Citrus County GenWeb Project

William R. Cooper Sr., 87, of Ocala

William R. "Bob" Cooper Sr., of Ocala, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2003, at Munroe Regional Medical Center. Born in Columbus, Ga., he moved to Ocala from Hollywood, Fla. in 1985. He was 87. Mr. Cooper was a retired general contractor. He was a member of the Elks, Masons and the Matti Shrine Temple of Miami. He was Methodist. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty U. Cooper. Survivors include his sons, William R. Cooper Jr. of Boca Raton, James E. Cooper of San Francisco, Calif., and Kenneth D. Cooper of Fort Lauderdale; sister, Helen Williams of Atlanta, Ga.; three grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Roberts Funeral Home, Bruce Chapel West, Ocala, provided the information

Joseph G. Ferdinand, 85, of OTOW

Joseph G. Ferdinand, of OTOW, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003, at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness. A native of New York City, N.Y., he resided in the Ocala area since 1995, formerly of Huntington Station, L.I., N.Y. He was 85. Mr. Ferdinand was a retired quality control manager with Fairchild Camera & Instrument Company. He was of the Catholic faith. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Doris; daughter, Tracey Ferdinand of Louisville, Ky.; son, Gary Ferdinand of Apex, N.C., and two grandchildren. Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, TimberRidge, handled the arrangements.

Alice Mae Foster, 79, of Ocala

Alice Mae Foster, of Ocala, died Monday, Dec. 29, 2003, in Ocala. A native of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, she came here in 1985 from Tampa. She was 79. Mrs. Foster was a secretary employed by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, a member of the Order of Eastern Star for 50 years, a member of the Nahum Temple No. 75 of the Daughters of the Nile, and the Rainbow Girls. Survivors include a son, Col. Frederick Foster of Alexandria, Va.; daughter, Patricia L. Colberet, R.N., of Dunnellon; a brother, C.W. Taggart of Fayetteville, N.C.; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon handled the arrangements.

Priscilla A. Holdner, 87, of Ocala

Priscilla Alice Holdner, of Ocala, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004, in Ocala. A native of Gildford, Mont., she came here in 2000 from St. Louis, Mo. She lived in St. Louis for over 75 years. She was 87.

Mrs. Holdner was a receiving and marketing clerk employed by Stix, Baer & Fuller (now Dillards). She was a member of Florissant Valley Baptist Church in Florissant, Mo.

Survivors include her husband, John; a son, John E. Holdner of Bedford, Mass.; two daughters, Fran Elgin of Victorville, Calif., and Patricia Mosby of Ocala; and a sister, Charlotte DiFani of Wright City, Mo.

Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon handled the arrangements.

Thelma O. Kallas, 73, of OTOW

Thelma O. Kallas, of OTOW, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004. A native of Blacklick, Ohio, she came here in 2001 from Stow, Ohio. She was 73.

Mrs. Kallas was a retired schoolteacher. She enjoyed dancing.

Survivors include her husband of 50 years, Steve A.; son, Jeff Kallas of Columbus, Ohio; daughters, Suzanne Hill of Hilliard, Ohio and Jill Zabka of Solon, Ohio; brothers, Owen Fox of Houston, Texas and Earn Park Fox of West Virginia; sisters, Janet Belli of Grahanna, Ohio, Janice Whitehead of New Albany, Ohio and Mary Serafini of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; and one grandchild.

Roberts Funeral Home, Bruce Chapel West, Ocala, provided the information.

Michael R. Lanier, 48, Ocala

Michael R. Lanier, of Ocala, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at his residence. A native of Belle Glade, Fla., he was a lifelong resident of Marion County. He was 48.

Mr. Lanier was a painter in the construction industry. He was of the Protestant faith.

Survivors include his father, Tom Lanier of Ocala; sister, Marion Lanier of Ocala; two brothers, Timothy Lanier of Ocala and Steve Lanier of Wilmington, N.C.

Memorial contributions may be made to ABATE of Florida, Inc., Forest Chapter.

Betty E. McMullen, of Ocala, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004. A native of Jefferson, Mo., she grew up in East Lake Weir and returned here in 1980 from Laguna Niguel, Calif. She was 75.

Mrs. McMullen was a retired boutique owner. She was Presbyterian.

Survivors include her daughter, Lisa E. Gordon of Ocala; brother, Channing L. Ewing of New Orleans, and one grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James P. Ewing.

Roberts Funeral Home, Bruce Chapel West, Ocala, provided the information.

Ethel Reip, 92, of Ocala

Ethel Reip, of Ocala, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004. A native of Guthreyville, Pa., she came here in 1971 from Howard Beach, N.Y. She was 92.

Mrs. Reip was a retired clerk.

Survivors include her son, Ronald R. Reip of Howard Beach; brother, Arnold J. Dice of Ocala; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Roberts Funeral Home, Bruce Chapel West, Ocala, provided the information.

Frieda Seeling, 84, of Ocala

Frieda Seeling, of Ocala, died Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004. A native of Worland, Wyo., she came here in 1979 from Allen Park, Mich. She was 84.

Mrs. Seeling was a retired legal supervisor. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Kenneth P.; sisters, Christine Sparks of Garden City, Mich., and Dorothy Olms of Grosse Pointe, Mich.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Marion County.

Roberts Funeral Home, Bruce Chapel West, Ocala, provided the information.

Elizabeth M. Veenkant, 72, of Ocala

Elizabeth M. Veenkant, of Ocala, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, at Munroe Regional Medical Center. A native of Brockport, N.Y., she came here in 1971 from Holley, N.Y. She was 72.

Mrs. Veenkant was a homemaker. She was Catholic and loved the outdoors, fishing, camping, gardening and arts and crafts.

Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Henry; daughters, Margaret Donovan of Dover, Del., and Kimberly Reeser of Madison, Wis.; sister, Claire Baleno of Caledonia, N.Y.; brothers, George Judd of Holley, and Francis and David Judd, both of Rochester, and four grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, Henry M. Veenkant, two brothers and a sister.
Roberts Funeral Home, Bruce Chapel West of Ocala, provided the information.

Bryce T. Worley, 87, of Ocala

Bryce T. Worley, of Ocala, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, at home. A native of Hartford City, Ind., he moved here in 1980. He was 87.

Mr. Worley was a retired machine operator for 3M Corp. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was Methodist.
Survivors include his sons, Gilbert R. Worley of Ocala, and Terry Worley of Hartford City; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Roberts Funeral Home, Bruce Chapel West Ocala, provided the information.