May 2005

Stephen G. Allen (CHS’69) passed away March 28, 2005. He moved to the Canal Zone in 1954 with his parents. After graduation he joined the U.S. Army and later moved to Colorado Springs, Colo.

Manuel Arosemena, 81, of Palm Harbor, Fla. died February 21, 2005 at home. He came to Florida in 1980 from his native Panama, where he retired as an engineer from the Panama Canal Co. He was a member of the Panama Canal Society, Inc.

Mitchell Joseph Blanchette, 52, died while on a visit to the Republic of Panama on March 20, 2005. He went to Panama in August 1966 and graduated from CHS in 1970. He served an electrical apprenticeship and later worked as a Construction Division inspector.

Auristela (aka Mami Schmidt or “Stella”) S. Carballeira passed away on April 5, 2005 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. She was born in Panama City and graduated from BHS in 1947. She was a member of the Panama Canal Society.

Helen Emily Collister, 92, of La Mesa, Calif. passed away on April 18, 2005. She and her late husband, Loren, lived in Curundu where he worked for IAGS.

Virginia Simms Covington of Hampton, Va. passed away February 11, 2005. Virginia was born in Ancon, Canal Zone and graduated from BHS in 1937 and married Robert Covington that same year. She was a member of the Panama Canal Society.

Theodore E. Englebright, Jr., 71, died March 24, 2005. Teddy graduated from CHS in 1952. After graduation, he joined the Navy in San Diego, Calif. where he was stationed for six years. He married and lived in La Mirada, Calif. and later moved to Topock, Ariz.

Kalie Elizabeth Foster, 32 days old, died at home of SIDS on January 3, 2005. She was the daughter of Robert Foster and Erin Mullins of Lakeland, Fla. and the granddaughter of Dennis and Edna (Morales) (CHS’62) Foster of Waynesville, N.C.

Jeannette A. Hamilton, 57, of Merritt Island, Fla. died April 10, 2005. Born in the Panama Canal Zone she had lived in Brevard County for the last 36 years.

Virginia (Woodhull) Morland of Pinehurst, N.C. died April 2, 2005. She and her family moved to Panama in 1916 and she graduated from BHS in 1930 and married Gilbert Morland in 1934. They were longtime residents of the
Atlantic side where Mr. Morland owned and operated C. B. Fenton & Co. She was a member of the Panama Canal Society.

Carl W. Reynolds, 82, of Austin, Texas passed away March 27, 2005. He served an apprenticeship as a machinist in Kentucky and worked at Wright-Patterson AFB and later transferred to the Panama Air Depot. He later secured a position with the Panama Canal Co. and retired from the Locks Division in 1979 as a Lockmaster with 37 years of service. He was a member of the Panama Canal Society.

Frances Fanning Sampsell, 90, passed away on April 23, 2005. Mrs. Sampsell was an educator and in 1952 she went to the Canal Zone where she served as a teacher, an elementary principal, Supervisor of Instruction, Elementary Schools, and Assistant Superintendent in charge of Elementary Schools. She spent a total of thirty-eight years in education. She was a member of the Panama Canal Society.

Leo Sousa, 96, of Pinellas Park, Fla. died March 31, 2005 in St. Petersburg. He came to Florida in 1974 from the Panama Canal Zone. He retired as a major in the Army after 21 years and was a member of the Civil Service for 11 years.

Laura V. Spencer, 89, died on April 16, 2005 in Stuart, Fla. She lived in Palm City, Fla. for 35 years coming from Balboa in the Canal Zone with her late husband William W. Spencer.

Lillian M. “Carlie” Taber, 93, of Seminole, Fla. died May 11, 2005 at Sun Coast Hospital, Largo. She came to Florida in 1967 from the Panama Canal Zone. She was a home health nurse in Boston before going to the Canal Zone. She was predeceased by her husband Jack Taber in 2001. She was a member of the Panama Canal Society.

Sarah “Sue” Reynolds Wall, 90, passed away on November 19, 2004. She was born in Colon and graduated from BHS in 1931, attended Canal Zone Junior College, worked in the Admin Building Library and then in Personnel before joining her family in Baltimore in 1936.

Marion B. “Woody” Woodruff, 82, Pinellas Park, Fla. died May 11, 2005. He was born in Cristobal, Canal Zone and came to Florida in 2000 from Dothan, Ala. He was a towing locomotive operator for the Panama Canal for more than 38 years. He was a member of the Panama Canal Society.