Delbert Wayne Martin
Delbert Wayne Martin, 89, of Harvard, Illinois, died Feb. 19.
He was born June 19, 1926, to John and Bertha (Sanders) Martin in Sandborn, Indiana. He married Helen Josephine Burke on Aug. 6, 1946, in Detroit.
Delbert was a corporal in the U.S. Marines during World War II, serving in Okinawa, Nagasaki, Japan, in the Pacific Theater. He had farmed, worked at Autolite in Woodstock, Admiral Corp in Harvard, Arnold Engineering in Marengo and at AA Anderson in Harvard for 11 years.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Harvard, the VFW, American Legion and the Harvard Moose Lodge.
Also, he enjoyed travel, checkers, tic-tac-toe, shopping, yard work, movies and spending time with his grandchildren.
A service was held Feb. 23 in Harvard. Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Harvard. Condolences may be posted to www.saundersmcfarlin.net.
Survivors include wife Josephine of Harvard; children Susan of Harvard, Regina Wythe of Belvidere, Beverly and husband Richard Kottke of Sharon, Wisconsin, Pamela of North Carolina, Steven and wife Patricia of Harvard, Kelly and Lisa of Harvard, Tjet of Bradenton Beach and Connie and husband Robert Taylor; 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Ernest Morris
Ernest Morris, 91, of Anna Maria, died Feb. 21.
He was born in Powderly, Kentucky, and his family moved to Bradenton when he was young.
He graduated from Bradenton High School in 1943. He served in World War II as a naval quartermaster on the USS Culpepper. He retired from Miller Trailers and enjoyed family cookouts and fishing.
A service was held Feb. 26 at Sarasota National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Lucile; daughter Brenda Twiss; grandchildren Jennifer Cart, Ernie and Gregory; and great-grandchildren Brendan Cart and Gregory Jr.
Anthony ‘Tony’ Palella
Anthony “Tony” Palella died Feb. 18.
He was born Aug. 29, 1963, to Al and Marie Palella of Holmes Beach, and was raised on Anna Maria Island from the time he was 11.
For many years, he worked in Anna Maria at Bortell’s Lounge, which is owned by his family.
Arrangements were by Berryville Funeral Home of Huntsville, Alabama.
Survivors include his parents Al and Marie.
Sharon D. Rowland
Sharon D. Rowland, 76, a longtime resident of Anna Maria Island, died Feb. 18 in Franklin, North Carolina.
She was born Nov. 21, 1939, in Muncie, Indiana, to Edwin and Ruby (Little) McDuffee.
She cared for “Snooty” the Manatee at the South Florida Museum and did volunteer work at the Pelican Man Bird Sanctuary.
A service was held Feb. 26 in Muncie. Memorial contributions may be made online to the National Humane Society at nationalhumanesociety.org. Condolences may made at elmridgefuneralhome.com.
Survivors include sons Scott Nelson, Erich and wife Roberta and Jason; daughter Amanda and husband John Shockley; grandchildren Melisa, Misty, Mindi, Scott, Lana, Kelly, Nicholas, Victoria, Alexandria and Hayden; and 13 great-grandchildren.