IN MEMORIAM
MOSAIC
Every life that God creates
becomes a work of art
Everyone will have a place,
each will play a part.
Every life becomes a piece
of His great master plan,
a total recollection of
the history of man.
And each of us becomes the piece
we’ll place in His design,
our personal mosaic
of happenings and time.
For OUR mosaics are the times
and places of our lives . . .
Each color is a new event,
each day’s a different size . . .
blended all together
by the things we do and say,
the pieces tell the story
that we wrote along the way .
God the Master Artist,
shifts the pieces here and there
until He has them all in place -
only He knows where.
And as each piece is finally placed,
the colors grow in hue
more brilliant and more lovely
that anything we knew.
Some pieces are already placed,
His work on them is done -
They’re glued in our Mosaic
with joy and tears and fun.
RONALD BARGER, NICKEY BRANT,
BRENDA BRITT and , BARRY DEAN;
BOB COZAD, and RICHARD DETER,
for the last time we have seen.
ELLEN DE LIND, EFFIE DALTON,
SANDY DANIELS and STEVE KING –
Smiles we’ll see no longer,
Their tribute, we now sing.
JIM HARMELING, ROBIE VESTAL,
BILL MOSHER and JOHN FLY,
RICHARD LAING and CLAUDIA SOWERS
have smiled their last good-bye.
SANDY PILHORN, GINNY RIGGS
ALAN WILSTROP now have gone,
all of these bright “pieces”
in our memory linger on.
Age was rarely a factor -
HARRY AMIDON, just 23!
SANDRA MARTINA’s now left our class …
This March! So recently!
JOE SMART, DANNY WISER, DIANE HEDGES …
Are there others we can’t find?
Who are gone now from our lives,
But not from heart and mind.
God isn’t through with mine yet,
Nor is He through with you,
We’ve lives to touch, care to give,
Goals to reach before we’re through.
Each day’s a gift not all are given,
there are “pieces” to shape and mend,
“I love you”s, yet unspoken,
Or “I ‘m sorry” , while we still can.
What have you left undone?
What words are left unspoken?
What pieces in your life don’t fit?
What pieces have been broken?
For every word and every deed
are placed where God will see
the story of our life,
What will your story be?
Our Mosaic’s glued together
with the memory of friends . . .
A final tribute to us
on the day that our life ends.
If we are very fortunate,
when our mosaic’s through,
it will show we touched the lives
of good friends who we knew.
Living still - or passed away -
Our friendships will not cease,
Beautiful, bright colors
in a mosaic masterpiece.
lynda bussells trimble
RONALD CRAWFORD BARGER
Ronald C. Barger, Age 38, 68 Carrolwood Circle, Ormond Beach, Marketing Manager for Brown and Brown Insurance Inc. died Thursday September 4, 1980 at Halifax Hospital after a lengthy illness.
Born in Savannah, Georgia, Mr. Barger came to Ormond Beach in 1970 from Lakeland Florida. He received his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Florida and completed the Professional Insurance Adjuster Series, the Damage Appraisal School and the Automobile Estimators Designation of Vale Technical Institute. Mr. Barger was a member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, the Ormond Beach Rotary Club and the Claims and Agents Association of Daytona Beach, the Society of CPC and the Young Democratic Club and served as past President of the Daytona Beach Jaycees. He was also a former member of the Duval County and Maryland Teachers Associations and the Florida and National Education Associations.
Survivors include his widow, Sharon C. Barger; two sons, Samuel Adam and jack Cecil and a daughter Sandra Lee, all of Ormond beach, his mother Mrs. Lillian H. Barger, of Orlando and two sisters Mrs. Don G. Sellers, of Altamonte springs, and Mrs. Tom Webb, of Alexandria Virginia.
WILLIAM NICOLL BRANT
William Nicoll Brant passed away December 20, 2007 at age 66 from cancer. Nick was born in Orlando, Florida to William Jay Brant and Martha Elizabeth Mills. He graduated from Winter Park High School, Winter Park, Florida in 1960. He attended the University of Colorado in Boulder before enlisting in the US Army in 1963. While stationed at 5th Army Headquarters in Chicago he met his future wife Virginia Swanson. They married on February 11, 1967.
