Obituaries

James Lester Gingrich

JAMES LESTER GINGRICH, 94
U.S. Postal Service

LAKELAND - Mr. James Lester Gingrich, 94, passed away, as a result of cancer, Saturday, September 24, 2011.

Born September 1, 1917 in Juniata County, PA, Mr. Gingrich moved to Lakeland in August of 1957 from Lower Burrell, PA. He was an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Navy, where he served with distinction during World War II. Mr. Gingrich was a supervisor with the US Postal Service. He attended Highland Park Church of the Nazarene and was a member of the Gideon's International. Mr. Gingrich enjoyed reading, golfing and traveling.

He was preceded in death by his wife: Audrey Gingrich. Mr. Gingrich is survived by daughters: Joy Topkin of Lakeland, FL and Georgia Spence (Chaplain Donald) of Gainesville, FL, brother: John Gingrich, sisters: Jane Stuck, Gertrude Bowers and Martha Stern, grandchildren: Mark Topkin of Clermont, Julie Spence of Atlanta, GA, Matthew Spence of Lakeland, Sarah Cooner of Fort Benning, GA and 6 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted in Mr. Gingrich's honor on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at 11am at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road, Lakeland. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Gingrich's family requests that donations be made to Metro Ministries, P.O. Box 695, Brooklyn, NY 11237-0695.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Dorothy J. Byars

DOROTHY J. BYARS, 81
Walmart

LAKELAND - Mrs. Dorothy J. Byars, 81, passed away as a result of cancer Monday, September 26, 2011.

Born June 21, 1930 in Walker County, Alabama, Mrs. Byars moved to Polk County in the Early 1950s. She was employed by Walmart, where she worked as a greeter. She was a Baptist.

Mrs. Byars was preceded in death by her husband: Charles Byars and sons: Jerry Henslee and Donald Byars. She is survived by son: Charles Byars, sisters: Lorene Gullett and Jo Voyles, grandchildren: Shauna, Donna, Scooter and Dana Byars and great grandchildren: JJ, Promyse, Jordan and Joseph.

A visitation will be conducted Thursday, September 29, 2011 from 10-11am at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road in Lakeland. A funeral service will follow at the Southside Chapel at 11am with Donald "Scooter" Byars officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mrs. Byar's honor to Midway Baptist Church, 2902 Midway Road in Plant City.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Dave K. Haglund

 

 

 DAVE K. HAGLUND, 74
                                                High School Shop Teacher

BARTOW - Mr. David "Dave" Kent Haglund, 74, passed away Saturday, September 24, 2011 due to heart failure.

He was born October 30, 1936 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mr. Haglund was enlisted in the U.S. Army in the early 1960s. Dave was a high school shop instructor in Milwaukee, WI. He moved to Bartow from Tavares in 2005 and was a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Vickie Haglund; sons, Steve and Mike Haglund; daughter, Debra Laraway; brother, Donn Haglund; 12 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association.

A visitation will be Tuesday 6-8 PM at the Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel (1727 S. Bartow Rd., Lakeland). Funeral services will be Wednesday 10:00 AM at the St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Bartow. Burial with military honors will follow at Florida National Cemetery.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Patricia Wampole Hallock

PATRICIA WAMPOLE HALLOCK, 70
Registered Nurse

LAKELAND - Patricia Wampole Hallock, 70, passed away Sept. 22, 2011 due to multiple organ failure.

Ms. Hallock was born in Brewster, FL on Feb. 8, 1941 to George and Louis McQuaig and remained a lifelong resident of the Polk County area. She worked as a registered nurse and was a long time member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Her greatest hobbies were playing Bingo and spending time with her children and family.

Ms. Hallock was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Hallock. She is survived by her son, Sean (Julie) Wampole of Ocala; daughter, Kelli Collins (Tom) of Bartow; brothers, George (Linda) McQuaig of Lakeland, David (Joan) McQuaig of Lakeland and Michael "Mickey" (Janice) Mc-Quaig of Tampa; sister, Lynn (Jamie) Carter of Merritt Island; grandchildren, Sydney, Sean and Christopher Collins and Brian Thomas; and her dear friend, Pam Thomas of Lakeland.

Visitation will be Thurs. from 6-8 p.m. at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd. Lakeland. Services will be conducted Fri. at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with interment to follow at Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Suncoast Hospice House Woodside, 6770 102nd Ave. Pinellas Park, FL, 33782.

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Louise Walker

LOUISE WALKER, 97

LAKELAND - Louise Walker, 97, passed away 9/23/2011 of natural causes.

Services will be conducted in Indiana.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Pauline C. Goodwin

PAULINE C. GOODWIN, 91

LAKELAND - Mrs. Pauline C. Goodwin passed Friday, September 23, 2011 in Lakeland, Florida.

She was born September 27, 1919 in Putnam, Connecticut to Edouard and Flora Cote.

