Obituaries

OC Temples

O.C. TEMPLES, 75
Temples Electric

LAKELAND - O.C. Temples, 75, a lifelong resident of Lakeland, passed away Jan. 20, 2012 due to dementia.

O.C. was born in Lakeland and attended Kathleen schools while growing up, before joining the US Air Force. He served for a time in Germany, then returned home to begin working as an electrical contractor, eventually starting Temples Electric, which he operated for 35 years before retiring in 2006.

He was a member of the F & AM Crestview Lodge 50, American Legion Post 72 in Mulberry, the VFW Post 2297, which he was life member of, and also life member of Moose Lodge 2295 in Lakeland.

He is survived by his wife of 8 years, Roberta Sue, his son Eric Ray Temples of Lakeland, a brother E.D. Temples, and 2 sisters Edith Cauley and Edna Kirkland, all of Lakeland.

Memorial services will be held on Jan. 26, 2012 at 10:00 am at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, 5245 US 98 N., Lakeland. Friends are invited to arrive at 9:00 am.

The family would like to send a special thanks to the staff at Valencia Hills for all their support, and ask that donations be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Edward James Sullivan

EDWARD JAMES SULLIVAN, 91
Chemical Engineer

LAKELAND - Edward J. Sullivan died 01/19/12 from natural causes.

He is survived by a loving family. Interment will be in Indiana.

Arrangemens by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Melba Jean Farris

MELBA JEAN FARRIS, 85

LAKELAND - Melba Farris, 85, died 1/20/12 of heart failure.

Survived and loved by daughter Marsha; many grand and great grandchildren.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Dennis H. Cox

DENNIS H. COX, 62
Polk Co.
Parks & Recreation

LAKELAND - Dennis H. Cox, 62, of Lakeland, passed away Jan. 20, 2012 in Tampa, FL due to heart failure.

He was born in Georgia, but grew up in Lakeland. He graduated from Kathleen High School, served in the US Army in Germany, and worked for the Polk County Parks & Recreation Dept. as a foreman. He retired in 2001 after 20 years. He was a member of Faith Baptist Church where he served as Sunday School Director, and enjoyed his hobbies of fishing, camping, and involvement with his boys activities.

He is survived by his 4 sons, Rick Fallin and wife Cindy, James Cox and wife Jennifer, Jason Cox and wife Misty, Seth Cox and wife Alece; his former wife Joan; his sister Gail Cox; and his 4 grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012 7:00 pm at the Faith Baptist Church, 8550 State Rd 33 N., Lakeland. Friends are invited to the church starting at 6:00 pm.
The family has requested that donations be made to Faith Baptist Church, 8550 State Rd. 33 N., Lakeland, FL 33809.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

C.A. "Bo" Combee

C.A. "BO" COMBEE, 75
Farmer/Rancher

LAKELAND - -C.A. "Bo" Combee was born July 3, 1936 in Lakeland, Florida and passed away peacefully in his home Monday January 23, 2012 due to cancer. He was surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, his Pastor, and his friends, Paul, Pat, Gene, and Jan.

Bo was a life-long producer. At 75, he still liked to play in the dirt. Bo owned and operated Combee Sod for many years. He enjoyed raising fruits and vegetables, cattle, Quarter horses, bird dogs, and deer dogs. As a young man, he spent 4 years with the Lakeland Police Dept. He was good with the gun and rod, spending his free time hunting and fishing the woods and lakes near his home. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren's ball games and listening to his friends play guitars, banjos, fiddles, mandolins, and sing. The "roots of his raising ran deep". He enjoyed the simple things in life and he was kind and generous to all. His philosophy in both life and business was to give people a little more than they bargained for.

Bo is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary, daughter Charlotte Combee, son Neil (Linda) Combee, daughter Sandra Harrison, daughter Lori (Dan) Drew, 7 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, sisters, Irma Walker, Murnah Sexton, Shirley Hand, Dorothy Collins and dozens of cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Farris and Velma Combee, brothers Carlis Combee, and Leroy Combee. Bo was a member of the Gapway Baptist Church.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 6 - 8pm at Gapway Baptist Church. Funeral services will be Thursday at 10:00 am at the church with interment to follow at Oak Hill Burial Park.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Northside Chapel.

Clayton Anthony Bustard

CLAYTON ANTHONY BUSTARD, 52
Rock N Roll BBQ

LAKELAND - Clayton Bustard passed away at home with his wife by his side, after a brief and courageous battle with cancer on Jan. 23, 2012.

Clayton was born Sept. 1, 1959 in Monterey, CA and moved around, as his father was a senior Naval officer spending time in Europe, Spain then settling in Memphis, TN where Clayton graduated from Craigmont High School. During that time, he was on the football and swimming team and won many awards for his athletic ability. He leaves behind many friends in Memphis who he still stayed in touch with. Especially his dearest best friend, Stephen Kelly O'Rourk. Over the years he worked as a lifeguard in Ocean City, MD, he worked on oil rigs in the south and managed beach concessions in Delray, FL. In the early nineties, he moved to Lakeland, FL where his parents Joan & "Buck" Bustard bought and developed the Oakview Swim & Tennis Club. Clayton went on to manage the club over the next 20 years. During this time with his kind heart, quick wit and sense of humor, he touched so many families and friends. It was also during this time that destiny would have him find the love of his life, his best friend, his wife, Susan. Clayton loved life and family to the fullest. Always with a joyful enthusiasm for each day. His passion for cooking evolved into a journey. He became well known for his BBQ, which soon turned into "Rock N Roll BBQ". He went on to win many awards on the professional BBQ circuit. His proudest moments were when he won at the "Memphis In May" World Championships several years in a row. He was truly happiest when the cooker was smoking and friends were loving his food. Clayton always said, "He would never serve anything his mother wouldn't love".

