Mary Knepp Shumaker Duncan, 97, Vero Beach
Mary Knepp Shumaker Duncan, 97, passed away peacefully, July 26, 2018, in Vero Beach. Mary was born May 17, 1921, to Wallace Ray and Edith Peters Knepp of Bay City, Mich., where she was raised.
While attending Ward Belmont School, in Nashville, Tenn., she met and then married William Shumaker on Jan. 2, 1942. He predeceased her in 1984, and her second husband, Hamilton Duncan, predeceased her in 2007.
She was blessed to have married two wonderful southern gentlemen from Tennessee and Kentucky and enjoyed 62 years of marriage.
She is survived by her sister, Marjory Knepp Dodson Mitchell; daughters, Janet Stingel (husband, F.J. “Jay”), and their children Michele Stingel (Dan) Casey, of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., John (Caroline) Stingel and Jeff (Susan) Stingel, of Asheville, N.C., daughter Linda Warrer, and her significant partner Michael Savinda, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and her daughter, Kristina Warrer (John) Lester of Charleston, South Carolina, and Christine Dean, and her husband, Alex Fritz, of Vero Beach, Florida and her children, Jim (Kathy) Gray of Blue Springs, Missouri, and Jill Gray (Joel ) Ackerman, of Leewood, Kan.; and 14 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her parents; her sister, Ruth Knepp Simmons; brothers, Robert Knepp and Wallace Ray Knepp, Jr.; and grandson, Erik Finn Warrer.
Mary enjoyed the competiveness of contract bridge and was an avid player and much sought after as partner. Her other enjoyment was a lifelong love of painting. She spent many hours perfecting her art reflecting her love of flowers and family in her finished works.
She was a past member of the Bay City Country Club, Bay City Michigan, the Bay City Garden Club, the Riomar Country Club and The Oak Harbor Club of Vero Beach.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at Somerset House, Oak Harbor, Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Robert Fetter, 94, Vero Beach
Robert Fetter, 94, of Vero Beach, passed away on July 15, 2018, with his wife of 67 years, Audrey, by his side.
Bob was born in Berwyn, Ill., and has lived in Vero Beach for the past 22 years.
He earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech, and both an MBA and DBA from Indiana University, and served in the Navy during WWII.
He taught Operations Research for nearly 50 years, including 31 years at Yale University, from which he retired as the Harold H. Hines, Jr. Professor of Health Care Management.
Bob was widely recognized for his contribution to conceiving, developing and implementing Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs), and in 1992 was awarded the Baxter Foundation Prize in Health Services Research for his work.
He was the author of many publications, including the seminal textbook (with E. H. Bowman) in operations research.
Bob loved to ski, and spent many happy years on the slopes of Vermont, Colorado, Switzerland and France with his family. During a sabbatical year with the World Health Organization in Geneva, he developed a passion for wine, which he brought back to Yale, even adding a wine tasting seminar to his list of educational offerings. Family cruises became his favorite vacation in his later years, he enjoyed tennis and golf, and he played expert bridge until just weeks before his death.
Bob is survived by his wife of 67 years, Audrey Fetter (Lillard), his children Sarah Robinson, of Boston, Mass., Bob Fetter, of Denver, Colo., and Martha Austin, of Norwich, Vt.; and seven grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, gifts to Bob’s memory can be made through the Virginia Tech Foundation to benefit his named scholarship in the Corps of Cadets. Please make checks payable to the Virginia Tech Foundation, in the memo line list the VTCCA Robert B. Fetter Scholarship and mail to Attn: Sandi Bliss, 902 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
There was a celebration of his life at Oak Harbor Club in Vero Beach.
Catherine Janzer Folz, 92, Vero Beach
Catherine Janzer Folz, 92, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and sister passed away July 18, 2018. Born Dec. 12, 1925, Catherine lived much of her life in Miami and Pembroke Pines before retiring in Vero Beach, where she lived for over 30 years.
After completing business school, Catherine was employed as a secretary on the 26th floor of the Empire State Building. She grew up playing the piano, had a beautiful singing voice, and loved to dance.
She was sweet, kind, and charitable. She was involved in her local community, handmade rosaries for her church, and volunteered for numerous organizations including March of Dimes and Meals on Wheels for many years.
She was married to the love of her life, Daniel Folz, for 68 years. Together they loved to travel, play cards, and go to the beach.
