News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 35

5B OBITUARIES NEWS-PRESS, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1995 sheaths Information In the Deaths column Is printed free of charae. To place a listing call 335-0324. George Abbott, 107, stage legend Since 1913, he worked as writer, director, producer, actor on Broadway 1 11 Lee County PETKO, MARY 89, of Fort Myers, died Tuesday. Arrangements by Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. SCHRACK, JOHN 33, of Cape Coral, died Tuesday.

Services and burial in North Tonawanda, N.Y. Arrangements by McFarland-Schmidt Funeral Home, Cape Coral. SOSSONG, ANN TENNA, 87, of Lehigh Acres. Arrangements by National Cremation Society. Collier County ADAMS, BERTRAM 88, of Naples, died Tuesday.

Services Saturday. Arrangements by Hodges Fu and burial in Rittman, Ohio. Arrangements by McFarland-Schmidt Funeral Home, Cape Coral. Hendry County HOWE, VIOLA CATHERINE, 83, of Glades County. Services Saturday.

Arrangements by Akin-Davis Funeral Home, LaBelle Chapel. Out of Area BALTON, FRANK 81, of St. Petersburg, died Jan. 24. Memorial services 1 p.m.

Feb. 7, Cape Coral First United Methodist Church. WILSON, ROBERT BRITTAIN, 74, of Miami Beach, died Monday. Funeral services Friday. Arrangements by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home, Punta Gorda.

DEATHS, FUNERALS ymously, other times for coauthor credit. "I think I see, when I see a play, what its faults are as far as construction," he told an interviewer. The cure is "to clarify the story, which is muddled." Abbott also directed 10 movies, most of them in the late 1920s and early '30s. He went to Hollywood in the '50s to translate "Where's Charley," "Damn Yankees" and "The Pajama Game" to the screen, and had a dialogue-writing credit in the 1930 classic, "All Quiet on the Western Front." A lanky, austere 6-foot-3, he was "Mr. Abbott" to all but his personal friends.

His imposing presence made first-name familiarity unthinkable, even for a president of the United States. "I don't dare call him George, because I am temporarily between jobs," said Ronald Reagan at a White House reception when Abbott was honored at the Kennedy Center in Washington in 1982. "Mister Abbott" was the title of his 1963 autobiography. "No one can move actors around faster, get more laughs out of a joke or slide so gracefully over a play's weak spots," Time magazine said in 1978. Abbott was a brisk, no-nonsense director.

When a performance worked, his highest praise usually was, "That's good." "I'm in a business so full of hyperbole that I shrink from it," he said. "I hate phonies, and I think phonies exaggerate praise or blame." Luminaries who worked for Abbott on stage included Carol Burnett, Ethel Merman, Zero Mostel, Gwen Verdon, Jean Stapleton, Ray Bolger, Elizabeth Ashley, Bob Fosse, Phil Silvers, Rosalind Russell and Van Johnson. Information In the Deaths and Funerals column Is paid advertising. To place an obituary call 335-0324. EDWARD A.

WHITEHILL SR. Moving to Ft. Myers In 1955 from Bulter, PA, he worked as a real estate agent In the Ft. Myers area until his retirement in 1974. He Is survived by his wife of 59 years, Carolyn B.

Whltehlll, two sons, Edward A. Whltehlll, Jr. of Piano, TX and Joseph A. Whltehlll, of Brandon, FL; six daughters: Judith Ezell, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Anne Irvln, Janet Morando, Carolyn Jane Jennings, Mary Thompson and Sylvia Bartlett all of Ft.

Myers. Also surviving are 23 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. A daughter 8. grandson Laura and Thomas Drouln preceded him in death. Private funeral services officiated by Father John T.

Doyle of St. Cecelia's Catholic Church, were held in the chapel of Ft. Myers Memorial Gar-denson Tuesday, January 31. IN MEMORIAM RAYMOND JONES ON HIS 74TH BIRTHDAY God took you home on 42594. You're at rest and peace now, but tore my heart and world apart.

Honey, you're always in my heart and dreams forever. No one will ever take your place. You are the one and only love of my life. I love and miss you so much. Love always and forever, Debra The Associated Press MIAMI George Abbott, a Broadway legend who earned a Pulitzer Prize and scores of other honors while writing, directing, producing or acting in more than 120 plays, has died of a stroke.

