Obituaries: April 15, 2014

CHARLES RICHARD APPLEGATE III, 89, of Vero Beach, Florida passed away peacefully Thursday, April 10, 2014 at his home surrounded by family. Charles was born March 1, 1925 in Freehold, New Jersey to C. Richard and Mary Thompson Applegate, II. He graduated from Freehold High School and the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey before attending Princeton University where he was in the Officers Training V12 Program. During WW II he served in the US Marine Corps and was sent to China, the South Pacific and Okinawa. It was during this time that he received a Purple Heart for his unselfish service to the Corps. Upon his release from active duty he married Patricia Palmer. During their marriage of 67 years they had homes in Colts Neck and Harvey Cedars, New Jersey before moving to Vero Beach in 1973. Charles was a third generation apple and peach grower, owning and operating Wemrock Orchards, Inc. in Freehold for over 25 years with his father. He was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church in Freehold, the First Presbyterian Church in Redbank and presently a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach. He was also a former member of the Freehold Rotary Club, Garden State Fruit Growers Association and the Battleground Country Club in Freehold.

In addition to his beloved wife Patricia, he is survived by two daughters, Constance A. Whidden of Freehold and Deborah A. Applegate of Vero Beach; two granddaughters, Cynthia W. Russo, and her husband Antonio, and Kimberly W. Fusco; great-grandchildren Nicholas Russo and Sofia Russo; sisters, Ruth A. Buffett and Lois Ann DeStefano. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or VNA/Hospice, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960. A memorial service with military honors for Charles will begin at 11AM, Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach, Dr. Timothy Womack officiating, with a reception following at the church. Interment will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Freehold. Arrangements are by Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach. A guest book is available at http://www.strunkfuneralhome.com. (4/15/14)

CHARLES CHESNEY, 89, of Vero Beach, FL, passed away on April 11, 2014. Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home, Vero Beach, FL http://coxgiffordseawinds.com (4/15/14)

RAY ALLEN CHURCH, 50, went to his heavenly home on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at his home in Vero Beach. Ray was born in Fort Pierce, Florida and was a lifelong resident of Vero Beach. He had worked in the roofing industry and had worked for Bud’s Roofing Service in Fort Pierce. Ray had attended the Tabernacle School in Vero Beach and was known to enjoy the simplicity of life, finding great entertainment from listening to country music and watching his favorite TV shows.

Survivors include his mother Rita Louise Paul of Vero Beach; daughters Crystal Church and Tamara Church of Pennsylvania; his first wife Tammy Church of Pennsylvania; sisters Darlene (Steve) Nesbitt of Vero Beach and Lisa (Manace) Gonzalez of Fellsmere, Florida, and Melinda and Geneva Church of Virginia; and grandchildren Vanessa and Anthony of Pennsylvania; and four nieces and nephews Vann, Cory, Junby and Alyssa. Ray was preceded in death by his father Ray Newton Church, grandmother Louise Stanley, and his aunts, Martha Davis and Wanda Bell.

Memorial contributions may be made to Tabernacle Ministries, 51 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach, FL 32962. A Life Celebration Memorial Service will be at held 2:00 PM on Friday April 18, 2014 at Tabernacle Ministries in Vero Beach with Pastor Dave Foster officiating. Arrangements are by Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach. A guest book is available at http://www.strunkfuneralhome.com. (4/15/14)

PEGGY POWERS FORD died peacefully April 7th 2014 at her home in Vero Beach, Florida. She was born August 16, 1919 at Harper Hospital, Detroit to Ernest L. Powers and Harriet Ekren Powers. They lived in Port Huron and moved to Grosse Pointe in 1929. She attended Grosse Pointe Country Day School, Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY, and Sarah Lawrence College. She married Lawrence Gotfredson, Jr. in 1942 and John B. Ford, III in 1980.

Peggy is survived by her children: Lawrence Gotfredson, III (Kathie) and Christian Gotfredson; her grandchildren Kelly Gotfredson Mathews (Mark), Lawrence Gotfredson, IV (Jody), Hannah Gotfredson, and Trevor Gotfredson and four great grandchildren.

She was a member of Sigma Gamma Association since 1932, The Garden Club of Michigan since 1970; She was president from 1978-1980, Zone Chairman X, Medal of Merit 2008, Helen Stark Smith Memorial Award 1986, Edith Stanton Newberry Award 1979 (as Peggy Gotfredson), GCA 50th Anniversary Bowl 1973 (as Peggy Gotfredson). She was also a member of The Johns Island Garden Club and a supporter of McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach, FL. She was a member of The Johns Island Club, where she spent her winters, The Country Club of Detroit, The Grosse Pointe Club, The Little Harbor Club, and The Harbor Pointe Association in Harbor Springs, Michigan where she spent her summers.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Church, Grosse Pointe, Michigan at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial contributions be made to The Sigma Gamma Association or The Garden Club of Michigan. Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach. A guestbook is available online at http://www.strunkfuneralhome.com. (4/15/14)

MARY ELLEN (JUDY) KRAVEC KREUL went to a better life on April14, 2014. She was born to George and Mary (Tomechek) Kravec in Smilno, Slovakia on January 30, 1922.

Mary moved to the United States when she was 7. She married her beloved husband Jack in1943. She worked as a bookkeeper for many years and loved “going to business”. Mary, Jack, and their daughter, Jacqueline lived in Yonkers and Brewster, New York. Mary and Jack moved to Vero Beach in 1979.

Mary was predeceased by her parents; her husband, John L. Kreul; a sister, Helen Nealy; and a niece, Mary Elizabeth Nealy. Surviving relatives include her daughter, Jacqueline J. Davis; grandchildren, Amanda J. Brown and Kenneth J. Reul; sister, Agnes Chrysogelos; two nieces and three nephews.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday April 16 at Hillcrest Cemetary at 3 p.m. http://www.lowtherfuneralhome.com (4/15/14)

LENA S. LORE-SMARZ, age 92, passed into God’s hands on Friday, April 11, 2014, at her home in Vero Beach, FL. She was a dedicated wife, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a wonderful example of faith and love! Lena S. Lore-Smarz was born on July 4, 1921, in Olean, New York to Michael and Angelina DeFazio. She grew up in Niagara Falls, NY with her eight brothers and sisters.
She married Angelo Michael Lore, Sr. on December 2, 1939, and together they had four beautiful children. They made their home in Niagara Falls, NY, until moving the family to Vero Beach, FL in 1965. In Vero Beach, Lena worked for 20 years at the McDonalds on US-1, and for many of those years she worked alongside her youngest daughter, MaryAnn. Lena was a woman of faith and devoted parishioner of St. Helen Catholic Church for nearly 50 years. Lena’s biggest achievement in life was her family, whom she showered with constant love and affection. She always had her rosary beads handy, prayed daily for her family, and put all things in God’s hands.

She is survived by her sisters Rose Hannahs and Francis Archie; daughters Juanita Burns of Vero Beach, Carrie Shields and husband Bob Shields of Austin, TX, and MaryAnn Conrado and husband Joe Conrado of Vero Beach; her grandchildren Angelo Lore of Niagara Falls, NY, Parris Lore and wife Nadine of Vero Beach, Carl Burns and husband Richard Bohner, Jr. of Vero Beach, Robert Shields and wife Teresa of Apple Valley, MN, Jason Odom and wife Brooke of Vero Beach, Jeremy Odom and wife Jamie of Vero Beach, Stefanie Conrado of Port St. Lucie, Vanessa Shields of Austin, TX; great-grandchildren Angela and Peter Lore of Niagara Falls, NY, Chloe Lore of Vero Beach, Ariana, Bryce, and Grayson Shields of Apple Valley, MN, Ava Odom, Caroline Odom, and Graham Odom of Vero Beach, and Finley and Harper Odom of Vero Beach; and many nieces and nephews from all over the country.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Angelo M. Lore, Sr., husband Michael Smarz, son Angelo M. Lore, Jr., and son-in-law Carl F. Burns.

There will be a viewing at Lowther Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2014, at St. Helen Catholic Church at 12:00 p.m., with post-Mass internment at Crestlawn Cemetery in Vero Beach, Florida. http://www.lowtherfuneralhome.com (4/15/14)