Obituaries
Proud to be AMERICAN
We, at Swilley Funeral Home, wish all of our nations veterans, past and present, a Thank You for your service.
 | ||||||
PINIELLA, Joe "Scooty" March 30, 1949 - September 9, 2025. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Joe Piniella, at the age of 76, died doing what he loved best, playing pickleball. Joe is survived by his beloved children Michelle Piniella-DeGenova and Gabriel Piniella and his treasured grandchildren, Luciano and Marchelo DeGenova. He also leaves behind his brother, Louis Piniella and wife Anita. Joe was also and uncle to Louis Jr, Kristi, and Derek Pinella and several nieces and nephews. In addition, Joe is mourned by his long-time companion Ana Gutheil. Graveside services to honor Joe's life will be held 10:00 am, Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Centro Espanol Memorial Park Cemetery, 4601 E. Lake Ave, Tampa, FL. 33610.
METZGER, Steven G, 71, of Tampa, Fl passed away September 10, 2025. Steven was the former President of a Floor and Wall Service. He is survived by his nieces, nephews and his girlfriend, Donna. He was born in Peekskill, NY to the late William H and Loretta Metzger.
| ||||||
ZELAYA GRAY, Vivian Dinora, 55 of Tampa passed away at home, September 19, 2025. She is survived by her daughters, Nessy Zelaya and Josselyn Trochez her mother, Norma Gray. The family will receive family and friends, from 3:-5pm, Saturday, September 27th at the funeral home 1602 W Waters Ave. Tampa, FL
| ||||||
HILDAN, Clatha Mae (Long), It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Clatha aged 85, who was born on February 8, 1940, and peacefully departed on September 26, 2025, at her residence in Tampa, FL. Clatha is survived by her children, Donna Manning, Debra Elixson, Ralph Mercier, Charlotte (Ron) Thibodeaux; grandchildren, Shianne Elixson, Ashley (Garrett) Courson, Kristina Manning, Daniel Manning, Hailey Mercier and 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Janet Andux; brother, David Andux. She was preceded in death by her husband Peter Hildan, father, Joseph Walton Long, mother, Helen Andux, stepfather, Louis Andux; brothers Lamar (Pete) Long, Doyle Long; daughter Sherry Bedsole; son, Jonny Bedsole Jr., and son-in-law, Donald Elixson. Clatha was a devoted wife, loving mother, and grandmother. She cherished her chihuahuas and cats and had a special fondness for her flowers and plants, particularly gardenias. In her young years, she enjoyed singing karaoke with friends and family, and took pleasure in cooking for holidays, especially baking pies. Clatha had a passion for creating family photo CDs with music for each member. Above all, she held a deep love for her family, friends, and neighbors. Graveside services to honor Clatha will be held 2:00 pm, Thursday, October 2nd at Oak Grove Cemetery, located at 3012 W. Sitka St., Tampa, FL 33614. For those wishing to send flowers, please address them to Swilley Funeral Home, 1602 W Waters Ave, Tampa, FL 33604
ARCE, Alan Wade, 56, of Tampa passed away at his residence, September 24, 2025, surrounded by his wife and family. Alan is survived by his wife, Tonya; children, Ryan Arce, John Peel, Dustin Peel Olivia Peel and Dylan Peel; brother, Cory Shaffer; parents, Tony and Linda Arce; 14 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother, brother and sister. A Celebration of Life will be 10:00 am until 12:00 noon Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the funeral home, 1602 W Waters Ave.
ROBINSON, Melvin A, 68, of Tampa passed away September 19, 2025. He leaves behind his loving wife, Rhea J Robinson and son Eric T Robinson and Jessica. A Celebration of Life will be 3:00 - 6:00 PM Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the funeral home, 1602. W Waters Ave,
| ||||||
| ||||||
| ||||||
Flowers may be ordered through:
https://tampaflowershope.com
813-842-5785
| ||||||
BELL, Donald. Passed away October 16, 2025. Donald was known as a loving husband, provider, father and grandfather extraordinaire. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and enjoyed a 32-year career with GTE in Florida. He held positions ranging from telephone pole climber/technician in the 1960's to a PABX technician and then retired in 1997 as a switchboard supervisor. Donald always lived his life as a servant leader and was both a Freemason and an Egypt Temple Shriner throughout his adult years. Donald was named Grand Master of the J.F. Swartsel Masonic Lodge #251 F.&A.M. in 1995 and named the District Deputy Grand Master of District 22 in the year 2000. Donald loved to travel with his wife Gloria and was known to share memories with everyone about their 9-month, cross country adventures from Tampa, Fl to Alaska in their motor home. Born in Mayo, FL he passed away in Tampa FL. He was proceeded in death by son Vincent Eugene Bell, mother, Lena Robinson Bell, father John D. Bell. He is survived by his wife Gloria C Bell; daughters, Cheryl B. Hernandez, Angela B. Gorgei (David); grandsons, Tomas V. Hernandez, Hector C. Hernandez, Donald T. Gorgei. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. Visitation will be 10:00 am, Saturday, October 25, 2025, at North Blvd Church of Christ, 14901 N. Blvd, Tampa, with services to follow.
