Harry Orin Blake Jr. was relieved of his earthly post on August 19th 2024 and finally able to stand at attention in Heaven for his Savior. He was born on November 19th 1929 in Chicago, Illinois. Following Harry’s great love for Christ, his life was defined by his devotion to his family, his adoration of his wife, Lola, and his unwavering service to his country.

Harry was a reader of scripture, a prayer warrior and a man who studied the Word of God. A man of character and honor, Harry lived out his faith in Christ. After decades of seeing war, losing loved ones, and enduring physical limitations and pain, his praise was still loud and his heart still soft to the promises of God.

Harry’s love for his country was exhibited in his years of service. Joining the US Marine Corps in 1946 at just 16 he went on to serve his country for 23 years retiring as a First Sergeant. In his military career he served in WWII, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as the Lebanon Crisis earning numerous medals including The Purple Heart. If you knew Harry, you knew he was a Marine through and through. He was never seen anywhere without a Marine emblem or insignia upon his person, nor was a Semper Fi ever too long without being spoken. His time spent in the service took him to 18 different countries/locales and gave him an almost unending reserve of stories which he told with much gusto and clarity.

If Harry loved being a Marine… and Harry LOVED being a Marine, it was overshadowed by only one thing, his love for his family. Harry married the love of his life, Lola, in 1950. He would tell anyone within ear shot how wonderful she was, how beautiful she was, and how delicious her cooking was. In his eyes, Lola was darn near perfect and he loved her fiercely. Together they had two children, Patricia and Harry Orin III. Harry called being a father was OJT (on the job training). He was a strict military man who let the years and Christ soften and mold him into a man who hugged tightly and always told his children and grandchildren and great grandchildren how much he loved them. Harry was extraordinarily proud of his children and his family.

Harry, in his younger days was a carpenter and a DIY-er. He was a master at telling a joke that sounded like a real story, almost always catching the listener off guard. He had a giant smile and an even bigger laugh. His hugs nearly crushed your ribs and stole your breath, but left you feeling loved and seen. He was quick with a life lesson or a word of advice and he was almost always spot on with both.

A man of upright character, honor and faithfulness, Harry will leave a hole in the hearts of many. Another exceptional man leading the way home.

Harry is survived by his children, Patricia (Allen) Sparks, Harry (Teresa) O Blake III, his grandchildren, Sara (Ryan), Cari (Richie), Grant, Jennifer, Geoffrey (Monique) and Gabriel, great-grandchildren Aiden, Rigg, Charlie, Ryder, Jeremy, Samantha and Jack; sister, Jane (Mike) Proud.

Harry is predeceased by his parents, Harry O and Katheryn Blake Sr., his brother Paul, his sisters Joy and Ruth, his wife Lola, his grandson-in-law Andrew, and his great-granddaughter Caden.

Services will be held at Rocklane Christian Church on August 23rd. The viewing will be from 9am–11am with the memorial service starting at 11am. Following the memorial service a graveside service with Military Honors will be held at West Ridge Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Rocklane Christian Church.

Art Littlefield, 91, of Orlando, passed away peacefully at his home Jan. 27, with Jo, his wife of 68 years, by his side. Art was born in Fall River, Massachusetts in 1932. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1950, soon after graduating from St. Petersburg High School. The Korean War was just cranking up. He ultimately spent two 13-month tours there.

He served as a Drill instructor in San Diego and at Parris Island. His summer romance with Jo Chimenti that began in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, became a marriage in 1955 that lasted the rest of his life.

He slowly started climbing the Marine Corps enlisted ranks. In 1966, while at Parris Island serving as an instructor at Drill Instructors’ school, he was summoned to the General’s office, where he had the gold bars of 2nd Lieutenant pinned on. His wife Jo, and his three children: Pam, Artie and Cindy were at his side. He also was given orders to Vietnam.

In Vietnam, he served as a Forward Observer and Infantry Platoon Commander. Art describes his years in the Marine Corps as among the greatest experiences of his life, due to the camaraderie and dedication of his fellow Marines. Art retired from the Marine Corps in 1970 as a Captain with awards that included the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He and his family moved to Orlando. For many years, he attended the annual Drill Instructors’ Reunion at Parris Island, his favorite Marine Corps base.

