From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Floyd Niles York, 100, Vero Beach
January 16, 1923 – September 16, 2023
Farmer, sailor, banker, husband, father, and all-around good guy, overachiever Floyd York passed away at the age of 100 years and 8 months on Saturday, September 16th.
As the third son of Flavia and Oscar York, Floyd grew up on a farm in upstate New York. His hardscrabble childhood (he literally shared a single pair of dress shoes with his brothers Seymore and Ken in their teens) taught Floyd the value of hard work and perseverance. The York boys, along with their younger sister, Elizabeth, started school in a one room schoolhouse where Floyd would learn his lessons and those of his older classmates as well. He graduated from high school at 15, and from the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point in 1944 serving in the Merchant Marines during WWII spending two years at sea.
After the war, he married Carol, the love of his life, and moved to Long Island. There, they would raise three sons in Roslyn. His 46 year career in banking started in 1946 when he took a job as a messenger for Union Square Savings Bank in Manhattan. He worked his way up to auditor, joining his hometown Roslyn Savings Bank in 1960. Working during the day and studying at night, he graduated from the New York chapter of the American Institute of Banking and Brown University’s Graduate School of Savings Banking. In 1968, he became president of the $184 million bank with one branch, and would eventually be named chairman of the board and CEO as well . Under his leadership, Roslyn Savings would grow to become the strongest mutual thrift institution in the nation, serving the heart of Long Island with five branches and $1.27 billion in assets.
His progressive management style was ahead of his time. He added a cafeteria and kitchen to the home office so all bank employees could enjoy free hot meals every day. A depression-era baby, he did not like to see good food go to waste. His only rule was “Take all you want, but eat all you take.”
His volunteer work included 20 years as co-vice chair of the Nassau County chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. He was a board member of Friends of Nassau County Recreation, and was active with many other charitable organizations. Floyd served on Roslyn’s Little League board of directors and coached for 12 years. He was proud of the fact that he never had a team finish lower than third place, and that he made sure all his players, regardless of skill level, got the chance to play in every game.
Even though he moved to the city, the farm boy from upstate New York always stayed close to his roots. He did his own yard work and tended his gardens at the family’s two-acre home for the entirety of his business career. He made weekly trips with his garden tractor to collect organic “fertilizer” from the neighbor’s barn. Always willing to share the spotlight, Floyd gave full credit to the horses for their contributions to the compost pile that helped him produce bumper crops of 18-foot sunflowers.
After his retirement, the Yorks divided their time between their home in Vero Beach and their camp on the Great Sacandaga Lake just over the hill from the farm where he grew up. Carol and Floyd were married for almost 59 years when she passed in 2004. Several years later, he met and married his second wife Dorothy. Together, they continued to commute between New York and Florida until Dorothy’s health declined and they became year-round Floridians. He took care of her at home well into his mid 90’s before she moved to a memory care unit.
Though he hadn’t had the chance to cook much in the last couple of years, Floyd spent as much time in the kitchen as in his garden. For family get-togethers, he would make country breakfasts–waking up at 6:30 to start cutting up fruit and cooking the bacon, crispy potatoes, scrambled eggs and his famous pancakes each morning. He was still flipping flapjacks on his 96th birthday.
Floyd was featured on the front page of the Press Journal on the occasion of his 100th birthday in January, and made the papers again in May when he was honored for his wartime service with a replica of the Congressional World War II Merchant Mariners Gold Medal during the National Maritime Day celebrations at Veterans Memorial Island Sanctuary.
At 100, Floyd was still up before the sun every day for his morning trike ride around his gated community. In addition to his parents, brothers and sister, he was preceded in death by his wife Carol, his son Kyle, almost everyone of his own generation and a good portion of the next. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, sons Todd (Martha) and Scott (Janet), grandson Kellen (Anne), granddaughter Halley, cherished niece Vivian Thompson and a host of New York kith and kin, step daughters Donna Eisele (Frank), Paula South (Mark) and Joy Arias (Kevin), their children, and his beloved caregivers Cindy, Jean, Milly and Torie.
His upbeat attitude and infectious enthusiasm were a joy to experience and an inspiration for all who had the good fortune to know him.
A celebration of his life is planned for a future date in New York. For those wishing for a way to turn his loss into something positive, please consider a donation to the VNA & Hospice Foundation, 920 37th Place, Suite 101, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or you may donate online at https://vnatc.org/waystogive/memorials-and-honorariums/.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Garrett Buckner Wall III, 90, Florida
November 25, 1932 – September 16, 2023
Garrett Buckner Wall III passed away September 16 in Vero Beach, FL at the age of 90. He was born November 25, 1932 in Richmond, VA to Garrett Buckner Wall, Jr. and Mary Hoge Wortham Wall.
Garrett was a graduate of Woodberry Forest School in Orange, VA and Princeton University.
He began his career as an engineer with ITT, became involved in recruiting engineers, and decided he preferred Human Resources to engineering. So, he made Human Resources his life’s work. He ended his career with Siemens Corp.
In 1963, Garrett married Elizabeth Taylor. He is survived by his wife, sons Garrett (Jocelin) and Chris (Kelly) and three grandchildren: Elizabeth, Grace and Gregory. He is also survived by his sister Mary Ackerly of Richmond and his nieces and nephews.
Garret loved retirement in Florida playing golf and bridge and building homes for Habitat for Humanity. He will be missed but will always be around us in spirit.
