Obituaries

Joseph Pusateri

JOSEPH PUSATERI, 91
Publix

LAKELAND - Joseph Pusateri, age 91, passed April 21, 2011 of natural causes.

Born in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, March 27, 1920, he was preceded by his parents, Paul and Lucy Pusateri and brother Anthony. Always proud of his Italian heritage, Mr. Pusateri is survived by his faithful and loving wife of 67 years, Bonnalyn; son Donald (Jan) of Springfield, MO; daughter Margarette (Gary) McDaniel of Goodrich, MI; son Dennis of Lakeland; son Robert (Joy) of Thailand. Additionally, he is survived by sisters Sarah (Theodore - deceased) Catania and Frances Pusateri, and brothers Frank (Nancy - deceased) and Donald (Mitzi), nieces and nephews, all of western Pennsylvania. Joseph had 5 grandchildren, as well as being blessed with 13 great grandchildren.

An Air Force veteran, he proudly served his country during World War II. In 1977, he and Bonnalyn moved to Lakeland from Springfield, MO, to continue their retirement. In Lakeland, he was employed by Publix for 18 years.

Services will be held April 26 at Victory Church, Light of Lights Chapel, Lakeland, Florida. Visitation will be at 10 am, service following at 11 am. Internment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Victory Assembly of God's Mission Department or Good Shepherd Hospice.

Joseph was faithful and true to the Lord all his life. He now rejoices for eternity in Heaven.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

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Ronald R. Bath

CPT. RONALD R. BATH, 72
U.S. Army

LAKELAND - Ronnie Bath, 72, passed away April 23, 2011 at LRMC due to heart failure.

Ronnie was born Dec. 14, 1938 in Lakeland, Fl to Waldo & Maude Bath. He retired from the U.S. Army with 32 years of dedicated service. During that time he was with the 5th Special Forces Group (Mike Force). He also flew the AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter. Among numerous awards, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star, 3 times, with the V for Valor.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, Waldo & Maude; brothers, Gerald (vet), Tommy (vet), Billy and a sister Dorothy. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Linda; sons, Jarrod (vet) and his wife Elaine, Dan (vet) and his wife Jen; grandkids, Kymberly, Brooke, Nathaniel, and Matthew; brothers, J.D. (Vietnam vet), Lemuel (vet), Benny (Vietnam vet), Mickey (Vietnam vet) and a sister, Debbie.

He was a charter member of Gibsonia Baptist Church. He graduated from Kathleen High School, lettering in baseball and football. He also graduated from Embry-Riddle College with a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering.

Ronnie was a quiet, unassuming, humble Christian who is and will always be missed tremendously by all who knew him.

Ronnie-Dad-Papa...we love you more than words can describe; we will never forget what you taught us. Goodbye we will see you soon!

The visitation celebrating Ronnie's life will be held tonight (Tuesday) from 5-8 PM at the Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 10:00 AM at the Gibsonia Baptist Church.

Jamie Lee Rudd, Sr.

JAMIE LEE RUDD, Sr., 65
Service Engineer

LAKELAND - Mr. Jamie Lee Rudd, Sr. passed away Tuesday April 19, 2011 due to heart failure.

He was born in Lakeland and has been a lifetime resident. Jamie worked for Andritz Separation, formerly Bird Machinery, as a service engineer. He was a US Marine veteran, Private First Class.

Hobbies included being an Amateur Ham radio operator, fishing and spending time with his family.

Jamie was preceded in death by his father, Mancel Rudd. He is survived by his mother, Mattie Rudd; son, Jamie (Lori) Rudd, Jr.; daughter, Cynthia (Charles) Roberson; brothers, Bobby (Sharon) Rudd and Grady (Sandra) Rudd; sisters, Linda (Shannon) Browning and Patty (Dave) Thompson; grandchildren, Ryan Terry, Amie Rudd, David Rudd and Noah Buckner.

Visitation will be Friday from 6 - 8pm at Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd. Lakeland. Services will be Saturday at 10:00am at the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Burial Park.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

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Mary Josephine Neff

 

 

MARY JOSEPHINE NEFF, 85

LAKELAND - Ms. Mary J. Neff passed away on Monday, April 18, 2011 of respiratory failure.