Her survivors include her husband of 65 years, Russell Goodwin; son, Robert (Mary Ann) Goodwin; grandchildren, Michael (Linda) Goodwin, Kevin (Joanna) Goodwin; great-grandchildren, Jack, Shea, Summer, Lia and Gwen; niece, Phyllis (Paul) McKenney; and numerous great-nieces and their families.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home-Northside Chapel.

Joe Flores, Jr.

JOE FLORES, Jr., 73

LAKELAND - Mr. Joe Flores, Jr., 73, passed away on Monday, September 19, 2011 due to heart failure.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, Sept. 23, 2011 at 11 am at Gentry Morrison Southside Chapel, Lakeland.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Beatrice Ann Dickey

 

 

BEATRICE ANN DICKEY, 44
Polk Co. Sheriff's Office

PLANT CITY - Beatrice Ann Dickey, 44, died on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011.

Mrs. Dickey was born in Star Lake, N.Y. and moved to Lakeland in 1977. Dickey was a graduate of Kathleen High School, University of Central Florida, and Troy University where she received her Master's Degree in Public Administration in 2005. She began working for the Polk County Sheriff's Office in 1996, and currently served as Executive Director of the Office of Business Affairs. She was the highest ranking civilian member at the sheriff's office.

Mrs. Dickey was actively involved as a parishioner and volunteer at St. Clement Catholic Church in Plant City, Lakeland Kiwanis Club, Citizens CPR, Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center and the Polk County Sheriff's Charities. Mrs. Dickey was recognized in 2011 as the Professional Woman of Distinction from the National Association of Women Business Owners in Lakeland.

Mrs. Dickey was preceded in death by her father Edwin A. Reid of Saranac Lake, NY and brother, Robert Reid of Lakeland, FL. She is survived by her sons, Matthew Kirkland and Dillon Kirkland of Plant City, FL; stepchildren, Taylor Dickey and Lawson Dickey of Lakeland; mother, Irene Kennelly of Lakeland; brothers, Steve Reid of Lake Placid, NY, Kenneth Reid of Massena, NY; sisters, Elizabeth Pitcher of Stony Brook, NY and Margaret Little of Omaha, NE.

Visitation will be Wed. from 5-8 p.m. at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd. Lakeland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted Thurs. at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Resurrection, 3720 Old Highway 37, Lakeland. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Burial Park.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Patricia Fenn

 

PATRICIA FENN, 95
Volunteer

LAKELAND - Mrs. Patricia Thornton Fenn passed away Thursday, September 15, 2011 as a result of heart failure.

Mrs. Fenn was born September 10, 1916 in Birmingham, Alabama to Patrick Joseph and Mary Thornton. She was a member of Church of the Resurrection, where she was one of the first parishioners and she was very involved in volunteer work there.

Mrs. Fenn was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years; John R. Fenn in 1996. She was also preceded in death by her grandson; John Lyons. Mrs. Fenn is survived by seven children; Richard Fenn, Molly Darden, Nora Lyons, Kathy Runde, Mike Fenn, Chris Fenn, Clare Fenn, 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

A visitation will be conducted for Mrs. Fenn on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 from 4-6pm at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Dukes-Steen Chapel, 1833 S. Florida Ave. in Lakeland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 11:30am at the Church of the Resurrection, 3720 Old Highway 37 in Lakeland. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Burial Park.

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

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Paul Topkin

Paul Topkin, 71

Paul Topkin passed away on September 2, 2011 at Mercy West Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee from respiratory failure.

Paul Topkin was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 9, 1940.  He lived in Florida since 1950.  Paul graduated from Northeast High School in St. Petersburg and attended the University of Florida.  Paul owned and operated various businesses in Ft. Lauderdale.

He owed Le'Wings Restaurant in Lakeland for several years before retiring.  After retiring, he began building replicas of ships of history to keep him busy.  His ships are of superior craftsmanship and are located at the Muscular Dystrophy head quarters in Tucson, Arizona, Disney World, and the Annapolis Naval Academy as well as, with many private collectors throughout the United States.  When Paul's hands became too weak to build ships, he began collecting US postage stamps which eventually turned into an EBay business.

Paul suffered from a form of adult muscular dystrophy and was confined to a wheel chair for the last 21 years.  Even through his pain and suffering, he was courageous always thinking of others.  He volunteered with the men's ministry at Highland Park Nazarene and in 2002, he received a dog from Canine Companions.  After this, he and his companion dog Randel, frequently spoke at schools and organizations throughout the community about CCI.

He is survived by his wife, Joy Gingrich Topkin of Lakeland, son Mark Topkin and wife Brenda of Clermont, granddaughters, Stacey, Hannah and Megan of Clermont and sister Dr. Doris Lefkowitz and husband Stan of Austin, Texas.

Paul was a member of the Highland Park Nazarene Church, Muscular Dystrophy Society, and the Polk Republican Executive Committee.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 25th at 2 PM at the Highland Park Nazarene Church in Lakeland.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any donations made to Millersville University, +Millersville, PA for the Dr. Jay Mone' Muscular Dystrophy Research.