Bruce Martin Culpepper, Milo R. Grabow, Ralph Hamlin Mann and Catherine A. Williamson
Bruce Martin Culpepper
Bruce Martin Culpepper, 77, of Dover, died Sept. 13, 2012, after a long illness.
Mr. Culpepper was born Sept. 25, 1934. He was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and great-grandfather. He recently moved back to the area after living in Blackshear, Ga., for many years.
Mr. Culpepper was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and retired from TECO in 1994 after many years of service. He always could be found working on and restoring antique cars, and he could fix just about anything that was broken.
Bruce is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Hannelore Culpepper, of Dover; two brothers, Douglas Culpepper of Parma, Mich., and David (Janice) Culpepper of Blackshear, Ga.; four children, Bonny (David) Harrell, of Dover, Debbie (William) Mathieu, of Valrico, Patrick (Angela) Culpepper, of Thonotosassa, and Allen (Jo Lynn) Culpepper, of Gunter, Texas; eight grandchildren, Michael Harrell (Leslie Cunningham), of Dover, Amanda (Dustin) Watkins, of Plant City, Ciara (Jason) Southerland, of Thonotosassa, Rob Mathieu, of Valrico, Daniel Harrell, of Dover, and Skylar, Taylor and Oliver, of Gunter, Texas; one great-grandchild, Josiah, of Thonotosassa; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held Sept. 29, at St. John’s United Methodist Church, in Blackshear, Ga.
Milo R. Grabow
Milo R. Grabow, of Plant City, died Sept. 6, following a courageous battle with progressive supranuclear palsy.
Born in Oshkosh, Wis., Mr. Grabow was raised in Milwaukee and graduated from Washington High School in 1959. He studied mechanical engineering at Marquette University before moving to California, where he met an married the late Irma Jones Grabow in 1967.
They moved to Tampa in 1968, where they raised their children, Wayne and Leah.
Milo retired as an electrical engineer from Safeline Mettler Toledo in September 2009. Mr. Grabow was a giving, thoughtful man who loved people and was a born problem-solver who liked to work with his hands.
He is survived by brother, Glen Grabow, of Indiana; son Wayne Gabriel (Kellie), of Zephyrhills; daughter Leah Dixon (Todd), of Plant City; grandsons Spencer, Tyler and Rob; and a large extended family.
The family wishes to thank everyone at Patty’s House ALF and the nurses, staff and volunteers at LifePath Hospice.
Memorial contributions may be made to CurePSP.org or LifePath Hospice, ChaptersHealth.org/giving.
Ralph Hamlin Mann
Ralph Hamlin Mann, 89, died Sept. 7.
Born Thursday, Nov. 2, 1922, to the late Frederick B. and Aline Goehagen Mann, he was the beloved husband of the late Velna Inez Mann.
Mr. Mann was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He went on to work as an aviation mechanic with the civil service and retired from U.S. Naval Air Station at Jacksonville.
He was a Boy Scout and a member of the Thonotosassa Missionary Baptist Church, where he had been active in the church’s youth group.
Survivors include grandsons, Terry Mann, Garry (Stephanie) Mann and Jerry (Kari) Mann; sisters, Frances Smith and Inez Cobb; seven great-grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth, and a grandson, Larry.
Contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice or to the Welcome Church Cemetery.
Catherine A. Williamson
Catherine A. Williamson (Christ), 72, died Aug. 15.
She was born Oct. 4, 1939, in Tampa, the daughter of the late Herman and Hazel Christ, one of the founders of Florida Steel.
Mrs. Williamson graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in 1957, and from the University of Tampa in 1974, with a degree in elementary education. She taught for 38 years in Hillsborough and Lee counties. She was a dedicated teacher, who loved her students and inspired them to succeed.
Mrs. Williamson also loved volunteering for the St. Clement Strawberry Festival booth and playing bingo.
She is survived by sisters, Rosie Danco and Mary Shearer; and her brother Herman (Buddy) Christ Jr.
Catherine was the wife of James Williamson for 32 years and was the proud mother of seven children: Loretta Hartwig, Theresa Johnson, Sharon Karr, Michael Fernandes and Robert Fernandes, Cathy Hinkle, deceased, and step-daughter Kristyn Sage. She also was the proud grandmother of 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Nativity Catholic School, 705 E. Brandon Blvd., Brandon, FL 33511.
