Josephine Chapman Strout

JOSEPHINE CHAPMAN STROUT, 83 LAKELAND " Josephine ""Jo"" Chapman Strout died Monday, April 16, 2012, at Wedgewood Healthcare Center of Alzheimer""s disease. She was born June 28, 1928 in Atlanta, Georgia, to Joseph Marion Chapman and Annabelle Carroll Chapman. She had resided in Lakeland since 1964, having lived previously in Atlanta, GA, Norfolk, VA, and Pasadena, TX. Though she worked as an office manager in a large wholesale grocery business for several years, she most treasured being a homemaker. She will be remembered as a loving, caring, and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Jo is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, David Strout, her children, Betsy (Bill) Sargeant of Lakeland, and son Matt (Leslie) Strout of Longwood, Florida, as well as her grandchildren, Mandy (Rachel) Sargeant, Joanna (Bryan) Risley, Katie Sargeant, Justin (Sara) Strout, and Tori Strout. She had three great-grandchildren, Justin Strout, Zooey Strout, and Willa Sargeant. Jo is also survived by her younger brother, David (Annie Ruth) Chapman of Gahanna, Ohio, as well as many nieces and nephews who were dear to her heart. Jo was an example to her family of determination, perseverance, and devotion, as she had supported and raised her younger brother, David, after the death of their mother shortly before she graduated from Girls"" High School in Atlanta. She met her husband, David, at church after he returned from fighting in Europe in World War II and they were a true American love story. She loved traveling with her family and friends, believing that memories made on those trips lasted longer and meant more than any possession. She had been a member of the Bykota Sunday School class and participated in many other activities over the years at her church, First United Methodist of Lakeland. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823 or the Alzheimer""s Association of Central Florida, 378 Center Point Circle, Suite 1280, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701.