Obituaries
Whidden-McLean Funeral Home & Crematory Obituaries
In Memory of Our Dear Loved Ones
James Dover
Oct 26, 2025
Bartow -James "Garland" Dover , age 89, passed away on October 26, 2025, at his residence in Bartow. He was born on February 4, 1936, in Lawrenceburg, TN. He was a Inspector for the State of Florida. He enjoyed watching tv and reading. He was preceded in death by his brother Harold Dover. He is survived by his wife Lanita...
Isaias Cruz
Oct 25, 2025
Bartow - Isaias Cruz, age 49, passed away on October 25, 2025, at his residence in Bartow. He was born on December 8, 1975, in Harlingen, TX. He enjoyed going to church, playing the maraca, watching wrestling and spending time with his family. He was preceded in death by his father Agapito Cruz and sister Josephine Cruz. He is survived...
Elaine W. Lunn
Oct 24, 2025
Bartow - Elaine W. Lunn, age 91, passed away Friday, October 24, 2025 at her home in Bartow. She was born November 30, 1933 in Wauchula, FL to Horace & Lydia Wilkerson. Elaine was an Accountant for IMC Phosphate. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bartow where she was very active and loved to volunteer her...
Patricia "Pat" Ann Tanner
Oct 22, 2025
Bartow - Patricia "Pat" Ann Tanner, age 74, passed away Wednesday, October 22, 2025. She was born April 12, 1951 in Watertown, NY to Thomas & Bertha Burns. Pat worked for the Polk County School Board in the accounting department. She was a member of Bartow First Assembly of God. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother...
Nila J. Garrett
Oct 21, 2025
Bartow - Nila J. Garrett, age 87, passed away on October 21, 2025, at Forsythe Hospice House in Auburndale. She was born on October 10, 1938, in Bartow, FL. She was a Homemaker. She enjoyed bowling, shopping, reading and traveling. She is survived by her son Brian Garrett (Wendi) of Bartow, daughter Kimberly Hendrick (Paul) of Bartow, grandson Zachary Hendrick,...
Leon J. LaClair
Oct 19, 2025
Bartow - Leon J. LaClair, age 86, passed away on October 19, 2025, at Hawthorne Inn in Lakeland. He was born on February 1, 1939, in Ellenburg, NY. After high school he joined the United States Air Force, where he was an Aircraft Jet Engine Mechanic. He then returned to Sodus, NY and worked at Xerox Corp in Webster, NY...
Alan Lynn Sizemore
Oct 18, 2025
Alan Lynn Sizemore, lovingly known as “Popee” by his four grandchildren, passed away on October 18, 2025, at Winter Haven Hospital. He was 77 years old and a resident of Winter Haven, Florida.
Born April 28, 1948, in Holly Hill, Florida, he was the son of Byron K. Sizemore and Maria D. Sizemore. Alan graduated from Daytona Beach Mainland High School...
Raymond L. Cadiz, Jr.
Oct 17, 2025
Lakeland - Raymond L. Cadiz, Jr., age 77, passed away on October 17, 2025, at Lakeland Regional Health and Medical Center. He was born on Saturday, August 7, 1948 in Manhattan, NY. He enjoyed watching westerns, fishing, collecting watches and traveling, especially on cruises. He was preceded in death by his son Joeneal Cadiz and sisters Carmen & Evelyn. He...
Roscoe L. Welch
Oct 16, 2025
Bartow - Roscoe L. Welch, age 51, passed away on October 16, 2025, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. He was born on January 1, 1974, in Bartow, FL. He enjoyed going to church, bowling in the Special Olympics, gospel music and eating collard greens. He especially loved the Incredible Hulk and listening to Blaine and Boyd Cornwell sing. He...
Sara F. Long
Oct 16, 2025
Bartow - Sara F. Long, age 92, passed away on October 16, 2025, at Good Shepherd Hospice in Lakeland. Born on October 17, 1932, in Plant City, FL, she was the daughter of the late John E. and Leila Jane ( Keen) Farabaugh. Mrs. Long was a longtime Bartow resident and a Member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Mrs....
