Richard C. “Dick” Austin, 86, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away with family at his side on Monday, December 11, 2017. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Melvin “Bossman” Cecil Jones, 81, of Callahan, Fla., passed away on November 30, 2017.
Nassau Funeral Home
Carmelitra Ledford, 77, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2017.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Perry “JR” Edenfield, 86, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed
away Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.
Mr. Edenfield was born March 5, 1931 in Nunez, Ga. and moved to Fernandina Beach a year and a half ago from Florahome, Fla. He was of the Baptist faith. He retired from Rex Packaging in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1996 after 49 years of employment with the company. Mr. Edenfield loved his family very much and enjoyed fishing, traveling, being outdoors and watching Western movies.
He was predeceased by his son, Allen Lee Edenfield.
Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Cynthia Edenfield of Fernandina Beach; his daughter and son in law, Diane and William Morris of Carrollton, Ga.; nieces and nephews, Cheyanne
Marshall, Holly Dixon and Ronald Willis; three grandchildren, Jessica Morris, Crystal Dunkle and Heather Edenfield; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2017 in the Stephens Chapel at Green Pine Funeral Home.
Interment will follow in Green Pine Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, December 15, 2017 at the funeral home.
To sign Mr. Edenfield’s online register book, please visit the Green Pine website at www.greenpinefuneral.com.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery
Brother Dennis Kirtsey, 53, went home to be with our Heavenly Father on Monday, December 4, 2017 at Community Hospice.
He was born May 14, 1964 in Fernandina Beach, Fla. to Mr. Andrew Kirtsey Sr. and Katherine Kirtsey. Dennis attended Fernandina Beach schools and graduated with the Class of 1983. His favorite colors were orange and blue. Dennis worked at a young age at The Marina Restaurant for many years. He also worked at the Amelia Island Plantation for 10 years. He was an active and faithful member at Kingdom Ministries C.O.G.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2017 in New Jerusalem Holiness Church, located at 816 S. 10th St. in Fernandina Beach. A viewing will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, December 15, 2017 at his church. Interment will be in Bosque Bello Cemetery.
McKinney Family Funeral Home
Wallace D. Clifton, 78, of Yulee, Fla., passed away December 7, 2017 at Baptist Medical Center Nassau in Fernandina Beach, Fla. Arrangements are incomplete.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery
Ruth Nevenzel Neely, 93, of Fernandina Beach, Fla. and Atlanta, Ga., passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2017 in Decatur, Ga. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, December 17, 2017 in Bosque Bello Cemetery.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Gerald Barlow, 74, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away suddenly at 1 a.m. Saturday morning in a car accident.
Gerald was born in Detroit, Mich., on December 18, 1942. He was born on his father's birthday to Geraldine Marie Brennan Barlow and Albert Ward Barlow. He is survived by his sister, Diane Barlow Britton of Boston, Mass., and his nuclear family. Sharon Barlow, his adoring wife, and Gerald had two children, Jason of Memphis, Tenn. and their daughter Jordan of Austin, Texas. Jason married Carrie Wenzel Barlow, and they have an eight-year-old son named Blake, who was the apple of his grandfather's eye. "Barley," as Blake and family affectionately called Gerald, could be caught watching videos of his grandson on his phone before bed between their awesome visits.
Gerald and Sharon went to high school together and then began dating at and graduating from Wayne State University in Detroit. Upon graduation in 1966, he served in the Air Force during Vietnam, leaving after six-and-a-half years as a captain. After that, he had a corporate career and then branched out on his own to run a limousine service and another couple of car-related ventures in Dallas, Texas for 19 years. After Jason and Jordan graduated from the University of Texas, Gerald and Sharon moved to Amelia Island in 2002. This past year, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. They have developed quite a community of good friends here, and Sharon was a teacher at Fernandina Beach High School, teaching advanced and honors English classes. Gerald was larger than life with a hilarious personality, an overly generous heart, and a GOOD friend to all. You could often find him on the golf course, tinkering in his garage or yard with various projects, out with friends or hosting a dinner party or something similar with Sharon. He was our hero and will be severely missed.
A Memorial Service is being held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church at 10 a.m. Eastern Thursday, December 21, 2017.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Peter's Episcopal Church and write “Gerald Barlow – Habitat for Humanity Donation” in the memo field of the check.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Rest in peace our dear and loving father, grandfather, and husband. You gave us quite a ride.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Bridget K. Vanderslice, 60, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully on December 5, 2017, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.
Born and raised in West Hartford, Conn., she was the daughter of the late Edward and Sarah Kurosky.