They moved to Loveland from Orlando, Florida in 1970. Nick owned and operated Mile High Printing from 1982 until retirement in 2003. Nick enjoyed the Colorado lifestyle of fishing, backpacking, canoeing and camping but especially loved hiking in the mountains. He climbed Long’s Peak several times; the last time at age 60 with his son-in-law. He continued hiking while undergoing cancer treatment. He summited Mummy Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park in September of this year and just two weeks prior to his death hiked the Devil’s Backbone trail. He loved to travel with his family especially to the Florida beach and the red rock country of Utah. He also accomplished the dream of hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with his wife, Virginia in 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia of Loveland, 2 daughters, Jennifer Franke and husband, Hal, Steamboat Springs and Suzanne Brant, Estes Park, grandchildren Quentin and Linnea Franke, Steamboat Springs, and sister Rebecca Perez, Winter Park, Florida.
BRENDA CLAIRE BRITT
Brenda Claire Britt Stabell died July 22, 2005, in Houston, Texas, following surgery for complications due to insulin-dependent diabetes, a condition with which she suffered since her senior year of college (1964.) She also had been in treatment for breast cancer since January of 2005.
Brenda resided in Houston for many years, where her husband Dick served as Dean of Admissions at Rice University. She is also survived by two daughters, Lisa and Jennifer, both married and currently living in Texas. There are four grandchildren.
Brenda’s career for most of her adult life was that of a teacher of young children. For several years, prior to her early retirement at age 60 due to health problems, she was a second-grade teacher at St. John’s Episcopal School in Houston.
Previously, she was instrumental in establishing The Ascension Episcopal School at her church, the Church of the Ascension Episcopal. One splendid testimony to the positive impact Brenda had on the lives of so many children and adults was the presence of over 400 people, young and old, at her memorial service at Ascension on a hot, summer’s day in Houston. The attending priest remarked that he had not seen that many people in church at any Christmas service. Several of the medical doctors and personnel who had attended Brenda over the years were there. They remarked that their own children had been among her students and praised her for her fine teaching abilities. She was also honored for her countless hours of service to her church and her community, for her deep religious faith, and for her loving and generous spirit.
In the fall of 2005, Brenda’s family held a small, graveside service at Woodlawn Memorial Park in the Orlando area, to bury her ashes alongside her parents and other Britt and Stabell family members. In addition to her husband and two daughters, Brenda is survived by her brother Richard Britt, of Rosman, North Carolina, and sister Jeanie Britt Daves, of Clarkesville, Georgia.
JERRY L. COOKE
BOB COZAD
A letter from Sandy Wolsey
We married Christmas Eve 1988 and lived in Pacific Palisades, CA for nine years. I gave Bob his WPHS football jersey, #11, and a track baton that I had packed up years ago. He had them framed!
He had his own ad agency called "Cozad". I still see some of his food labels and design logos. Bob won a major National AD Council award for the design of Sports Club LA and later Sports Club NY.
He collected Maxfield Parrish art. It all started for him when he answered a “Can you draw this?” ad in the back of a Mad Magazine! Can you believe it! He served in the Navy for 4 yrs. after a short spell a U of F, Mike Johns was his 1st year roommate.
Bob’s mother relocated to California and Bob eventually found himself settled in that area as well. His sisters are also in California. He stayed in touch with Mike Mosher and Wayne Duncan. We came to two mini-reunions in 2000 and to our 40th.
Bob had the best memories of playing WPHS football. We kept up with many classmates through Mike and especially his Dad and Coach Orr. We had a sailboat in Ventura County and found ourselves enrolled in the Coast Guard seamanship classes. Our first couple of outings were filled with the unexpected. We never completed successfully the “man over board” drill with a hat as our lost item, but we enjoyed sailing to the Channel Islands for week-ends and occasionally to Catalina. The most fun were the dock parties at the marina. Bob maintained his “football weight’ his entire life and being a gourmet cook wasn’t the answer to his diet! He was famous for Bob’s Surprise (cleverly created personal best dishes) which could never be duplicated but everything he created was yummy.