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From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Phyllis R. Abendschein (née Keipper), 93, Barefoot Bay
June 20, 1930 – September 12, 2023
Ms. Phyllis R. Abendschein (née Keipper) of Barefoot Bay, Florida, died September 12, 2023 at the age of 93.
Phyllis was born to parents, Edwin and Marie Keipper on June 20, 1930 in Buffalo, New York.
Survivors include her three loving daughters Barbara, Debra, and Beverly; 7 Grandchildren, 10 Great Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence William Abendschein Jr.
The family is grateful for donations made to Vitas Hospice House, 4450 W. Eau Gallie Blvd, Ste. 250, Melbourne, FL 32934 in loving memory of Phyllis R. Abendschein.
At the request of the family, services will be private. Inurnment will take place at a later date at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York.
Arrangements are entrusted to Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1623 North Central Avenue, Sebastian, Florida 32958.
Prayers, condolences and memories are gladly accepted at www.strunkfuneralhome.com
To plant Memorial Trees in memory of PHYLLIS R. ABENDSCHEIN, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
George W. Sharpe, II, 86, Vero Beach
May 7, 1937 – September 23, 2023
George W. Sharpe, II, 86, passed away suddenly on Saturday, September 23, 2023.
Born May 7, 1937, in Detroit, Michigan, to parents George and Grace (nee Reina) Sharpe, George was fond of saying that he just “hiked up his diaper and walked out into the world.”
George graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and soon began a life-long career in advertising. After a brief stint with Benton and Bowles in New York City, he was recruited by Young and Rubicam (Y&R) Advertising Agency on Madison Avenue. George started on the ground floor and quickly became highly regarded for his intuitiveness. By the 1980’s, Y&R had become one of the world’s largest advertising agencies and George had become their Senior Vice President of Media until his retirement in 1997.
Early in his career, George met the love of his life Sue (nee Yax) to whom he was married for 56. One night, with trepidation, she accepted an invitation from her NYC roommate to attend a Y&R party at the Waldorf Astoria. George proposed on their fourth date, and they were married 10 months later.
His enduring love for his wife encompassed their children, Jennifer Sklenar (Steve) of La Jolla, California and George (Rebecca) of Winter Park, Colorado. George and Sue raised their family in Greenwich, Ct. and by the time their children were teenagers, they had a summer home in Amagansett, N.Y. Summers and long winter weekends were spent there surrounded by their children and extended family.
During the transition from work to retirement, George and Sue lived for 4 months in Florence, Italy, immersed in language, culture & art. They then settled in Vero Beach, Florida.
George quickly adapted to life in Vero Beach and to the delight of his family, he created a job for himself as score keeper for their many fishing excursions wherein he recorded who caught the biggest fish, the smallest fish and the ugliest fish. George’s love of travel, visiting over 80 countries, and his love of community engagement, filled his retirement years to the fullest. He volunteered with the Indian River Shores Public Safety Department and served on Hibiscus Children’s Center Board of Directors, as well as their Marketing Committee.
George was a wonderful man with a generous heart who had an amazing positive and optimistic outlook. He had great creative talents, a warm and caring personality, and would always greet you with a genuine, sincere smile. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and never forgotten by those who loved him.
George was pre-deceased by his brother Richard.
If you wish, a contribution in George’s memory may be made to the Hibiscus Children’s Center or Ballet Vero Beach.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date.
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From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Florence Delores Jane Bivens, 81, Sebastian
September 22, 1941 – September 16, 2023
Florence Delores Jane Bivens, 81 of Sebastian, FL (Williamsport, OH) passed away at home on September 16, 2023, in Sebastian, FL. She enjoyed playing “Two Pits and a Lady” bingo, shopping, and adding to her Rooster collection.
Preceded in death by her parents Claude & Ruby Presley, and her daughter Connie Bivens West.
Survived by her husband of 63 years Donald Bivens Sr., son Donald Bivens Jr., grandchildren Stephanie Masterson, Tiffany Picklesimer (John), Tristin Bivens, Taylor Bivens, Dylan Bivens. Great Grandchildren – Kaitlyn Masterson, MaKenzie Masterson, Moleigh & Malorie Picklesimer, Parker & Lincoln Herdman. Great-Great Grandchildren – Adler Masterson, Kyleigh, Kameron & Kennedy Krick. Special Thanks to Angie Hull, caregiver and beloved longtime neighbor Arlie Mills.
Showing will be September 20, 2023, at Strunk Funeral Home in Sebastian, FL 6-8pm.
Arrangements entrusted to Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1623 North Central Avenue, Sebastian, Florida 32958.
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From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Peggy Lou “Margaret Eloise” Stewart, 93
June 21, 1930 – September 20, 2023
Peggy Lou “Margaret Eloise” Stewart, 93, passed away September 20, 2023 in Vero Beach, FL.
She was born on June 21, 1930 in Sharon, Ohio to Hayden Thomas and Mary White Thomas.
Peggy graduated from Brookfield High School in Ohio.
She was the co-owner of Stewart 51.
Peggy was preceded in death by her husband Jim Stewart; son Jimmy Stewart; daughter Laura Stewart and grandson Scott Keathley.
She is survived by her daughters Donna Bridges and Debra Keathley; grandchildren Kaylan and James and 5 great-grandchildren and great- great- grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to: H.A.L.O. Animal Rescue, 710 Jackson Street, Sebastian, FL 32958 or https://halorescuefl.org/donate/
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