He went on to a successful career in advertising and marketing in civilian life, primarily for SEE Magazine. Art was a life-long golfer who had a hole-in-one to his credit. After retirement from advertising sales, he took a part-time job at the Rio Pinar Golf Club, where he happily tended to the golf carts, squirrels and every stray animal that cared to stop by for treats. He is survived by his wife, Jo Littlefield, as well as Pam Littlefield (daughter), Susan Littlefield (daughter-in-law), Cindy and Bob Dempsey (daughter and son-in-law). He is also survived by six grandchildren: Kyle and Kristopher Dempsey, Art and Ryan Littlefield, Leigh and Kevin Moran, as well as two great grandchildren, McKayla and Kira Dempsey.

Ronald William “Bubba” McCulloh, 83, husband of Mary Jane Cammack McCulloh, passed away December 28, 2023 at Baptist Health Lexington. Born in Salisbury, NC on March 31, 1940, Bubba was the son of J.R. McCulloh and Virginia Duree Hodge Fisher.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Patrick Snider.

The high time of Bubba’s life was as a United States Marine Drill Instructor at Parris Island, SC where he trained Marine recruits for service in Vietnam. Following his service in the Marines, Bubba worked as a manufacturer sales rep for the furniture industry from 1967 – 1990, as a car salesman for 16 years at Countryside Motors, and as a tour guide at Wild Turkey Distillery. He was a member of the Sand Spring Baptist Church and the Generations Sunday School Class.

Including Mary Jane, his wife of 33 years, Bubba is survived by his children, Lisa (Jonathan) Kopf of Wilmington, NC, Jennifer (David) Snider of Salisbury, NC, and Sharon (Brian) Barton of Kannapolis, NC; six grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; a sister, Kaye (Chuck) Skelley of Prattville, AL; a niece and a nephew.

Archie Garald Bobo, 84, died on Friday, November 24, 2023 at Onslow Memorial Hospital.

Mr. Bobo was born in Barberton, Ohio on September 6, 1939 to the late Archie Pearl Bobo and Janet Baughman Bobo.

Archie is survived by his wife, Bonnie Bobo; daughters, Laura Feldhaus of Jacksonville, NC and Darla Guenthner (Pat) of Virginia Beach, VA; son, John Bobo of Greenville, SC; grandchildren, Mary Walsh, Joshua Feldhaus, Rhett Guenthner and Molly Guenthner; sister, Janet Struckel and several extended family members and friends.

Doug was not a formal member of the Association but few devoted more time and effort to our reunions.
Douglas C. Hilton of Kingsport, Tennessee died on Saturday, October 7, 2023 after months of pain.
Per his wishes he will be cremated and there will not be a formal funeral.

He would like for his family and friends to remember him as he was before he became ill. And he was always so proud to be a U.S. Marine.
Carter-Trent Funeral Home of Kingsport is serving the Hilton family.

Msgt. Charles W. Harnest, 4 March 1945 - 2 August 2023
Chuck was an adoring husband, father, grandfather, brother, and mentor. He was also a proud veteran of the US Marine Corps. On August 2nd, he passed away surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by his amazing wife Gayle and his brother George.

He is survived by his daughter Katherine, his daughter Jennifer, his son-in-law Robert, his granddaughters Lillian and Amelia, and his siblings Peggy, David & Angela.

Chuck will be put to rest with full military honors at Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia on Tuesday 10/10/2023 at 2pm; before the service there will be a memorial gathering at the National Museum of the Marine Corps from 11:30 - 1:30 in the Medal of Honor 2nd Deck Lobby. with the rank of first sergeant and moved to Central Florida to be near his widowed mother.