Bob thought Winter Park/Maitland was simply the best place in the whole world in which to grow up. It was a time for memorable friendships and personal triumphs, private disappointments and true love. The music was the best. Winter Park High School continued to be the center of all his best memories. He died June 3, 2003 at age 60 from a stroke in Pacific Palisades, CA. Certainly, he will be missed by all of us .”
EFFIE MAE DAlton KIRKLAND
Effie Mae Kirkland age 61 of Umatilla, passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2004. She was born on December 12, 1942 in Middleboro, Kentucky. Her family relocated to Central Florida in 1944. She graduated from Winter Park High School in 1960. She was a secretary for thirty years. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Apopka. She was preceded in death by her husband Roy C. Kirkland. She was survived by her fiance' Bob Skinner; mother Martha Foote of Deltona; daughter Renee Platt of Apopka; son Ronald C. Kirkland of Apopka; sisters Christeen Geraghty of Geneva, Mary Cox of Crawfordsville, Indiana, Laverne Hodges of Rustin, Lousiana, Debra Tate of Deltona; grandchildren; Misty Sunshine Platt of Apopka, Jesica G. Platt of Apopka, April L. Kirkland of Maine, Angela E. Kirkland of Maine
SANDRA LEAH DANIELS ZABEL
Saundra D. "Sandi" Zabel, 65, of Mount Dora, Florida died on Tuesday, August 21,2007. Born in Haines City, FL, she moved to Mount Dora in 1998 from Orlando. She was a Homemaker. Sandi is survived by her husband, Jon W. Zabel of Mount Dora; daughter, Lorraine "Shelly" Michelle Zabel of Fern Park; son, John Zabel of Fern Park; daughter, Laurel Ann Zabel of Brooklyn, NY; brother, E. Phillip Daniels of Osteen; stepmother, Ann Daniels of Longwood; sister, Debbie Gilmore of Longwood; 8 grandchildren and 1 greatgrandchild.
BARRY GRANT DEAN
Barry G. Dean, 55, of Haledon, New Jersey, formerly of North Haledon and West Paterson, died on Tuesday October 23, 1996. He was self-employed screen printer in Haledon.
ELLEN IONE DELIND
Age 39, of Atlanta Georgia passed away Sunday January 3, 1982, in the Emory University Hospital, in Atlanta, Georgia, after a prolonged illness. She was born in East Lansing, Michigan, and moved to Winter Park, Florida in 1948. She graduated from Winter Park, High School in 1960 and was a member of the All Saints Episcopal Church. She attended Emory University where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She was employed by Citizens & Southern Bank of Atlanta, for 19 years. She was the first women president of the young republicans club of Atlanta and was active in the womens federation of republican clubs throughout the state of Georgia. She participated in the development of the Atlanta underground restoration. She was preceded in death by her mother Ione Worden Delind and is survived by her father, William V. DeLind, 1350 Devon Rd. Winter Park; brother John W. DeLind III, Charlotte, N.C. and several uncles, aunts and cousins. Graveside services were held at Glendale Cemetery, Okemos, Michigan.
RICHARD LEE DETER
Rick married Sue Parsons in the mid sixties and we divorced in the mid 70's. They had one son. He married a second time to Marissa and lived in Georgia with her son. He owed an auto body shop and that is what he had done all of his life. Rick passed away in March of 1979 in Georgia of unknown causes.
