Obituaries

Rev. Lucille Elaine Parks

 REV. LUCILLE ELAINE PARKS, 68

Rev. Lucille Elaine Parks, age 68, of Springfield, passed away Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 5:52 p.m. in Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. She was born June 18, 1943, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Robert and Florence (Hand) Newberg. Lucille served as a Missionary for the Assemblies Of God Ministries for 40 years.Lucille's missionary journey took her from remote areas of West Africa to the crowded streets of Belgium to busy office settings in the United States. At each place her unwavering faith , love for people and commitment to God touched lives for the Kingdom. The impact of her life still reaches around the world.

Lucille was preceded in death by her parents and by her first husband Robert Charles Smith. She is survived by her husband Rev. Paul Parks, a son Rev. Kevin Robert Smith, two daughters: Kristi Elaine Christian, and Rev. Candace Toinette Manning, two step-sons; Aaron Donn Parks and David Michael Parks and a step-daughter; Tara Victoria Hillman. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Brandon Tyler Hines, Caden Lane Hillman, Hart Daniel Hillman, Jonathan Thomas Manning, Christopher Joseph Manning, Andrew David Manning, Mikayla Lunelle Christian, Katelyn Noel Christian, Michael David Christian, Hannah Grace Parks, Noah David Parks, Luke Elijah Parks ,Rev.Adam David Parks, Ashlee Emma Parks, and by two sisters; Shirley Rounds, and Patricia DePatis, and by her brother; Robert Newberg.

Visitation will be Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011 from 9-10 a.m. at Victory Church with services to follow at the church at 10 a.m. Interment at Oak Hill Burial Park will follow.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

William Dale Workman

 

 

WILLIAM DALE WORKMAN, 68
Business Owner

WINTER HAVEN - William Dale Workman, 68, of Winter Haven, passed away November 22, 2011, due to complications of brain cancer.

Dale was born in West Virginia to Babe and Vertie Workman, and after his mother's untimely death when he was 5 years old he was raised by his father and step-mother, Betty J. Workman, who simply became "mom." He moved to this area in 1978 after living in Wisconsin for over 15 years. He was the owner of his own plastics injection molding business in Winter Haven, which he operated for 20 years before retiring in 2002.

Dale was a veteran of the United States Air Force serving from 1961 to 1965. He belonged to the Masonic Lodge in Madison, Wisconsin, where he was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Scottish and York Rites, and a Shriner. He was a regular blood donor at the Winter Haven Hospital Community Blood Center, having donated more than 13 gallons of blood over the years.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents, son David, daughter Wendy and granddaughter Elizabeth. He is survived by his wife of 8 years, Rebel; mother Betty Workman; son Michael Workman and his wife Dena; step-daughter Shannon Wright; 3 brothers Arch Workman, Jimmy Osborne and Jerry Osborne; 2 sisters Flavia White and Linda Lowe; 8 grandchildren Loni, Ray, John, Sarah, Mia, Kennedy, Trinity and Courtney; 2 great granddaughters Kara and Arabella; numerous nieces and nephews; and his lifelong friend from the Air Force, "Wisconsin" Charlie Thoms.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 28, 2011, at 11:00 am at Faith Baptist Church, 2140 Crystal Beach Road, Winter Haven, with interment to follow at the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL.

Friends are invited to the visitation on Sunday, November 27, 2011, at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road, Lakeland, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested that contributions be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 320 W. Main Street, Lakeland, FL 33815.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

View Video Tribute

Carmon Lawrence "Larry" Thornton

 

 

CARMON LAWRENCE "LARRY" THORNTON, 77
U.S. Army

LAKELAND - Carmon "Larry" Thornton, 77, passed away Friday, November 25, 2011 as a result of respiratory failure.

He was born in Fairfax, Alabama on July 5, 1934 and moved to Lakeland in 1998 from Plant City. He was an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Army, where he served for over twenty years as an Image Interpreter for Reconnaissance. He was a member of the New Apostolic Church.

He is survived by his wife; Gertrude "Trudy" Thornton, sister: Janice Knaack-Bennett, nephews: Todd, Tony and Jim Knaack, as well as many great nieces and nephews, many friends and special dear friend, Kay. Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence & Hazel.

