Obituaries

George C. Turner

GEORGE C. TURNER, 78

General Contractor

LAKELAND - George C. Turner died Saturday July 26 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Auburndale due to COPD. He was 78.

Mr. Turner was born in Lakeland and was self employed as a general contractor. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and the beach.

He is survived by his two daughters: Pam (Mike) Parrish of Lakeland, and Linda (Glenn) Plumlee of Woodbine, GA, a brother: Raymond Turner of Orlando, three grandchildren: Kelly Plumlee, Holly Plumlee and Andy Parrish, and two great grandchildren: Regan Parrish and Rhyan Parrish.

A funeral service will be held Friday, August 1 at 11:00 am at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel. The visitation will be from 10-11 Friday morning.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Edward F. Sears

EDWARD F. SEARS, 81

Brick Layer

LAKELAND - Edward F. Sears, 81, died of heart failure July 27, 2008.

Survived by his nephew, Craig (Margaret) Sears and niece, Carol Ann both of Cedar Rapids, IA.

A Mass will be held at 10am Thursday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Eugene "Gene" Brunk

EUGENE "GENE" BRUNK, 89

Lt. Colonel

LAKELAND - Mr. Eugene "Gene" Loudon Brunk, 89, passed away July 27, 2008 from complications of Parkinson's Disease.

Mr. Brunk was born Oct. 3, 1918 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended high school in Michigan, and later graduated in Richmond, VA in 1936. Mr. Brunk also attended the University of Richmond before joining the Virginia National Guard in 1939. He was called to active duty in 1940, and served 28 years in the Army. He retired as a Lt. Col. and became a flower shop owner until 1978 in Michigan. His memberships included the Shriners, Masons, Retired Officers Club and All Saints Episcopal Church.

Mr. Brunk is survived by his wife, Pauline; children, Kathryn Shields, Irene Gavin and Eugene L. Brunk, Jr.; stepchildren, Carolyn, Paul A. and Charlene Loomis; brothers, Robert (Hazel) Brunk and Jim Brunk; 4 granddaughters and 5 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted Sat. Aug. 2, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church. Interment will be held at a later date in Rose City, MI. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to All Saints Episcopal Church or Good Shepherd Hospice.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel. 

Almeda Seigworth

ALMEDA SEIGWORTH, 100

Social Security
Administration

SEBRING - Almeda K. Seigworth, 100, of Sebring and former resident of Lakeland from 1973 to 2002, died Thursday, July 24, 2008 at Crowne Pointe Senior Living Facility in Sebring, due to heart failure.

She was born March 1, 1908 in Dempseytown, PA, the daughter of William R. and Cora Cauvel Kelley. Mrs. Seigworth was a member of the Lutheran faith and was always very active in her church. She lived in the Franklin-Oil City area until moving to Lakeland after her retirement from the Social Security Administration in Oil City in 1972.

Almeda was married to Edward W. Hood in Oil City, PA in 1927. They had two sons, Edward and A. Earl. Her husband and both sons preceded her in death. In 1963 she married Lee Seigworth of Venus, PA, who died in 1982. Also preceding her in death, were brothers, Earl, Floyd, Charles and Rexford Kelley as well as sisters, Gladys Homan, Vivian Miller, Edith Kelley and Cecile Holtz. Surviving her are her four granddaughters, Joyce Clemenson of Branson, MO, Janice Baker of Mtn. Home, AR, Sally Crawford and Theresa Hovis both of Lake Placid, FL. She is also survived by seven great grandchildren and ten great great grandchildren. Her sister, Janet Olen of N. Lima, OH also survives her as well as many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 2, 2008 at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Avon Park at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Resurrection Lutheran Church, Avon Park, FL.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Dukes-Steen Chapel.

Carmin Peter Rossi, Sr.

CARMIN PETER ROSSI, SR., 87

Truck Driver

LAKELAND - Carmin Peter Rossi, Sr., 87, died July 24 due to diabetes.