JOHN WESLEY FLY
John Wesley Fly, Jr, age 48, 6420 Rocky Falls Road, Charlotte, NC, died Wednesday, December 12, 1990. Born in DeLand, John moved to Charlotte from Winter Park in 1987. He was a men’s clothing buyer for Ivey’s Department Store. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, of Orlando. He served as a lieutenant in the US Navy. John was a member of the Alpha Tau Fraternity. Survivors: wife, Candace Collier; daughters, Laura, Libby, Katie, all of Charlotte; John's mother, Faye Mires, of Winter Park; and his brother, James L. Fly of Orlando.
JAMES DENNIS HARMELING
James (Jim) Harmeling, Age 25, Gainesville, Florida, Research Assistant for J. Hillis Miller Health Center at the University of Florida, died tragically Sunday at the University of Florida Shands Hospital.
Born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Jim and his family moved to Winter Park in 1955 from Milwaukee. Jim graduated from Winter Park High School 1960. Jim was a high school Superlative, member of the Student Council, National Honor Society, Junior–Senior Hi-Y, Spanish Club, Science Club, and a Merit Scholarship Finalist. He received both a bachelors and masters Degree in psychology from the University of Florida. Jim was an activist with a passion for racial justice and was nominated for the University of Florida student body presidency in the spring of 1965. During his candidacy he maintained a 3.6 grade point average. In the summer of 1966, upon returning from the Peace Corps as a volunteer in Sierra Leon, Africa, Jim fell victim to a deep and difficult depression. He was hospitalized and was treated with strong and unknowingly at the time, suicide provoking drugs. Shortly after he was placed on these drugs Jim died by his own hand.
Survivors include his wife, Cathy Smith Harmeling, brothers: identical twin brother Daniel Edward and brother Carl John and sisters: Mary Frances Toppen-Palma, and Jane Carol Goplen
MIKE F. JOHNS
STEVE KING
Age 60, Mulford Avenue, Orlando, died Monday. January 14, 2002. Mr. King was a retired lineman for the Orlando Utilities Corporation Born in Orlando, he was a lifelong resident. He was a Mason. He was Protestant. He was a Navy veteran. Survivors: wife, Nancy; sons, John W., Stephen J., Jr., Johnny C., all of Orlando; brother, George E., Orlando; sister, Martha J., Orlando; stepsons, Jason Guttierez, Byron R. Guttierez, Orlando; Jenae N. Durham, Wilmington, NC; three grandsons. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home – Lake Ivanhoe Chapel, Orlando. Funeral-Home.”
RICHARD ROSS LAING
Age 52, of Orlando, died Tuesday, January 6, 1994. Mr. Laing was a district sales representative for General Motors Chevrolet Division, Tampa. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., he moved to Central Florida in 1950. He was an Army Reserve Veteran. Suvivors: sons, Richard, Phoenix, Ariz., Michael, Orlando; sister, Anne L. Ryder, Orlando. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Orlando. Funeral services for were conducted at All Saints Episcopal Church with the Reverend James D. Spencer, and the Reverend Paul P. Jackson officiating. A private interment was held at Palm Cemetery, Winter Park.
SANDRA ANN MARTINA MOCK
Age 67, Sandra Ann Martina Mock passed away Monday, March 29, 2010. She is survived by her husband Dr. William Mock; her mother, Mary Ellen Martina; her three children, Laura Mock Fabbrini, Stephanie Mock Kessler, and Jonathan Edward Mock as well as her siblings and six grandchildren. Sandra was the oldest of five children, born to Samual and Mary Ellen Martina. She was raised in Winter Park, Florida with her four other siblings Mary Mason, Steven Martina, Chalendar Martina and Merideth Sturgeon. She graduated from Winter Park High School in the Class of 1960. Sandra attended Emory University where she studied nursing and was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. While at Emory she met and married William Mock. They were married in 1965. In 1973 William and Sandra moved to Auburn when William joined the Medical Arts Eye Clinic. Sandra loved devoting her time to raising her three children. She was an avid gardener, and cross-stitcher. Sandra was an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Kappa Delta Alumni Association and the Panhellenic Alumni Group. Most of all she loved to laugh and spend time with her grandchildren Abigail Lea Fabbrini, Caroline Grace Fabbrini, Lauren Elizabeth Kessler, Andrew Edward Kessler, Caitlyn Nicole Mock and Isabella Marie Mock. She will be deeply missed as our beloved wife, friend, mother, sister and grandmother.