Her greatest joy was her family, especially her four granddaughters. She will be dearly missed by her loved ones, who celebrate the long happy life the Lord blessed her with.
Survivors include her loving husband, Daniel Folz; daughters, Gail Pawlowski (Michael) and Lois Koenig (Paul); son, Daniel Folz (Barbara); granddaughters, Alexa Pawlowski (Tyler Mefford), Caitlin Pawlowski, Kristen Koenig, and Megan Koenig; brother, Henry Janzer (Irene); and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her parents Henry and Anna Janzer.
Services were held at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Vero Beach.
Connie Hallinan, 88, Indian River Shores
Connie Hallinan, 88, of Indian River Shores, left her family and friends on July 26, 2018. Connie was born on Aug. 25, 1929.
She was the daughter of Thaddeus and Mae Owings and grew up in York, Pa. She attended Georgetown Visitation in Washington, D.C., for both her high school years and junior college. “Visi” provided her with some of the best experiences of her life, for which she will be forever grateful.
It was while living in Georgetown, Connie met and married Richard (Dick) J. Hallinan in 1951 and began a life love romance with her husband until his passing in 1997.
They had seven children, Rogers H. Ford, of St. Petersburg, Fla., James T. Hallinan, of Austin, Texas, Susan O. Hallinan (Chris Ford), of Holly, Mich., Elizabeth W. Hallinan, of Vero Beach, Henry H. Hallinan (Cathy), of New Canaan, Conn., Joseph B. Hallinan (Joanne), of Naples, Fla., and Thaddeus O. Hallinan, of Austin, Texas.
Connie grew up with six brothers and sisters and she loved them all. Three have already moved on: Mary Rogers Owings, Thaddeus Owings and Henry Owings. She is survived by her sisters Rosa Eshelman of Lancaster, Pa., Susan Kissel, of Mountain Brook, Ala., and Ann Halloran, of Houston, Texas.
Connie and Dick made their home at John’s Island in Indian River Shores where they moved in 1984.
In addition to her sisters and her children, Connie has been loved by nine grandchildren: Lizzie, Caroline and Hamilton Ford, R.J. and Thad Bogardus, Kelly, Henry, Eileen and Cathleen Hallinan; and two great grandchildren.
Prior to moving to Florida, she and her husband lived in Greenwich, Conn., where Dick practiced law before his retirement. Connie lived a life of activity, whether it was on the seas sailing, on the courts playing tennis or paddle ball or on the golf course. She was a past member of the Larchmont Yacht Club (Larchmont, N.Y.), The Longmeadow Country Club (Longmeadow, Mass.), the Apawamis Club (Rye, N.Y.) and a current member of the John’s Island Club.
When she gave up her sports, she took up bridge and has been an active contract bridge player for 15-plus years, having played her last hand less than two months prior to her death.
Services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to VNA Hospice of Indian River County at 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Mary Elaine McGuiness, 92, Vero Beach
Mary Elaine McGuiness, 92, of Vero Beach, died Sunday, July 23, 2018, after a long illness. She was born to the late Clifford and Louise DeWolf on April 2, 1926, in Norwich, Conn.
Mary Elaine graduated from St Francis Hospital Nursing School in 1944 and worked for many years as a Nursing Supervisor for the Norwich State Hospital of Connecticut.
She leaves her husband, John P McGuiness of Vero Beach; son, Bruce Laudone of Norwich, Conn.; stepdaughters, Maureen Moody, of Vero Beach, Patricia Blansfield, of Sharon, Mass., and Carol Ann McGuiness, of Newington, Conn.; step sons, John McGuiness, of Hudson, Mass., and Michael McGuiness, of Snowhomish, Wash.; and seven grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St John of the Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach. Interment will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery in Norwich at a later date.
Claire J. Morkan, 92, Vero Beach
Claire J. Morkan, 92, passed away July 21, 2018, at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach, Florida.
Claire spent her childhood in Rhode Island. She trained to be a registered nurse in New York where she met her husband, George McSweeney, who was doing his medical residency at the same hospital.
She has made Vero Beach her home since 1987.
Claire was devoted to her family and friends. She was a member of St. Helen’s Catholic Church and volunteered at Indian River Memorial Medical Center.
