Lola M. Boyer, 82, of Vero Beach, Florida, died Sunday, August 25, 2013 at Indian River Medical Center. She was born December 10 ,1930 in Toledo, Ohio and had been a resident of Vero Beach since 1962 coming from her birthplace. Lola had worked for Woolworth’s, Hoppers and Forest Park Baptist Church all of Vero Beach. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Vero Beach. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Clay E. Boyer, Jr. of Vero Beach; 3 sons, Clay Boyer of Bushnell, Fl; Murrey Boyer of Littleton, Colorado, Scott Boyer of Auburn, Georgia; 5 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren. At the family’s request there will be no services, Lola’s ashes will be buried at Crestlawn Cemetery, Vero Beach. http://www.lowtherfuneralhome.com (8/27/13)
Mary Ola McNeal, 93, died August 25, 2013 at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach. Mrs. McNeal was born in Madison, FL and has lived in Vero Beach for 90 years coming from her birthplace. She was a member of Good Shepherd Church of God, Winter Beach. Survivors include her sons, Fred Richard McNeal of White Springs, FL , John Roland McNeal of Kenansville, FL and Patrick Boyd McNeal of Vero Beach; daughter, Linda Ramona Colvin of Vero Beach; 7 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Mrs. McNeal was preceded in death by her husband, Boyd McNeal and son, Randy McNeal, Sr. Memorial contributions may be made to Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice Foundation, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 in memory of Mrs. McNeal. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Thursday, August 29, 2013 at Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach. A funeral service will be held 12:00 p.m. Thursday, August 29, 2013 in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Robert D. Williams officiating. Interment will follow in Winter Beach Cemetery. http://www.strunkfuneralhome.com (8/27/13)
Wallace C. Ross, a prominent yachtsman, pioneer sail maker, businessman and author, died on August 23, 2013 in Vero Beach, Florida. He was 90. He was President of Hard Sails and Seaboard Marine from 1954 to 1974 which were among the nation’s leading sail loft and marine outfitters at that time. His success at sail making came during a yachting boom in the 1950’s and 1960’s when synthetic materials were first made available for the crafting of sails. At Hard Sails, he made sails for over 100 national and international small boat champions, in addition to 12-Meter class sails and sails for many large championship yachts of the day. His company’s work with Dacron gave his sails a material that held it shape, permitted the application of aerodynamic theory to sailing and allowed mass production compared to the older sail making technique using cotton. Among his other innovations were the radial spinnaker and the ball-bearing traveler. Seaboard Marine manufactured fittings for many America’s Cup boats in the 1960’s, in addition to many other marine product lines. He also sailed on many America’s Cup boats and became a first class racer in his own right. In 1975, Ross wrote the seminal book Sail Power which was the capstone of the previous decade’s new intelligence about sails. The book became an established work on both sides of the Atlantic due to his immense practical sailing and sail making knowledge. He was credited with writing in layman’s language about a complex subject leaving the reader drawn along with the author as he introduced increasing more complexity. In 1975, Wally Ross founded Tortola Yacht Charters in the British Virgin Islands which was eventually acquired by Guinness Beer in 1982. He also created Ross Marine, Inc. which built the original mold and financed the popular 23 foot Sonar class of club racing sailboats in the late 1980’s that were designed by the prominent yacht designer, Bruce Kirby. Wallace C. Ross was born in 1923 in Bayshore, Long Island, NY as the son of James D. Ross and Nina Ross. He graduated from Cornell University and served with the 10th Mountain Division during World War II. He lived in Bellport, NY for a number of years with his first wife who is now deceased. He later married Jean Ritchey in 1978 and lived in Rowayton and Darien, CT, Martha’s Vineyard, MA and later in Vero Beach, FL. He was a member of Noroton Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club, Edgartown Yacht Club, East Chop Beach and Yacht Club, East Chop Tennis Club, Edgartown Golf Club, Coral Reef Yacht Club, Moorings Yacht Club and the Cruising Club of America. With his interest in medicine, talent as a musician, a great golf game, easy writing ability and sailing achievements, Wally Ross was regarded as somewhat of a “renaissance man”. He is survived by his wife, Jean R. Ross of Martha’s Vineyard, MA and Vero Beach, FL, his brother Douglas R. Ross of Clearwater, FL, his step-children, Douglas A. Bora, Jr. of Darien, CT and Carolyn B. Gould of Concord, MA, their spouses Lorene and George (Josh), and step-grandchildren, Scott D. Bora and Elizabeth (Libby) J. Bora. He was predeceased by his brother, James R. Ross, Jr. Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2300 5th Avenue, Suite 150, Vero Beach, FL 32960. http://www.strunkfuneralhome.com (8/27/13)
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