WILLIAM JAMES MOSHER
Age 43, of Aurora, Colorado, died Friday January 22, 1986. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a construction maintenance supervisor. He was a Navy veteran. Survivors: wife, Marjean Patricia; daughters, Carla Coryell, of Valparaiso, Indiana; Cari Reinhardt of Orlando, Florida; son, Pete Brown, of Valparaiso, Indiana; stepdaughters, Sharon Ellis, Vicki Brewer, both of Aurora; stepson, Michael Brewer, Central City, Colorado; parents, Robert and Vivian, Winter Park, Florida; brother Mike Mosher (class of 1960) Winter Park; grandmother, Leorna Shelton, Solon, Ohio; five grandchildren.
SANDY PILHORN
Age 60, of Orlando, Florida, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2003. Memorial services for Sandra were held at the Winter Park Christian Church, 760 Lakemont Ave., Winter Park. Employed by Solomon Smith Barney. Sandra was born August 23, 1942. She is survived by her husband. Her mother and brother, four children, three grandchildren; two daughters-in-law; and one son-in-law.
VIRGINIA (RIGGS) KESTERSON
Ginny Riggs (Virginia Belle Riggs Kesterson) died March 17, 89 in Knoxville, Tennessee of complications of Multiple Sclerosis. She was married to Tom Kesterson and had one daughter, Sarah, from a previous marriage. Ginny died with the same zany, fun sense of humor that she had all her life … and with a GREAT attitude towards the MS with which she coped.
JOE HERBERT SMART
We were unable to obtain a formal obituary notice, but received a touching letter from Joe’s brother-in-law, Tom Coffman of Akron, Ohio. “After high school, Joe went into the Marines. During that time, he married his wife, Sharon. In the mid 60’s, they moved to Akron and he went to work in a rubber shop making tires. They had three children, Jamey, Jody and Jeff.
Joe died on June 22, 1977. He was 35 years old. He was cutting down a large tree on his property. It fell in the wrong direction and was falling toward his young son who was watching. Joe ran and pushed the boy out of the way but the tree came down on him, breaking his neck. He died almost instantly.
CLAUDIA JEAN SOWERS
Claudia Sowers Worthing was my best friend from elementary school until her death in 1992. She was married to Burt Worthing, Jr. She had 3 children, Stephen, Charity and James (now deceased as well), and raised her brother Don's son, Dana Sowers. As far as I know, her mother, Jean Sowers, is still alive and lives in Bonifay, Florida. Burt Worthing has a small farm in Bonifay and still lives there, or was the last time I spoke with him a couple of years ago. Claudia died of breast cancer at the age of 51. Burt is a retired Baptist minister, but Claudia had her own ministries as well. She taught migrant workers how to read, and worked in a prison teaching the inmates how to read. She was the closest thing to an angel I have ever known, and I miss her every day. Jeannie Williams Stanley WPHS Class of 1961
JAMES ROBIE VESTAL
A University of Cincinnati biology professor and researcher, was a consummate scientist whose natural curiosity and analytical powers propelled him to distinguished work. Robie died Tuesday, August 4, 1992 after a two year battle with cancer. Robie was 49. Dr Vestal even found the disease that killed him interesting said his wife, Debra Rothstein of Cincinnati, Ohio.” He believed very much in science. It was interesting to watch the scientist in him analyze the various treatments. “She said. Even in death, he wanted to contribute to research.
