George (K.P.) Bradley Minor

George (K.P.) Bradley Minor, age 20 of Apopka, FL died unexpectedly Wednesday, December 23, 2009 in Orlando, FL. He was born June 17, 1989 in Oneonta, NY the son of Jeannine (Gary) Lumpkin, Apopka, FL., and George (Lorraine Newell) Minor of Guilford, NY. He is survived by his parents; his brother Clinton Jon (Kendra) Minor of California City, CA; his sister Nicole House (Joshua Crawford), of New Berlin, NY; a nephew, Caleb Thomas House, and nieces, Shaylee Marie House and Natalie Dawn Minor, several aunts, cousins, and many good friends. A Celebration of the Life of George (K.P.) Minor will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 3 PM at Dobbs Funeral Home, Orlando. The family will be receiving friends at 2:00 PM prior to the service. To honor K.P.'s love of the musical arts, the family requests that donations be made to Neptune Middle School, c/o Fran Piazza, 2727 Neptune Road, Kissimmee, FL 34744. All funds will be directed to the music department.

"Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leafs a flower;

but only so an hour.

The leaf subsides to leaf,

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day,

Nothing gold can stay."

Robert Frost

Colonel Ralph Hillis Groover, Jr., USA, Retired

"Daddy Ralph", 84, of Orlando, Florida joined his parents, Ralph and Betty Groover, brother Kenny Groover, and sister Betty Gene Woods in peace with the Lord he loved so much on December 14, 2009.

Although born and raise din very humble beginnings, he considered his most important jobs in life to be a good Christian, husband, father, and patriot.

Ralph was born in Hinesville, Georgia on February 20, 1925 to the late Ralph and Betty Groover. He was preceded in death by his brother Kenny Groover and sister Betty Gene Woods. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Joanne Hodges Groover, four children; Sherrie Gibney-Sherman (Ken Sherman), Cindy Groover (Charley Gay), Ralph Groover III (Lynne Groover) and Lea Anne Groover; grandchildren Kellen Gibney, Alexandra Gibney, Mollie Sherman, Armando Trey Hernandez (Laura), Hailey Groover, MacKenzie "Ralph" Groover IV, Richard Day, and Christopher Kyle "CK" Day; Great grandson Kellin Waters; Brother Darrell Groover (Linda), sisters Mavis Tootle, Virginia DeLoach (Mondale) and Pat Smiley (Dale). He was Uncle and Great Uncle to many and a friend to all. He never met a stranger.

Ralph Hillis Groover, better known to all as Daddy Ralph - was a proud and amazing man, with a lifetime of accomplishments. Starting from a rural background in Gum Branch, Georgia, near Hinesville, he became a full colonel in the United States Army and had a military career that spanned three decades and several wars. He also served in military intelligence and learned to speak Russian and German. As they say, old soldiers never really leave the military, but he embarked on other careers, including many years in Orlando real estate starting in the mid 1970's. He continued to work in varying areas of interest until he was around 75-years-old.

He is survived by his wife Jo - our Mama Jo - to whom he was married - and completely devoted - for nearly 60 years. Ralph and Joe could tell you many tales about the 35 moves they made during his military career and the adventures four head head strong children can bring to a family. A constant throughout was his love of church, family, and his country. There was never a question where he stood on any of these matters.

Two weeks ago, we got to spend what turned out to be our last time, our last Thanksgiving, with Daddy Ralph. He had just undergone some risky surgery and was struggling to recover. Following the surgery everyone pitched in to help Daddy Ralph get back on his feet and out of the hospital door - his ultimate goal. We had to make sure he was all right and didn't try to pull out his tubes and escape - he had a mind of his own! He wasn't ready to leave the hospital by Thanksgiving Day, but the hospital staff kindly allowed our extended family to take over part of the hospital dining area that evening and bring in our food and music for a very unusual, but memorable celebration. An enduring memory of Daddy Ralph will be of him sitting proudly - in his pajamas - at the head of the hospital dining area table, singing his favorite them song, "Lord, It's Hard to Be Humble." Daddy Ralph was a man of great faith, a fundamentalist christian who made everyone feel completely welcome and at home.

Ralph's memorial service will be held at First Baptist church of Orlando on John Young Parkway on Saturday, December 19th at 11:00 am with viewing at 10:00 am. A reception will be held in Faith Hall immediately following the service. A military burial service will be held on a later date at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Memorials in Ralph's honor may be made to:

First Orlando Foundation

c/o First Baptist Church of Orlando

3000 John Young Parkway

Orlando, FL 32805

Edith Elaine Styczynski

Mrs. Edith Elaine Styczynski, age 83 passed away on Monday December 7th, 2009 in Orlando. She was born in Norwich, Connecticut, the daughter of the late Albert and Emma (Sourbier) Harris. She moved to Central Florida from Connecticut in 1979 and was employed as a Screen Printer in the paper goods industry. She was preceded in death by daughter Dawn Prosser (December 1989). Edith leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband Frank Styczynski; daughter Karen Serra; son, Gary Smith; sister Bernice Senkewitcz; brother, Everett Harris; 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. The family will be receiving friends on Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM at Dobbs Funeral Home followed by the funeral service at 2:00 PM.

