News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 26

6B NEWS-PRESS, THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 1989 Robert Bachman, 83, brought TV to Fort Myers Eugene Ahlefeld, 70, managed trailer park Name: Eugene "Bob" Name: Robert W. Bachman Date of birth: June 10, 1906 Date of death: Aug. 8, 1989 Cause of death: Heart failure Occupation: Retired chief engineer and technical director for WINK-TV Moved to Fort Myers In 1953 ByAMYSHEEHAN News-Press Staff Writer Robert W. Bachman, the man who engineered the arrival of television in Fort Myers in 1954, died Tuesday at his Fort Myers home of heart failure. He was 83.

"He was the chief engineer and he installed all the equipment, ran all the field tests, supervised the erection of the TV tower at the time, nobody else around here knew bood-ledy-do about TV," said Dixie Howell, a graphic artist who worked with Mr. Bachman during WINK-TV's early days. "Fort Myers and Lee County can say thank you to Bob Bachman for bringing TV to Fort Myers, not financially, but he cer-. tainly brought all the know-how." When the first television images flashed across the screens of local viewers at 5 p.m. on March 18, 1954, Mr.

Bachman had been working on Ahlefeld Date of birth: Nov. 9, 1918 Date of death: Aug. 7, 1989 Cause of death: Cancer Occupation: Manager of the Tamiami Travel Trailer Park Moved to North Fort Myers In 1978 Previous residence: Venice Survivors include: His wife, Roberta Ahlefeld of North Fort Myers; two sons, Richard Ahlefeld of Pendleton, and Lynn Ahlefeld of North Fort Myers; a brother, Benjamin F. Ahlefeld of Indianapolis; a sister, Betty Pigg of Chandler, five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren Funeral home: National Cremation Society, 3596 Fowler Fort Myers going person, he got along well with the park's residents. He was part of a regular golfing foursome there, she said.

A memorial service for Mr. Ahlefeld will be at 7 p.m. today at the North Fort Myers Guardian Funeral Home, 820 Pondella Road. Memorial contributions in Mr. Ahlefeld's name should be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O.

Box 6038, Fort Myers 33911. DEATHS, FUNERALS Information in the Deaths column printed free of charge. place a listing call 335-0324. ByAMYSHEEHAN News-Press Staff Writer Eugene "Bob" Ahlefeld, who managed the Tamiami Travel Trailer Park in North Fort Myers, was known for doing nice things for people driving them to the doctor, picking up a bag of groceries or doing household repairs. "You could call him day or night and he'd be there.

He was just an all-around good person," said his wife of 51 years, Roberta Ahlefeld of North Fort Myers. "And he loved people." Mr. Ahlefeld died Monday of cancer. He was 70. He was born in.

Grand Rapids, and began working as a young man, his wife said. Largely self-taught, he held a job as a draftsman and engineer with RCA for a number of years. He designed black-and-white television sets, a job he loved, until he and his wife decided to move. They settled first in Venice in southern Sarasota County, where they managed the Sandalwood Trailer Park. They transferred to the Tamiami Travel Trailer Park, owned by the same company, some 11 years ago.

Working as a couple went smoothly, his wife said, because they each had areas of responsibility. "Yeah, I took the complaints and he did the laughing," she said with a chuckle. Because Mr. Ahlefeld was an out- DEATHS Lee County AGENT, GEORGE WILBUR, 76, of Fort Myers, funeral services Saturday, arrangements by Fin-ley Carter Funeral Home. I ALLIN, 75, of Captiva, arrangements by National Cremation Society.

BACHMAN, ROBERT 83, of Fort Myers, funeral services Friday, arrangements by Anderson Funeral Home. BOWMAN, E. GERALD (JERRY), 82, of Cape Coral, memorial services Friday at Cape Coral First United Methodist Church, arrangements by Cape Coral Guardian Funeral Home. CARRICOFFE, ROLAND, 79, of Cape Coral, no services, burial in West arrangements by Cape Coral Guardian Funeral Home. COLCORD, JAMES 71, of Gainesville, memorial service was held August 8, 1989, arrangements by Williams-Thomas Chapel of Chimes, Gainesville, Fla.