Clayton was preceded in death by his mother, Joan Bustard. He is survived by his loving wife and soul mate, Susan, her two daughters Stephanie & Kathryn Starr and granddaughter, Camryn. Clayton also leaves behind his father, F.W. "Buck" Bustard, III, 3 brothers, Steven Bustard of Lakeland, FL, Michael Bustard of Olympia, WA, Francis Bustard, IV of Lakeland, sister, Diedre Gillis and her husband, Ernie in Kentucky, nieces & nephews, Jessica, Samantha, Ernie, Francis V & Mac. He will also be missed by his second family in Pensacola, FL, Beverly, Ritchie, Beth, Christopher, Brandon, Sandy, Uncle Dave & Ernie L.

A celebration of his life will be conducted on Mon. Jan 30, 2012, 6:00pm at Gentry-Morrison/Dukes-Steen Funeral Home Chapel, 1833 S. Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL. Clayton will be terribly missed by his many friends and all who know and love him.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home Dukes Steen Chapel.

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Alex Marven

ALEX MARVEN, 92

Lakeland - Alex Marven, Sr., 92, passed away Jan. 14, 2012.

Mr. Marven was born in Donora, Pennsylvania on June 3, 1919 to Trofim and Paulene Marvenko. He moved to Lakeland in 1992 from North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. He worked for Westinghouse for 43 years as a Manufacturing Engineering Tech and Quality Control Tech. He was an Army Veteran of WWII, serving in Carlisle, PA and the Philippine Islands. Mr. Marven was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, as well as, the Lakeland Shuffleboard Club in addition to being a Mason.

Mr. Marven is survived by his children, David Marven and Karen Robinson; grandchildren, Michael and David Marven; and great grandchild, Elise Marven. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary; son, Alex Marven, Jr.; siblings, Paul, Fred, Jack, John, Anna and Helen.

A memorial service will be conducted Friday January 20th at 11 a.m. at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL 33801

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John B. Schiff

JOHN B. SCHIFF, 59
Retired/Publix
Lake Gibson

LAKELAND - John Schiff, 59, passed away January 16, 2012 due to heart failure.

Mr. Schiff was born March 31, 1952 in Coral Gables, FL to William and Trudi Schiff. He moved to Lakeland in 1974 from Temple Terrace Tampa. He married Shirley Forshee in Lakeland, FL, on March 10, 1974.

At the age of 11 John wrote a letter to Mr. Durney of the Florida Marlins for an opportunity to be the bat boy and was accepted. When he was 16 he had a passion for weather. He got permission from the weather service to have a teletype installed in his room. He worked to pay for the running of the teletype. John would have the weather at his fingertips 24/7. John and his father would go out during hurricanes to aid and assist.

John worked at Wolco in the Lakeland Mall on Memorial Blvd. as the shoe department manager and met his wife Shirley there. John then went on to work at Maas Brothers and then Kmart in the shoe departments. The last 10 years he worked at Lake Gibson Publix, then retiring in April 2011.
John loved family, friends, sports, traveling and reading.

John was preceded in death by his father William on Dec. 27, 2011. He is survived by his wife Shirley; his mother Trudi; and sister Carol and her husband Bill, along with many cousins.
Memorial visitation will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

In lieu flowers, donations to the USF swallowing center, for the 30 years of care given to John, would be appreciated; www.swallowingcenter@health.USF.edu

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Mildred Luesing Loonsfoote

MILDRED LUESING LONSFOOTE, 86

LAKELAND - Mildred Luesing Loonsfoote died January 18, 2012 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center of heart failure at the age of 86.

She was born in Bliss, Michigan, on September 1, 1925, to Irving and Ethel Luesing.
She is survived by her four children, Sandra Lonsfoote Bate of Bloomington, IN, James A. Lonsfoote, Kathy Lonsfoote, Judy Loonsfoote, all of Lakeland; and a sister Lois L. Luesing, Elkhart, IN. She had five grandchildren: Jennifer Lonsfoote, Bloomington, IN, Jessica Belcher, Allison Lonsfoote, both of Lakeland, Carly Reifenrath, Winter Haven, Lindsey Lonsfoote, Lakeland; and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband James Anthony Loonsfoote, brothers Lee Luesing, Melvin Luesing, and sister Pauline Luesing.

Mildred worked as a manager of convenience stores throughout her life and retired from the Polk County School Board as a food service worker. She had been active over the past five years as a regular volunteer at Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE). She was honored for her service by being named the VISTE Dr. Sam Clark Volunteer of the Year in 2009.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, January 21 from 10:00 - noon at the First Baptist Church at the Mall, Room 570. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in her memory to Volunteers in Service to the Elderly.

Lawrence P. Dragon, Jr.

LAWRENCE P. DRAGON, Jr., 63

LAKELAND - Lawrence Dragon, Jr., died 1/5/12 of resp. failure.

Survived by wife Anita, son Thad, daughters Carolyn, Kimberly, mother & sister.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Cremation Center.