May 2003

Doris Acheson, 84, passed away on February 18, 2003. She was a nurse in the U.S. Army and went to the Canal Zone in 1942. She resided mostly in Margarita after her marriage to William S. Acheson, working as an Army Nurse in Ft. Gulick. She retired from Coco Solo Hospital in 1971 and relocated to Florida in 1972 upon her husband’s retirement.

Marion Catherine Mauberret Amos, 87, died of natural causes on February 10, 2003 at her home with family at her side. Residing in the Canal Zone and Panama for 9 years (1953-1962), the family lived in Colon, Curundu and Curundu Heights. Mrs. Amos taught school at St. Mary Catholic School in Balboa

Ethel Kozak Askew, 89, of Largo, Fla. died April 30, 2003. She was born at Gorgas Hospital, Ancon, Canal Zone and left the Zone at the age of five to live in Illinois. She returned at age 18 and subsequently went to work for the Panama Canal retiring in 1970 after a long career in accounting. She was the widow of Eugene I. Askew (deceased), former President of the Panama Canal Society.

Floyd W. Baker of Federal Way, Wash., passed away in Tacoma, Wash. on February 27, 2003 after a short illness. He moved to the Canal Zone in late 1960 and went to work for the Industrial Division on the Atlantic side and remained there until his retirement in 1981.

Bevilie Edith Gardiner Brigman, 85, of Orlando, Fla., formerly of Tampa, and long-time resident of the Panama Canal Zone passed away on March 30, 2003, at Orlando Regional Medical Center. She lived first in Gamboa and then in Los Rios, and was employed as Secretary for US Army Logistics Support in the Office of the Commander at Corozal from 1952 until she retired in 1972.

Mary Dignam Brzezinski, 83, passed away March 12, 2003 in Houston, Texas. Mary retired from Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio in 1989 after many years of service.

Barbara Bishop Edginton, 89, of St. Petersburg, Fla., died April 3, 2003 at her daughter’s home under the care of Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. She lived 25 years in the Panama Canal Zone.

Boyd Walbridge Ferry, 83, passed away March 30, 2003 at his home in Wellsboro, Pa. He retired in 1974 with 32 years service. He was a supervisor of Sheet Metal and Roofing Shops in Balboa.

John Joseph Ford, Jr., passed away unexpectedly on April 5, 2003 at his home in Viera, Fla. He worked for the Department of the Army for many years in Washington, D.C. and the Panama Canal Zone.

Barbara Joan Hatch passed away on March 4, 2003, at the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. She died from complications following a heart attack. She graduated from Balboa High School in 1948 and lived in many different places as a result of her father’s military career (Brig. Gen. Clare T. Budge).

Frances Maravilla passed away March 22, 2003 in the arms of her husband, Joe, at her home in Ocala, Fla. She was surrounded by her family.

Linda (Askew) Martin, 56, of Mobile, Ala., passed away on March 3, 2003, shortly after being diagnosed with heart failure. Linda was born in Gorgas Hospital and grew up on the Pacific side where she graduated from Balboa High School in 1965. She left that same year to live in Mobile.

Norma Marie Martin, 91, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., died on November 23, 2002. She was a native of Nicaragua and had resided in Gulf Breeze since 1969. Prior to that time, she lived in Ecuador and Old Cristobal, Canal Zone.

James P. McConaughy, 78, died April 26, 2003 in Palm Harbor. He was born in the Canal Zone and came to Florida in the 1950s and was a real estate broker and operator of Vigilant Real Estate in Clearwater and St. Petersburg.

Erin Gemmie Moser, 73, of Douglasville, Ga., died November 29, 2002 at her residence after a long illness. She was employed by the Panama Canal Co. as a teacher and retired in 1979.

Lois Avery Smith, 83, passed away on March 5, 2003 after a lengthy illness. She went to live in the Canal Zone after WW II when her husband returned to his job with the Police Department. Lois was a long-time resident of Gatun and worked for a short time for the Commissary Division and left the Canal Zone in 1970.

Jessie Jean Bennett Veit, 101, of St. Petersburg, Fla., died April 8, 2003 at Westminster Shores Health and Rehabilitation Center. She came to Florida in 1955 from the Panama Canal Zone. No other information available.

Dorothy B. Webb, 94, died March 1, 2003, of natural causes at the Olathe Medical Center, Olathe, Kan. She married Winton A. Webb in 1937 and went to the Panama Canal Zone that same year.

Winton A. Webb, 94, died March 29, 2003, of natural causes at the Olathe Good Samaritan Center, Olathe, Kans. He married Dorothy B. Webb in 1937 and they went to the Panama Canal Zone where they lived in both Ancon and Balboa while Winton served as a pharmacist at Gorgas Hospital and at outpatient clinics in Pedro Miguel and Balboa. He and Dorothy left the Canal Zone in the fall of 1956.