Obituaries

Geraldine L. Roeller

GERALDINE L. ROELLER, 101

Homemaker

LAKELAND - Geraldine Roeller, 101, passed away Apr. 28, 2009 from natural causes.

Mrs. Roeller was born in Buffalo, NY on Mar. 30, 1908. In addition to being a homemaker, she also owned and operated with her husband Howard the Roeller Hotel in Eden, NY. She enjoyed painting, playing the piano and swimming. She graduated with a teaching degree from Fredonia State in New York. She was a member of Griffin Baptist Church.

Mrs. Roeller was preceded in death by her husband, Howard; sons, Richard and John Roeller; brother, Edwin Theon and sister, Gertrude Alexander. She is survived by her daughter in law, Donna Roeller; sister in law, Adaline Theon; grandchildren, Tammi Murray, Roger and Michael Roeller, and Cathy Snider; 8 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd., Lakeland. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 809 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, FL 33801.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Edmund D. Polen

EDMUND D. POLEN, 89

Auto Body Repair

LAKELAND - Edmund Polen died 4/28/09 of COPD.

Survived by his loving family.

Memorial Service will be held on Friday, May 1, 2009 at 4pm at Cypress Lakes Clubhouse.

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

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

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Shirley Dale Ware

SHIRLEY DALE WARE, 74

LAKELAND - Shirley Ware, 74, died of heart failure 4/22/09.

Survived by son, Edward (Rita) Ware; daughter, Cynthia (Thomas) Palmer; sister, Gail McCall; three grandsons.

Visitation will be held on Thurs, April 30th from 6-8pm at the funeral home. Service on Friday, May 1st at 11am at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Margaret D. Phelan

MARGARET D. PHELAN, 59

LAKELAND - Margaret D. Phelan, 59, died of heart failure on April 26, 2009.

Survived by her loving family and friends.

Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel, Lakeland.

Otha Van Glass

OTHA VAN GLASS, 78

Truck Driver

LAKELAND - Mr. Otha Van Glass, age 78, went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 27, 2009 from respiratory failure.

Born in Blakely, Georgia on December 14, 1930, he was a lifetime resident of Lakeland since the age of 15. Mr. Glass was a retired truck driver after 52 years of service. He was a lover of his family, the woods, and all animals. He was of the Pentecostal/Church of God faith. He was a true cowboy that had a heart of gold. Described as a pistol, he was a man of integrity that would give you the shirt off of his back, even if it was the only shirt he owned. He never met a stranger and his legacy will live on through the ones that had the privilege of knowing him.

Mr. Glass was preceded in death by his brothers, Earnest Glass and Larry Bush; son, Eric Glass; and granddaughter, Jetta Nichole Scott. He survived by his wife of 57 years, Verda Glass; sons, Michael Glass of Cedar Key, Wayne Glass of Venice, FL; daughter, Vanessa Glass Scott of Lakeland; brothers, William Glass of Lakeland and Dale Bush of Royston, GA; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren.

Services will be held privately at the family's request. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Homes.

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Cheryl C. Baylor

CHERYL C. BAYLOR, 60

LAKELAND - Cheryl C. Baylor, 60, died of heart failure April 23, 2009.

Survived by loving family.

Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Willis Rayford Woodard

WILLIS RAYFORD WOODARD, 75

LAKELAND - Willis Rayford Woodard, 75, Lakeland, died Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Good Shepherd Hospice of Auburndale due to cancer.

Rayford was born February 18, 1934 in Rentz, GA to William and Mable (Alligood) Woodard and moved to Lakeland when he was one year old. Rayford is retired from the W.R. Grace Company with thirty-eight years of employment; is a 32nd Degree Mason with Lakeland Masonic Lodge, #91 AF&M and is a member of Highland City Baptist Church.

Rayford is preceded in death by his parents and his four brothers. He was united in marriage in 1952 to his wife, Carrie Nadine Woodard who resides in Lakeland. Rayford is also survived by his sons, Terry (Reba) of Bushnell, Wesley (Dolores) of Englewood and Gary of Kissimmee. Five grandchildren and four great grandchildren also survive.

Friends will be received from 6:30-8:00 pm Tuesday at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Southside Chapel where funeral services will be held 10:00 am Wednesday.

Interment will take place in Oak Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

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Albert Turner

ALBERT TURNER, 72

LAKELAND - Albert Turner died on Thur. 4/9/09 due to heart failure.

