Obituaries

William Ryan

WILLIAM RYAN, 86

Digital Equipment Corp.

LAKELAND -- Mr. William "Bill" Ryan of Lakeland died of cancer Sunday (Feb. 26, 2006) at home. He was 86.

Born in Holyoke, Mass., on May 18, 1919, he came to Lakeland from Chicopee, Mass., in 1988. He worked for Digital Equipment Corporation. He was a retired Army veteran and served in World War II and the Korean War. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 8 in Winter Haven, a past commander of the VFW in South Hadley Falls, Mass., and past commander of the American Legion in Chicopee.

Mr. Ryan is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary L. Ryan; son, William Ryan, Fall River, Mass.; daughters, Mary Saunders, Carol Ryan, Sandra LaRochelle, all of Lakeland, Janice Farias, Fall River, Mass.; brother, Lawrence Ryan, Westfield, Mass.; 20 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday (March 1, 2006) at Trinity Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3350 Mall Hill Road, Lakeland. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday (March 2, 2006) at the funeral home chapel.

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

Arrangements by Trinity Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens.

Destiny Rice

DESTINY RICE, Infant

LAKELAND -- Miss Destiny Shai-Ann Tiffany Rice, the daughter of Kayla Christina Ann Rice of Auburndale and Eric Travis Ward of Lakeland, died Friday (Feb. 24, 2006) in Lakeland. The cause of death is pending autopsy results. She was 6 months old.

She was born in Sarasota on Aug. 24, 2005. She was a member of Grove Park Christian Church.

In addition to her parents, Miss Rice is survived by her maternal grandmother, Lisa Rice, Lakeland; maternal grandfather, Michael Rice, Auburndale; paternal grandmother, Pam Beardon, Lakeland; paternal stepgrandfather, James Beardon, Lakeland; paternal grandfather, Jeffrey Ward, Lakeland.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday (March 1, 2006) at Grove Park Christian Church, 2025 Bartow Road. Services will follow at noon at the church.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.

Sue Hamm

SUE HAMM, 89

Homemaker

HIGHLAND CITY -- Mrs. Sue Hamm of Highland City died of lung failure Sunday (Feb. 26, 2006) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 89.

Born in Worth County, Ga., on Jan. 10, 1917, she came to Highland City from Georgia in 1948. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Trinity Christian Center.

Mrs. Hamm was preceded in death by her husband, Bennie W. Hamm. She is survived by her son, Rodney Hamm, Highland City, one grandson and one great-granddaughter.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 this morning (February 28, 2006) at Gentry-Morrison Southside Funeral Chapel. Graveside services will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.

Julian "Teke" Williams

JULIAN "TEKE" WILLIAMS, 84

LAKE WALES -- As game warden in Polk County, Mr. Julian Howard "Teke" Williams of Lake Wales used his knowledge of fishing and hunting to catch poachers.

Mr. Williams died of respiratory failure Saturday (Feb. 25, 2006) at Lake Wales Hospital. He was 84.

Born Jan. 22, 1922, in McRay, Ga., Mr. Williams earned the nickname "Teke" as a child. His family often found him playing in the woods surrounding his uncle's farm in Immokalee, where he grew up.

"He'd be in there shooting the blackbirds with his slingshot," his son, Teke Williams of Lake Wales, said. "They would go to hollering for him and that's what they'd call him."

The youngest of six children, Mr. Williams didn't hunt as a hobby but to help feed his family during the Depression.

"If you caught a gator, it was worth $3, which was a lot," his son said. "Most of their life came out of what they caught."

In 1930, Mr. Williams' father moved to Lakeland to work for the Ford Motor Co. Mr. Williams began working as a commercial fisherman and took a job as county game warden in the late 1940s.

"His knowledge of the woods was why they hired him," his son said. To find poachers, Mr. Williams often had to work undercover. He distinguished between those who hunted out of necessity and those who hunted for trophies.

"He was a fair guy about it," his son said. "If you were taking game home to feed your family, that was one thing. But if you were killing game for the sport of it, to have something to hang on the wall, that was another."

Mr. Williams served in the Army and fought in World War II. He was a member of the American Legion. He attended First Baptist Church of Indian Lake Estates.

Mr. Williams was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Nell Williams. He is survived by his sons, Max Williams, Jacksonville, and Teke Williams, Lake Wales; brother, James Williams, St. Petersburg; seven grandchildren; and nine greatgrandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday (February 28, 2006) at Gentry-Morrison Southside. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday (March 1, 2006) at the funeral home.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.

Christina Skinner

CHRISTINA SKINNER, 24

Student

LAKELAND -- Mrs. Christina M. Skinner of Lakeland died Saturday (Feb. 25, 2006). She was 24.

Born May 7, 1981, in Wilmington, N.C., Mrs. Skinner has lived in this area for most of her life. She was a student.

Mrs. Skinner is survived by her mother, Barbara Skinner, Lakeland; son, Josh Skinner, Lakeland; daughter, Alexis Skinner, Lakeland; brother, Johnnie Skinner, Lakeland; sister, Stephanie Skinner, Lakeland; and grandmother, Molly Pierce, Lakeland.

Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday (February 28, 2006) at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.

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Bessie Roemer

BESSIE ROEMER, 67

Borg-Warner

LAKELAND -- Mrs. Bessie May Roemer of Lakeland died of respiratory failure Friday (Feb. 24, 2006). She was 67.