A visitation will be conducted in his honor Thursday, December 1, 2011, from 12-1pm at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road in Lakeland. A funeral service will follow at 1pm at the Southside Chapel with Priest Silver Nail officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Thornton's family requests that donations be made to Palliative Care at Lakeland Regional Medical Center or Hope Hospice.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Richard Holmes

RICHARD HOLMES, 71

LAKELAND - Richard Holmes passed away due to a heart attack on Wednesday, November 23, 2011.

Dick was born in Hartford, CT on September 2, 1940 to Harry and Frances Holmes. He attended Hartford schools and earned an associate degree while serving in the military. He moved to Lakeland in 2003. He was a highly decorated 1st Sergeant in the U.S. Army for 27 years and a combat medic who served two tours in Vietnam. He was the recipient of the Soldiers Medal, the Combat Medical Badge and the Expert Field Medical Badge and the Gen. Ralph E. Haines, Jr. Award for excellence from the Sergeants Major Academy at Ft. Bliss, TX. He loved the game of golf.

He is survived by his wife Bette Holmes, mother Frances Braman, sons Sam (Kathryn), Jeff (Michaela), Greg (Tammy), daughters Catherine (Mark) Granberg, Pamela Ortiz and Trina Kosch; 20 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, sister, Joanne (Mike) Hutchinson, brothers, Fred (Philomena) Sawyer, Peter (Donna) Sawyer, Larry (Beverly) Sawyer, John Molumphy.

Memorial service at Highland Fairways Clubhouse 4:00 pm, Tuesday, November 29, 2011. Burial at Bushnell National Cemetery yet to be determined. In lieu of flowers donations to Highland Fairways Golf Club, 3222 Highland Fairways Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33810.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Patricia Gonzales

PATRICIA GONZALES, 65

LAKELAND - Patricia Gonzales, 65, passed away Wednesday, November 23, 2011 from heart failure.

Services will be Tuesday at 10 am at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, Lakeland.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

William Warren "Bill" Nesbitt

 

 

WILLIAM WARREN "BILL" NESBITT, 80
Businessman & Entrepreneur

LAKELAND - William "Bill" Nesbitt, 80, passed away, as a result of respiratory failure, Wednesday, November 23, 2011.  Mr. Nesbitt was born in Toronto, Ontario in 1931.  He came to Mulberry in 1984 while employed by British Tire and Rubber of London, England.  Mr. Nesbitt retired from BTR in 1990.  During his career, he started and operated several businesses throughout the US and Canada.  He was a member of Lone Palm Golf Club.

Mr. Nesbitt is survived by his companion of twenty years, Cathy Schmalz of Mulberry, FL; son, William G. Nesbitt of Toronto, Ontario; daughters, Carolyn Nesbitt of Bowen Island, British Columbia and Margo Bunka of Markham, Ontario and eight grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted, to celebrate the life of Mr. Nesbitt, at a later date on Sparrow Lake in Ontario. Mr. Nesbitt's family requests that donations be made in his honor to Good Shepherd Hospice.

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

Hilda Taylor

HILDA TAYLOR, 95
Homemaker

LAKELAND - Hilda Taylor, 95, passed away due to heart failure on Sunday, November 20, 2011.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 11am-12pm at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel. Service to follow on Wednesday at 12pm in the funeral home chapel.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Riley Jaliel Rodriguez Colon

RILEY JALIEL RODRIGUEZ COLON, Infant

LAKELAND - Riley Colon, an infant, passed away on Thursday, November 17, 2011.

Graveside service will be held on Monday at 10 am at Serenity Gardens, Lakeland.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

William G. Wiley

WILLIAM G. WILEY, 91
Iron Worker

LAKELAND - Mr. William G. Wiley died 11/19/2011 in Lakeland due to natural causes.

Burial will be in Cartersville, Georgia.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Juanita Miller

JUANITA MILLER, 90

LAKELAND - Juanita Miller, 90, passed away on Sat. 11/19/11 due to a long battle with dementia.

 Survived by niece, Tonia Harper.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.