After graduating from the University of Maryland, Bridget remained in the Washington, D.C. area for several years working in the events for trade shows industry. In 1990, she relocated back to the New England area to Providence, R.I. to begin a new career in pharmaceutical sales. Eight years later, she married the love of her life, Dan Vanderslice and gained an additional bonus of two wonderful stepsons, Christopher and Jason. Waxahachie, Texas would become her home for the next 16 years.
In 2014, Dan and Bridget moved to the community of North Hampton in Fernandina Beach. For Bridget, she had found her piece of paradise where she and Dan would grow old together.
Friends and family knew Bridget as an easy, fun-loving, warm person. She loved to garden, cook for friends and family and golf. A re-discovery of the game of golf gave Dan and her a mutual interest that they shared together and with friends. For all those who knew Bridget, she will be greatly missed.
Bridget leaves behind her beloved husband of 18 years, Dan Vanderslice; her stepsons, Christopher and Jason Vanderslice of Dallas and Austin, Texas; sisters, Jocelyn K. Vallieres and husband Roger Vallieres of Amelia Island, Fla., and Carrie-Lynn and husband John Whitney of Martha's Vineyard, Mass.; two nieces, Hilary V. Bowen and Olivia R Vallieres; a great-niece, Coco-Anais Bowen of London, England; and the many dear friends she touched along the way.
In 2018, a celebration of Bridget Vanderslice's wonderful life will take place for all her family and friends to celebrate with joy and laughter.
In memory of Bridget Vanderslice's life, a donation can be made on her behalf to the following organization: Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla., 1348 S. 18th St., Suite 101, Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Medical Office Building B, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.
To sign Mrs. Vanderslice's online register book, please visit the Green Pine website at www.greenpinefuneral.com.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery
Mr. Robert J. “Bob” Young, 67, of Amelia Island, Fla., passed away unexpectedly Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Baptist Medical Center Nassau.
Born in Hackensack, N.J., he was a son of the late John Young and Anna Reidle Puzio. After high school, he attended the University of Vermont and later graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Bob started his civil engineering career with Conrail and in 1977 began working as a civil engineer for the New Jersey Transit Authority, from where he would retire in 2010 as the chief engineer of track.
Bob first met his wife, Nancy Sims Young, when they were in high school. They dated in those younger years and after graduation went their separate ways. After their college years, they began dating again and their subsequent marriage would last more than 39 years.
He loved vacationing in Vermont and skiing in the west. In addition to skiing, he loved the beach. He and Nancy moved to Amelia Island in 2014 from Allamuchi, N.J. They travelled extensively in Europe and the Caribbean.
Bob’s interests were wide and varied. His love of old cars was best exampled by his 1974 Triumph TR-6. He was known as quite a “handy man,” loved gardening and enjoyed all types of music, especially classic rock. Above all, Bob loved golf and was an avid golfer. He was a member of the Golf Club of Amelia Island and served as the vice president of the Men’s Golf Association.
His surviving family includes his wife, Nancy Sims Young of Amelia Island; his mother, Anna Puzio also of Amelia Island; and his sweet dog, Abby.
A local memorial service will be held at the Golf Club of Amelia Island in mid-January.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Second Chance Animal Center, P.O. Box 620, Shaftsbury, VT 05262. Credit card donations may be made by calling (802)-375-2898 or going online to 2ndchanceanimalcenter.org.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Charles Curtis Meltzer, 86, of Amelia Island, Fla., passed away Sunday, December 17, 2017, at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. Services to be announced.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Patricia L. Reese, 71, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Sunday, December 17, 2017.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Corrine “Connie” Vroman Biesik grew up in the small farming community of Plainfield, Wisc. The middle child of Lloyd and Evelyn Vroman, Connie was raised on her parents’ large farm, which was the first in Wisconsin to transport dairy products using refrigerated trucking.
In 1958, Corrine Vroman married her lifelong love, William Walter Biesik. Together, Bill and Corrine travelled the world and raised their two children, William Walter Jr. and Lorelei. While she was a committed wife of a career military service member, Corrine also established her own successful careers in support of her family at each of her husband’s ports of call.
A lifelong optimist, Corrine was always quick to offer a warm smile, some gentle humor, and her infectious laughter with close friends and new acquaintances alike.
Corrine Vroman Biesik passed trustingly into the hands of her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, on Saturday, December 16, 2017.
She is preceded in death by her parents and loving husband, William Biesik Sr.