Survivors include her daughters, Rosemary Barnard (husband, Richard) and Claire Gill; her three grandchildren, Michelle Battaglia (spouse, Chris, and two children), Andrea Vuksanovich (spouse, Mark, and five children), and Robert Bourque (spouse, Krissy, and one child). She was also survived by her sister, Beverly Benjamin, along with nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased in death by her first husband, George McSweeney; second husband, William Morkan; her two brothers, Phil and Irving Barber; and her great-grandson, Dillon Vuksanovich.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to American Red Cross IRC Chapter, 2506 17th Ave., Vero Beach, FL 32960, and VNA Hospice House.
Services were held at Strunk Funeral Home Vero Beach.
Benita Rosemary Priore, 83, Sebastian
Benita Rosemary Priore, 83, of Sebastian, passed away on July 25, 2018. She was born in Astoria, Long Island, N.Y., on May 14, 1935. She moved to Sebastian in 1976, coming from Miami.
She retired after many years with J.C. Penney, Vero Beach.
Benita is survived by her sister, Eraina T. Engel; nephew, Edward R. Paluch; niece, Theresa M. Puscher; and grandniece, Kristina N. Puscher.
She was predeceased by her parents, Louis and Irene Priore.
James Andrew Rogers, 83, Sebastian
James Andrew Rogers, 83, of Sebastian, beloved husband of Gladys Anne Rogers, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2018, with his family by his side. James was born on Aug. 28, 1934, and proudly served in the United States Army, with the 1st armored division.
He was a Master Electrician for more than 40 years, specializing in Traffic Signal Control systems. James and Gladys resided in Sebastian for 23 years, and had previously resided in East Longmeadow, Mass.
In addition to his wife Gladys Anne, James leaves behind a large family of five children, 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, who will all miss their “Poppy” greatly.
Ralph L. Royal, 81, Vero Beach
Ralph L. Royal, 81, of Vero Beach, passed away after a long illness. A lifelong Christian, he joined Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 19, 2018.
As a child, he was a member of the Community Church and the Methodist Church of Fellsmere. When his children were born and dedicated, he joined the First Baptist Church of Vero Beach and was baptized.
He was born at home in 1936, the youngest of five children of Bernice Franklin and Ruth Hall Royal.
Ralph graduated from Fellsmere High School in 1955. He attended Embry-Riddle in Miami, earning his aircraft mechanic certification, and then volunteered for the U.S. Army. Ralph worked at Paul’s Aircraft Service for two years, Piper Aircraft for 29 years, and Sun Aviation for 12 years before retiring.
Survivors include Marjorie Kay Clark Royal, his wife of fifty years; sons, James Franklin Royal (wife, Maranatha Joy Hayes) of Alexandria, Va., John Alan Royal, of Vero Beach; granddaughter, Hayle Royal Bogin, of Vero Beach; and many nephews.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Charlotte Law (Willard); and brothers, Bill Royal (Evelyn), Harold Royal (Bea), and Thomas Royal.
Ralph never knew a stranger and would talk to anyone who was friendly. Having always lived in the state, he often quipped that he was a third-generation Florida cracker, and joked that he’d know he was still alive if he hadn’t seen his name in the newspaper. He still hasn’t seen it, and remains alive in our hearts and memories as a providing father and loving husband. As Ralph loved to say, keep ’em flyin!
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer and Parkinson Association, 2300 5th Avenue Suite 150, Vero Beach, FL 32960 in memory of Ralph L. Royal.
Services were held at Strunk Funeral Home, Sebastian, followed by a celebration of his life. A private committal service followed at Sebastian Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, 1623 North Central Avenue, Sebastian, FL 32958.
Barbara F. Williams, 87, Vero Beach
Barbara F. Williams, 87, entered into rest on July 19, 2018, at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach. Barbara Williams was born in Cheboygan, Mich.
Barbara and her husband, George, retired after selling their architectural practice in New Jersey, moving to Vero Beach in 2000.
Barbara was an avid animal lover and volunteered many hours at the local animal shelters/facilities. Barbara’s real passion was helping children and generously contributed to those in need. She was also a long time member of the Moorings Club.
She was a graduate of Cheboygan High School in Cheboygan.
Survivors include niece Jill Rogala and Rebecca Janis, among other family members and close friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Williams; sisters, Ruth Bodary and Una Malin; and brothers, Jerry Fisher, Johnny Fisher and Todd Christian.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Indian River County Humane Society or the Halo Rescue Shelter.
