Obituaries

Paul Goff

PAUL GOFF, 89

Telecommunications Installer

LAKELAND - Mr. Paul Goff of Lakeland died of Kidney failure Thursday (March 24, 2005) at Good Shepherd Hospice.  He was 89.

Born in Burnt House, W. Va., on Nov. 4, 1915, Mr. Goff came to Lakeland from Sun City, Az. in 2001.  He was a telecommunications installer.  He was a member of Lake Gibson United Methodist Church.  He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

Mr. Goff was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel Goff.  He is survived by his daughter, Paule Frye, Lakeland; sons, Charles Goff, South Carolina, Kendall Goff, Alabama; two grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

Memorial service will be 3 p.m. Sunday (April 3, 2005) at Lake Gibson United Methodist Church.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Northside Funeral Home.

Ida Shiver

IDA SHIVER, 94

Homemaker

LAKELAND - Mrs. Ida B. Shiver of Lakeland died of heart failure Friday (March 25, 2005) at Oakbridge Healthcare Center.  She was 94.

Born in Colquitt, Ga., on May 3, 1910, Mrs. Shiver came to Lakeland from there in the early 1930s.  She was a homemaker.  She was a member of Abundant Life Church of God.

Mrs. Shiver was preceded in death by her husband, Miles Herman Shiver.  She is survived by her sons, Floyd Shiver, Lakeland, Robert "Bobby" Shiver, Wesley Chapel; daughters, Sadie Entrekin, Lakeland; Gladys Hess, Nashville, Tenn.; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday (April 1, 2005) at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.  Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday (April 2, 2005) at the funeral home chapel.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Funeral Home.

Beulah Holderfield

BEULAH HOLDERFIELD, 92

Health Care Worker

LAKELAND - Mrs. Beulah J. Holderfield of Lakeland died of congestive heart failure Sunday (March 27, 2005) at home.  She was 92.

Born in Thompsonville, Ill., on Jan. 6, 1913, she came to Lakeland from Galatia, Ill., in 1998.  She was a health care worker for the state of Illinois.  She was a member of First Baptist Church at the Mall.

Mrs. Holderfield was preceded in death by her husband, George Holderfield.  She is survived by her daughter, Jane E. Collings, Lakeland; son, Larry G. Holderfield, Lakeland; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday (March 30, 2005) at First Baptist Church at the Mall.  Services will follow at 11 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church at the Mall Building Fund, P. O. Box 90669, Lakeland, FL 33804.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Northside Funeral Home.

Larry Perry

LARRY PERRY, 62

Publix

LAKELAND -  Mr. Larry Perry of Lakeland died of heart failure Friday (March 25, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.  He was 62.

Born Sept. 23, 1942, in Ann Arbor, Mich., he came here from Michigan in 1986.  He was a veteran of the U.S. Arm.  He worked for Publix.  He was a member of Bethany Christian Church.

Mr. Perry is survived by his wife, Frances Perry; daughter, Penny Ann Whedon, Nashville, Tenn.; son, David Alan Perry, Lakeland; and one grandchild.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday (March 30, 2005) at Bethany Christian Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shaken Baby Alliance, www.shakenbady.com.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Beacon Hill Funeral Home.

Ray Provost

RAY PROVOST, 75

Manager

LAKELAND - Mr. Ray Francis Provost of Lakeland died of heart failure Friday (March 25, 2005) at his home.  He was 75.

Born Dec. 14, 1929, in Messena, N.Y., he came here from Carrollton, Texas, in 1982.  He was a veteran of the U.S. Army.  He was a personnel manager for a manufacturing company.  He was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church.

Mr. Provost is survived by his wife. Leta Provost; sons, Mark Provost, Chicago, John Provost, Sevierville, Tenn.; stepdaughters, Susan Jones, Chandler, Ariz., Cathy Ziegler, Pontiac, Ill.; brother, Richard Provost, Florida; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening (March 28, 2005) at Gentry-Morrison Northside.  Services will be at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday (March 29, 2005) at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 820 Marcum Road, Lakeland, FL 33809.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Northside Funeral Home.

Josephine Gregg

JOSEPHINE GREGG, 95

Sales Clerk

LAKELAND - Mrs. Josephine Gregg, a lifelong resident of Polk County, died of complications from a stroke Saturday (March 26, 2005) at Good Shepherd Hospice.  She was 95. 

Born June 22, 1909, Mrs. Gregg was born and raised in Bartow, her son, Dyas Gregg, said.