Russell W Kauffman, retired Marine who became known for his volunteer work with civic organizations and who achieved local fame as Santa Claus in the Orlando area, passed away on July 17 at the age of 88.
A Pennsylvania native, Russ was born August 6, 1934 to Robert and Pauline (Johnson) Kauffman in a small rural community near Allentown. He began his education in a one-room school house, and attended public schools until early 1952, when, in his junior year of high school, he enlisted in the Marines.
Russ would spend the next 22 years in the Marines, serving two tours in Vietnam and Med cruises aboard the aircraft carriers Intrepid and Valley Forge. But the highlight of his career was the 2-1/2 years he spent as a drill instructor at Parris Island during the height of the Vietnam era.
Other postings included Quantico, Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, I & I duty at Gulfport, Mississippi, and sergeant major of the Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment at NAS Lakehurst, NJ. He retired at Camp Pendleton in 1974 with the rank of first sergeant and moved to Central Florida to be near his widowed mother.
Never one to sit still, Russ took a job with Martin Marietta and took an active role in organizations such as the American Legion and the USMC East Coast Drill Instructors Association. He was Past Commandant of the Marine Corps League in Central Florida, and was awarded the Quilt of Valor for his work and dedication.
After retiring from Martin Marietta, he took on the role of Santa Claus at Orlando's Fashion Square Mall and later at Walt Disney World. He was also featured as Santa in Universal Orlando's ad campaigns, and appeared in commercials and billboards throughout the Eastern United States.
He loved bringing the joy and happiness of Christmas to children, but due to health issues he had to retire in 2010.
Russ was active until his final day - distributing refreshments at church, keeping in touch with his Marine buddies, and playing his favorite role as patriarch of a growing family. He spoke often of his beloved wife, Jo Ann, who preceded him in death three years earlier, and he joins her now, along with his parents and his sister, Betty Bortz.
He leaves behind three children: Larry, of Orlando; Michael (Mary) of Owings, Maryland; and Kathy Hiracheta of Kissimmee. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Simon (Lisa) Hiracheta, Shannon (Aric) Johnson; Kyle, Robert, Emily, and Brian Kauffman; six great- grandchildren: Halle Galvez, Mason and Leila Johnson; Andrew, Audrey, and Hayden Hiracheta; and one great-great-grandchild, Elijah Galvez.

Harry Davis, 86 of Rogue River, passed away April 1, 2021 at Providence Medford Medical Center

Hubert, N.C. – Boyce Wayne Floyd, Sr., age 80, born in Seminole, Oklahoma in 1941, passed away suddenly on December 7th, 2021.

Dan K. McKinnon, May 20, 1945~September 28, 2021, a resident of Hudson, FL, passed away peacefully at Bayonet Point Hospital.

Stephen Sylvester Kmiecik, Jr., 80, passed away on Sunday, August 22, 2021 after a short illness. Steve was born in Northampton, MA.

John Michael Rudock, 79, of Richlands, North Carolina, died on May 17, 2021 at Vidant Medical Center.

Ronald "Ron" Sampson, 73, of Webb City, Missouri, died Friday, February 19, 2021. Ron was born July 15, 1947 in Carterville, Missouri

David Paul Guido, 95, 95 of Watertown MA passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, January 26th surrounded by family. David was born on May 30,1924 in Indiana, PA

Paul Joseph Coffman, 54, of Robins died from unexpected heart complications on Wednesday January 20, 2021 at St. Luke’s Hospital

Lt. Col. Karl R. Heiser, a retired Marine and dedicated dad, died on Monday, January 18th of COVID-19 at the University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air, MD. He was 88 and lived in Catonsville, MD.

The West Coast DI Association is saddened to learn of the passing of Sergeant Major Lonnie Long (Ret) on 15 December 2020.

James Wesley Vierheller, 83, of Boomer, died Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, at his home. He was born June 9, 1937, in Belmont County, Ohio.

Freddy Buchholz, 69, of Fannett, died Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont.

Roger Walton Stembridge, Jr. May 11, 1947 - October 13, 2020 Juliette, GA.

Sergeant Major (USMC Retired) Walter “Wes” Melton, Jr., age 83 of Long Beach, passed away Wednesday, September 16, 2020.

Edward T Murphy, Jr. 87 of Center Township passed away on Saturday August 15 2020 at Heritage Valley Hospital after a brief illness.

Jeffry Earl Nadeau, May 14, 1932 – August 9, 2020

Sergeant Major Ihor Sywanyk, USMC retired, 78 of Jacksonville, NC passed away on Saturday, August 1, 2020
Sergeant Major Francis Thomas McNeive, 92, died on Friday, May 29, 2020, at Sunrise Senior Living in Leesburg, Virginia.

GySgt Jesse L. Nieto,  May 17 2020

Sergeant Major David R. Hatfield Sr., USMC (Retired) age 72, of Seymour passed away April 20, 2020
Daniel Kelly “D.K.” Comer, Sr., 83, of Dixon, Kentucky, passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2020, at Baptist Health Madisonville in Madisonville, Kentucky, after a brief illness.

