Obituaries

Robert Wilson Houser

 

 

ROBERT WILSON HOUSER, 87

LAKELAND - Robert Wilson Houser, "Bob", age 87, of Lakeland, FL, died of heart failure after a long and good life.

He was born in Chillicothe, OH, on May 27, 1924. He grew up in Toledo, OH, where his parents taught at Libbey High School. His father, "Chip" was a football coach for Libbey and passed on to his son a lifelong love of sports and gardening. His mother, Mary, taught English and inspired in her son a passion for learning. After graduating from Libbey HS, Robert attended Oberlin College where he met his future wife, Dorothy L. Close.

He joined the Navy V-12 unit at Oberlin and was transferred to Columbia University midshipmen school and graduated from there in 1944. During World War II he served on the LCI 870 in the South Pacific. He was discharged as a Lt. (jg) in 1945. Bob and Dorothy married while he was in the service. After his discharge the couple returned to Oberlin where Bob got his BA in Math. Bob continued his education at the U of Nevada in Reno where he was an instructor in the math department and where he received his BS in Electrical Engineer in 1949. Upon graduating he was hired by Alcoa in Vancouver, WA. Later he was transferred to Alcoa operations in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. In 1962 he went to work for GAF in Binghamton, NY. In 1974 he moved to Florida where he worked for several consulting engineering firms in Tampa and West Palm Beach before starting his own business. After Dorothy's passing in 1990 Bob moved from Wellington, FL, to Lakeland where he resided in Cypress Lakes.

Robert was a member of IEEE, NSPE, VFW, LCI Assn., SAR and the First United Methodist Church of Lakeland.

He is survived by his four sons, Robert K. (and his wife, Susan Kirkland), Steven, and Charles of Binghamton, NY, and David (and his wife Conny) of Olney, MD; five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and by his two sisters, Marianne Gaye Dauer of Hendersonville, TN, and Margaret Anne Kopp of Perrysburg, OH.

A memorial service will be held at the Cypress Lakes club house at a date yet to be determined. A private burial service will be held at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. Those wishing to remember Bob in a special way are invited to make memorial gifts in his honor to the U.S. Navy Memorial, Wash., DC.

Roy Thomas

ROY THOMAS, 87
Produce Buyer

LAKELAND - Roy Thomas, 87, passed away from heart failure Feb. 24, 2012.

Mr. Thomas was born in Lincoln, WV, on Feb. 28, 1924. He was a veteran of the Navy and served during World War II.

Mr. Thomas is survived by his children, Larry (Teri) Thomas of The Villages, FL, Twila Walburn and Pam Thomas, both of Lakeland, FL, Ernie Thomas of Plumerville, AR and David Thomas of Mulberry, FL; seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday March 1st at 6 p.m. at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Road, Lakeland, FL.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Margaret "Marge" O'Rourke

MARGARET "MARGE" O'ROURKE, 86

LAKELAND - Margaret Velma O'Rourke, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2012 due to complications of cancer.

Born December 23, 1925 in Central Islip, New York. She was the loving wife of Tom for 68 years, who preceded her in death, devoted mother to Eileen Dorrler (Steve), Kathleen Gowler (Ed), Sandra Sanders (Chuck), Jacqueline Buelow (Mark); grandmother of Kelly, Kim, Jackie, Erin, Tom, Chris, Lindsay and Alexandria; great grandmother of 14.

A private Catholic service will be held at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL on Friday, March 2, 2012 at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Leoma Hurst

LEOMA HURST, 83
Cosmetologist

LAKELAND - Leoma Hurst, 83, passed away on February 27, 2012 due to renal failure.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 6-8pm. Funeral Services on Wednesday at 10:30 am at Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel. Interment to follow at Florida National Cemetery.

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Sharon Lou Hamblin

SHARON LOU HAMBLIN, 71

LAKELAND - Sharon Lou Hamblin, 71, passed away of heart failure 2/23/2012.

She is survived by a loving family.

Gentry-Morrison Cremation Center, Lakeland.

Barbara Sue Belcher

BARBARA SUE BELCHER, 68

LAKELAND - Barbara Sue Belcher, 68, passed away, as a result of PSP,
2/24/2012. She is survived by a loving family. Gentry-Morrison Cremation Center.

Swift K. Spaulding

SWIFT K. SPAULDING, 51
IBM

LAKELAND - Mr. Swift K. Spaulding passed away February 23, 2012. The cause is pending.
He was born in Corry, PA and raised in North Canton, OH and Damascus, OH where he graduated from West Branch H.S. in 1979 and attended Damascus Friends Church. He also graduated from National Institute of Technology in Cuyahoga Falls, OH in 1982.
Swift worked for IBM as a systems support representative for 28 years. He enjoyed playing softball, loved fishing and competed in several bass tournaments. Swift obtained his U.S. Coast Guard Captains license in 2003 serving as a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer.
Survivors include, his wife of 25 years, Marilyn Spaulding, daughter,
Elise Spaulding both of Lakeland, parents, Rex and Marilyn Spaulding,
brother and wife, Rex and Judy Spaulding all of Canfield, OH, sister,
Faith Spaulding of Florida, 1 niece and 8 nephews.
A memorial service will be conducted on Wed. 2/29/12, 10:00am at Gentry-Morrison/Dukes-Steen Funeral Home, 1833 S. Florida Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association . www.heart.org .

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Betty Ann Gschwender

BETTY ANN GSCHWENDER, 61
CNA

LAKELAND - Betty Ann Gschwender, 61, passed away from respiratory failure Feb. 23, 2012. Mrs. Gschwender was born in West Palm Beach, FL on July 12, 1950. She moved to the Lakeland area in 1978 and was a member of Victory Church. She loved animals and working outdoors gardening and tending to her yard.
Mrs. Gschwender was preceded in death by her father, William Robert
Bowers. She is survived by her husband of 33 1/2 years, Charles Gschwender; children, Ronnie (Lawanda) Dixon and Cheri Dixon; mother, Ann M. Bowers;
brothers, Robert (Joyce), Bill (Sheila) and David (Camille) Bowers;
sisters, Sue (Don) Wirt and Vivian (Warren) Roberts; grandson, Ronnie
Charles Dixon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be Thurs. March 1st at 2 p.m. at Florida National
Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.

Robert Lee Ganus

ROBERT LEE GANUS, 65

LAKELAND - Robert Ganus, 65, died of heart failure 2/22/12. A memorial service will be Sat. Mar. 3rd at 10 am at Gentry Morrison Southside Chapel

Barbara Anne Barber

BARBARA ANNE BARBER, 67

LAKELAND - Barbara Barber, 67, died of heart failure 2/21/12. She's survived by her children, Duanne & Rohn Gardin & Melissa Gardin Poston. Gentry Morrison Cremation Center