Janice Blanchard
Janice Blanchard, 72, of Lakeland, passed away on Tuesday June 18, 2019.
Janice was born July 13, 1946.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com.
Bonnie M. Lightsey
Bonnie M. Lightsey, 95, passed away on July 2, 2019.
She was born on Sept. 24, 1923 in Plant City.
Condolences may be offered at www.wellsmemorial.com.
Dean Orvis Holcomb
Dean Orvis Holcomb, 55, of Wesley Chapel, Florida passed away on Sunday June 30, 2019. Dean was born October 13, 1963.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com for the Holcomb family.
Edwina McMillan
Edwina McMillan, 90, of Branford, passed away on Friday June 28, 2019.
Edwina was born May 21, 1929 in Jasper.
Funeral service was held July 5, 2019 at Wells Memorial Funeral Home.
Condolences may be offered at www.wellsmemorial.com.
Galen Michael Walker
Galen Michael Walker, 70, crossed over to paradise on July 1, 2019 after a courageous 10-year battle with Alzheimer’s.
A native of Somerset, Pennsylvania, Galen moved to Plant City in 1975, where he worked as an analyst at CF Industries for 35 years. Known for his bright smile and boundless kindness, Galen was a friend to everyone lucky enough to meet him. He was an avid volunteer for The United Way, and an enthusiastic race walker with many trophies to his name. He was also a passionate fan of Christmas, playing Santa Claus around the community for years, and elaborately turning his house into a Florida winter wonderland every holiday season.
In short, Galen was a truly special man who brought a little more brightness to the world, just by being in it.
He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Gayla; her children, Neil and Stephanie; his children, Benjamin and Wendy; three grandchildren; three brothers; one sister; numerous nieces and nephews; and countless friends.
Services were held July 6, 2019 at Wells Memorial Funeral Home.
Condolences may be offered at www.wellsmemorial.com.
Dallas Bass-Gatchell
Dallas Bass-Gatchell, 23, of Port St. Lucie, passed away on June 26, 2019.
Services were held July 6, 2019 at Mt. Enon Primitive Baptist Church.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care.
Wilma Louise Yerty (Suffolk) White
Wilma Louise Yerty (Suffolk) White died on Saturday, June 22, 2019 in Lakeland. She was 93.
Wilma was born in Vandergrift, PA on December 15, 1925 to Margaret Leibee Yerty, who was then 42, and William Watson Yerty, aged 50. She was their only child. During her childhood, Wilma became an inveterate reader and throughout her long life was never without a book beside her chair. She played the piano and organ, loved music of all sorts, and sang in various church choirs during her peripatetic life.
Following graduation from Vandergrift High School in 1943, where she was in the National Honor Society, Wilma attended nursing school at the Western Pennsylvania (West Penn) Hospital in Pittsburgh as a member of the U.S. Cadet Nursing Corps. By the time she graduated in September 1946, however, World War II had ended and she did not have to serve in the military. Instead she stayed in Pittsburgh and worked at West Penn Hospital.
There she met James H. (Jim) Suffolk of Donora, PA, who came in as a patient. They married on June 30, 1947 and subsequently had three daughters: Susan Louise Suffolk, born in 1950 and deceased in 1961; Janice (Jan) Suffolk Todd, Ph.D. who resides in Austin, Texas and directs the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center at the University of Texas at Austin; and Linda Lee Suffolk Carlisle, R.N. who lives in Plant City, FL. and works at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center in Lakeland. During her marriage to Jim Suffolk the family moved frequently, living in Donora, PA; West Newton, PA, Joliet, IL; Anthony, TX; Beeville, TX; and Tampa, FL. In 1964, after their marriage ended, Wilma moved to Plant City, FL, and returned to nursing. In 1967, she married Raymond White. They divorced in 1974.
From 1964 to 1969, Wilma worked at South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City. She then moved to the Hillsborough County Health Department, where she worked for seven years before joining the state-run Children’s Medical Services (CMS) in Lakeland. She stayed with CMS until her retirement in 1991, and always claimed it was her favorite job because she loved working with children and because she made so many long-lasting friends there.
In Plant City, Wilma and her daughters became members of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where she added her beautiful alto to the church choir, served on the altar guild, and participated in many church activities.
She also joined the Plant City chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and was twice Worthy Matron of the chapter. She also assisted at the Plant City Strawberry Festival; drove for Meals on Wheels and did other charitable work in the city.
In 2000, Wilma moved to central Texas where she lived with her daughter, Jan, and son-in-law, Terry Todd, on their cattle ranch along the San Marcos River in Kingsbury, Texas.