He was 1 07. Abbott died Tuesday night at his home in Miami Beach, his wife said. "It was very peaceful," Joy Abbott said. "We were holding his hand. It was so peaceful.

No pain or anything." Abbott first appeared on the New York stage as an actor in 1913, when he was 26. He was still going strong well past the age of 100. He directed a revival of his 1926 hit, "Broadway," that opened on his 100th birthday in 1987, and in 1989 he wrote and directed "Frankie," an off-Broadway musical adaptation of "Frankenstein." In 1994, he helped revise the book for a Broadway revival of his '50s hit "Damn Yankees." "I loved George Abbott as a man and as a friend and as a great gentleman of the theater," Gene Kelly said in a statement. "He was for me a teacher, a mentor and I will never be able to repay what I learned working for him and with him on several shows in the Broadway theater." Abbott said he kept busy because "I'd hate not to have a job of some kind." Shortly before his 104th birthday, he Joked at benefit at Carnegie Hall that he was going to write a pamphlet on "100 Tidy Tips for Longevity" including a chapter on "how to get out of a chair." Twice, in 1934 and 1939, he was the director of five different plays that opened on Broadway in the same year. During an extraordinary 15-year stretch, 1948 through 1962, Abbott shows won 40 Tony awards, including five for himself personally as author, director, or both.

The Tony-winning productions were "Where's Charley," "Call Me Madam," "Wonderful Town," "The Pajama Game," "Damn Yankees," "New Girl In Town," "Take Her, She's Mine," and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." beautifully restored! For Instance Just Delivers! The Associated Press LONG CAREER: George Abbott, shown in a 1994 photo, died of a stroke Tuesday night after working on Broadway well past the age of 100. "Fiorello!" also won Abbott the 1960 Pulitzer Prize and the Drama Critics Circle Award. In 1965 he staged "Flora, the Red Menace," whose young star, Liza Minnelli, won a best-actress Tony. Abbott's life achievements were recognized with a special Tony award in 1976. Two more Tonys came to his 1983 production of "On Your Toes," which he originally directed and wrote with Richard Rodgers and Lo-renz Hart in 1936.

Abbott's name appeared on the playbills of more than 120 productions between 1913 and 1987. He also was the last of a small group of theatrical miracle workers known as play doctors, who turned out-of-town flops into New York hits, sometimes anon FORT MYERS 3645 Fowler Street 939-1111 BILL BRANCH CHEVROLET CEO DIXIE BU1CK as ram FT. MYERS tiff IP A JDJ HOT it m-md PORT 4030A OXLLLLLli' GALEANA CHARLOTTE Tamiami Trail 629-2666 i Lee County MARY GRACE BOTSFORD Mary Grace Botsford, 74, of Fort Myers died Tuesday, January 31, 1995, a 23 year resident, formerly of North Branford, Conn. Mrs. Botsford is survived by two daughters, Catherine Mary Wlllmann of Austin, TX and Terrl Elizabeth Ricker of Bonlta Springs; one son, Robert Paul Botsford of North Fort Myers; four sisters, Florence Pen-neno, Fannie Barllll, Frances Plsca-telll, and Geraldine DIPIaclta; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted on Friday at 2:00 p.m. from the Chapel of the Harvey-Engelhardt Funeral Home, 1600 Colonial with Rev. William Phillips, officiating. Interment will take place at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 10 A.M.

untlltlmeof servlcesat 2p.m. JOSEPH HAGUE Joseph Hague, 68, of Cape Coral, died 1-31-95. He was born Feb. 28, 1926, in Philadelphia, PA, the son of An-drewand Sarah Kunkel Hague. He Is survived by his wife, Clara K.

Hague of Cape Coral; one daughter, Carol Pappas and husband, Bill of Athens, Greece; one son, Andrew J. Hague and wife, Janet of Philadelphia, and six grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Friday Feb. 3, 1995 at Harvey-Engelhardt's Cape Coral Funeral Home, 3740 Del Prado Blvd.

Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday morning from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Memorial donations may be made to The American Cancer Society "Cape Coral 4575 Via Royale, Suite 209, Ft. Myers, FL 33919. LESTER R.JOY Lester R.

Joy, 76? of Fort Myers passed away suddenly while visiting friends In Concord, NC. His services and burial were In Corning, NY which was his hometown before moving to Fort Myers. He served In the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II in the Pacific. He was retired from Corning Inc.

His wife, Betty, survives along with two stepdaughters, nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association. GLENN H.RHOADES Glenn H. Rhoades, age 74, of Marl-, etta, Georgia, formerly of Fort Myers, died Monday, January 31, 1995. Surviving are his wife, Kathleen Rhoades of Marietta, GA; daughters, Kathleen Limp of North Salem, Ind.

and Glenda Rhoades of Marietta, GA; four grandsons and two great-grand-chlldren. mf UMCIovottndAv. ier 933-2131 Flowr Sunt I WorUwioV 4C3-G312 431-2421 WO SURGERY I 1 NATIONAL liTJi I CREMATION ffjl I iviessn his at the In STOREWIDE DOT SALE 2040 OFF SELECTED JEWELRY TreBor FORT MYERS EDISON MALL 277-0822 neral Chapel. CARDOZO III, RALPH NUNEZ, 72, of Naples, died Wednesday. No services.

Arrangements by Hodges Funeral Chapel. CLEMONS, WILLIAM 78, of Naples, died Wednesday. Memorial services Friday. Arrangements by the Johnson Chapel of the Johnson-Pittman Funeral Homes. DeYOUNG, GEORGE 67, of Naples, died Wednesday.

Services Sunday. Arrangements by Hodges Funeral Chapel. KENNER, LAWRENCE 79, of Naples, died Wednesday. Arrangements by the Johnson Chapel of the Johnson-Pittman Funeral Homes. PATTERSON, SNOWIE MAE, 75, of Naples, died Tuesday.

Services Memorial services will be held Friday, February 3, at 2:30 p.m. at Canton Hill. H.M. Patterson and Son, 1157 Old Canton Rd Marietta, Georgia. STANLEY F.RHODES Stanley F.

Rhodes, 83, was a resident of Buccaneer Estates since moving here March 1975 from Belcher-town, Mass. Stanley was a member of the Vernon Masonic Lodge AF 8. AM and was a Past Master of the lodge. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Springfield, a member of Araba Shrine Temple of Fort Myers, and a member of Thomas A. Edison Congregational Church of Fort Myerssince moving here.

Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Helen M. Rhodes of North Fort Myers; sons 8, their wives, Stanley F. and JoAnn Rhodes of Rutland, Vermont, Kenneth W. and Dorothy Rhodes of Belchertown, a daughter, Eleanor A. Rhodes of Holyoke, nine grandchildren and eight greatgrandchildren.

The family will receive friends TODAY from 1:00 pm until Service time 2:00 pm at the Harvey Engelhardt's North Fort Myers Funeral Home, with Pastor Joseph Cook of the Thomas A. Edison Congregational Church officiating. The family request that flowers be omitted and memorials be given to ShrinersCrlppled Children Hospital through the Araba Temple of Fort Myers. CHRISTOPHER RUSSELL WESTNEY Christopher Russell Westney, 25, of North Fort Myers died Saturday, December 10, 1994. He was born and lived San Diego, CA until he was 18 years old.

He then moved to North Fort Myers. Christopher Is survived by his wife, Judith; his mother and father, Nancy and Larry Westney of North Fort Myers; sister, Jeanne of North Fort Myers; and a brother, Michael of San Mateo, FL. Memorial services will be conducted Saturday February 4, 1995 at 2:00 pm in the Club House at Pine Lakes Country Club with the Rev. Jerry Griff In officiating. 1 JV REQUIRED cyPress Lake Dr Ft- Myers i Jt.

li up to 600 for their PUNTA CORDA 216 Nesbit Street 639-3694 USED CAR a TRUCK SALE Spfe mm. i II i ALL SILVER REPLATING REDUCED 25 No charge for straightening DURING FEBRUARY ONLY. Have your old silver This is an excellent time to take advantage of these low, low prices to nave your worn silverware, antiques and family heirhxims beautifully restored. These pieces are now more valuable than ever and make wonderful (jifts. All work HEAVILY SILVERPLATED by our skilled silversmiths and Sale prices apply to ALL pieces.

