Col. Walton “Wally” Charles Nichols
March 30, 2013
Col. Walton “Wally” Charles Nichols, Jr. USAF, retired, 83, passed into the arms of his Heavenly Father on March 27, 2013. He was born November 17, 1929, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Walton Charles Nichols, Sr. and Geraldine Wright Nichols.
Walton proudly served his country in the US Air Force, enjoying a great career as a pilot, a base civil engineer at Traux Field, Madison, Wisconsin, and as commander of Volk Field Air National Guard Training Base, Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, where he received the Legion of Merit award in 1986 after retiring to New Mexico in 1985.
After the death of his first wife, Rosemary, 1980, Wally met and married Myrtle Anne Paul and after several moves, they settled in Pensacola in 1993. Together they enjoyed traveling and serving Christ where mission needs arose.
Walton, known to his friends as “Wally”, was a man of joy, very fun loving—making others laugh so easily with his jovial spirit. He loved the Lord Jesus and was a faithful servant at Pine Summit Baptist Church, Pensacola, serving on the mission team and singing in the celebration choir until his health prevented him from participating. He was an avid golfer with his sons and friends and a staunch Green Bay Packers fan.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rosemary. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Anne, and his seven children: Trina (Steve) Falk, Ankeny, IA, John (Claudette) Nichols, Apple Valley, MN, Dan (Gail)) Nichols, Kansas City, MO, Rick (Mary Ann) Nichols, Stillwater, MN, Stacie (Pat) O’Leary, Mendora Heights, MN, Pete (Dori) Nichols, Albuquerque, NM and Tom (Jennifer) Nichols, Delafield, WI. He is also survived by 28 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three brothers; Robert (Dennie) Nichols, Green Bay, WI, Richard (Diane) Nichols, Albuquerque, NM; and David (Karen) Nichols, Greenville, SC. He shared Anne’s family as though they were his own; Sam (Charlene) Hurlbut, Pensacola; Leslie Hurlbut, Biloxi, MS; and Melissa (Jeff) Brock, West Seneca, NY; and Anne’s seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Florida Baptist Children’s Home, 1000 Chemstrand Road, Cantonment, FL 32533.
Visitation will be held Saturday, March 30, 2013, from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. with funeral service at 11 a.m. at Pine Summit Baptist Church.
A funeral will also be conducted at a later date in Madison, Wisconsin, with Joyce-Ryan Funeral Home conducting.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is in charge of arrangements.
Lamar Junior Crutchfield
March 30, 2013
Sgt. Lamar Junior Crutchfield, USAF (Ret.), age 83, passed away Wednesday night March 27, 2013, in a Pensacola nursing facility after a brief illness. He was native of Range, AL, A long time resident of Pensacola and Century, before moving to Daphne six years ago. Mr. Crutchfield was of the Methodist faith, He served in the U.S. Army and Air Force and retired with 28 years of service, during his military career he was stationed in Tokyo, Japan, and Anchorage, Alaska, Eglin Air Force Base, Maxwell Air Force Base, and Norton Air Force Base in California, and also served in Korea and Vietnam. Mr. Crutchfield was the former owner/operator of Crow’s/Freds Diner.
He is survinged by his wife- uth Milstead Crutchfield of Daphne, Alabama, two sons, Harold Crutchfield of Daphne, Dennis (Juanita) Crutchfield of Spanish Fort; two daughters, Sharon (Mike) McDonald of Daphne, Sherry Bell of Daphne; one brother, Marvin Crutchfield of Brewton; three sisters, Ruby Hendricks of Pace, Cora Lee James of Brewton, Mary Lou Trawick of Montgomery; five grandchildren, Brandy (Scott) Rappa, Andrew Crutchfield, Josh Crutchfield, Tosha Cain, Tegan Cain; and two great grandchildren, Nathan Rappa and Emma Rappa.
Visitation will be held Monday April 1, 2013, from 4 until 6 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton. Funeral services will be held Monday night April 1, 2013, at 6:00 p.m. at Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton with Rev. Thomas Lane Butts officiating. Private family interment will be held Tuesday April 2, 2013, at Barrancas National Cemetery with full military honors. Williams Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Brewton directing.
