OBITUARIES

Aug 1, 2018

Frank Raymond Blake Lakeland – Frank Raymond Blake passed away Wednesday, August 1, 2018. He was born on July 4, 1945, to Donald E. Blake and Claire V. Henderson in Lynn, Massachusetts. Frank lived in Ipswich, Massachusetts, and Albany, Massachusetts, until 2000 and later moved to Lakeland, Florida. He worked as a Quality Control Specialist for Bright Bolt Electronics...

Jul 30, 2018

Lonnie C. (“Bud”) Simpson, born on November 14, 1935 in Billingsley, Alabama, passed away at age 82 on July 30, 2018 in Mulberry, Florida. He served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1974; the United States Civil Service from 1974 to 1994; and as an Internal Revenue Service Enrolled Agent from 1994 through 2017. Lonnie was...

Jul 27, 2018

Lakeland - Mr. Peter Allan Rust, 78, of Davenport, died Friday, July 27, 2018, at Florida Presbyterian Homes Rehab Center following a stay at Tampa General Hospital. Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Rust was the son of the late Gordon and Frieda Rust who moved to Davenport in 1953. He was a graduate of Haines City High School and attended...

Jul 25, 2018

Robert Lee Johnson, known to family and friends as “Rocky,” was called home to Heaven, July 25th, 2018, in Lakeland, Florida, at the age of 63. He was born September 24th,1954, to Thomas and Marie Johnson. He attended and graduated from Kathleen Senior High School in 1972. He married his loving wife on March 31st, 1979. He worked as...

Jul 24, 2018

Jul 23, 2018

Gloria Morgan died on July 23, 2018. She was born on January 25, 1938 in Tunja, Colombia. She graduated from Colégio Marymount in Bogotá, and worked for a travel agency in a hotel in downtown Bogotá, where she met her husband, Larry. Gloria and Larry raised their family in São Paulo, Brazil. In 1981, they moved to Lakeland. Gloria...

Jul 22, 2018

Mr. Richard George "Dick" Klusza, 83, of Lakeland, died Sunday, July 22, 2018, at home following an extended illness. A native of New Jersey, Mr. Klusza was the son of the late Michael and Sophie Klusza, both of whom were first-generation Americans of Hungarian descent. In 1950, his family moved to Florida, where they lived in Riviera Beach. Mr....

Jul 21, 2018

Harold L. Thomas, 94 Lakeland – Harold L. Thomas, 94 of Lakeland, FL, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2018, at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. He was a native of Montezuma, GA, born September 4, 1923. Harold moved to Lake Wales, FL, in 1940. In February 1943, Harold served in the Pacific Theater during WWII in the US Army...

Jul 21, 2018

Roy was born in River Springs, Maryland, on August 4, 1925. His mother, Laura Marie Banagan, died when he was 2 years old. He was raised by his grandparents until he moved back to Washington, D.C., at age 9 where he grew up with his best friend Ronald Warren’s family. Roy passed away peacefully at home with family by...

Jul 21, 2018

Pending

Jul 20, 2018

Jul 19, 2018

Pending

Jul 19, 2018

Mrs. Peggy Joyce (Downing) Gillock, born on October 15, 1944, in Holland, Kentucky, to the late Ruby Kathleen Gibbs Downing and the late John Clemons Downing, passed away at age 73 on July 19, 2018, in Lakeland, Florida. She graduated from Western Kentucky University with her Master's Degree in Music Education in 1967. She was at Combee Elementary School...

Jul 19, 2018

Jul 19, 2018

Samuel Davis “Dave” Hall, age 64, passed away on Thursday July 19, 2018 at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. He was born on May 21, 1954 in Plant City, Florida, to the late Wilson and Earline Hall. He graduated from Hardee County High School and South Florida Community College. Dave worked over 40 years...

Jul 18, 2018

Dr. J. Leon Jones Lakeland – The life of Dr. James Leon Jones began with a little country boy born to honest, respected, Christian parents, working hard in fields on a farm near Luverne, Alabama. A man who was driven far beyond the average to excel was molded in this setting; he saw a vision and never looked back....

Jul 18, 2018

Julian Lawrence “Larry” Tyre, 84 Lakeland - Julian Lawrence “Larry” Tyre, 84, of Babson Park passed away peacefully on July 18, 2018, after a long battle with Dementia. Larry was born September 8, 1933, on Breezy Point on Crooked Lake in Babson Park. After attending Frostproof High School, he was drafted by the U.S. Army and served in Korea...

Jul 18, 2018

Lakeland - Virginia Ruth Walling, age 71, went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, July 18th, 2018. She was born on October 22, 1946, in Bartow, FL, to ND and Virginia Bryan. Ruth was a lifetime resident of Polk County and retired from the Polk County Building Division. She was a member of Highland Park Church of...

Jul 18, 2018

Lakeland – Joanne Reed passed away on July 18, 2018. She is survived by 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren.

Jul 14, 2018

Barbara Ann Ellis Roberts, 72 Lakeland – Barbara Ann Ellis Roberts passed away Saturday, July 14, 2018. She was born in Lakeland, FL on June 13, 1946. Barbara is a lifelong resident of Lakeland. She was an X-Ray and Radiology Technician at Watson Clinic. She was a longtime member of Imperial Polk Obedience Club. Barbara was preceded in death...