Anne Stuart Pipping
Oct 15, 2025
Anne Stuart Pipping of Lakeland, FL, passed Wednesday, October 15, 2025. She was born March 10, 1932, in Bartow, FL, to Alice and J.K. Stuart. She was the second of six daughters. Anne was a graduate of Summerlin Institute in Bartow, and went on to study at Queens College in Charlotte, NC, where she majored in home economics and was...
Linda Jean Powers
Oct 14, 2025
Linda Jean (Gurney) Powers (75) June 4, 1950 - October 14, 2025. Linda Gurney was born in Waterville, Maine. Linda was one of 10 girls and 2 boys born to John and Mabel Gurney.
Linda graduated from Fairfield High School in the class of 1969. On October 18, 1969 Linda married Lynn F Powers of China. The couple moved to Florida...
Juan Roberto Ramirez
Oct 9, 2025
Fort Meade - Juan Roberto Ramirez, age 72, passed away Thursday, October 9, 2025 at home surrounded by his family. He was born October 23, 1952 in Elsa, TX to Carlos & Maria Guadalupe Ramirez. Juan was the Owner & Operator of Ramirez Trucking & Harvesting in Fort Meade, FL. His Legacy will continue with his sons running the Family...
John R. DeYoung, Jr.
Oct 7, 2025
Bartow – John Ray DeYoung, Jr., age 98, passed away on October 7, 2025, at Lakeland Regional Health and Medical Center. He was born on February 27, 1927, in Ludington, MI, the son of Ray and Eleanor (Laidlaw) DeYoung. He joined the U.S. Army and served in the Army of Occupation in Germany until November 1946. In 1947, John was...
Margaret Alicia Foster
Oct 3, 2025
Margaret Alicia Foster, age 62, passed away Friday, October 3, 2025. She was born October 15, 1962 in Bartow, FL to Wm. Rueben & Marcella Smith. She was a General Manager at McDonald's in Fort Meade. Margaret was a member of First Baptist Church of Fort Meade. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Emmy Lou Smith....
Brent F. Hicks
Oct 2, 2025
Lakeland -Brent F. Hicks , age 66, passed away on October 2, 2025, at Lakeland Regional Health and Medical Center. He was born on May 2, 1959, in Huntington, WV. He was a dedicated Firefighter for Polk County Fire Rescue. He enjoyed hunting, mowing, target practice and sitting on his porch. Above all, he loved spending time with his grandchildren...
James Michael Ford
Sep 30, 2025
James Michael Ford, was born Tuesday, September 30, 2025 and went to be with his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ an hour after he was born. He is survived by his loving parents Joseph John Ford III & Laura Elizabeth Ford of Lakeland, brother Leo Hunter Ford, grandparents Andy & Laura McGinnis and Cara & John Ponton. Memorial service will...
Betty A. Card
Sep 30, 2025
Lakeland - Betty A. Card, age 85, passed away on September 30, 2025, at Forsythe Hospice House in Auburndale. She was born on June 22, 1940, in Jacksonville, IL. She was a devoted homemaker who found joy in caring for others. She enjoyed going to church, traveling with friends, and cooking. Above all, she cherished time spent with her grandchildren...
Braden M. Fredericks
Sep 27, 2025
Lakeland – Braden M. Fredericks, age 24, passed away on September 27, 2025. He was born on January 21, 2001, in Cooperstown, NY.
Braden worked as a skilled motorcycle mechanic after completing his associates degree with honors at MMI,in Orlando. He lived life fueled by his passions—racing quads, dirt bikes, motorcycles, animals, playing guitar, and anything music related. Known for his...
Julia Lucille DeVane Mitchell
Sep 21, 2025
Julia Lucille Devane Mitchell, age 101, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
She was born on October 10, 1923, in Bereah, Florida, to Lacy and Julia DeVane. A lifelong resident of Fort Meade, Lucille graduated from Fort Meade High School, Class of 1941. She was a devoted member of the First Baptist...

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