Obituaries

Kyle Sumner

KYLE SUMNER, 32

LAKELAND - Kyle Sumner, 32, died from a biking accident December 24, 2011.

Kyle was born in Lakeland on October 5, 1979. He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp.

Kyle is survived by his wife; Melissa Sumner; children, Caleb, Isaiah, Noah and Emily; father, Grady Sumner; mother, Lynn Boakes; grandparents, Paul and Mary Letts; brother, Robert Shepard; sisters, Amy Shepard, Sarah Sumner and Shelley Glawson.

A memorial service will be conducted Sat. at 10:30 am at Champions Church, Winter Haven.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Ethel House

ETHEL HOUSE, 90

LAKELAND - Ethel House, 90, died 12/27/11 from natural causes.

Services conducted privately in NJ.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside, Lakeland.

Martin Davis

MARTIN DAVIS, 79

LAKELAND - Martin Davis, 79, died 12/27/11 of heart failure.

Services will be private.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, Lakeland.

Gerald Jesse Rubin

GERALD JESSE RUBIN, 75

LAKELAND - One of the greatest joys in Jerry Rubin's life was traveling with his wonderful wife Eleanor in the 10 years following his retirement from IMC (International Minerals Corporation, now Mosaic) at 60.

Together, they visited places as close as Biloxi, Miss. and as far away as Russia. Following his sense of adventure, he bravely sampled the local cuisines, including the grubs in New Zealand.
Gerald Jesse Rubin, 75, died Tuesday, Dec. 20 due to complications from cancer. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. June 4, 1936.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he also played football until a knee injury sidelined him. He went on to earn his master's degree in Chemical Engineering from Tulane University. Rubin was a registered Professional Engineer in Florida and Louisiana.

On August 3, 1958, Rubin married his childhood sweetheart, Eleanor, whom he had known since she was 13 and he 14. After college, his work took him and his young wife and two children to Lakeland. At IMC, where he was technical and project director, Rubin managed multi-million dollar chemical plant expansions in Polk County. Professionally, his greatest joy was in developing young engineers in Florida and Louisiana.

At 45, Rubin took up the game of tennis and played several times a week for most of the next 30 years. He participated in several senior games, missing only two in 10 years. His best finish was to win the local senior games. Tennis brought him a wonderful circle of friends with whom he could share his passion for the game.

Another of Rubin's passions was his work with mutual funds, a hobby he cultivated while still working as an engineer. He began writing mutual fund reports based on his observations and calculations of the market and gradually gained 150 followers worldwide.

Rubin is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Eleanor of Lakeland; a son, Alan of Marietta, Ga., and a daughter, Sheryl (Pixie) of Auburndale.

A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28 at Gentry-Morrison Dukes-Steen Beacon Hill Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

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

Dominick Bruno

DOMINICK BRUNO, 92
Lakeland Traffic Dept.

LAKELAND - Mr. Dominick Bruno, 92, of Lakeland, FL, passed away Dec. 21, 2011 of natural causes.

He was born in Bronx, NY, and lived there until moving to Lakeland in 1976. He served in the US Army during WWII, in France, Africa and Italy, and upon discharge began working as an oil burner serviceman for Combind Oil Co. where he spent 30 years. After retiring, he went to work for the City of New York in the traffic department and worked there for 5 years. In 1976, when he came to Lakeland, he began working in the traffic department until retiring. He was a member of St. Anthony Church, and kept busy as a "jack-of-all-trades". He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Mr. Bruno is survived by his wife of 66 years Betty; 3 daughters, Donna Corcoran and husband John, Elizabeth Weeks and husband Charles, and Linda Stone; 1 sister, Theresa Roemer, 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Friends are invited to a visitation at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, 5245 US 98 N., Lakeland on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011 from 10:00am to 12:00 noon. Burial will follow at Florida National Cemetery ay 2:30 pm.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

James C. Walsh

  JAMES C. WALSH, 77

Badcock's Furniture

LAKELAND - James C. Walsh, 77, of Lakeland, FL, passed away at home on Sunday Dec. 18, 2011 due to heart failure.

Mr. Walsh was born in Riceville, TN, and moved to Lakeland in 1980 from Jacksonville, FL, and prior to that, had lived in North Carolina and Tennessee. He worked as a traffic supervisor for Badcock's from 1977 to 1999. For the past 12 years, he was the grounds supervisor for Carlton Arms in Lakeland.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, walking his dogs, watching football with his daughter Dulcinea, and NASCAR.

