FLOYD BOWERMAN, 102, died September 17, 2014, at the Atlantic Nursing Home in Vero Beach. Floyd was born in Niles, Michigan, to Floyd and Florence Bowerman on June 7, 1912. He grew up in South Bend, Indiana, where he attended Central High School. He graduated from Hanover College and McCormick Theological Seminary, and was ordained into the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A. in 1942, and served Presbyterian churches in Vincennes, Indiana; Albion, Indiana; Rockfield-Burroughs, Indiana; Morning Sun, Iowa; and Ashton, Iowa. After his retirement in 1978, he and wife, Millicent, became active in a non-denominational church at an RV park in Florida; and Floyd eventually assumed the duties of minister. He remained an ordained minister all of his life, and performed marriage ceremonies at the age of 97 and participated in his granddaughter’s wedding at the age of 98.
Floyd and Millicent met at a basketball game at Hanover College, and were married in August 1941. They had 4 children: two sons – Ronald (Eileen), of Des Moines, Iowa, and James (Dru), of Vero Beach, and two daughters – Janet Lynn and Joyce Ann.
Floyd loved to travel, and had a lifelong interest in automobiles and mechanical objects, often designing and creating his own tools. He played the piano and clarinet, and loved to sing, and was a longtime member of a barbershop chorus and quartet.
Floyd is survived by his sons, Ronald and James; daughters-in-law, Eileen and Dru; grandson – Chandler; granddaughter – Kimberly; step-grandchildren – Andrew and Vanessa, whom Floyd and Millicent thought of as their own grandchildren; and great-grandchild – Jude. He was preceded in death by wife Millicent in 2007, his parents, sister Gladys, and daughters Janet Lynn and Joyce Ann. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to a charity of choice. Cox Gifford Funeral Home (9/22/14)
ROBERT JEROME CLEVELAND, SR., 87, of Vero Beach, FL passed away at his home on September 15, 2014 with his loving family by his side. He was born June 1, 1927 in Nutley, NJ and had been a resident of Vero Beach for 24 years, coming from Millington, NJ. Mr. Cleveland is survived by his wife of 65 years, Evelyn A. Cleveland; daughters, Patricia Cantalupo, Cathy (Dale) Ballinger and Deborah (Michael) Robel; son, Robert Cleveland, Jr.; sister, Lillian Magruder; brother, George Cleveland; 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Edith Long.
A memorial service will be held at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Vero Beach in October 2014. Cox Gifford Funeral Home (9/22/14)
CINDY EARMAN – In loving memory of Cindy Earman. Cindy ended her valiant year and a half battle with cancer and went to heaven Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 in Vero Beach, FL. Cindy was born June 8th, 1959 in Moline, IL to James and Ragna Christensen. She was raised in Bloomington, IL with her eleven siblings. Cindy was known to friends and family as Cindy-Lu, a nickname given to her by her daughter Lori and this name carried over to her devoted dog Lucy.
Cindy and her beloved husband, John D. Earman, were high school sweethearts in Bloomington who lost touch after graduation and reconnected after 20 years. They were married in October of 1999, merging their two families, and built their home in Vero Beach. Cindy took to the Florida life style like a fish to water, and as a result became an avid fisherman; almost always out-fishing the others on the boat. Cindy loved gardening, baking, reading, rooting for her Gators and spending time with family, including her adopted sons Tito and George, and especially the grandkids!
She is survived by her husband, her mother and father in law; William and Mary, five children; Lori Formosa (Chris), John Eslinger, John Earman II (Tiffany), Travis Eslinger (Erin) and Tessa Eslinger, and six grandchildren; Morgan, Brynn, John III, Caleb, Ansley, and Lydia. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother Mark. A memorial service will be held at 10AM Saturday, September 20th at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home. The family would like to thank VNA/Hospice of Vero Beach for their kind, compassionate care for Cindy. CINDY ANN EARMAN – Bringer of Light – “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear…” Psalms 27:1 Lowther Funeral Home (9/22/14)
JUDY WILLIAMS KNIGHT, 71, passed away Friday, September 12, 2014 at her home in Vero Beach. Judy was born in Auburn, New York to the late Harold and Clara (nee Stuttle) Williams and moved to Vero Beach in 1966 from Winter Park, Florida. She had worked for IFAS for the University of Florida, retiring after 39 years of service as a Research Entomologist. Judy was a graduate of Winter Park High School, Class of 1961, and FSU, Class of 1965. It was after graduating from FSU and accepting employment with IFAS in Vero Beach that she met her husband to be Wesley “Pete” Knight. They married in 1968. Their family began to grow with the birth of a daughter Lori and a son Joel. Judy had been a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in Vero Beach and had many hobbies. She was quite “creative” working with ceramics and different pottery designs, and loved her time gardening. Judy had such a creative eye that she created and designed plans for both family homes in Vero Beach.
