In Memory: Nov. 10

From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory

Arthur F. Matties III, 61

February 07, 1960 – November 06, 2021

Arthur F. Matties III, age 61, passed away on November 6th, 2021 at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center.

Art was born in Detriot and raised in Garden City, Michigan.

He worked in the City of Fellsmere at B&W Growers for the past 3 years as a shipping loader. Art’s forklift operating abilities made loading freight seem simple. His work ethic and inspiration will greatly be missed but will live on in his stepchildren.

Art was raised in the Catholic faith, and he was a strong believer in Christ.

Art graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelors degree in accounting.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Sarkisian; sisters, Lynn Ross (David) and Janet Roberts (Mike); sister-in-law, Jackie Matties; son-in-law, Andres Duran; step daughters, Malina Merzoian, Dina Sarkisian, Reema Sarkisian; five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by parents, Arthur and Joyce Matties; and brother, Jeffrey A. Matties.

Arthur will be greatly missed and loved by all that knew him.

A memorial service will be held at Lowther Funeral Home located at 1655 27th Street on November 20th, 2021. A gathering of family and friends will start at 1:00 pm with a prayer service beginning at 2:00pm.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.

From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory

William (Bill) Glavin, 89, Vero Beach

March 29, 1932 – November 8, 2021

William (Bill) Glavin, 89, a longtime resident of Vero Beach, FL and Bald Peak Colony Club, Melvin Village, NH passed away peacefully in Vero Beach on Monday, November 8th surrounded by his children.

Devoted husband and father, Bill had a passion for life. He loved his wife Cis of sixty-three years, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bill and Cis traveled the world, loved to play golf and contributed their time and talent to many educational and community organizations. Their legacy was grounded in faith, family, friends, community service and their love for each other.

Bill was born in Albany, NY on March 29, 1932. He was the son of the late John Joseph Glavin and Lilian Slattery Glavin. Bill graduated from Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, The College of the Holy Cross and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Bill had a 34-year corporate career at IBM and Xerox. He began his career with IBM in 1955 and held numerous executive positions before becoming a Vice President of IBM’s Service Bureau. In 1970, Bill joined Xerox Corporation. He was named CEO of Rank Xerox in London, England in 1974. At Rank Xerox, he was responsible for the entire world except the Americas. Bill was named Vice Chairman of Xerox in 1985, a position he held until his retirement in 1989. He left corporate life to lead Babson College in Wellesley, MA as President from 1989 to 1997. He helped transform many aspects of Babson from curriculum to development and accelerated Babson’s reputation as the worldwide leader in entrepreneurial education.

Bill worked extensively with various academic institutions as a trustee including The College of the Holy Cross, The Wharton School, the Lauder Institute at the Wharton School, Franklin Olin College of Engineering, St. John Seminary and St John Fisher College. He also served on the boards of Norton, INCO, Caldor, Reebok, OmegaTech, and John Hancock Mutual Funds.

Bill was dedicated to assisting his communities whether in Wolfeboro, NH or Vero Beach. He was devoted to Gifford Youth Achievement Center, McKee Gardens and Habitat for Humanity in Vero Beach, and the Wright Museum and Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro. Bill was proudly inducted into the Knights of Malta in 1990.

Bill is survived by his sister Barbara Glavin Coleman of Jamison, PA; his daughter Joanne Glavin McClatchy and son-in-law Brian McClatchy of Fishers, IN; his son William F. Glavin Jr. and daughter-in-law Lynda Glavin of Moultonborough, NH; his daughter Patricia Glavin O’Mara and son-in-law Ed O’Mara of Vero Beach, FL; his daughter Tina Glavin DiScipio and son-in-law Robert DiScipio of Vero Beach, FL; his son Tucker Glavin of Mountain Lakes, NJ; his daughter Cecily (Cece) Glavin Bowen and son-in-law Doug Bowen of St. Simons Island, GA; and 21 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Cecily McClatchy Glavin (Cis), his son Richard, his brother Jack Glavin and his sister Joanne Glavin, SNJM.

The family will have a visitation for family and friends on Sunday, November 14 from 4 PM – 6 PM at the Strunk Funeral Home, 916 17th Street, Vero Beach, FL. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, November 15 at 9:30 AM at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 500 Iris Lane, Vero Beach, FL.

A reception will follow at the Johns Island Clubhouse, 3 John’s Island Drive, Indian River Shores, FL. Attendees of the reception simply need to provide a picture of their COVID vaccination card or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of the event. Please email the picture to covid19@johnsislandclub.org with a subject line of “Bill Glavin’s Reception”.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, non-profit organization, 4875 43rd Avenue, Vero Beach, FL 32967. Gifford is a 501(c)(3) tax ID # 43-1950911.

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of WILLIAM F. GLAVIN, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory

Albert E. Francis Jr., 70, Sebastian

May 08, 1951 – October 08, 2021

Albert E. Francis Jr. 70 passed away in the comfort of his Sebastian, Florida home on October 8, 2021.

He was born in Mannheim, Germany and was raised in Hampton Bays, New York. Al is reunited in heaven with his parents, Helene and Albert Francis.

Albert E. Francis Jr. served in the United States Navy as an Electrical Mechanic. Al began his career with Northrop Grumman in Calverton, New York and then moved to Sebastian, Florida with his family to retire. Al is an honorable man of his heavenly father Jesus Christ.

