Category: Obituaries

Frank Robert “Bob” Becker, age 88, passed away peacefully of natural causes on June 7, 2023, at his home in Lakeland, Florida. Becker was born in Flint, Michigan, on May 4, 1935, to Frank A. and Helen Woodworth Becker. When he was two years old, Becker’s father died. He and his younger sister Louise were raised by their single mother in Lansing, Michigan.

William Edward Shaffbower (Dow) (Wild Bill) went to be with our Lord on May 31, 2023 he was 78 years old. Born in Deckerville, Michigan on May 5, 1945. He is survived by his sister-in-law, Patti Shaffbower; nieces & nephew: Bobbie Shaffbower (Kevin), Jackie Campbell, Vicki Cuervo (Tony), Rhonda Bell, Joey Sloan (Stacy), Kym Holland (Steve); great nieces and nephews: Mitchell Campbell (Paige), Phillip Cuervo, Logan Loftus, Christina Cuervo, Donnie Bell (Emily), Gabrielle Leisure, Brandi Shaffbower, Andrew Dowdy, Stevie Holland, Alex Holland, Justiss Sloan; and great great niece and nephews: Hayden Campbell, Sutton “Charlie” Meek, Gates Campbell.

Albert J. Barkman, 96, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at home surrounded by his family. Bert served from 1945 to 1947 in the Army Air Corp. He was the owner of the Mt. Hope Hardware in Ohio and moved to Florida in 1969, with his family. He enjoyed a career for 32 years as a salesman of refrigerated truck bodies for Kidron Truck Bodies.

Vinay “Touy” Sotakoun, of Lakeland, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on June 5, 2023. He was born on April 11, 1958, in Laos, coming to the U.S. in 1978. Married the love of his life, Thanom. Together they have 2 children, Jimmy, and Victoria. However, nothing compared to the newest joy in his life, his 11-month-old granddaughter, Charlotte, or Lanoy, as he affectionately called her. They were best buddies, and he never missed the opportunity to show off her photos to anyone and everyone. He loved their daily facetime chats.

Colleen Mary Atwater, a devoted wife, mother, and compassionate member of the Lakeland community, passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida. She was 57 years old.

Barbara Ross Keith, age 88, went home to be with the Lord on May 18, 2023. A funeral service for Barbara will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Fellowship Baptist Church in Lakeland, Florida, with Dr. Richard Piatt officiating. Interment will follow at the Bethel Baptist Church cemetery at 3125 W. Socrum Loop Road in Lakeland immediately following the service. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. before the 11 a.m. service at Fellowship Baptist.

Charles Larken Woodall Jr, age 65, was born on February 2, 1958, and went to be with the Lord on May 19, 2023. Although born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Angela Perez Plath and the late Charles L. Woodall, he resided in Lakeland, Florida for most of his life and considered it home.

Dr. Joseph Charles Belshe filed his final flight plan in the evening of May 21, 2023, on his journey to collect his reward for a life filled with love and service to others. There, to see him off, were his wife and three close friends. He died from complications of a stroke at the age of 102.

Ann Fitzpatrick Trottier, 83, of Lakeland, Florida passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. She was born on July 27, 1939, to James and Harriet Fitzpatrick. She graduated from Mount St. Mary’s, Cathedral Grammar School and the first graduating class of Rice Memorial High School in 1959.

Jody Earnest, 85, passed away May 31, 2023, at Lakeland Regional Hospital. Jody was born April 8, 1938, in Jenkins, KY to Johnny Spradlyn and Marie Bellamy. She was raised in Bristol TN, the second of four sisters. She graduated from Tennessee High and then attended Western Kentucky University, where she was a cheerleader. Later she returned to college completing a BA and Masters of Music Theory.