Teapot Creamer Sugar Trays STARTS THURSDAY Article Ren- Price or Coffee Pot 95 76.95 57.71 Candlestick (per in.) 8.95 6.71 Bowl 83.95 62.96 (per sq. in.) 68 .51 LINCOLN MERCURY FREELANO MOTORS CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH JEEPEAGLEPCNTIACISUZU JOHN SCANLOill MITSUBISHI FULL 25 YEAR WARRANTY on all silver replating REPAIR POLICY: FREE DENT REMOVAL and strniulueninn on all items we silverplate. ONLY FOR ALL SOLDERING REPAIRS on any piece we silverplate. Includes soldering broken handles, legs, knobs, etc. (Only exceptions are for furnishing new parts and unusually Jillii.uk repairs.) We also repair twisted and broken Sterling.

Antique brushes, combs and mirrors replaced. New stainless knife blades installed and disposal damage repaired. All at regular low prices. SALE ENDS FEBRUARY 28. John Michaels Fine Jewelry 1413 Cape Coral Pkwy.

Cape Coral (Next to Wendy's 5492099 A NEVJ MEDICAL BREAK THROUGH Impotence Can Be Treated With A 95 Rate Of Success Practice Limited To Male Sexual Dysfunction The Natural Process Of Erection is Mimicked More Closely Than Any Other Treatment Simple Affordable Medicare Insurance Approved Take the first step. Call for a consultation. $oU Pitt tod ALL NEW PATIENTS may present this coupon for I towards any service.J ScznLa cfiuzx Cxal aboard the 80 ft. Luxury Motor Yacht "Friendship" Donation 1.00 lif.l-1I HMEM-H1Miir I Postmenopausal Women If you are 45 or over, you may be eligible for a free one year hormone replacement therapy research program. Medically Win A Roundtrip For Two To Romantic Paris Find a GOLD Edison Festival of Light pin inside and become eligible to win these grand prizes! A Roundtrip For Two to Paris, France COMPLIMENTS OF CONTINENTAL AIRLINES A 46 Inch Zenith Television with PicturePicture Feature GTE Mobilnet Cellular Prizes COMPLIMENTS OF GTE MOBILNET 1,995 Florida Lottery Scratch Off Tickets COMPLIMENTS OF FLORIDA LOTTERY Plus Valuable Coupons and Thousands of Instant Winners! COMPLIMENTS OF: SUBWAY, FIRST CHOICE HAIRCUTTERS, GTE MOBILNET and PEPSI supervised program includes: Mammogram Lab tests Gynecological workup and physical examination Investigational medication Patients compensated participation.

For information please call: 936-5515 or1 Prim Rib Dinner Cruise Friday Saturday $29.95 per person A complete Prime Rib Dinner served in our Captains Dining Room. Departs at 8 PM. Cash Bar available. Evening Dinner Cruises Dally. Reservations Information Call: 334-2828 Ambassador CRUISES 2220 West First Street Fort Myers Major Credt Cd Accepted Sailing daily from Shooter's Wharf at tha New Holiday Inn Sun Spree Resort In downtown Fort Myers, The MY Friendship is one of Fort Myers' newest and most elegant charter vessels.

Cruises include sightseeing excursions from as low as $12.95, scenic lunch and dinner cruises along wilt) cocktail cruises with com pllmentary hors d'oeuvres and beer. Ask about our special event and charter cruise packages for every occasion from business meetings to wedding receptions I 1800) 847-1HS8. Medical Studies, Florida World Plaza Central Park Bldg. 15 Pins Available At First Choice Haircutters GTE Mobilnet Office it Subway Festival Office Sun Rank 12645 New Brittany Blvd. Ft.

Myers, FL 33907 Kdison Festival of Light, 2210 Bay Street, Fort Mvera, Florida (813) 334-2999. No purchase necessary. A free envelope may be picked up at the Edison Festival of Light, Inc. Office. Limit one per person per day.

Restrictions Apply During Peak Flying Times.