She is survived by her son, William “Bill” Biesik Jr; daughter, Lorelei and husband Arthur “Buddy” Jacobs; brother, Dale Vroman; sister, Sharon Lafontaine; grandchildren, Samantha, Dylan, and Nicholas; niece, Kim Vroman; nephews, Marc and Ryan Vroman; and numerous other family members and friends.
In lieu of flowers, friends and family are invited to direct donations to the COPD Foundation.
Private services will be held at the family’s discretion. Condolences may be left at www.heritage-funeralhome.com.
Heritage Funeral Home
Ruth Nevenzel Neely, 93, widow of Edgar A. Neely Jr., died December 13, 2017 in Decatur, Ga.
Born in Holland, Mich. the daughter of Gerrit and Minnie Nevenzel, Ruth graduated from high school in her hometown and later graduated from Atlanta Law School. She then started and ran her own consulting firm, Atlanta Jury Services. As early as 1947, however, she lived part-time and later full-time in Fernandina, Fla.
Aside from being a successful entrepreneur, Ruth enthusiastically pursued a variety of interests: She was a natural athlete, competitive in golf, tennis, and horseback riding. She enjoyed whitewater rafting, deep-sea fishing and international travel. Her contributions to her beloved Fernandina community included serving on the City Council, flying as a solo pilot in the Civil Air Patrol, serving with the “Kitchen Coalition” – an influential group of activist women – and serving on the “Barefoot Alliance” – an ecologically minded group who safeguarded the beach at Fernandina.
Throughout her life, Ruth showed independence of mind, intellectual curiosity, a sense of adventure, strong principles, a competitive spirit, and courage. She was a good listener, wise, a great friend and relative, and modest about her gifts and accomplishments.
Ruth is predeceased by her parents and husband Edgar, her brother Harverd Nevenzel, her sister Marjorie Alberts, and two stepsons, Ned Neely (Denise) and Mike Neely (Diana).
She is survived by her sister, Gertrude Sybesma, and her brother, Bobby Nevenzel (Barb), both of Holland, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by stepdaughters, Constance Neely of Nairobi, Kenya and Scaly Mountain, N.C., and Claire Neely of Cambridge, Mass., as well as a stepson, Alan Neely (Butchie) of Atlanta, Ga., 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held on Dec. 17, 2017 in Fernandina. The Neely and Nevenzel families wish to thank Ruth’s wonderful caregivers: Annette Russell in Fernandina and Vesta Smith, Miatta Atkins, Retha Surry, and Ettie Mae Jones in Atlanta and the excellent staff at Arbor Terrace of Decatur. The families suggest memorial gifts be made in Ruth’s name to Halcyon Promise Foundation, c/o Halcyon Hospice, 2295 Parkland Drive, Suite 190, Atlanta, GA 30345, or to the charity of your choice.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Jones All Douglass II, 65, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away at his residence on Tuesday, December 19, 2017.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Marshall W. Dunman III, 78, of Yulee, Fla., passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2017.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
William R. Brock, 83, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away December 22, 2017.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery
Roger Godwin, 58, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away at his home on Monday December 25, 2017.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Carolyn R. Hall, 76, of Callahan, Fla., passed away on Friday, December 22, 2017.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Eugene Randall Michaels, 71, of Yulee, Fla., passed away December 22, 2017.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery
Ralph James Natrillo Jr., 80, of Yulee, Fla., passed away December 24, 2017.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery
Jeanne Smith Robbins, 91, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away December 23, 2017.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery
Perry “JR” Edenfield, 86, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed
away Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.
Mr. Edenfield was born March 5, 1931 in Nunez, Ga. and moved to Fernandina Beach a year and a half ago from Florahome, Fla. He was of the Baptist faith. He retired from Rex Packaging in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1996 after 49 years of employment with the company. Mr. Edenfield loved his family very much and enjoyed fishing, traveling, being outdoors and watching Western movies.
He was predeceased by his son, Allen Lee Edenfield.
Survivors include his wife of 28 years, Cynthia Edenfield of Fernandina Beach; his daughter and son in law, Diane and William Morris of Carrollton, Ga.; nieces and nephews, Cheyanne
Marshall, Holly Dixon and Ronald Willis; three grandchildren, Jessica Morris, Crystal Dunkle and Heather Edenfield; and four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2017 in the Stephens Chapel at Green Pine Funeral Home.
Interment will follow in Green Pine Cemetery. The family will receive friends 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, December 15, 2017 at the funeral home.