SCHMIEL, Arnold Edwin, born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 14, 1941, left this earth and arrived at his new home in heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 10, 2025. His departure was peaceful, surrounded by the love of his family, a testament to the love he inspired and cultivated throughout his life.
Arnold was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. His kindness touched all who knew him. He attended THE Ohio State University and possessed a brilliant mind and an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He absorbed everything he learned, amassing an immense vocabulary and a wealth of understanding about the world around him. He is joyfully reunited in heaven with his daughter Stacy, whose memory he held dear. He leaves behind his beloved wife of over 54 years, Neta, his steadfast companion and the love of his life. Their enduring marriage was a shining example of commitment, love, and unwavering devotion. He is also survived by his son Paul (married to Robbin, whom he cherished as a daughter), and his daughter Tamara, both of whom brought immense pride and happiness to his life.
In 1978, Arnold moved to Florida and embraced the Sunshine State as his forever home. He joined Hillsdale Baptist Church in November 1980 and loved his church family. His faith was the cornerstone of his life. Arnold truly loved the Lord and prayed faithfully for his family and friends every night. Arnold's legacy continues through his seven grandchildren: Brady, Gracelyn, Thomas, and Asher (children of Paul and Robbin), and Justin, Aurora, and Liam (children of Tamara and Eric). Each of them held a special place in his heart and brought joy and laughter to his days. He treasured the moments spent with them, creating memories that will be cherished for generations to come.
Known for his playful nature, Arnold enjoyed telling a good joke and had a knack for bringing smiles to faces. He found joy in the simple pleasures of life, with fishing being one of his favorite pastimes. He had a love for music, and for much of his time at Hillsdale sang in the church choir. Many will fondly remember receiving random, delightful postcards from him, a small gesture that spoke volumes about his thoughtfulness. Arnold loved to host friends at his house, especially for game nights. In later years, Balderdash was a favorite, and evenings were filled with laughter and camaraderie. Arnold's kind smile, hospitable heart, and unwavering faith will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
A celebration of Arnold's life will be 11am October 29, 2025, at Hillsdale Baptist Church, 6201 Ehrlich Rd, Tampa, Fl with visitation from 10am until service time.
| ||||||
GRAVITT, Una, 95, of Bradenton, FL, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2025. Born in Richwood, Ohio. Una lived a life filled with warmth, laughter, and song. She and her husband, James "Jim" Gravitt, raised their family in Vandalia before moving later in life to Bradenton, where they built lasting friendships and enjoyed the sunshine, sea breezes, and community they came to love. Una had a song in her heart and a sparkle in her step. She found great joy in singing and dancing, especially as a proud member of the Sweet Adelines and an active participant in the Bradenton community theater, where she shared her love of performance, harmony, and friendship with countless others. Her vibrant spirit and joyful presence brought light to everyone she met. She will be lovingly remembered for her kindness, grace, and the way she could fill a room with both music and love. Una is survived by her children, Sandra Haas (Donald), Linda Gottliebsen, and Michael Gravitt (Denise); seven grandchildren, Matthew Haas (Heather), Danielle Dugan, Shannon Nelson (Jesse), Stephanie Erickson (Josh), Joshua Gravitt (Jessica), Nicole Gravitt, Brian Hedden (Abigail), 15 great grandchildren and many dear friends who will cherish her memory always. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Gravitt, and her great grandson, Samuel Duggan. A celebration of Una's life will be held in Bradenton at a later date, where family and friends will gather to honor her legacy of love, laughter, and song. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to a local music, arts, or community theater organization in Una's memory, continuing her lifelong passion for sharing joy through the arts.