KELLY, ROBERT 63, of Cape Coral, funeral services Saturday, arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. PINDA, GERALD, 42, of Cape Coral, funeral services and burial in Chicago, 111., local arrangements by Stuckert-McFarland-Schmidt Fune-l ral Home. SEABURG, WILEY 67, of North Fort Myers, memorial church services Sunday, arrangements by Stuckert-McFarland-Schmidt Fune- ral Home. SUTHARD, DAVID (SONNY), 1 16, of Cape Coral, memorial services today, Mass of Christian Burial Friday, arrangements by Cape Coral is To Previous residence: Cleveland, Ohio Survivors include: His wife, Lucille Bachman of Fort Myers, and a brother, William Bachman of Grand Rapids, Mich. Funeral home: Anderson Funeral Home, 3654 Palm Beach Fort Myers baby." Mr.

Bachman's broadcasting career began with a radio operator's job. As a young man, he'd learned the trade mostly by trial and error, his wife said. He was with WOOD in Grand Rapids, for a number of years before television became popular then he became a television engineer. Mr. Bachman worked for several television stations from North Caro- Information in the Deaths and Funerals column is paid advertising.

To place an obituary call 335-0324. GRACE LILLIAN ELWOOD Cremation for Grace Lillian El-wood, 82, of Dayton, resident for the past three years, will be at Fitz Henry's Funeral Home and Crematory. Mrs. Elwood died Tuesday at a Carson City Hospital. She was born September 9, 1906, in Paducah, Ky.

to Aaron and Lake Erie Griffith Arnold. She retired as a secretary in the engineering industry in Michigan, moved to Fort Myers, and worked two years in the Classified Dept. of the Fort Myers News Press. She moved to Dayton, Nev. in 1986 to be near her children.

Among her survivors are a son, Richard of Carson City, two daughters, Doris Hayden of Carson City and Jacqueline Gibbs of New Zealand; a sister, Mabel Eley of Fort Myers, and six grandchildren. Services will be private. WILEY D.SEABURG Wiley D. Seaburg, 67, of North Fort Myers died Wednesday. He was a five year resident of North Fort Myers, formerly of Rotterdam, N.Y.

He was a WW II Veteran, a Marine Corp. League Life Member, a member of the Rotterdam Elk's Lodge No. 2157, the Coral Ridge Baptist Church of Cape Coral, and also the 40 Plus, 50 Plus, and 60 Plus Softball Leagues of Florida. Surviving are his wife, Shirley Rolfe Seaburg; two daughters, Sharon Waters of Clifton Park, N.Y., Sue Nagle of Rotterdam, N.Y.; four sons, Wayne of West Berne, N.Y., Wayde of Schenectady, N.Y., Warren of Virginia Beach, and Wrandy of Scotia, N.Y.; ten grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Memorial church services will be held Sunday, at 6 p.m.

in the Coral $395 939-0971 DIRECT CREMATION SOCIETY quantities last) I the project for months. It was a triumphant moment for him, one of the high points of his life, said his wife, Lucille Bachman of Fort Myers. "He enjoyed every minute of it," she said. "And I've known him to work 24 hours a day if there was something wrong." "He wouldn't leave the building if he didn't think the station was in secure hands," Howell added. "He really mothered it along.

It was his Friday at 11 a.m. from the Chapel of Anderson Funeral Home, 3654 Palm Beach with Father R. Bruce Ryanofficiating. Interment will be in Fort Myers Cemetery. The family will receive friends today from 6-8 p.m.

at the funeral home. ROLAND CARRICOFFE Roland Carricoffe, 79, a 30 year resident of Cape Coral, died August 8, 1989 at Gulf Coast Nursing Home, Cape Coral. He was a flight instructor during WW II, retired from Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Corp. In West and owned the first garden center in Cape Coral. He is survived by a son, Richard Henry; three daughters, Sandra Jan-ca of Washington State, Sharon Tolles of Cape Coral, and Joan Skowron of six grandchildren; two great-grandsons; and one sister, Edith Sherwood of Tamarac, Fla.

There will be no services. Burial will be in West Va. Cape Coral Guardian Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. JAMES H. COLCORD James H.

Colcord, 71, of Gainesville, passedaway Augusts, 1989. Mr. Colcord was a member of Highlands Presbyterian Church in Gainesville, and the V.F.W. Post No. 160f Gainesville.

He is survived by three brothers, George A. Colcord of New Orleans, and J. Gordon Colcord and Thomas H. Colcord both of Fort Myers, Fla. A memorial service was held Au- gust 8, 1989 at the Williams Thomas Chapel of the Chimes in Gainesville.