To sign Mr. Edenfield’s online register book, please visit the Green Pine website at www.greenpinefuneral.com.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery
Anika Salzburg, 42, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away Thursday, December 21, 2017 at Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Warner Center for Caring in Fernandina Beach, Fla.
Anika was born December 10, 1975 in Miami, Fla. and moved to Fernandina Beach in 1998 from Gainesville, Fla.
She was born to Ronald and Teresa Salzburg, who later had another child, her brother Adam (Mandy). Her parents divorced. Her mother remarried RB Jones of Fernandina Beach, who has since passed, and she gained two more brothers and a sister: Robert Garcia, who has since passed, Darbie McKenzie (Audie) of Crawfordville, Fla., and Andrew Jones of Tallahassee. Her father Ronald (Pat) has since passed.
Memberships include The Journey Church, Phi Beta Kappa, and the National Honor Society. Anika was included in Who's Who of American High School Students and was a National Merit Scholar and the valedictorian of her high school graduating class.
She was an artist who loved art and music and was involved with television production in high school. She enjoyed environmental studies and loved animals, especially whales and sea turtles.
Anika was in a tragic car accident outside of Alachua, Fla. on March 18, 1998; the accident claimed the life of her fiancé, Daniel Knox of Gainesville, Fla. Since the accident, Anika has been a quadriplegic. Her devoted mother and stepfather selflessly became her full-time caregivers.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. December 29 at The Journey Church, located at 95707 Amelia Concourse in Fernandina Beach. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the time of service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to Community Hospice and Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.
To sign Ms. Salzburg's online register book, please visit the Green Pine website at www.greenpinefuneral.com.
Green Pine Funeral Home, Cremations & Cemetery
Roger O. Godwin, 58, passed away at his residence Monday, December 25, 2017.
A native and lifelong resident of Fernandina Beach, Fla., Roger was a son of the late Harold Lee and Willie Hulett Godwin Sr. He was a 1977 graduate of Fernandina Beach High School, and after high school he attended Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, Ga., where he played baseball.
While at Georgia Southern, he also was a member of the USA All-Star baseball team and played in Cuba as part of the Intercontinental Cup Games. After leaving Georgia Southern, he later graduated from Florida State University.
After completing his degree, Roger played professional baseball for three years as part of the Houston Astros organization and also played professional ball as part of the European League in Holland.
He would return to the United States and begin a career as a teacher. He taught physical education at Hilliard Middle-Senior High School and coached baseball for four years. He then went on to teach physical education at Yulee Middle School. He also coached girl’s softball and soccer while there.
Roger then returned to the family commercial fishing business. He loved being on the water, whether it was commercial shrimping or sport fishing. He was always at home on the water.
He also loved playing the guitar and singing. Although he never sang or played professionally, he never turned down the opportunity to play or sing before a group. It was said of him, “He was a pretty good hobby class singer and guitar player”.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a nephew, Phillip Godwin.
His surviving family includes his sister, Mary Bennett and her husband, Al, of Fernandina Beach; brothers, Albert Godwin and his wife, Kay, of Crawfordville, Fla., Bob Godwin and his wife, Kathy, of Hilliard, Fla., Lee Godwin and his wife, Annette, of Fernandina Beach; three nephews, Deron Bennett of Fernandina Beach, Brad Bennett and his wife, Kristi, of Fernandina Beach, and David Godwin and his wife, Hilarie, of Yulee, Fla.; a great-niece, Hayley Godwin of St. Augustine; as well as three great-great-nieces.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 30, 2017 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors.
He will be laid to rest in a private family service at a later date.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Mrs. Carolyn R. Hall, 76, of Callahan, Fla., passed away suddenly on Friday, December 22, 2017.
She was born on July 7, 1941 in Hortense, Ga. to the late Mitchell and Rebecca (Smith) Rowell. She grew up in Nahunta, Ga. and graduated from Nahunta High School, Class of 1959. After graduation, she went to work for Cameron-Barkley Corporation as the secretary for the president. While employed there, she met her husband, Johnnie Lee Hall. They lived in Jacksonville for a time and then settled in Callahan in 1970.
She was a member of First Baptist Church in Callahan.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Jimmy Rowell of Hortense.
She leaves behind her husband, Johnnie Hall; son, Lee (Kathy) Hall; daughter, Gail Hall; brother, Johnny Rowell; and grandson, Joseph “Joey” Hall, all of Callahan.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, January 5, 2018 at First Baptist Church in Callahan with Pastor Dr. Lynn Hyatt officiating.
The family will receive friends between 5 and 7 p.m. Thursday, January 4, 2018 at the church.