Dorothy Louise Boutwell Bondurant
March 29, 2013
Mrs. Dorothy Louise Boutwell Bondurant, age 89 of Flomaton, passed away at her home after a lengthy illness.
Mrs. Bondurant was born in the Little Rock Community, near Atmore, but had been a member of the Flomaton community her entire lifetime. She was a homemaker and of the Holiness faith. Mrs. Bondurant was preceded in death by her parents, James and Lelia Graham Boutwell; two husbands, Houston Van Hoosen, Sr. and John L. Bondurant; son, Jerry D. Boutwell; stepson, Harold Van Hoosen; daughters, Brenda Cain and Linda Wilson; four brothers and three sisters and three grandchildren.
Surviviors include her daughter, Addie Glenda Hagen of Flomaton; stepdaughter, Edie Beason of McKinney, TX; sister, Inola Driver of Century; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Monday, April 1, 2013, from 6 until 9 p.m. at the Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Flomaton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ernie Cawby officiating.
Interment will be in Traveler’s Rest Cemetery, Flomaton.
Millard Franklin Gatwood, Jr.
March 29, 2013
Millard Franklin Gatwood, Jr., left his earthbound home and journeyed into heavenly space on the 26th of March 2013. Millard was born in Pollard, AL, on May 22, 1924.
Predeceased by his wife Adele Gatwood, his sister Helen Wall, his parents Millard and Ethel Gatwood, and his grandson Paul Fensom.
He leaves behind his loving wife Susan (East) Gatwood; Susan’s two sons Eric (Jennifer) East and Kevin East; a sister Evelyn (Calvin) Newberry; and a brother Raymond (Betty) Gatwood and his three children Millard (Cheryl) Gatwood, Darlene (Ches) Fensom and John Gatwood; grandchildren Eddie Gatwood, Scott Gatwood, Chris Gatwood, Stacy Fensom, Sandra Garcia, Travis Gatwood, Zachary East and Tabitha East; seven great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Millard served honorably in the U.S. Army both as enlisted and later as a Chief Warrant Officer (CWO-3). He served for over 22 years and fought in WWII in the Pacific. He helped free the Philippines and then went to Japan with the occupation troops. He also served in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. He was awarded many meritorious medals and ribbons while serving the Army. The one award that he treasured the most was his working for Boeing Aircraft Corporation on the Apollo/Saturn Project and having his name listed in the Smithsonian Institute for his work in the Space Program. Millard was a gifted athlete. He played football for the Army and was on the boxing team. After his retirement he played golf and was a scratch golfer. Millard volunteered as a driver for Baptist Hospital and drove patients to appointments and treatments. He made many friends there and helped countless people. He was a kind and gentle soul and a friend to everyone he came in contact with.
The family would like to the thank the staff at Sims Veterans Nursing Home, especially Libby, Jessica and Ruth thanks also to Vicky Sellers of Covenant Hospice.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 2, 2013, at 11:30 a.m. at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:30 a.m. until the service hour. Interment will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to hospice, the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice.
Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Sadie Mae Byrd
March 29, 2013
Mrs. Sadie Mae Byrd, 84, passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, in Atmore.
Mrs. Byrd was a native of Stockton, AL, former resident of Tensaw, AL and a resident of Atmore for the past 20 years. Mrs. Byrd was a loving mother, grandmother and rriend to all who knew her. She is preceded in death by her husband, V.L. Byrd, a daughter, Sarah Davison, three brothers and two sisters.
One son, Ed (Merrill) Catrett of Camden, AL, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, survive her.
Graveside services will be held Friday, March 29, 2013, at 10 a.m. at the McCullough Cemetery with Rev. Doug Odom officiating.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Myrtis Louise Bryan Gross
March 28, 2013
Mrs. Myrtis Louise Bryan Gross, 90, of Jay, passed away March 28, 2013, in Pensacola.