Ralph F. Sargent, 84, of Augusta died Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at VA Hospice Unit Togus Springs. He was born in Gardiner on the 28th of March 1935

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of William Samuels (Headland, Alabama), born in Cincinnati, Ohio, who passed away on March 24, 2020, at the age of 75

Ronald “Ron” Lee Voegeli, 77, husband of Sandra “Sandy” Gollihugh Voegeli, of Beaufort, SC died Wednesday, January 1, 2020 in Beaufort Memorial Hospital

Mr. Dean Heath, 77, of Huntingdon, Tennessee passed away Thursday, December 12, 2019 at his home.
Millard John Morgan BEAUFORT, SC- also known as “Mo” was born April 28, 1943 in Camp Forest, TN. passed away December 14, 2019. He resided in Beaufort, SC for the past twenty years.
Roy Floyd Summerville - Retired USMC Msgt. Roy Floyd, 85, passed away Saturday evening, October 5, 2019, peacefully at his home.
Major Herbert Joseph “Fritz” Werner (USMC Retired), August 23, 1928 - October 25, 2019
John Richard Brown, August 11, 1938 - October 22, 2019
Master Sergeant Donald J. Kane, January 27, 1932 - July 8, 2019
SgtMaj David Adelman,  June 19, 2019
Sergeant Major Ernest Frederick Gregor, Jr., January 27, 1935 - March 12, 2019
Howard Lee Van Sweringen Jr. of Jacksonville, died Saturday March 30, 2019 at his home.

2018
1stLt Curtis Mertz, December 29, 2018
Msgt John R. Gallagher, December 26, 2018
Walter Eugene "Gene" Fletcher, Jr., December 11, 2018
MGySgt Biers, 11 November 2018
John Lewis (Gunny Jack) Bolton, October 24, 2018
George Olivar, October 17, 2018
Ralph Levere Myers, September 29, 2018
William “Bill” Albert Mossor Sr., May 24, 2018
Domenick P. Tutalo Sr., April 23, 2018
Joseph Caruso, April 22, 2018
Dale C. Clark, April 17, 2018
R. Lee Ermey ("The Gunny"), 15 April 2018
Dr. Hiron Halvor Peck, Jr., April 7, 2018
SgtMaj Robert E. Cleary, 11 February 2018
SGT MAJOR Bruce R. Anderson, 27 January, 2018

2017
Robert W. Donohue, December 12, 2017
1stSgt Ralph Carrop, 30 December 2017
Myron F. "Gunny" Mlachak, 20 June 2017
SgtMaj "Iron Mike" Mervosh, 31 October 2017
GySgt. Joseph James Pannasch, 9 May 2017

2016
John Philip “Phil” Barnett, 1 February 2016
Sgt Major Mitchell J. Haddock, 26 May 16
1stSgt William L. "Bill" Throne Jr., 21 December 2016
1stSgt McGrane William J. McGrane, 12 December 2016
Sgt Hugh (Krampe) O'Brian, 5 September 2016
Robert H. McGale, 15 August 2016
Darrell W. Jarrell, 12August 2016
Gene LeRoy Krivanek, 11 March 2016
Jesse Louis Pacheco, 14 April 2016
Brandon, Percy 'Gunny' E., 8 Jan. 2016

2015
Terry "Ted" E. Bryant, 6 June 2015
Richard Kester, 13 September 2015
Larry Ward, 2 July 2015
Maute, Robert A.,14 Nov. 2015
Captain Donald Hartman, 16 April 2015
First Sgt. Charles Carl Seabright Sr., 29 April 2015
GySgt Harold B. West, 16 January 2015
Sgt. Major Edward Platt Grealish Jr., 16 February 2015

2014
Walt Harris passed, 7 October 2014
First Sergeant Boyce M. Williamson, 13 August 2014
Captain Romaine J. Deffes, 30 April 2014
GySgt Charles A. Love, 31 January 2014
MSgt. Ed Conradt, 25 February 2014

2013
Kenneth "Ken" Wayne Barnes, 17 August 2013
Edgar Wade Johnson, 10 October 2013
Sergeant Major Jeff D. Federmeyer, 5 October 2013
Douglas "Barney" Barnett, 27 July 2013
SgtMajor Robert B Robinson Sr., 30 June, 2013
SgtMaj Ted Arnold Jr. 7 June 2013
Captain Augustus Dan "Gus" Beligotti, 1 April 2013

2012
Donald C. McCune, Sr., 10 April 2012
William Frank Lankford, 16 June 2012
SgtMaj Joseph Monteleone, 16 December 2012

2011
Major Kenneth Leo Bourgeois, 8 July 2011
SSgt Leslie Little 4 February, 2012
SgtMaj Walter Heim, 6 October 2011
Sgt Major James F. Bowling, 22 Jan 2011