She will be laid to rest in Jones Cemetery in Callahan.
Flowers are welcome; however, donations may be made in her name to the Alzheimer's Association at 4237 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville, FL 32216 or alz.org. Donations may also be made by calling 904-281-9077.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard .com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
William Jones, 68, passed away on Wednesday December 27, 2017. Arrangements to be announced.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Alfreda Walker, 77, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2017.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Olga Louise Youngblood, 73, of Jacksonville, Fla., passed away on Wednesday, December 27, 2017.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Marshall W. Dunman III, 78, of Yulee, Fla., died December 20, 2017 in Jacksonville, Fla.
Marshall was born in Miami, Fla., the son of Marshall and Aldora Dunman. Marshall was raised in Fernandina along with his three sisters and three brothers. He was a graduate of Fernandina Beach High School.
Marshall worked for the mill for 28 years as a millwright, IAM-Local #40. He began working at the mill in March 1979 and retired in January 2007.
Marshall was known as a hard worker and everyone knew he would give them the shirt off his back. He would help them get any job done that needed to get done. He was always found working on someone’s car, truck or engine until he could not work anymore. And then, when he could not fix it himself, he would for sure tell you how to get it done … his way.
Marshall is preceded in death by his father, Marshall; mother, Aldora; sisters, Joyce and Ann; and his son, Michael.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Dunman; his daughter, Amy Noegel of Yulee; his son, Will (Lisa) Dunman of Queen Creek, Ariz.; his sister, Betty (Joe) Brice; his brothers, David (Reba) Dunman and Gene (Janie) Dunman; brother-in-law, Daulphus Miller; daughter-in-law, Sandi Dunman-Bromley; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Marshall’s posterity includes eight grandchildren, Trae (Alyssa) Dunman, Tyler Dunman, Sadie Dunman, Alec Dunman, Maddie Noegel, Courtney Dunman, Kaitlyn Dunman, Karissa Dunman, and four great-grandchildren, Tanecia Cole, Ellie Dunman, Payton Dunman, Celica Dunman.
A viewing for Marshall W. Dunman III will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Oxley-Heard Funeral Home.
Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Yulee Baptist Church, located at 85971 N. Harts Road in Yulee.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard .com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
James Devitt, age 87, of Amelia Island, Fla., passed away on December 30, 2017.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Renee LeBrun, 56, of Yulee, Fla., passed away on Monday, January 1, 2018.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Sharon Seidel, 64, of Yulee, Fla., passed away on Monday, January 1, 2018.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Marvel Ann Wilkinson, 73, of Yulee, Fla., passed away on Monday, January 1, 2018.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
Richard C. "Dick" Austin, 86, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., formerly of Wyoming, Del., died peacefully at home, surrounded by family on Monday, December 11, 2017. Born in 1931 in Glendale, Long Island, N.Y., he was the son of Henry and Augusta Austin. His family settled in Marydel, Del., and he attended Greensboro and Dover high schools. He attended St. Charles seminary and then returned home to join his family’s electrical business, becoming licensed at a young age.
Richard met and fell in love with the former Gertrude "Trudy" Sowada of Marydel, and they were married on June 2, 1951. They settled in Wyoming and built a large family. At 34, Richard became the general foreman of electrical construction for the “new” General Foods plant and was subsequently hired by the company. He remained with GF until the late 1960s, when he joined partners to form Diamond State Electrical Construction Company and Diamond State Engineering and Design. He became very active in local politics. Blessed with a silver tongue, he recorded countless radio spots for the Kent County Democrat Party throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He was a member of Holy Cross Church, where he implemented and performed the very first guitar masses.
In 1976, he moved with his family to the Poconos in northeastern Pennsylvania to operate a family vacation resort. He and Trudy retired to Myrtle Beach, S.C. and eventually moved to Fernandina Beach to be near family. While cancer may have taken him physically, his heart was broken after Trudy's death in 2014.
In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his brothers, Howard and Kenneth.
He is survived by his brother, George of Camden, and seven children, Christopher (Judy) of Marydel, Kathleen Garner, Timothy Austin, and Mary (Woody) Harris, all of Fernandina Beach, Daniel (Marion) of Tunkhannock, Pa., Patricia (Glenn) Virdin of Camden Wyoming, Del., and Meg (Ed) Hughes of Kettering, Ohio. He is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, all of whom were the light of his life.
Receiving of friends will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, January 8, 2018 at Oxley-Heard Funeral Home in Fernandina Beach. Requiem mass to be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Mission in Yulee, Fla.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors
