OBITUARIES

Jun 10, 2023

Jun 10, 2023

Judith A. Stafford, 79, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away on June 10, 2023, due to cancer.

Judith was born on October 31, 1943, to Harold and Jessie Wagner in Ravenna, Ohio. After Judith graduated from high school in 1961, she worked as a tax assessor administrative assistant in the courthouse located in Ocala, Florida.

Jun 8, 2023

Joyce Blankenship Knight, a Lakeland, FL, resident for 25 years, passed away peacefully at home with friends and family on June 8, 2023. She was 92. Born in Rome, GA, in 1930, and graduating high school in Atlanta,

Joyce earned her associate degree from the University of Georgia’s Atlanta Extension. She then served as a...

Jun 7, 2023

Frank Robert “Bob” Becker, age 88, passed away peacefully of natural causes on June 7, 2023, at his home in Lakeland, Florida.

Becker was born in Flint, Michigan, on May 4, 1935, to Frank A. and Helen Woodworth Becker. When he was two years old, Becker’s father died. He and his younger sister Louise were...

Jun 7, 2023

Albert J. Barkman, 96, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at home surrounded by his family.

Bert served from 1945 to 1947 in the Army Air Corps. He was the owner of the Mt. Hope Hardware in Ohio and moved to Florida in 1969, with his family. He enjoyed a career for 32 years...

Jun 5, 2023

Vinay "Touy" Sotakoun, of Lakeland, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on June 5, 2023. He was born on April 11, 1958, in Laos, coming to the U.S. in 1978.

Married the love of his life, Thanom. Together they have 2 children, Jimmy, and Victoria. However, nothing compared to the newest...

Jun 4, 2023

Thomas “Tom” Alfred Williams, 79, of Lakeland, Florida passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2023, surrounded by his wife and children.

He was born on July 23, 1943, in Berlin, Wisconsin to the late Clarence and Adeline Williams.

Tom was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and University of Florida....

Jun 4, 2023

May 31, 2023

Jody Earnest, 85, passed away May 31, 2023, at Lakeland Regional Hospital.

Jody was born April 8, 1938, in Jenkins, KY to Johnny Spradlyn and Marie Bellamy. She was raised in Bristol TN, the second of four sisters. She graduated from Tennessee High and then attended Western Kentucky University, where she was a cheerleader. Later...

May 27, 2023

Ann Fitzpatrick Trottier, 83, of Lakeland, Florida passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center.

She was born on July 27, 1939, to James and Harriet Fitzpatrick. She graduated from Mount St. Mary’s, Cathedral Grammar School and the first graduating class of Rice Memorial High School in 1959....

May 21, 2023

Dr. Joseph Charles Belshe filed his final flight plan in the evening of May 21, 2023, on his journey to collect his reward for a life filled with love and service to others. There, to see him off, were his wife and three close friends. He died from complications of a stroke at the age of 102.

...

May 19, 2023

Charles Larken Woodall Jr, age 65, was born on February 2, 1958, and went to be with the Lord on May 19, 2023.

Although born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Angela Perez Plath and the late Charles L. Woodall, he resided in Lakeland, Florida for most of his life and considered it home.

...

May 18, 2023

Barbara Ross Keith, age 88, went home to be with the Lord on May 18, 2023. A funeral service for Barbara will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Fellowship Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida, with Dr. Richard Piatt officiating. Interment will follow at the Bethel Baptist Church cemetery at 3125 W. Socrum Loop Road...

May 18, 2023

Colleen Mary Atwater, a devoted wife, mother, and compassionate member of the Lakeland community, passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida. She was 57 years old.

Colleen was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Joseph A. Miller and Kathleen M. Miller (Maiden Kathleen Kelly). She shared 32 wonderful...

May 14, 2023

Susan Dianne Dawson, age 67, born in Bainbridge Ga and raised in Lakeland FL passed away due to Covid on May 14, 2023, at Bartow Regional Hospital. Born on June 2, 1954, Susan was born to the late Gwen Kelly and Preston Kelly.

Susan, who was better known as Dianne, was a beautiful bright soul....

May 11, 2023

May 11, 2023

Patricia Ann Reynolds, 85, lifelong Lakeland, Florida resident Patricia Ann (Bradley) Reynolds, passed away Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Lakeland Regional Medical Health Center.

Mrs. Reynolds was born on May 13, 1937, to Rufus and Celestia (Pat) Bradley. After her parents’ divorce she lived with her mother and maternal grandmother. Despite the end...

May 6, 2023

Gertrude Elizabeth “Trudi” Skiff was born on November 25, 1934, in Gloucester NJ. She grew up in a close-knit family with parents, Theodore and Rose Matthiessen, and three sisters: Marge, Rose, and Joan. Her paternal grandparents resided in Germany and maternal grandparents shared the Matthiesen home. Trudi played piano and cello in her youth.

She...

May 4, 2023

Robert “Mac” MacDowell Boulware, Jr., 84, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at Brookdale Senior Living. Born November 4, 1938, in Leesburg, Florida, he was the son of the late Robert MacDowell Boulware, Sr., and Laura Hobbs Boulware. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Beverly Henry.

Mac retired from the Polk...

May 4, 2023

Kaitlyn Suzanne Reynolds, 31, passed away Thursday, May 4, 2023, at Lakeland Regional Medical Health Center. Katie was a lifelong resident of Lakeland.

Miss Reynolds was born October 18, 1991, to Alan and Susan Reynolds. She was a 2-D Art Teacher for the Polk County School Board since March 2015 working at McLaughlin...