She was born October 13, 1922, in Goodway, AL., to the late James Eldred and Sarah Jane Ailstott Bryan.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Joe Russell Gross and grandson Alan Gross.
She is survived by her son, Barry Gross of Brewton; daughter, Myrna Gross Howell of Jay; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Friday, March 29, 2013, at 11 a.m. from the Atmore Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Burial will follow in McCullough Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, March 29, 2013, from 10 a.m. until service time at the Atmore Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Atmore Memorial Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Alice Marie “Rea” Lewis
March 27, 2013
Alice Marie “Rea” Lewis went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 26, 2013. She was born on February 19, 1927, in Akron, Ohio. She moved to Jay when she was 4. She was retired from Solutia after many years of faithful service. After retiring from Solutia, she worked as a greeter for Walmart until her health began to fail.
She is preceded in death by her parents H.B. and Mable Lewis; son, Richard Holloway, and her brother, Robert Lewis.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Voncile Lewis; two nephews, Andy (Cathy) Lewis of Houston, Texas and Mike (Brenda) Lewis of Pace, Florida; two great-nieces, Kimberly (Mark) Thomas and Sheena (Richard) Faircloth; one great-nephew, Jonathan Lewis; three great-great nieces, Camber, Cayleigh, and Kinsley and two great-great nephews, Cooper and Brycen.
A visitation will be held on Friday, March 29, 2013, from 10-11 a.m. at Jay Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. with Pastor Curtis Joyner officiating services. Burial will follow at Concord Baptist Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Mike Lewis, Richard Faircloth, Jonathon Lewis, Todd Watson, Harold Oakes and Billy German.
The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to many others who took care of Alice, the staff of “The Terrace” (where Alice was their first resident), Emerald Coast Hospice and Dr. C. David Smith.
Jay Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Juanita Attaway King
March 27, 2013
Mrs. Juanita Attaway King, age 74, passed away Monday evening, March 25, 2013, in a Pensacola hospice facility after an extended illness.
Mrs. King was a native of Jay and had been a resident of Pensacola for 30 years coming from Charleston, S.C. Mrs. King worked as a beautician with Karen’s Beauty Shop in Pensacola and she enjoyed playing the banjo. She is preceded in death by her husband, Riley King and her brothers, Douglas and Thomas C. Attaway.
Survivors include her son, Rodney Wallace of Pennsylvania; brother, Joe Attaway of Clarkston, GA; sisters, Alice Campbell of McDavid, Azeline Dunsford of Jay, Ada Lou (Terry) Inman of Century, and Geneva Jones of Wetumpka, AL.
Graveside services will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2013, at Cora Cemetery in Jay at 11 a.m. with Rev. Nathan Brown officiating.
Flomaton Funeral Home directing.
Bartley Eugene (Gene) Lord
March 27, 2013
Gene Lord, 77, of Pace passed away on March 25, 2013. He was born in Pensacola and grew up in Pace. Gene was preceded in death by his father, Reverend D.M. Lord, his mother Estelle Lord , one brother, D.E. (Pete) Lord, brother-in-law, Neal Watford, and nephews Alan Lord and Danny Lord .
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jackie (Renfroe) Lord, three children; Darlene (Duke) Lee, Bart Lord and Mike (Kathy) Lord, 4 grandchildren; Doug Lee, Chari Huntzberry, Angela Danan and Ben Danan, 4 great-grandchildren; Shelby Sanders, Jacob Waltz, Bryce Waltz and Kilan Huntzberry, one sister, Carol Lord Watford, sister-in-law Colleen Lord, 2 nephews, Billy Lord and Doug (Becky) Lord and a host of friends.
He was of the Baptist faith.
He graduated from Milton High School in 1953 and attended Pensacola Junior College.
Gene was very active in the Boy Scouts of America and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout; he is listed in the Eagle Scout Roll of Honor.
Gene worked as Staff manager for Life and Casualty Insurance Company in Hattiesburg, Ms for 10 years and went on to open his own business, Tri-City Insurance, in Century, Fl. He began a career in civil service at NAS Whiting Field and went on to complete the apprentice program for sheet metal mechanic (aircraft) at NAS Pensacola where he retired after 25 years of service.