| ||||||
CONNER, Patricia L. 87, of Tampa, Fl passed away November 9, 2025, at home with family. Pat Perfect was her nickname when she worked as a medical transcriptionist and office manager. She was as close a perfect wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother as you will find. She loved with her whole heart and would do anything she could for any of us. She is survived by her husband James Alvin Conner; children Deborah (Merle) Need, Carmen Rae Carlson, Martin (Lisa) Harrell and Susan (Wayne) Edminston; nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. She is also survived by stepchildren, Gerald (Diane) Conner, David (Cynthia) Conner, Susan Conner, and Michael (Artemis) Conner; nine step-grandchildren and nine step- great grandchildren. And she felt the love of all of them. Pat also loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and wanted to worship, honor and serve Him in complete humility. She was a long-time and faithful member of Oakwood Church. She was born in Savannah, George, and died at home with her husband by her side. Visitation will be from 6-8pm, Friday, November 14, 2025, at Swilley Funeral Home, 1602 W Waters Ave, Tampa. Funeral service will be Saturday, November 15, 2025, 10am at Oakwood Community Church, 11209 Casey Road, Tampa, Fl. with Gerald Conner officiating. Interment will follow at 11:30am at Lake Carroll Cemetery 12400 N. Armenia Ave, Tampa, FL 33612. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to Lifepath Hospice, 12470 Telecom Dr, Suite 300, Temple Terrace, FL 33637.
| ||||||
RIDGEWAY, Bronwen "Boni" Ann 67, of Tampa, FL passed peacefully on November 9, 2025, surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with COPD. Born August 17, 1958, in Brockton, MA, to Edith and Francis Doyle. Bonie was one of five children. Her family later moved to Tampa, where she attended Tampa Bay Tech and studied Cosmetology. She married the love of her life, Mark Ridgeway, on August 20, 1983, and together they shared 40 beautiful years and raised five children. Boni worked nearly 20 years with Bank of America before spending 17 years with the Police Athletic League, where she devoted her heart to children who became like family. Boni is survived by her husband Mark; children Marie (Shane), Brandon, Garrett (Meghan), and Caitlin; grandchildren Bryson, Aubrey, Brooklyn, Declan, and Aiden. she was predeceased by her parents and son Bryan. A celebration of life will be held December 6, 2025 at 3:00 pm at Bay Hope Church.
| ||||||
| ||||||
JACOBS, Brian Keith, age 58, passed away on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at his home in Tampa, FL surrounded by his loving family after a yearlong battle with stage 4 kidney cancer. He remained fearless and hopeful to the very end. Brian was born on July 27, 1967, to Ray and Gloria Jacobs in Barre, VT. After graduating from Spaulding High School in 1985, he went on to study Business at Champlain College. After college, Brian worked at the Burlington Airport as a Supervisor at Business Express Airlines. It was there that he met Hollie (Farr) Jacobs in 1990. They moved to Tampa, FL and married in September 1994 where their sons Keith and Evan were born in 1997 and 1999. After moving to Tampa, Brian started his career at American Express. He celebrated his 30-year anniversary last year. He started as a Team Leader but quickly learned he preferred to be behind the scenes solving puzzles. As a Reporting & Data Analytics Specialist he had a gift for diving into the data and delivering impactful information to his clients. Brian was a simple man and sometimes quiet, but you always knew where you stood with him. If he loved you, he was forever loyal. Above all else, he was a proud dad. He loved his boys more than anything else in this world. They were the light of his life. The years spent on the golf course, fishing, watching football, hockey, and coaching baseball with Keith and Evan will forever be cherished. Brian was known to befriend every dog he met with treats from his truck and loved making faces at every baby he came across to get them to crack a smile at him. In recent years Brian loved his annual guy's golf trips to Myrtle beach, afternoons at O'Brien's with friends, and football Sundays cooking steaks and watching the Bucs with his boys. He loved cooking for others and his eclectic music playlist always playing in the background. Anyone who knew Brian knew he was humble, unapologetic, sarcastic, funny, and had a quick-witted intelligence. Brian was predeceased by his father Raymond Jacobs, grandmother Isola Jacobs, and his beloved Noni Alma Garcia. He is survived by his loving boys Keith and Evan Jacobs, former wife Hollie Jacobs with whom he remained friends, his dear mom Gloria Jacobs, his caring sister Jodi Royer, several special aunts, uncles, nieces/nephews, and many truehearted friends that he loved and was always grateful for. At Brian's request we are not having a formal funeral service; however, we will have a celebration of life on Saturday, January 24th from 12pm-3pm at his favorite hangout O'Brien's Irish Pub located at 15435 North Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33618. Please bring your favorite photos and memories to share. We will plan another celebration of life in his hometown state of Vermont at a later date TBD.