A graveside service will be Tuesday (July 29, 2008) at10:30 a.m. at Florida National Cemetery.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Efrain Cruz Rivera

EFRAIN CRUZ RIVERA, 68

LAKELAND - Efrain Cruz Rivera, 68, died July 24, 2008 of complications from a stroke.

Survived by his children & a loving family.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Lyra Mae Lumpkin

LYRA MAE LUMPKIN, 92

Lakeland Regional
Medical Center

LAKELAND - Ms. Lyra Mae Lumpkin passed away of heart failure on 7/21/2008 at her home. She was 92.

Born in Sumner, Georgia on 9/27/1915, Ms. Lumpkin moved to Lakeland over 70 years ago. She was employed by LRMC where she worked as an LPN. Ms. Lumpkin loved to travel. She was a member of the First Baptist Church at the Mall and a member for over 50 years of both Chapter #26 Order of the Eastern Star and the White Shrine.

She was preceded in death by her parents John and Millie Watson. She is survived by her daughter Shirley Wester of Lakeland, FL; her brother T.C. Watson of Sylvester, GA, her sister Margaret Mc-Corkle of Lakeland, FL; her grandsons Robert (Linda) Tyson of Prince George, VA and Richard Tyson of Lakeland, FL; her granddaughter Sheryl (Wayne) Sinclair of McIntosh, FL; her great granddaughters, Stephanie and Kellie Tyson of Lake City, FL; her great grandson Nicholas Tyson of Prince George, VA and several dear nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends Friday from 12:30-1:30pm at Gentry Morrison Funeral Homes, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road and a graveside service will follow at 2pm at Oak Hill Burial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Cornerstone Hospice.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Werner Carl Engel

WERNER CARL ENGEL, 90

United States Air Force

LAKELAND - Werner Carl Engel, 90, passed from death to eternal life on July 16, 2008. Cause of death was heart failure.

He was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Tampa. Werner was born in Duncan, Nebraska on October 20, 1917 and was a graduate of Duncan High School. He proudly served in the USAF for more than 20 years and retired as a Senior Master Sergeant. At the time of his death, he was at Oakbridge Rehabilitation Center in anxious anticipation of joining Betty at their apartment at Lake Morton Plaza in Lakeland. He loved the apartment and he and Betty were furnishing it together. Werner visited as often as possible and often had meals with his family there.

He is survived by his loving wife, Betty; sons, Richard (Carol), Raymond (Barbara), Ronald (Mary Jane) and Carl (Diane); three sisters, Lucille Haas, Alice Reid (Harold) and Marcelle Sullens; seven grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of his life August 10, 2008 at 5pm at the Sheedy Center at Resurrection Catholic Church in Lakeland. Cremation was completed on July 18th and interment will be at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell August 11, 2008 at 10am, with full military honors.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Southside Chapel.

Earl D. Randle

EARL D. RANDLE, 75

LAKELAND - Earl D. Randle, 75, died of heart failure July 19, 2008.

Services will be held privately.

Arrangementst by Gentry Morrison Funeral Homes, Southside Chapel, Lakeland.

Jean Ann Giles

JEAN ANN GILES, 63

Polk Co. School Board

LAKELAND - Jean Ann Giles, 63 of Lakeland, died Saturday, July 19, 2008 due to vascular dementia.

She was born July 15, 1945 in Lakeland to Wyman H. and Elsie Patterson Bowden. Jean Ann was a Class of 1963 Lakeland High School graduate, a member of Family Worship Center and attended the University of Houston. She worked for many years as a teacher's aid and substitute teacher for the Polk County School Board.

Jean was heavily involved with the Houston Metropolitan Ministries as a VISTA volunteer and also volunteered for the Star of Hope Women & Family Shelter.

She is survived by her husband, Enoch H. Giles of Lakeland; daughters, Vallie Joslin McCullough and husband Shawn of Shakapee, MN, Natalie Joslin Rainey and husband Craig of Waco, TX; sister, Judy and her husband Dick Klusza of Lakeland, and four grandchildren.

Friends will be received 6-8pm Thursday at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel, where funeral services will be held 10am on Friday. Interment to take place in Oak Hill Burial Park.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.