Burial will be in Gainesville. RUTH essmer. 3366 Cleveland Ave. (while A W-SK lina to Ohio, then came to Fort Myers in 1953 tohelpsetup WINK. "At that time, Fort Myers was supposedly the smallest town in the U.S.

to have its own TV station," his wife said. He retired from the station in 1972. A meticulous, precision-loving man, Mr. Bachman's hobbies were as technically demanding as his work. In his spare time, he made television sets by hand.

"He just set them up in the front room on a card table," his wife said. He also built a concert organ from a kit. He belonged to St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Fort Myers. Visitation will be between 6 and 8 p.m.

today at the Anderson Funeral Home, 3654 Palm Beach Fort Myers. Mr. Bachman's funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Ridge Baptist Church, 1723 N.E.

6th Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made in is memory to the Coral Ridge BaptistChurch. Stuckert-McFarland-Schmidt Funeral Home of Cape Coral is in charge of arrangements. THEODORE JOSEPH VALENTA, JR. Theodore Joseph Valenta, 17, of Cape Coral, died Wednesday, August 9, 1989.

Moving from Endwell, N.Y., he had resided here for the past 6 years, and was a student of Bishop Verot High School, and wasan alter boy and member of St. Cecilia's Catholic Church. Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Joseph Valenta of Cape Coral; three sisters, Ann Marsh and Carol Donoghue, both of Altade-na, Mary Calenta of Charlotte, N.C.; four brothers, Stephen of Sharon, Edward of Whitney Point, N.Y., William and Robert, both of Fort Myers; grandmother, Helen Balcerski; and several aunts and uncles.

Mass of Christian Burial wil be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 12, 1989, from St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, with Ted's uncles, Father Alfred Bebel, and Father Stephen Valenta officating. Burial will be in Memorial Gar-densCemetery. Friends may call at the Phil Kiser Funeral Home, 9231 Cypress Lake, Friday from.6-9 p.m.

Scripture service will be held at 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The family prefers that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Bishop Verot High School In memory of Ted Valenta, Jr. Walden Clinic Specializing WEIGHT CONTROL 332-1611 2100 McGregor Blvd. H.

Myers. PL 33B01 Ms' Reebok CL 1000s NylonSuede Joggers (sizes 1-6). VISA mm Lee County GEORGE WILBUR AGENT, SR. Funeral services for Mr. George Wilbur Agent, 76, will be con- ducted on Saturday at 1 p.m.

from Mr. Olive A.M.E., Church, with Rev. H.L. Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Mr. Agent was a native of Waco, Tex. and had resided in Fort Myers since the 1940's. Mr. Agent slept away on August 5, 1989, leaving to cherish his memory his wife, Helen K.

Agent; his sons, George Wilbur, Jr. and Patricia, Cornell Richard and Denlse; his daughters, Margaretta Lillian and Charles Dorris, and Linda L. Agent; his grandchildren, Stacey Agent, Kenya Agent, George Agent, III, Asonya Tyre, Willie Tyre, Kelby Tyre, DeJon Agent, Cory Agent, Dwan Bosman, Nikki Clark and Denetrius Solomon; his sister-in-law, Margurite Robinson; his brother-in-law, Eddie and Eloise Knight; two nephews, Maurice and Barbara Knight and Eric and Nelsie Knight; one niece, Phyllis and Cornel Williams; his god-daughter, Mona Lisa; a host of cousins and many friends. Friends may call from 5-9 p.m. Fri-dayatthe funeral home.

Arrangements entrusted to Finley Carter Funeral Home. ROBERT W. BACHMAN Robert W. Bachman, 83, of Fort Myers, passed away Tuesday. He moved here in 1953 from Cleveland, Ohio, and was a member of St.

Luke's Episcopal Church. Mr. Bachman is survived by his wife, Lucille Bachman of Fort Myers; one brother, William Bachman of Grand Rapids, Mich. Funeral services will be conducted Men's and Women's Reebok CL 1500s NylonSuede Joggers I wi: saris 2 Guardian Funeral Home. VALENTA, THEODORE JOSEPH 17, of Cape Coral, Mass of Chiristian Burial Saturday, arrangements by Phil Kiser Funeral Home, Inc.

Collier County CHENEY, THOMAS, 78, of Im- mokalee, services Saturday, arrangements by Brister Funeral Home. DELUSME, MADELINE, 31, of Immokalee, funeral services Monday, arrangements by Barrett Funeral Chapel. GAYO, JOSEPHINE, 63, of Ispli, N.Y., local graveside services Monday, arrangments by Earl G. Hodges Funeral Chapel. MARTIN, KATEZ ANN, 4, of Naples, services Friday, arrangements by Walter Shikany's Bonita Funeral Home.

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