"My Grandmother was my sunshine. No matter how dark and gloomy my world became, she was always there to brighten my day. Although sometimes there would be hundreds of miles between us, she was always just a phone call away. I will desperately miss those phone calls and the way we began each one by singing together Stevie Wonder's "I just called to say I love You". I will miss her smell, her smile and mostly her laughter. She was the most beautiful person I have ever known. She was my Mother and my best friend and I am so very proud to be Edith's Granddaughter. MISS YOU GRAM!!! Thank you, Amy Lewis"

The Lord Is the Heart of the Home and

the Home Is the Heart of Christmas

Memories to treasure are made of Christmas Day, and birthdays

Made of family gatherings and children as they play...

And always it is Gram who plays the leading part

In bringing joy and happiness to each heart

of her love one's .... when they were sad or hurt.

These memories grow more meaningful with every passing year,

More precious and more beautiful, more treasured and more dear...

And that is why at Christmastime there comes the

happy thought that she gave us.

Out of all these treasured memories that Gram's love has brought us.

For no one gives us more happiness them Gram did.

The understanding, kind and wise and selfless, loving

I wouldn't trade her for the world.

And of all the loving Gram's, the dearest one is you.

For you live Christmas every day in every thing we do!

Giod Bless you Love and will miss you dearly.

From Sandi Goodman

Mabel Irene Riker

Mrs. Mabel Irene Riker, age 72 of Orlando passed away on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 in Winter Garden, Florida. Mabel was born in New Jersey, the Daughter of the late Frederick and Catherine Wildrick. She leaves to cherish her memory, husband John Douglas Riker; five daughters, Catherine Deikman, Mary Randall, Valerie marble, Amanda Hazen, Heidi Fernandez; son, Eric Kinney; 2 brothers, Wayne and John Wildrick; sister Car Wildrick; and several grand and great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at Dobbs Funeral Home.

Frank Roy Whitman, III

Frank Roy Whitman III, passed from this world December 2, 2009. He is survived by his mother, Elsie Whitman of Steele, North Dakota; his sisters and brothers-in-law Joyce and Ivan Thomsen of Kissimmee, FL, Nancy and Monroe Madson of Bismarck, ND and Elizabeth Whitman of Orlando, FL; his nieces and nephews-in-law Tara and Matthew Stewart of Snellville, GA, Sarah and Thomas Visco of Washington DC, Thora and Steve Yoon of San Antonio, TX and Gina Madson of Bismarck, ND; his nephews and nieces-in-laws Myron Frank Jr. and Kim Whitman of Cullman, AL, Derek Whitman of St. Cloud, FL, Kjeld and Vicky Thomsen of Northville, MI, Jason Madson of Minneapolis, MN and Eric Madson of Manchester, NH; his grandnieces Esther Yoon, Kelsie Thomsen, Jovana Thomsen and Jayde Madson; his grandnephews Jonathan Tharaldsen, Samuel Yoon, Michael Yoon, Maxwell Stewart, and Whitman Stewart. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Roy Whitman (1993) and his brother, Myron Frank Whitman (2003). Frank was born on March 22, 1949. His early years were spent on the family dairy farm in Pettibone, North Dakota. He earned two bachelor's degrees, a degree in Mechanical Engineering from NDSU and a degree in computer science from FMU. Inspite of his higher education, his love and talent was always to work with his hands, solving practical problems. He spent his early career working for the family business in Lake Williams ND, which built homes and ran a grain elevator, gas business and hardware store. He relocated in 1989 to Florida where he was in demand to lend his creative thinking and practical intelligence to any sort of construction problem. He will be always remembered and valued by his friends and family for his quiet ways and the willingness in his heart to help others. May he lay down his tool belt and rest in peace. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 11, 2009 at Dobbs Funeral Home, 430 North KirkmanRoad, Orlando FL 32811.

Joy L. Brosious

Joy L. Brosious born in Orlando, FL on September 13, 1954 died in Orlando on November 29, 2009. Daughte ro fJack Bragg (deceased) and Dorothy Harbin (deceased). She is survived by her loving children Lisa Shaw (daughter), Renee Brosious (daughter), C.J. Brosious (son); brothers, Gary Bragg, Mark Bragg and David Bragg, and 5 grandchildren. She will be loved and missed by all. Visitation will be held Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Dobbs Fuenral Home. The funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM.

Suggie Ballmick

Nairbekarri "Suggie" Ballmick, age 72 passed away on Monday, November 30, 2009. Suggie was born in Berbice, Guyana, the daughter of Surju and Boodni. She moved to Central Florida from Guyana in 1993. Suggie is survived by her husband, Ramnarine Ballmick; sons, Monie, Chandy and Tomay "Mickey" Ballmick; sister, Betty Ramnaraine; brother, Cyril Surju; and 9 grandchildren, Vidya, Suraj, Asha, Anita, Jaya Anil, Christina; and daughter-in-laws, Indra Kamla and Lalita. The family will be receiving friends at Dobbs Funeral Home from 7-9 PM on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 1st and 2nd, 2009. The funeral service will be held at 9:00 AM on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009, also at Dobbs Funeral Home followed by Interment at 11:00 AM at Metro Crematory.