Etoile Altman

Etoile Altman, 93, of Fort Meade went home to be with the Lord on April 24, 2009 at her residence. Ms. Altman, the daughter of Polk County pioneers John B. Altman and Maude (Hart) Altman, was born in rural Fort Meade on April 25, 1915. She attended elementary school in Carney and Fort Meade, junior high school in Fort Meade, and completed high school in Frostproof. Immediately after high school graduation, she became the first public school secretary for the Fort Meade Public School System. She later worked for Langford Drug, and Varn's Pharmacy, operating the Western Union and the public bus station. In 1941, she began working for the government and worked from Miami to Jacksonville for a number of years. She later opened a business in Titusville known as "The Fabric House", which was operated prior to returning to Fort Meade in 1963, to care for her aging mother. Upon returning to Fort Meade, she opened a successful gift and fashion shop (Etoile's Gifts and Fashions) which she ran for 17 years. In 1980, she closed the gift shop, built a new home and cared for her mother until her mother died in April of 1993. Ms. Altman remained active in the Fort Meade Historical Society. She is a member of and served as treasurer of Fort Meade Garden Club; a member of the Bartow Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy; the National Society of Colonial Dames, XVII Century Surgeon General Matthew Fuller Chapter of Lakeland; the American Legion Auxiliary, serving as its president; and a member of Fort Meade First Baptist Church. She also managed her own citrus company and rental properties. Mrs. Altman was preceded in death by her parents John B. and Maude Hart Altman and two brothers Harl Elmo Altman and Wilbur Lawrence Altman. She is survived by her daughter Betty E. Newsom and husband Marc of Fort Meade. Numerous cousins in the local area. Caregivers Evelyn Davis; Martha Newport and Joyce Myers. A visitation will be held Sunday April 26, 2009 at the McLean Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Meade from 4-6PM and Funeral Services will follow on Monday April 27, 2009 at The First Baptist Church of Fort Meade at 10AM with the Rev. Kenny Slay officiating. Interment will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Meade immediately afterwards. Contributions may be made to Hope Hospice, 1525 Lakeland Hills Blvd. Lakeland, FL 33805 or Fort Meade First Baptist Church, 307 E. Broadway, Ft. Meade, FL 33841. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mcleanfuneralhome.net