Mr. Walsh is survived by his wife of 41 years Carolyn, 5 sons Terry Walsh and wife Benita, Allen Walsh, Larry Walsh, Gene Moore and Steven Moore; 4 daughters Michelle Sheils and husband Tracy, DeAnna McKay, Meredith Moore, and Dulcinea Walsh; 15 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday Dec. 22, 2011 at 11:00 am at the Light of Lights Chapel at Victory Church with a visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 am.The family has requested that contributions be made in his memory to the American Diabetes Association., 4902 Eisenhower Blvd., Suite 295, Tampa, FL 33634.

Arrangements are being handled by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

View Video Tribute

Ramon Santana

RAMON SANTANA, 70
Security Guard

LAKELAND - Ramon Santana, 70, died of heart failure 12/15/2011.

He is survived by a loving family. Mem. Serv. 12/22 at 2pm at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Marilyn Miller Means

 

 

MARILYN MILLER MEANS, 88
Polk County School Board

LAKELAND - Marilyn Means passed away peacefully at her home on Dec. 16, 2011 due to
complications related to a fall in November 2011.

Born in Lakeland, FL, on January 31, 1923, to Alva Leland and F. Esther Miller, Marilyn graduated from Lakeland High School in 1941. She maintained lifelong contact with her classmates and enjoyed attending the Class of '41 luncheons every month until recently. After high school and prior to starting their family in 1950, she was the dental assistant for Dr. Stuart Roux. She retired from Polk County School Board after 25 years as secretary at Griffin Elementary School where her aunt, Donna Harris, was principal Marilyn was a devoted, loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and a dear friend to many. She was very proud to have
been on the "cradle roll" at Myrtle Street Methodist Church, which later became Wesley Memorial Methodist Church. She remained a member of Wesley her entire life. She attended First United Methodist Church in Lakeland after Wesley Memorial ceased services. She was an excellent seamstress and perfectionist in all that she undertook. She raised her children with the belief that "anything worth doing, is worth doing right". She was extremely proud that both children chose medical career paths. Her children and grandchildren were always her favorite topic and her most gratifying accomplishments.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 43 years Robert David Means, her brothers James Walter Miller and Alva Leland (Pinky) Miller, and her great niece Caroline Starratt Park. She is survived by her son Michael David Means (Gwen), Indian Harbour Beach; her daughter Jane Ann Nolte-Wiener (Michael), Auburndale; grandchildren Morgan Elizabeth Means, Zachary David Means, Richard E. (Ren) Nolte (Nicole), and Jenna Nolte Sutton (Jason); great- grandchildren Conor Caiden Nolte, Jillian Jane Sutton, and Molly Caroline Nolte; nieces Janet Miller Starratt (Dale Bush) and Marsha Miller Kevitch (Mike), and her close friend Jim Dry.

Visitation will be today (Dec. 18, 2011) from 2-3 p.m. at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd., Lakeland. Services will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Allen David Marcus

ALLEN DAVID MARCUS, 63

LAKELAND - Allen ended his two year battle with lung cancer on Sunday, December 18, 2011.

He was born in New York City on October 19, 1948. Allen had a wonderful capacity for living life to the fullest..."more is more", had a magnetic personality, great smile and a passion for interior design.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Charlotte (Belber). Survivors include his life partner of 34 years, Larry Pyle; father and step-mother, Ira and Regina Marcus of West Hampton, NY; and a sister, Harriet Davidson of North Bergen, NJ.

The viewing will be Wednesday, December 21, 2011 from 11:00 AM to 1:00PM at the Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel. Entombment will follow at the Serenity Gardens mausoleum in Lakeland.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Herbert D. Hair, Jr.

 

 

HERBERT D. "HERB" HAIR, Jr., 56
Verizon Networks

LAKELAND - Herb D. Hair Jr., 56, of Lakeland, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family on Dec. 15, 2011 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born in Tampa, Fl, and moved to Lakeland 50 years ago when he was six. Herb was retired from Verizon after working for 38 years as a Customer Zone Technician II. His pastimes were photography, hunting, fishing, FSU football, baseball, gardening, and most of all his children and grandchildren.

Herb was preceded in death by his father, Herbert Sr., and is survived by his wife Lori, his mother Elaine, a son Jared Hair, and a daughter Sheri Broderick and her husband Jason; his 2 grandchildren Alysa and Noah; a sister Beth Simpson and her husband Terry; nephews Brian and Justin Simpson.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011 at 3:00 pm at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, 5245 US 98 N., Lakeland, with burial to follow at Oak Hill Burial Park. Friends are invited to a visitation from 2:00 to 3:00 pm.

The family has requested that contributions in Herb's memory be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance of Polk County, 2000 South Florida Ave., Lakeland, FL 33803.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.