Ralph Edward Braunstein, 98, Sebastian
Ralph Edward Braunstein, 98, of Sebastian, passed away on Oct. 13, 2017.
Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory – Vero Beach.
Joseph Cossentino, 88, Vero Beach
Joseph Cossentino, 88, of Vero Beach, passed away on Oct. 10, 2017.
Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory – Vero Beach.
Ruth E. Gano, 97, Vero Beach
Ruth E. Gano, 97, of Vero Beach, passed away on Oct. 10, 2017, in Vero Beach. Born May 25, 1920, in Russell, Mass., to Fred and Mary Bolner.
Survivors include her son, Robert Gano and wife, Jeanne; daughter, Linda Gass and her husband, Art; five grandchildren, Jeff Ort and his wife, Emmy, Dennis Ort and his wife, Maricia, Chris Ort, Shannon Ort and Jennifer Allen and her husband, Jim. She is also survived by 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-granddaughters.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 76 years, Lester.
Patricia ‘Pat’ Golden, 82, Vero Beach
Patricia “Pat” Golden, 82, of Vero Beach, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Orlando. She was a near-40-year resident of Vero Beach. Pat was born April 27, 1935 in New York City to the late Elderbert “Charlie” and Mary Sensibaugh.
She met her future husband, Thomas “Tom” Golden while they both were working for NBC at Rockefeller Center in Midtown, Manhattan.
In 1969, with her growing family in tow, Pat and her husband traded in the Manhattan life for a small farm in the western New Jersey town of Annandale. There, she learned to garden, tend to an array of farm animals and raise her two boys. However, despite living in the country, Pat and her family frequently returned to New York City on weekends to visit friends and family.
In 1978, after the birth of her daughter, Pat and her family sold the family homestead and moved to Florida. They briefly lived in Jensen Beach before settling in Vero Beach in 1978. Pat would remain a devoted resident of Vero Beach until her passing. Pat loved Vero Beach, its wonderful full-time and part-time residents and its visitors alike.
Pat had many interests in Vero. She was very active in the real estate industry where she worked for the Coldwell Banker Ed Schlitt Agency, working there for many years almost until the time of her passing. Pat loved her job. She loved helping new residents find their dream home in Vero Beach. Whether it was new families purchasing their first home to raise their children, singles buying a small residence in Indian River County or retirees starting the next chapter of their lives moving to the town she loved so much. She also loved the camaraderie of her office. Pat truly cared about, and loved her co-workers and she relished in their success.
Pat was also very involved in her church, the First Church of Christ Scientist in Vero Beach. She seldom missed a Sunday or Wednesday service during her near-40 years in Vero Beach, and especially enjoyed working in the reading room on 16th Street.
Pat lived her life devoted to finding the goodness in everyone. She believed that, above all else, kindness and love should govern ones motives and actions. Whether it was providing loving words to a family member, encouragement to a co-worker or mere kindness to a stranger in need, Pat sought each day to live her life in accordance with the Book of Matthew’s Second Commandment “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self.”
But above all else, Pat was devoted to her family. She was a wonderful and devoted wife to her husband, Tom, until his passing in 2002. She was an exemplary mother to her three children, Tony, Peter and Alexis. It was a rare occasion that a day passed without Pat talking on the phone or visiting with her daughter. But she most cherished her role as a grandmother. She worshipped her six grandchildren and loved each of them dearly. She had a close relationship with each of them, spending many days and nights with them, talking about life, love and happiness in the world.
Pat is survived by her three children, Tony Golden, of Coconut Grove, Fla., Peter Golden, of Marietta, Ga., and Alexis Golden Spade, of Orlando; and each of their respective spouses, Kathleen, Michele and Philip. She is survived by her grandchildren, Dylan Golden and Devin Golden, of Coconut Grove, Mitchell Golden, MacKenzie Golden and Summer Golden, of Marietta, and Olivia Spade, of Orlando. She will be very missed by all.
Memorial contributions may be made to the United Way of Indian River County in Pat’s name.
The family will receive friends 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, at the Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach with a memorial service celebrating her life beginning at 4 p.m. A reception will follow at The Plaza Reception Center.
Norva Z. Green, 89, Sebastian
Norva Z. Green, 89, of Sebastian, passed away on Oct. 13, 2017.
Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home Crematory – Vero Beach.
William ‘Bill’ Hays McClure, 94, Vero Beach
William ‘Bill’ Hays McClure, 94, of Vero Beach, passed away Oct. 11, 2017. He was born in Union City, Tenn., on Oct. 27, 1922, to Jesse Hays and Louise Harris McClure. He was a former Indian River County Schools Superintendent, Vero Beach High principal, teacher and coach, and Vero Beach Elementary principal.
Bill graduated from Union City High School in May of 1940 and attended Southwestern College in Memphis, Tenn., on a football scholarship. In December 1942 he joined the US Navy Reserve and went on to Sewanee College, and Northwestern University for training. He graduated in May 1944 with a Naval Commission as an Ensign, and was assigned to Amphibious Training in Little Creek, Va. Bill spent 18 months in the Pacific Theater, and was discharged as a Lieutenant J.G. Bill attended Murray University and received a BS in 1948, and an MS degree in 1952, lettering in football and baseball.
On May 30, 1947, Bill married Virginia Glenn Barfield in Henning, Tenn., and they were married until Glenn’s death on Oct. 20, 2009.
Bill began his teaching and coaching career in Danville, Va., in 1948, also teaching in Halls, Tenn., and Dyersburg, Tenn.
Bill and his family moved to Vero Beach in July 1956 where he was a teacher and coach at Vero Beach High School from 1956-1957. He was Principal of Vero Beach Elementary School from 1957-1964 and Principal of Vero Beach High School from 1964-1966. He was Assistant Superintendent of Indian River County Schools from 1966-1968 and Superintendent from 1968-January 1979.
Bill and Glenn retired in January of 1979 and lived in North and South Carolina and Tennessee until 1995 when they returned to Vero Beach.
Bill was a member of First United Methodist Church and served on the Official Board, the Pastor Parish Relations Committee, and the Usher Panel for many years. He was President of the Exchange Club and a member of the original committee to establish the Volunteer Ambulance Squad. He was a member of the Florida Superintendent Association, Florida State Certification Committee, American Legion, VFW, Florida Retired Educators Association, and a Life Member of PTA.
Bill is survived by a daughter, Suzanne McClure (Bob) Wilk; a grandchild, Shannon (Cody) Knapp; a great-grandchild, Sarah; and brothers, Major James H. McClure (Ruthie) and Dr. Jere P. McClure (Anna Gayle).
He was predeceased by a son, William H. McClure, Jr.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1p.m., Thursday, Oct. 19, at First United Methodist Church in Vero Beach. Interment and Military Honors will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.