Survived by children, Rick, Frank & Maria; 3 grandchildren & 4 great grandchildren.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Elaine Mott

ELAINE MOTT, 67
People's Bank

LAKELAND - Mrs. Reta "Elaine" Mott, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at LRMC after a long journey with leukemia.

Elaine was born on Nov. 3, 1943 in Lakeland, Fl to Chandler Fred & Clifton (Ezell) Williams.

Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Charles L. Mott; 3 daughters, Vickie Reid, Pam Cash and Tricia Strickland; 3 sons-in-law, Wes Reid, David Cash and Rhett Strickland; 9 grandchildren, Charlie, Chelsea, Shelby and Chad Reid, Christopher and Jessica Cash, Laina, Kacee and Cale Strickland. Mrs. Mott was preceded in death by 5 brothers: Milton, Edward, Fred, Paul and Benny; and 2 sisters, Maxine & Evelyn.

She was a member of Kathleen Baptist Church and active in the senior adult ministry. She worked for Peoples Bank for more than 35 years.

Visitation will be Good Friday from 10-11 AM at Kathleen Baptist Church, with services beginning at 11:00 AM. The interment will follow at Serenity Gardens in Lakeland.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Kathleen Baptist Church missions in Lakeland, Fl.

Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home (Northside Chapel) in charge of local arrangements.

Annie Winnifred Russell

ANNIE WINNIFRED RUSSELL, 90

LAKELAND - Annie Winnifred Russell, 90, passed away April 15, 2011 after a long hard battle with Alzheimer disease. She was born in Ammanford, Wales on December 18, 1920.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ed Russell, her parents, 4 brothers and 2 sisters. Left to mourn her loss are 2 sisters, May Owen of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Phyllis Stogran of Lakeland, FL, and many nieces and nephews which she loved dearly.

Cremation will be handled by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside. A private graveside service will be held at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. at a later date. The family requested contributions be made to Good Shepherd Hospice of Lakeland.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel. 

Dianna S. Stokes

 
DIANNA S. STOKES, 55

LAKELAND - Dianna S. Stokes, 55, passed away April 16, 2011.

Dianna was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 22, 1955 to Dwight & Grace Shoults. She was a respiratory therapist.

Dianna was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Gary Shoults. She is survived by her daughter, Amanda Cayce and her husband Daniel; and grandson, Logan Cayce.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2011 from 6-8 pm at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel. Graveside Service on Friday 10 am at Oak Hill Burial Park.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

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Florence E. Brown

FLORENCE E. BROWN, 92
Florist

LAKELAND - Florence E. Brown, 92, formerly of Florence, KY, died April 14, 2011 in Lakeland due to natural causes.

Mrs. Brown had been the owner of Browns Little Floral Shop.

She was preceded in death by her husband Joe Hollis Brown and a daughter Susan Brown. She is survived by her grandson Richard Robbins of Aiken, SC, and a sister Helen Smith of Lakeland.

Graveside services were held Monday, April 18, 2011 at 2:00 pm at Oak Hill Burial Park in Lakeland.
Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison, Beacon Hill.

Norma M. Kelley

 

NORMA M. KELLEY, 87
Homemaker

GAINESVILLE, VA - Norma M. Kelley passed away Thursday April 14, 2011 due to renal failure.

She was born in Lakeland, FL and has been a lifetime resident. Norma is a member of Ardella Baptist Church. She was known as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Curtis Kelley. Survivors include sons, Kenneth Kelley of Bradenton, FL, Donnell Kelley of Gainesville, VA, daughters, Jean Platt, Gail Shiver both of Lakeland, 8 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.

Visitation will be Thursday 10:00 - 11:00am at Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd. Funeral services to begin at 11:00am and interment will follow at Oak Hill Burial Park.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

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Margaret Ashman

MARGARET ASHMAN, 84
Budget Analyst

LAKELAND - Mrs. Margaret Ashman died 04/09/2011 at her home in Lakeland due to heart failure.

 Services will be held privately at Florida National Cemetery.

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