Fred E. Barber, 71, Vero Beach
Fred E. Barber, 71, of Vero Beach, passed away Monday, June 25, 2018 at the VNA Hospice House.
He was born in Springfield, Mass., grew up on the Boulevard in West Springfield, Mass., and raised his family in Agawam, Mass. He retired to Vero Beach, where he resided in a loving neighborhood called the Sanctuary for 20 years.
He graduated from West Springfield High School in 1964. He married his high school sweetheart Cynthia M. (nee Malerba) in 1967 and were together for 54 years.
He graduated from AIC and was a National Accounts manager for AT&T for 30 years before retiring in 2000.
He was a Vietnam Navy veteran of two different aircraft carriers where he supported fighter squadrons and met lifelong friends.
He was a 46-year mason serving as Master of Mount Moriah Lodge in Westfield, Mass., and a twice Master of Huntington Federal lodge, Huntington, Mass.
After retiring and moving to Florida he became a member of both Sebastian and Vero Beach Masonic Lodges. A faithful mason for all his adult life, he was awarded the Joseph Warren award, the second highest award bestowed by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
A long serving member of Melha Shrine temple of Springfield, Mass., a Shriner since 1972, he served as President of the Hadji unit in 1984, exactly 20 years after his father.
He was 17-year cherished employee of Sandridge Golf club, where he served as a staging and deployment specialist. He played countless rounds of golf with great friends and was able to attend the first annual tournament in his honor. He was member of great many leagues in Massachusetts and Florida.
For all his life, Fred was a humble servant to all, whether through his charitable contributions as a Shriner or just his natural need to help those who needed it. He made lasting relationships and will always be remembered for his giving nature and all that he has done.
Survivors include his brother, Ernest, of Becket, Mass.; sister, Denise, of West Springfield, Mass; his son, Marc (wife, Melissa) of Deltona, Fla.; and daughter, Amy Kelly (husband, Michael) of North Reading, Mass; grandchildren, Mariah, Abigail, Cathryne and Samantha, all of Florida, and Jessica and Elizabeth, of Massachusetts; his brothers-in-law, Richard Malerba (wife, Veronica), and David Malerba (wife, Stacey); several nieces and nephews; and a great-niece and great-nephew.
He was predeceased in death by his mother, Barbara, and Warren Barber, of West Springfield, Mass.
The family will receive friends Saturday, June 30, from 10-11 a.m. at Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home, 1950 20th St., Vero Beach.
A celebration of life will immediately follow from 11 a.m. to Noon. Services will follow in Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be out to the VNA Hospice House, Vero Beach, and Shriners Hospitals for Children, Springfield Mass.
George Howard Huizinga, Sr., 77, Vero Beach
George Howard Huizinga, Sr., 77, of Vero Beach and Lowgap, N.C., moved into the more immediate presence of the Lord on June 24, 2018. He was born in New Rochelle, N.Y.
George served in the United States Marine Corps with the Eisenhower People to People program under the Chiang Kai-shek Era and on the Island of Formosa. He was a Rifle Marksman and also served as an Honor Guard for the inauguration of John F. Kennedy.
He is survived by his loving and caring wife of 53 years, Rozena Flippin Huizinga; daughter, Dawn Verderber (Bud); son, George Huizinga, Jr. (Cheryl); and his five grandchildren, Buddy, Holyn (Morgan), Kenneth, Gerrit, and Griffin; along with numerous other relatives, dear friends and neighbors.
George was preceded in death by his parents Rutherford “Cub” Huizinga and Edith Bromiley Huizinga as well as his brother, Robert Gerald Huizinga; his in-laws, Carlis and Annie Flippin.
A special thank you to Challie Minton, MD, Stephen Patterson, MD, Glenn Golaszewski, MD and the staffs of Scully-Welsh Cancer Center, Moffitt Cancer Center and Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care for their loving and compassionate care.
A celebration of life will be held Sunday, July 1, at 3 p.m. at Grace Moravian Church in Mount Airy, N.C., and at a later date at First United Methodist Church in Vero Beach.
Memorial gifts can be made to Samaritan’s Purse for their Mission Projects (P. O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-9956).
David Vernon Lewis, Vero Beach
David Vernon Lewis, of Vero Beach, died June 23, 2018, after a valiant battle against cancer.
Before moving to Vero Beach in 1976, David lived in Springfield, Pa., where he graduated from Springfield High School and Delaware Count Vocational Tech in auto mechanics.
He enjoyed summers at the family shore cottage in Toms River, N.J., where he became a life guard at Island Beach State Park.
David was a faithful member of the Ft. Pierce Korean Baptist Church.
He was employed by Barry Reid/Roger Dean/Garber Buick for 31 years.
He earned his 6th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and was recognized by the Kukkiwon Academy of WTF.
David was an enthusiastic motorcyclist and had a deep-seated love for his country.
On weekends David enjoyed riding his Harley with his brother, Fred. During his nephews’ visits from North Carolina, David enjoyed teaching them to fish. He was a kind and gentle person, much loved by his family and many friends.
He was the beloved son of Carol Lewis Buffum and treasured brother of Frederick J. Lewis and Betsy Lewis Wood. He is also survived by brother-in-law, Jim Wood; nephews, Andrew Wood (Megan) and Jeff Wood (Laura); nieces, Laurie Wood Griffis (Scott) and Caroline Lewis; step-brothers Bob Buffum (Jeanne) and Glen Buffum (Marie); and special cousins, Pat and Matt Knierim, Robert and Audrey Vernon, Bill Vernon, Ron and Judy Vernon, David and Eileen Heath, Norman and Averil Heath, George and Linda Heath, and Beth and Dan Molyneaux.
He was predeceased by his father, Henry James Lewis.
Services will be held Saturday July 7 at 4 p.m. at the River House, 305 Acacia Rd, Vero Beach.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ft. Pierce Korean Baptist Church, 1201 Kaufman Ave, Ft. Pierce, FL, 34950.