His spinal cord will be sent to Duke University for cancer research, she said. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Dr Vestal spent his summers in Alaska to study the effects of oil spills on the Tundra, and in Antarctica to study lichens to see how they survive minus 80 degree cold, said UC spokesperson Chris Curran. His research also took him to hazardous waste sites in search of microbes that can turn toxic compounds into harmless substances. Curran said. On one trip to Antarctica, he took part in a teleconference with students from Pleasant Hill Elementary school on the excitement of biological research. The National Science Foundation honored him with its Antarctic Service Medal in 1984 for his research. His most recent Antarctic expedition was last winter when he led a UC team that spent two months on the ice, collecting samples from 30 different sites. NASA founded studies he conducted that focused on the probability of life on Mars and whether organisms from Earth would survive in the Martian environment. A paper on the research will be published later this year in the journal ICARUS. Dr. Vestal also contributed to a National Research Council report that will be used to help protect against biological contamination during space missions to Mars. The report will be published this month.
After being awarded the 1992 Rieveschi Award for distinguished Science Service, Dr. Vestal said his most important work been on composting in the 1970s, when he developed an efficient composting technique that is still used today.
Originally from Winter Park, Florida, Robie joined the staff at The University of Cincinnati in 1971. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Hanover College, a master’s degree at Miami University, and a doctoral degree at North Carolina State University. Other survivors are sisters, Anne Orth of Cedar Hill, Missouri, and Fon Pangrcic of Archer, Florida and his mother, Mary Vestal of Winter Park.
ALAN WILLSTROP
We were unable to obtain a formal obituary notice, but received this account of Alan's tragic death from his wife.
After he graduated in from WPHS in 1960, Al went to New York where he was a drummer and played with the top musicians in Greenwich Village. He returned to Orlando and joined the Air Force as a military policeman. He married on May 19, 1962 at the Prebyterian Church in Orlando, just before he was assigned duty at Eilson AFB, 37 miles outside of Fairbanks and lived in North Pole, Alaska
Alan left the Air Force and returned to Orlando after his first son Alan Jr was born. His second son, Andy, was born on June 8, 1965. Al started working with some top bands around the state (Cypress Gardens during a Johnny Carson show), etc. Daughter, Kim, was born on March 19, 1967. Shortly after that, Alan went with a show band that played top clubs up the east coast. Eventually, they were circling back toward Las Vegas and were working in some in Minnesota. The band would meet in the coffee shop at the apt-motel were they all lived along with off-duty police officers, club workers, cabbies, etc. On August 6, 1968 one of the day waitresses at the club asked Alan s to walk her home. Her boyfriend had recently gotten out of jail and was threatening her. The boyfriend in a jealous rage shot and killed them both. Alan was 25, the kids were 18 months, 3 and 4.
Surivors: Sharon Carter Grindstaff, Beebe, AR; his sons, Alan G. Willstrop of Austin, TX. and Andy Guy of North Little Rock, AR; his daughter, Kimberly Willstrop Sullivan of North Little Rock, AR; and his brother and sister, Geff and Beth Willstrop of San Antonio, TX along with his dad, Geo. p.
DANIEL JOSEPH WISER
WISER, DANIEL J., of Jacksonville, died June 30, 2006, at the age of 63. He was born August 16, 1942 in Annapolis, MD, the son of Dr. Henry Joseph and Madeleine Wiser , and moved to Winter Park at an early age. He attended Winter Park public schools and graduated from Winter Park High School in 1960 where he was a star athlete and scholar. He then attended and received a degree from Georgia Tech in 1964. Dan was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
After employment with the Harris Corporation and Martin Marietta he attended Stetson University School of Law where he graduated first in his class in 1973. He began his legal career in Tallahassee and also practiced in Tampa and Jacksonville, specializing in real estate, banking and workers' compensation law. Dan recently retired from the law firm of Stiles, Taylor & Grace.
He enjoyed playing golf, especially with his many friends and family, as well as closely following Georgia Tech athletics.
He is survived by his three sons, Jay Wiser (wife Rene) of Orlando, Jeff Wiser of Richmond, VA, and Justin Wiser of Portland, OR. He is also survived by a brother, Robert V. Wiser (wife Norma) of Helena, AL, sister Mary Martina (husband Steve) of Orlando, stepmother Gail Wiser of Winter Park and many nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and his many friends.