Survivors include her husband Pete Knight of Vero Beach, daughter Lori Knight Van Roekel of Vero Beach, son Joel Wesley Knight of Vero Beach, grandson Daniel Joseph Knight of Vero Beach, three sisters Beverly Phillips of Sumter, South Carolina, and Diane Encinias and Sharon Marble Loetz of Spindale, North Carolina.
Memorial contributions may be made to Humane Society Of Vero Beach, P.O. Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961. The family will receive friends 10 – 11 AM, Saturday, September 20, 2014 at the Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach. A Life Celebration Service will begin at 11 AM with Rev. John Kerry of Asbury United Methodist Church, Vero Beach officiating.
GLORIA MARY MILAM, 90, died September 19, 2014 at Sebastian River Medical Center in Sebastian. She was born in Washington, DC and lived in Sebastian, FL coming from Queens, NY in 1975. She was a member of St. Sebastian Catholic Church, Sebastian, FL.
Survivors include son, John Harding Milam and his wife, Vivian of Sebastian, FL. She was preceded in death by husband, Lacy Harding Milam; brother, John Raymond Butler and sister, Nellie Heath Corsaro.
Visitation will be held 4:00 – 5:00 PM PM, Sunday, September 21, 2014 at Strunk Funeral Home, Sebastian, FL. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 AM, Monday, September 22, 2014 at St. Sebastian Catholic Church, Sebastian, FL with Father Michael Martin, celebrant. Interment will be at Fountainhead Memorial Park, Palm Bay, FL. Strunk Funeral Home (9/22/14)
RITA OLSEN (QUENNIE) has left is to go to paradise at age 89. Leaving behind brother, Charles; sister, Pat; son, Larry; daughter, Pam; 7 grandkids; 9 great grandkids and 1 great great grandchild. Special thanks to all at Consulate Health Care for their wonderful care. At a later date may be a celebration of life for family and friends. Strunk Funeral Home (9/22/14)
JAMES G. PARKER, 90, passed away September 13, 2014 at Kindred Hospital in Riviera Beach, FL. James was born in Parkertown, NJ on October 10th 1923. He proudly served in the United Sates Navy during WWII, he was one of only 13 survivors when his boat sank. James worked for the Garden State Parkway in District 5 located in Barnegate, NJ for 30 years, never missing a days work, retired with perfect attendance. He was a member of the Lacey Elks Lodge #2518 in Forked River, Moose Lodge #1575 in Beach Haven, Mystic Island American Legion Post #493 in Little Egg Harbor, VFW Post #316 in Tuckerton.
Survived by his son James F. Parker and his wife Cynthia of Manahawkin, NJ; grandsons, James R. Parker, Jonathan W. Parker and Jared M. Parker; granddaughter, Amanda M. Parker; great-grandson, Shane M. Parker; great-granddaughters, Haley E. Parker and Ava Liszawski. He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years Eleanor M. Parker who passed away in 1999. Strunk Funeral Home (9/22/14)
CHARLES PRASSO, 72, of Vero Beach passed away on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach, with his loving wife, Helen by his side. Charles was born in Newport, RI, and lived in Troy, NY, Reisterstown, MD, Rocky Hill, CT, Naperville, IL, East Windsor, CT, Royal Palm Beach, North Palm Beach and Vero Beach, FL.
He was predeceased by his father, Albert Prasso and mother, Mary Prasso of Newport, RI and North Palm Beach, FL and his late wife, Susan Schick, of Schenectady, NY. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Helen Keefe Marcella Prasso formerly of Hull and Marshfield, MA; two children; Sheridan Prasso of Hong Kong and David Prasso of Phoenix, AZ; brother, Michael Prasso of North Palm Beach, FL; aunt, Connie Gramolini of Smithfield, RI; four step-children; Michael Marcella, Sean (Jeannie) Marcella, Bryan (Donna) Marcella and Faith (Jason) Dernier and nine step-grandchildren all of MA and NY
He was a member of the ROTC at Rogers High School, Newport, RI. After graduating Charles attended RPI where he was a member of the ΣΦΕ fraternity. During his 34 year career with GE-Industrial Risk Insurers based in Hartford, CT he was a member of the NFPA, SFPE, IEEE and ICEB. He was also an active member of Village Green and St. John of the Cross Catholic Church.
A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 7550 26th St, Vero Beach, FL 32966. Inurnment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. The family request that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Attn: Relay for Life, Village People, 3375 20th Street Suite #100, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Online condolences may be shared at http://www.coxgiffordseawinds.com (9/22/14)
WILLIAM J. RITTMASTER – After a lengthy, courageous battle against lymphoma, William J. Rittmaster, 88, of Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 13th at Sebastian River Medical Center in the loving care of Treasure Coast Hospice.
Bill was a Veteran of World War II where he proudly served his Country as a Signalman aboard the Victory Ship USS George Powell, losing the majority of his hearing from gunfire during battle while fighting his way across the Pacific, and in so doing, earning the American Theatre Medal, the Victory Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Theatre Medal.
In recent years, he was thrilled to be included in the Honor Flight to Washington, and given a grand, officer-escorted tour of our Nation’s war memorials. Upon repatriation in l945, Bill married and thereafter became a Father to daughter Jody (Richard) Eiden (1950) who resides in Wyckoff, New Jersey, and son John (Anne) Rittmaster (l957) living in San Ramon, California, who went on to gift him with four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
After attending art school in New York, Bill was hired by Hanley Studios as a commercial artist, and drew such beloved characters as Bert & Harry Piel for Piel’s Beer, among other print ads. In the 60s, he left advertising and embarked on a career in printing and lithography — first in Peekskill, New York, and then later opening his own business, WJR Printers, in Thornwood, New York. It wasn’t until he retired and moved to Vero nine years ago that he suddenly rediscovered his inner artist and took up watercolor painting in a big way, becoming a member of the Vero Beach Art Club and proudly exhibiting and selling his pieces at the annual “Art By The Sea” exhibit at the Museum.
Bill was a “man’s man” who deeply loved the outdoors and nature. An avid deer hunter until only a few years ago, rarely a season went by without his stocking the freezer full of venison. Fishing was right up there with hunting, and he chased and caught the big ones in Mexico, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Canada, Alaska, and California. For many years, he and wife, Leila, kept a small boat in Greenwich, Connecticut, where they fished and enjoyed lobstering on the Long Island Sound. His friendships lasted for decades, the greatest tragedy being the loneliness of outliving most of them. Lastly, but certainly not least, Bill loved his pets — all his pets. Top winners in the show ring, and pitiful two-toed losers; it just didn’t matter. He rescued many a frog, bunny, and snake from the pool, giving them a second chance at life.
Bill leaves behind Leila, his beloved wife of 42 years, daughter, Jody, son, John, grandchildren Julie, Tricia, Roxanne, and Ian, and great-grandchildren Kate, George, and Savannah, as well as scores of friends who will miss him. There will be a private burial at sea with military honors in November. Anchors aweigh, dear sweet sailor. Here’s wishing you a happy voyage home. You will always be our one-of-a-kind. Gifts in Bill’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Strunk Funeral Home (9/22/14)
HAROLD “JERRY” SCOTT, 58, passed away on September 18, 2014 in Vero Beach. He was born on May 29, 1956 in Savannah, GA. Survivors include his wife, Debra E. Scott; son, Zach (Katy) Scott; granddaughter, Madalyne Scott; parents, Dymple and Quinton Royals; grandmother, Sarah Young; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. A visitation will be held from 1-2 pm, with a service following at 2 pm, on Sunday, September21, 2014 at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home. (9/22/14)
BILL STELZ – Retired NYC Firefighter and Vietnam Veteran Bill Stelz passed away peacefully Tuesday, September 16, 2014 with his wife Pat; son Matt, sister Pat and Brother in Law Ted Rice at his side. Bill was an adoring husband, proud father and true American Patriot who participated in the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 3918 color guard in Indian River County for many events over the years since he moved here from New York in 2004. After serving in Vietnam, a time his friends heard him refer to many times as “My Senior Class Trip”, Bill was a member of the FDNY for 25 years serving in the Bronx.
Other survivors are his brother Jerry (Barbara); daughter Jennifer (Tim) Cassidy, their 2 children, nieces and nephews. Friends and family are invited to a viewing Thursday, September 18, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Strunk Funeral Home, 916 17th Street, Vero Beach. Services will be held September 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Cross Church in Vero Beach.
A celebration of Life will be held following September 30 services at the Elks Club on 26th Street in Vero Beach. Donations may be sent in memory of William (Bill) R. Stelz to the New York City Firefighters Burn Center Foundation, 21 Asch Loop, Bronx, NY 10475. Strunk Funeral Home (9/22/14)
Indian River Guardian 