"She was a clear and understanding person," Dyas Gregg said.  "She always told me to be clear and fair with everyone."

Mrs. Gregg's late husband, Lee Orry Gregg, worked as a stage manager and electrician at the Polk Theater, where Mrs. Gregg also volunteered her time sewing.  This was during the 20s and 40s, what Dyas Gregg says were the Polk Theater's prime years.

Working as a sales clerk for Montgomery Ward fro more that 30 years, Mrs. Gregg retired when she was in her early 60s.  She and her husband traveled extensively with friends, visiting Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and South America.

She was a member of First Christian Church.

Mrs. Gregg was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Orry Gregg.  She is survived by her son, Dyas W. Gregg, Lakeland; daughter, Lila Lee Clifton, Lake Wales; brother, Warren Wirt, Tampa; three grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday (March 30, 2005) at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.  Services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Funeral Home.

Pauline Pollock

PAULINE POLLOCK, 82

Homemaker

LAKELAND - Mrs. Pauline W. Pollock of Lakeland died of respiratory failure Friday (March 25, 2005) at Palm Terrace of Lakeland.  She was 82.

Born July 16, 1922, in Madrid, Ala., Mrs. Pollock came here from Zephyrhills in 1988.  She was a homemaker.  She was a member of Kathleen Baptist Church.

Mrs. Pollock was preceded in death by her husband, Harmon D. Pollock.  She is survived by her son, Dan Pollock, Roanoke, Va.; daughter, Lenora Pollock-Stokes, Zephyrhills; brothers, Royce Williams, Ruskin, John Williams, Tennessee; sisters, Frances Sullivan, Lakeland, Mamie Henry, Valdosta, Ga.; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday (March 28, 2005) at Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel.  Services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Northside Funeral Home.

Bobby Britt

BOBBY BRITT, 66

Forklift Operator

LAKELAND - Mr. Bobby Britt of Lakeland died of cancer Friday (March 25, 2005) at Good Shepherd Hospice.  He was 66.

Mr. Britt was born Oct. 27, 1938, in Sycamore, Ga.  He was a forklift operator at Saddlecreek.

Mr. Britt is survived by his sons, Tony Britt, Seal Beach, Calif., Michael Rene Britt and Gregory Brian Britt, Both of Lakeland; brothers, Joel Britt, Lake Wales, Clarence Britt, Lakeland, Emmitt Britt, Georgia; sisters, Hazel Altman, Lakeland, Eloise Little, Georgia; one grandchild.

Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday (March 29, 2005) at Gentry-Morrison Southside.  Services will follow at 2 p.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or Good Shepherd Hospice.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Funeral Home.

William Baker

WILLIAM BAKER, 81

Electronics Supervisor

LAKELAND - Mr. William Curtis Baker of Lakeland died of heart failure Thursday (March 24, 2005) at home.  He was 81.

Born Jan. 19, 1924, in Charleston, W.Va., Mr. Baker came here from Portsmouth, Va., in 1982.  He was a veteran of World War II.  He was an electronics supervisor.  He was a member of the American Legion.

Mr. Baker is survived by his sons, W. Curtis Baker Jr., Fruit Cove, Mark A. Baker, Chesapeake, Va., Jeffrey S. Baker, Lakeland; daughters, Janet E. Baker, Mamaroneck, N.Y., Nancy J. Foster, Clearwater; brother, Lee Warren Baker Jr., Lakeland, Robert G. Baker, Haslet, Texas, Kenneth P. Baker, Burke, Va.; sisters Sylvia Eure, Collinwood, Tenn., Shirley Coffey, Collinwood; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday (March 28, 2005) at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.  Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday (March 29, 2005) at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Funeral Home.

Richard Koch

RICHARD KOCH, 86

Custom Home Builder

LAKELAND - Mr. Richard Andrew Koch of Lakeland died of complications following a fall Wednesday (March 23, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.  He was 86.

Born in Hamburg, N.Y., on Oct. 17, 1918, Mr. Koch came to Lakeland from there in 1996.  He was a custom home builder.  He was a Navy veteran of World War II.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in Ruskin.  He was a volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul in Ruskin.  He was a member of St. John Neuman Catholic Church.

Mr. Koch is survived by his wife, Anne Koch; sons, Richard E. Koch, Punta Gorda, Gregory Koch, Lakeland, Joseph Koch, Bonita Springs; daughter, Lyn Baldwin, Lakeland; sister, Delores Hillyard, Lakeland; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday (March 27, 2005) at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.  Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday (March 28, 2005) at St. John Neuman Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.