. They retired to Florida in 1980 and purchased a home in Kings Point in 1983. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, cooking, baking and entertaining their many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Howard and her son Edward. She is survived by her daughter Judith; beloved family members; granddaughter Annie Freese; great-granddaughter Kylee of St. Clairsville, Ohio; niece, Susan (DeLuca )Terrill, and sister, Jean Lotz, both of Wheeling, WV.
She will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Sarasota National Cemetery at a later date. Donations in her name may be made to Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E), 1528 27th Street SE, Ruskin, FL 33570 or Seasons Hospice, 1408 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa, FL 33607.