Born Nov. 1, 1938, in St. Clairsville, Ohio, Mrs. Roemer moved to Lakeland from Ohio in 1970. She worked as a machine operator for Borg-Warner.

Mrs. Roemer is survived by her husband, Henry A. Roemer; sons, Lewis J. Guilliams, Mulberry, Ricky A. Guilliams, Lakeland; daughter, Sue Ellen Thompson, Lakeland; brother, Edwin Minor, Ohio; sisters, Shirley Reynolds and Rebecca Jones, both of Ohio; six grandchildren; and seven great-grand-children.

Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday (February 28, 2006) at Gentry-Morrison Northside. Services will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel.

George Schroth

GEORGE SCHROTH, 85

LAKELAND -- Serving in the Army during World War II, Mr. George O. Schroth saw firsthand the aftermath of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Mr. Schroth of Lakeland died of complications from a stroke Friday (Feb. 24, 2006) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 85.

Born May 10, 1920, in Bronx, N.Y., Mr. Schroth moved to Lakeland from Berkeley Heights, N.J., in 1983.

Serving in Japan near the end of World War II, Mr. Schroth was among the first troops to survey damage dealt to Hiroshima. He used his camera to capture the devastation of the atomic bomb for the military, his daughter, Terry Schroth of Los Angeles, said.

After finishing his service, Mr. Schroth worked as an engineer for oil and construction companies in the United States and countries around the world. The job allowed him to keep up the pace of travel he enjoyed in the Army.

Mr. Schroth visited 50 different countries and all 50 states of the United States. Wherever he went, his camera was in tow.

"There are thousands of pictures in his house. You never saw him at an event without his camera," she said.

Along with his wife, Mr. Schroth visited Africa, Russia and South America. In 2001, he returned to Japan as part of the Lakeland Sister City Program. Japan always held a particular pull for Mr. Schroth, according to Terry Schroth.

Whether it was swimming, painting or playing tennis, Mr. Schroth's boundless energy manifested itself in several ways.

"He just always wanted to do something new," his daughter said.

Mr. Schroth attended Presbyterian Church in the Highlands. He is survived by his wife, Carole Schroth; son, Randy Schroth, Boulder, Colo.; daughters, Janice Hicks, Leitchfield, Ky., Terry Schroth, Los Angeles, Calif.; sister, Ruth Melching, Barnegat, N.J.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday (February 28, 2006) at Gentry-Morrison Dukes-Steen Beacon Hill Chapel. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at Presbyterian Church in the Highlands.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Presbyterian Church in the Highlands or Polk Museum of Art.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison / Dukes-Steen Beacon Hill Chapel.

Matthew Krzes

MATTHEW KRZES, 84

Air Force

LAKELAND -- Mr. Matthew B. Krzes of Lakeland died of cancer Thursday (Feb. 23, 2006) at Palm Terrace Hospice House in Lakeland. He was 84.

Born in Buffalo, N.Y., on Feb. 13, 1922, he came to Lakeland from Kenmore, N.Y., seven years ago. He was a retired chief master sergeant in the Air Force, having served more than 37 years. He was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 4 in Lakeland and a life member of NARFE. He was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Lakeland.

Mr. Krzes was preceded in death by his first wife, Florence Mlynarski Krzes. He is survived by his wife, Irene Krzes; son, Edward Krzes, Middleburg Heights, Ohio; stepson, Daniel Rikanovich, Lakeland; daughters, Nancy Delbert, Buffalo, N.Y., Shirley Sobus, Aurora, Colo., Christine Teslow, Sioux Falls, S.D.; brothers, Stephen Krzes, Springville, N.Y., Casey Krzes, Grand Island, N.Y.; sisters, Theresa Mytnik, Kenmore, N.Y., Frances Mierzwa, Blasdell, N.Y., Emily Sverdrup, Libby, Mont.; 11 grandchildren; four greatgrandchildren.

Services with full military honors will be Wednesday at Lester H. Wedekindt Funeral Home in Kenmore, N.Y. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery in Kenmore.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 115 S. Missouri Ave., Suite 500, Lakeland, FL 33815.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Northside Funeral Home.

Sarah Haynes

SARAH HAYNES, 83

Homemaker

LAKELAND -- Mrs. Sarah Gaines Haynes of Lakeland died of heart failure Wednesday (Feb. 22, 2006) at home. She was 83.

Born in Columbus, Ga., on Oct. 17, 1922, she came to Lakeland from Alabama six years ago. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Lake Gibson Church of Christ.

Mrs. Haynes was preceded in death by her husband, George H. Haynes. She is survived by her son, George H. Haynes Jr., Dade City, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.

Ronald Warren

RONALD WARREN, 53

Federal Express

BRADENTON -- Mr. Ronald Keith Warren of Bradenton, formerly of Lakeland, died of heart failure Saturday (Feb. 18, 2006) in Fredericksburg, Va. He was 53.

Born in St. Johns, Mich., on July 22, 1952, he moved to Bradenton from Lakeland in 2000. He was a truck driver for Federal Express. He was an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War.

Mr. Warren is survived by his wife, JoAnn Warren; son, Christopher Warren, Cocoa Beach; daughters, Sonya Owens, Gladwin, Mich., Gina Warren, Lakeland; brothers, David Warren, Lakeland, Dale Warren, Greenville, Wis., Paul Warren, Alturas; sisters, Janice Jeter, North Fort Myers, Virginia Deal, Lakeland; nine grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday (February 25, 2006) at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road. Services will follow at 11 a.m. at the funeral home chapel.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.