OBITUARIES

Jun 23, 2023

Royce Dale McDonald joined our Heavenly Father on June 23, 2023.

Royce, a cherished husband, beloved father, devoted friend, and passionate entrepreneur, passed away on June 23, 2023. His extraordinary journey was one of profound impact and unwavering love.

Born on August 23, 1945, at Morrell Hospital in Lakeland, FL, to...

Jun 23, 2023

Jun 22, 2023

Jun 19, 2023

On Monday June 19th, 2023, David Douglass Morris passed away peacefully at age 68 with his family at his side.

David was born May 12, 1955, in Gottingen, Germany. He was the son of William and Erika Morris and had a younger brother, Christopher Morris.

David spent his childhood years traveling...

Jun 15, 2023

John Joseph Rutledge Jr., 68, died Thursday, June 15th, in Lakeland, FL.

John was born May 20th, 1955, in Massapequa, New York, and was the son of the late John Joseph Rutledge Sr. and Joan Woglom Rutledge. He attended the University of Maryland, graduating with a degree in biological sciences in 1977. During college, he...

Jun 15, 2023

Jun 13, 2023

Janice Marie Mitchell, 83, Lakeland, passed away on June 13, 2023. She was born on December 15, 1939, in Gainesville Hospital, the daughter of Jack and Elizabeth Alford. She is preceded in death by her parents, and brothers, Jack and Ray Alford.

She is survived by husband, Bill Mitchell, sons, Brian and Jon Mitchell, and...

Jun 12, 2023

Tamara (Tami) Kay Carew passed away on Monday, June 12th, 2023, at the age of 63. She is now at peace and an angel in heaven after a six plus year battle with ovarian cancer. The strength of her faith never wavered. Tami’s compassion and love for others reflected the nature of Christ and was first and foremost in...

Jun 10, 2023

Judith A. Stafford, 79, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away on June 10, 2023, due to cancer.

Judith was born on October 31, 1943, to Harold and Jessie Wagner in Ravenna, Ohio. After Judith graduated from high school in 1961, she worked as a tax assessor administrative assistant in the courthouse located in Ocala, Florida.

Jun 10, 2023

Jun 8, 2023

Joyce Blankenship Knight, a Lakeland, FL, resident for 25 years, passed away peacefully at home with friends and family on June 8, 2023. She was 92. Born in Rome, GA, in 1930, and graduating high school in Atlanta,

Joyce earned her associate degree from the University of Georgia’s Atlanta Extension. She then served as a...

Jun 7, 2023

Frank Robert “Bob” Becker, age 88, passed away peacefully of natural causes on June 7, 2023, at his home in Lakeland, Florida.

Becker was born in Flint, Michigan, on May 4, 1935, to Frank A. and Helen Woodworth Becker. When he was two years old, Becker’s father died. He and his younger sister Louise were...

Jun 7, 2023

Albert J. Barkman, 96, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at home surrounded by his family.

Bert served from 1945 to 1947 in the Army Air Corps. He was the owner of the Mt. Hope Hardware in Ohio and moved to Florida in 1969, with his family. He enjoyed a career for 32 years...

Jun 5, 2023

Vinay "Touy" Sotakoun, of Lakeland, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on June 5, 2023. He was born on April 11, 1958, in Laos, coming to the U.S. in 1978.

Married the love of his life, Thanom. Together they have 2 children, Jimmy, and Victoria. However, nothing compared to the newest...

Jun 4, 2023

Thomas “Tom” Alfred Williams, 79, of Lakeland, Florida passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2023, surrounded by his wife and children.

He was born on July 23, 1943, in Berlin, Wisconsin to the late Clarence and Adeline Williams.

Tom was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and University of Florida....

Jun 4, 2023

May 31, 2023

Jody Earnest, 85, passed away May 31, 2023, at Lakeland Regional Hospital.

Jody was born April 8, 1938, in Jenkins, KY to Johnny Spradlyn and Marie Bellamy. She was raised in Bristol TN, the second of four sisters. She graduated from Tennessee High and then attended Western Kentucky University, where she was a cheerleader. Later...

May 27, 2023

Ann Fitzpatrick Trottier, 83, of Lakeland, Florida passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.

She was born on July 27, 1939, to James and Harriet Fitzpatrick. She graduated from Mount St. Mary’s, Cathedral Grammar School and the first graduating class of Rice Memorial High School in 1959....

May 21, 2023

Dr. Joseph Charles Belshe filed his final flight plan in the evening of May 21, 2023, on his journey to collect his reward for a life filled with love and service to others. There, to see him off, were his wife and three close friends. He died from complications of a stroke at the age of 102.

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May 19, 2023

Charles Larken Woodall Jr, age 65, was born on February 2, 1958, and went to be with the Lord on May 19, 2023.

Although born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Angela Perez Plath and the late Charles L. Woodall, he resided in Lakeland, Florida for most of his life and considered it home.

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