He is survived by a loving family.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

James Douglas Barthlow

JAMES DOUGLAS BARTHLOW, 73

Credithrift Financial

LAKELAND - James "Doug" Barthlow, 73, was born Oct. 28, 1935 in a log cabin in Mexico, Kentucky. He died April 23, 2009, as a result of heart failure, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Florida.

He grew up in Evansville, Indiana and moved to Lakeland in January 1975. His proudest accomplishment was to have his three children graduate with honors from the University of Florida.

The greatest joy of his life was his wife of 52 years, the former Phyllis Brothers of Evansville, Indiana. They met at the University of Evansville and were married Nov. 3, 1956, during his senior year.

Doug was very active at the University of Evansville where he graduated with a B.S. degree in education in May 1957. His honors and positions of service at U of E were: selected as a "Campus Notable", the highest honor bestowed by the University; Student Government President & Vice President; Sophomore class President; Junior Class Vice president; Varsity Yell Leader Captain; Varsity track-"E" club; Sports announcer WEUC radio station; Selected to Who's Who in Colleges & Universities; Ice Breaker Master of Ceremonies; Dean's List; Alpha Psi Omega Vice president; Business Manager school newspaper; member of Pi Delta Epsilon; Pi Gamma Mu & Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

After graduation, he went to work for Credithrift Financial of Evansville, Indiana and retired in January 1991 with 34 years of service-his position at retirement was District Manager for Central Florida Operations.

He was too active to stay retired so he worked from March 1991 - March 1999 with Cannon Buick-Mitsubishi as their business manager.

He was quite active in the communities he lived in by serving in the following capacities: President of the Omaha, NE, Lenders Exchange; President of the Omaha Baptist Union; Vice president West Omaha Optimist Club; cited for outstanding service to Nebraska Consumer Finance Association; Charter President of the University of Evansville Founders Club and Vice president University of Evansville Alumni Association.

He was an active member of Scott Lake Baptist in Lakeland for many years and served as deacon, church moderator, trustee, Sunday School teacher, superintendant, and treasurer. He served as a counselor at the Billy Graham Crusade in Chicago, IL and was always excited to share his Christian faith and the message of John 3:16.
He served in the U. S. Navy Reserve from 1953 - 1961 retiring with the rank of Yeoman 3rd class. Doug was a former member of the Hadi Shrine Temple, The Scottish Rite, and Reed Lodge, in Evansville, Indiana. In Lakeland he served as assistant Cub master Troop # 09, and Chairman of the Lakeland High School Band uniform committee.

In addition to his wife, Phyllis, he is survived by 2 sons, Tim Barthlow of Lakeland, Steve and his wife Michelle Barthlow, of Woodstock, Georgia, and a daughter and son-in-law, Lucinda (Cindy) and Chris Mattie, and 2 grandsons, Andrew and Anthony Mattie of Milton, GA. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the Lakeland SPCA or the University of Evansville at 1800 Lincoln Avenue Evansville, IN, 47722.

Visitation will be Sunday April 26, 2009 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home's Southside Chapel located at 1727 Bartow Road in Lakeland. Funeral services will be in the Heritage Chapel at Alexander Memorial Park, 2200 Mesker Park Drive in Evansville, IN on Wednesday April 29, 2009 at 10:00 AM.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Lonnie "L. M." Reynolds

LONNIE "L.M." REYNOLDS, 94

City of Lakeland

LAKELAND - Mr. Lonnie Reynolds died, 4/22/2009, as a result of heart failure. He was 94.

Born 7/27/1914 to a pioneer family, Mr. Reynolds was a lifelong resident of Lakeland. He retired from the City of Lakeland, Light and Water Department after 30 years. He was an accomplished cattleman and outdoorsman. He loved selling fresh fruits and vegetables at his produce stand in Winter Haven. He attended the Assembly of God Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ella Reynolds. He is survived by his daughters: Barbara O'Neal and Linda Kaye Lillard, his son: Thomas Edward Reynolds, his sisters: Jeanette Malloy and Lena Mae Reynolds, 5 grandchildren: Jennifer O'Neal, Tim Lillard, Kim Lillard, Jason O'Neal and Andy Reynolds, 6 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be conducted Saturday from 10-10:45am at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel at 1727 Bartow Road in Lakeland. Immediately following the visitation, a graveside service will be conducted at 11am at Lakeland Memorial Gardens.

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

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.