While living there, she also worked as a volunteer at Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos; drove for Meals on Wheels again; and helped look after Jan, her husband, and the various cows, calves, draft horses, donkeys, emus, rabbits, peacocks, and multiple English mastiffs that lived on the ranch with them.
In 2007, she and the Todds moved to Austin so Jan and Terry could open The H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports, a research library and sports museum at The University of Texas at Austin.
Wilma served as a volunteer at the Stark Center in the early years and sorted and catalogued thousands of photographs for the Center.
While living in Austin, she attended St. Alban’s Episcopal Church and the Creedmoor Chapter of the Eastern Star. She also survived with aplomb two major floods at the Todd’s home in Onion Creek and continued to drive until her 92nd birthday.
In September of 2018, Wilma decided to return to Florida and moved to the Arbor Hills Independent Living Community in Lakeland, a beautiful facility located close to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center where both her daughter, Linda, and her granddaughter, Jill Carlisle Carrol, work. Wilma enjoyed her new friends at Arbor Hills, loved spending time with Linda and her family, and was particularly happy to once again attend St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in nearby Plant City. Linda Carlisle was, thankfully, with Wilma at Lakeland Regional Medical Center when she unexpectedly passed away on June 22 from what the doctors described as cardiac/vascular complications. She had not been ill prior to this event.
Wilma is survived by her two daughters; by her grandson, Jeffrey Carlisle of St. Petersburg, FL; by granddaughter, Jill Carlisle Carroll and her husband, Jeffrey Carroll of Orlando; and by her great-grandson, Jesse Sutton. She is also survived by thousands of patients whose lives she touched as a nurse and by countless others who will never forget the unfailing kindness she displayed to everyone throughout her entire life.
Services to commemorate the life of Wilma Yerty White will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Plant City, FL at 1:00 p.m., on Sunday, July 14, 2019. Following the service, her ashes will be interred in the cremation garden outside the church alongside those of her daughter, Susan Suffolk. St. Peter’s is hosting a luncheon in the church parish hall at approximately 12:00 p.m.for those attending the service. The church is located at: 302 Carey St., Plant City, FL, 33563. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Plant City (stpetersplantcity.com) or, to the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center at the University of Texas at Austin (starkcenter.org). Instructions for donations are available on both websites.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com.
Michael Carl Rau
Michael Carl Rau, 84, of Wauchula, passed away on Friday June 21, 2019.
Michael was born June 19, 1935 in Flint, Michigan.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com.
James J. Danielski
James J. Danielski, 71, of Plant City, passed away on Friday June 21, 2019.
James was born July 28, 1947.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com.
Kavery Varon ‘KV’ Haywood
Kavery Varon “KV” Haywood, 92, of Plant City, passed away on June 21, 2019 surrounded by his wife and daughter.
He was born on June 26, 1926.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com.
Sadie Mae Hill
Sadie Mae Hill, 88, of Lake Wales, formerly of Plant City, born on November 26, 1930 in Selma, Alabama, entered into eternal rest on July 9, 2019.
Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.
Faustina Gonzalez
Faustina Gonzalez, 91, of Dover, born in La Grange, Texas on Aug. 29, 1927, entered into eternal rest on July 3, 2019.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Gerald Johnson, Sr.
Gerald Johnson, Sr., 81, of Brooksville, formerly of Plant City, born on May 16, 1938 in Cecil, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on July 7, 2019.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
James ‘Jim’ Gray
James “Jim” Gray, 92, of Plant City, born on Aug. 2, 1926 in Orange Park, entered into eternal rest on July 2, 2019.
He was a Veteran of the United States Army, having served during World War II.
In his retirement he enjoyed farming, hunting, fishing and riding his four-wheeler. He was a wonderful husband, father, and Papa.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Florene “Flo” Gray.
He is survived by his children, Susan Shirley (Randy) and David Gray (Diane); 8 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; and many loving family and friends.
A Celebration of Life was held July 9, 2019 at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 S. County Rd 39, Plant City.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Phillip Garland ‘P.J.’ Varnum, Sr.
Phillip Garland “P.J.” Varnum, Sr., 82, of Lithia, born on May 16, 1937 in Hopewell, went home to be with his Lord on July 5, 2019.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Lynda M. Chamberlain
Lynda M. Chamberlain, 66, of Mulberry, born in Plant City on July 25, 1952, entered into eternal rest on July 4, 2019.
Expressions of condolence at Hopewellfuneral.com.
Ray Glover
Ray Glover, 81, of Plant City, born in Alabama on Feb. 10, 1938, entered into eternal rest on July 1, 2019.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.