Continuing a family tradition, Gene taught his sons to hunt and fish at an early age. He especially loved the outdoors and spent countless hours either working in his yard or pursuing his passion for hunting and fishing with his boys or playing Superman with his great-grandchildren.
Gene was a hero to his family, with his smile, his laugh, “his little dance” and his fun loving ways. He loved his lemon tree, his garden, his video camera and spending time with his family.
Visitation will be held at Lewis Chapel in Pace on Wednesday March 27, 2013, from 5-7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at Lewis Chapel in Pace Thursday, March 28, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. with the Reverend Glen Davenport officiating.
Pallbearers are Billy Lord, Doug Lord, Marvin King, Andy Davis, Bob Holland and Herman Jernigan
Burial will be at Elizabeth Chapel Cemetery on Chumuckla Hwy following the services.
Alvin Hiebert
March 25, 2013
Alvin Hiebert was born to Frank and Agnes Hoeppner Hiebert on June 22, 1915, at Hillsboro, Kansas. He passed away peacefully with his family around him on March 23, 2013, reaching the age of 97 years. His passing came after a short battle with cancer.
Dad’s early childhood was spent on the farm working hard during the depression time to save the family farm. Dad enjoyed the outdoors and his livestock spending his life farming and raising cattle. He enjoyed going to the livestock auctions and bringing home young calves to nurture and watch grow. He was not scared of hard work and tried not to let anything get him down.
Dad was baptized on April 22, 1935, by Minister A. G. Ensz. To these vows, he endeavored to be true.
On October 8, 1944, he was joined in marriage to Leah Friesen. They made their home in Hillsboro, Kansad, moving to Walnut Hill in 1967 and then settling in Molino in 1968. Their home was blessed with three sons. They enjoyed life together for 51 years before Mom was taken suddenly in a tragic farm accident.
Dad was very lonely but continued on enjoying reasonably good health until the last while when he started to slowly lose strength. He retired from farming after mom’s death but continued to raise cattle as his “hobby”. He enjoyed seeing the young calves come running to the feed bunk when he called them.
Dad enjoyed the message of song and often sang for his devotions. His song book has many songs marked that were special to him. His voice was often heard in church as he sang from the heart. One of his favorite songs was ‘Count Your Blessings’ and a fond memory for many was the time he sang it as a solo at a Thanksgiving service. His nurses commented that he often would be singing when they checked on him in the early morning hours.
The last several months as Dad realized his time was getting short, he often spoke of a desire to do the Lord’s will and to be of use in His Kingdom. His spirit was soft and he left us with an Assurance that he was at peace with his Maker.
Those left to cherish memories are his sons, Lee and Cindy, Atmore, Chris and Denise, Atmore, and Henry and Polly, Molino; eight grandchildren; five great grandchildren; five great, great, grandchildren; two sisters, Edna Eck, Copeland, Kansas, Frieda Litwiller, Montezuma, Kansas, brother in laws – Jonah and Dianna Nickel, Greenville, North Carolina, Robert and Betty Martens, Inman, Kansas, Herb and Nora Friesen, Aberdeen, Mississippi; sister in laws, Bernettie and Abe Loewen, Emelle, Alabama, Clara Koehn, Livingston, California, Mabel and Jim Cryon, Reno, Nevada and a host of nephews, nieces and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents, wife, an infant brother, two sisters, one sister-in-law, one granddaughter and one great granddaughter.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 27, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. from the Walnut Hill Mennonite Church with ministers Wilbert Peters, Mike Koehn and Carlos Koehn officiating. Burial will follow in the Walnut Hill Memorial Gardens.
Vitiation will be held Tuesday evening March 26, 2013 from 5PM until 8PM from the Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
A special thanks to the nursing staff at the Life Care Center and at Covenant Hospice Residence for their special care of Dad during his last several months. Your special touch made life brighter in the twilight of his time here on earth.
Auf weidersehen, PaPa (till we meet again).