Glass, Jimmie Lee Sr, known as Jim to most and lovingly known as “Poppy” to his family, was born on January 24, 1936, and passed away peacefully on January 16, 2026, surrounded by his beloved children. A lifelong Tampa native, Jim was a steady, quiet presence whose kindness, strength, and integrity shaped the lives of all who knew him. Jim was a devoted husband to Winnie, who preceded him in death in 2018. He was a wonderful father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who loved his family deeply and faithfully until the very end. He was the proud father of three children: Vivian Spivey (Bill), Jim Glass (Ginny), and William Glass (Melanie). His legacy will continue to live on through his grandchildren; Joshua Spivey (Lana), Jessica Consolmagno (Michael), Cody Glass, Logan Glass, Jensen Glass and Jace Glass, as well as his cherished great-grandchildren: Michael, Viviana, Angelina, Atlas, Sage, and June. A gentle yet strong patriarch, Jim led his family with compassion, humility, and unwavering support. He was known for his calm nature, quiet wisdom, and protective heart. He never raised his voice but always stood firm for those he loved. Jim proudly served his country as a Corpsman in the Korean War, an experience he spoke of humbly, though with great pride. Following his military service, he became a respected businessman in the Tampa Bay area, owning and operating Glass Funeral Home alongside his wife, Winnie, until their retirement. Through his work, Jim served countless families with dignity, empathy, and exceptional care, leaving a lasting impact on the community he loved. Jim will be remembered as a man of character, kindness, and steady devotion to his family, his country, and his community. He will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know and love him, but his legacy of love and quiet strength will live on through many generations. The family would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love they have received. They would also like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff the in ICU and on Floor 4 at AdventHealth Carrollwood for their exceptional care of him. Graveside services will be 10:00 am, Thursday, January 29, 2026 at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL.
| ||||||
VANDER LOOP, GLENN H. passed away peacefully and went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on January 26, 2026, surrounded by his family. Glenn was a strong and steadfast man whose life reflected a deep love for Jesus. Even in hard times and personal struggle, he consistently displayed his love for Christ & Christ’s love to others with grace, humility, and perseverance. His faith was evident not only in his words, but in the way he lived and moved in the Grace of God and loved those around him. He is survived by his two sons, Daniel Vander Loop (Jessica) and Jeremy Vanderloop (Brittany); and his five cherished grandchildren, Danica, Grace, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Jedidiah, who brought him great joy. He is also survived by his brothers, David (Shirley) and Ross, as well as many nieces and nephews whom he loved deeply. A Celebration of Life & memorial service will be held at CRES Community, on Friday February 6th at 6:00PM EST located at 5103 N. Rome Avenue, Tampa, FL 33603. In lieu of flowers please send a memorial donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org.
| ||||||
PRATT CROSS, RUTHANN, was born on August 7,1944 in Portland, Maine. She grew up in Florida. She went to Chamberlain High School, where she played the flute and piccolo in the band. She graduated from the University of South Florida teaching English. She also was employed by various stores. Lastly, she worked for the U.S. Postal Service. RuthAnn was a member of Palm Avenue Baptist Church. She loved her trinity (Holy Father, Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit) ultimately! RuthAnn passed away peacefully and without pain under Hospice at St. Joseph Hospital February 13, 2026, surrounded by her family and friends. RuthAnn lived a good life. She traveled around a few places, including going to Ireland. RuthAnn outlived her twin brother Raymond Jr, her father Raymond Charles Pratt Sr, her mother Gladys Anna Bruins (Bruns), and unfortunately her son Gregory Michael Cross and granddaughter Jessika Uzzle. RuthAnn is survived by her stepchildren: Philip Rory Cross, Donna Cross Maher, grandchildren: Joshua Cross, Rhiannon Cross, Preston Cross, Lauren Beyer, Garrett Cross, and many cousins all who loved her dearly. She will indeed be greatly missed but never forgotten. RuthAnn was very intelligent (had a photographic memory). She started out reading encyclopedias and dictionaries. She was ready mystery books that Elliot Roosevelt wrote (son of Eleanor and President Franklin Delanor Roosevelt). He used his mother as a sleuth to my sister Karen who can't read books anymore, she did all she could to help family and friends and people she didn't know. She followed what her Savior did, which was to give all she could for others. Truly a child of God! RuthAnn, you are forever in our hearts! RuthAnn was always trying something new, as going on her phone to learn German again. She took both German and Latin in High School and College. Adage," you are never too old to learn something new". Her memorial service will be 1:00 pm at Palm Avenue Baptist Church, 1805 N. Florida Ave, Tampa, FL.