His Hobbies included biking, boating, fishing, cooking, camping and exploring the great outdoors. His lifelong motto is – it doesn’t get much better than this.

Albert E. Francis Jr is survived by the mother of his children, Denise DiSunno Francis. His surviving son, Christopher Francis; daughter, Renee Francis; and one grandchild, Logan Bergamo. Al will be remembered as a remarkable man known for his strength, determination, dedication, and generosity.

We wish to honor our father with a brief ceremony at the Riverview Park in Sebastian on November 20th, 2021. The Sebastian Area Veterans’ Honor Guard will offer a gun salute at 11:00 AM sharp followed by a prayer. Al has touched the lives of many throughout his life. We wish for all to attend, everyone is welcome. May God bless his family, friends and may God rest his soul forever in peace. Amen.

Arrangements are entrusted to Strunk Funeral Home, 1623 North Central Avenue, Sebastian, Florida 32958.

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of ALBERT ERNEST FRANCIS, JR., please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory

Paul P. Kostenbauder, Jr., 90, Sebastian

November 21, 1930 – November 07, 2021

Paul P. Kostenbauder, Jr, of Sebastian, Florida died November 7, 2021, at Vero Beach, Florida following a brief illness. He was born November 21, 1930, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to the late Paul P. Kostenbauder, Sr and Anna E. (Peterson) Kostenbauder, and had been a resident of Sebastian since 1993.

Paul was a proud veteran of the United States Army with a career that began when he enlisted in Pennsylvania Battery C, 109th Field Artillery in June of 1948. He entered active service with the battalion when it was federalized in September 1950 with the rank of Sergeant. He served with the 109th FA and with Headquarters, 9th Infantry Division in Europe. He returned to the US in 1954 and served with the 2nd Infantry Division at Ft. Lewis, WA before enlisting in the US Army Security Agency (USASA) in April of 1955. He served stateside with the Army Security Agency at Ft. Devens, MA, Homestead AFB, FL, and Arlington Hall Station, VA, attaining the rank of Command Sergeant Major. His overseas assignments with the USASA included tours in the Philippines, Viet Nam, Turkey and the Panama Canal Zone.  In 1974 he was selected for assignment as Command Sergeant Major of the Combined Arms Center and Ft. Leavenworth, KS, serving in that capacity until his retirement in October of 1977.

Following retirement from the Army, Paul managed a storage facility in West Palm Beach for 15 years before retiring to Sebastian in 1993.

He was a very active member of the Saint Sebastian Catholic Church, where he served as a Lector and Lay Minister, and was active for many years with the Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul Society, as well as the social group at the Palm Lake Club in Sebastian. He lived a life of service to others and was a friend to all.

During his military service, he proudly earned a private pilot’s license and flew single-engine planes as a member of flying clubs at military bases, both stateside and overseas. After giving up his pilot’s license, he loved fishing the deep waters off the Sebastian Inlet.

Paul was predeceased by both his first wife, Joanne “Jody” (Black) Kostenbauder in 1956, and Beatrice “Bea” (Moore) Kostenbauder in 2016. Bea and Paul enjoyed over 56 years of marriage, traveling the world together and making friends wherever they went. Survivors include daughters Kathryn (Stuart) LeBlanc of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Kristine (Michael) Jones of Sebastian; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial mass will be celebrated on November 18, 2021, at 10 a.m. at the Saint Sebastian Catholic Church with Father John Morrissey, celebrant. Interment will be at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pepperell, Massachusetts.

The family suggests donations in lieu of flowers be made to Saint Sebastian Building Fund, Saint Sebastian Catholic Church, 13075 US Highway 1, Sebastian, FL 32958.

Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, 1623 North Central Avenue, Sebastian, FL 32958.

To plant Memorial Trees in memory of PAUL PARKER KOSTENBAUDER, JR., please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

From Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory

Robert E. Shreffler, Sr., 91, Vero Beach

February 8, 1930 – November 7, 2021

Robert E. Shreffler, Sr., entrepreneur from Montgomery County, Maryland, Lewes, Delaware, Naples and Vero Beach FL. Predeceased by 3 of his 4 loving children (Robert Jr., Debra, and Jon). Survived by adoring daughter Diane (John). Additionally survived by his grandchildren, “TJ”, Terri (Hannah, Logan Jordan), Valerie and David.

After his U.S. Navy tour of duty at Naval Hospital in Bethesda, MD, Bob studied civil engineering and became an award winning builder and real estate developer, owning the Gaithersburg office of County Wide Realty, and building Holly Drive Homes, Granby Woods, Muncaster Manor, Redland Estates, and Mill Creek Towne, along with many custom homes.

During his building and real estate career he owned/operated Melody Inn (Middlebrook Tavern) in the early 60’s. Later opening B & B Beer Wine & Cheese with D. L. (Buck) Floyd.

Always a boating, automobile, motorcycle and airplane enthusiast, life was never dull and he became a Collier County Public Schools bus driver where acquiring many safe-driver and perfect attendance awards, known as “Uncle Bob” to all. Bob enjoyed his association with Wings of Naples motorcycle Chapter of Gold Wing Road Riders Association.

Request no flowers, but a donation to your favorite charity

To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Robert E. Shreffler, Sr., please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

Comments are closed.