Lou Dixon
June 13, 1932 – October 31, 2017
“Teacher says, when you hear a bell, an angel gets its wings.” — It's a Wonderful Life
If you heard a bell ring a week ago Sunday, it was most likely Lou Dixon getting her wings. She lived all 98 years to the fullest and left this world peacefully with no regrets. Recently, Lou resided near her daughters in Texas, but previously had been in Kings Point for many years. Lou was loved by many and will be missed by all.
<h3><strong>Phillip Roger Lewers</strong></h3>
Phillip Roger Lewers, 85, of Valrico, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at the Sun City Center Hospice House.
He was born June 13, 1932, In Sweetwater, Texas, and moved to Florida at the age of 14. A 1949 graduate of Manatee High School, Mr. Lewers served his apprenticeship as a funeral director for Edwards Funeral Home in Palmetto. It was there that he met the “love of his life,” Bettylou Quilhot. The couple married in 1950 and Bettylou and Phillip moved to Detroit where he graduated from Wayne State University Department of Mortuary Science in 1954.
The couple eventually settled in Ruskin, FL, where they opened Lewers & Shannon Funeral Home in 1960, the first funeral home and 24-hour ambulance service in South Hillsborough County and Lewers Funeral Home in 1966.
Mr. Lewers remained active in the community serving with the Palmetto Fire & Rescue Department as a fire fighter/ rescue diver and as a fire fighter with the Ruskin Volunteer Fire Department. He was a Charter Member of the Ruskin-Sun City Rotary Club; past president of the South Hillsborough Lions Club; past president of the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce; secretary of the South Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce; a Mason; and member of the Ruskin Methodist Church. He was instrumental in planning the lighting for downtown Ruskin and its side streets; continuing support of Tampa Philharmonic Concerts at the Ruskin Amphitheater; establishing a Merchants’ Association; and renumbering Ruskin streets and houses. He also donated the first ambulance to Sun City Center’s Rescue organization.
In 1999, Mr. and Mrs. Lewers retired to Lake Wales where they built their dream home on Lake Tiger.
Mr. Lewers is survived by daughters Terry Sollazzo (Paul) of Valrico and Tracy Penaloza (Richard) of Ruskin as well as 10 grandchildren: Ryan, Adam and Scott Sollazzo; Betty, Phillip, Rey, and Richie Penaloza; Joseph Sumner III, Jennifer Medina and Elizabeth Barfield; 13 great-grandchildren; as well as sister Juan Dean Graham of Odessa, Texas, and Marjorie Kastick of Daytona Beach.
He was preceded in death by his bride of 62 years, Bettylou Quilhot Lewers; daughter, Toni Sumner; parents, Joe Desmond and Lula Viola (Horton) Lewers; sister, Eddie Jo Lewers; two brothers Jerry Don Lewers and Bennie Carl Lankford.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at: <a href="http://www.nationalcremation.com/location/ruskin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.nationalcremation.com/location/ruskin</a>
<h3><strong><a href="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2017/11/obitVitoloJoseph.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-19696" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2017/11/obitVitoloJoseph.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="249" /></a>Joseph A. Vitolo</strong></h3>
Joseph A. Vitolo, 92, of Sun City Center, Fla. passed away on November 3, 2017, with his wife of 44 years, Lina Vitolo, by his side.
Joseph was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1925, the son of John Vitolo and Lucy Guadagno Vitolo. Joseph was a decorated World War II veteran, having served with the 10th Mountain Division of the U. S. Army in Italy. He received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his actions in the battle near Castel d'Aiano, Italy. A Funeral service took place on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home, 6919 Providence Road, Riverview, FL 33578.
If you heard a bell ring a week ago Sunday, it was most likely Lou Dixon getting her wings. She lived all 98 years to the fullest and left this world peacefully with no regrets. Recently, Lou resided near her daughters in Texas, but previously had been in Kings Point for many years. Lou was loved by many and will be missed by all.
<h3><strong>Phillip Roger Lewers</strong></h3>
Phillip Roger Lewers, 85, of Valrico, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at the Sun City Center Hospice House.
He was born June 13, 1932, In Sweetwater, Texas, and moved to Florida at the age of 14. A 1949 graduate of Manatee High School, Mr. Lewers served his apprenticeship as a funeral director for Edwards Funeral Home in Palmetto. It was there that he met the “love of his life,” Bettylou Quilhot. The couple married in 1950 and Bettylou and Phillip moved to Detroit where he graduated from Wayne State University Department of Mortuary Science in 1954.
The couple eventually settled in Ruskin, FL, where they opened Lewers & Shannon Funeral Home in 1960, the first funeral home and 24-hour ambulance service in South Hillsborough County and Lewers Funeral Home in 1966.
Mr. Lewers remained active in the community serving with the Palmetto Fire & Rescue Department as a fire fighter/ rescue diver and as a fire fighter with the Ruskin Volunteer Fire Department. He was a Charter Member of the Ruskin-Sun City Rotary Club; past president of the South Hillsborough Lions Club; past president of the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce; secretary of the South Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce; a Mason; and member of the Ruskin Methodist Church. He was instrumental in planning the lighting for downtown Ruskin and its side streets; continuing support of Tampa Philharmonic Concerts at the Ruskin Amphitheater; establishing a Merchants’ Association; and renumbering Ruskin streets and houses. He also donated the first ambulance to Sun City Center’s Rescue organization.
In 1999, Mr. and Mrs. Lewers retired to Lake Wales where they built their dream home on Lake Tiger.
Mr. Lewers is survived by daughters Terry Sollazzo (Paul) of Valrico and Tracy Penaloza (Richard) of Ruskin as well as 10 grandchildren: Ryan, Adam and Scott Sollazzo; Betty, Phillip, Rey, and Richie Penaloza; Joseph Sumner III, Jennifer Medina and Elizabeth Barfield; 13 great-grandchildren; as well as sister Juan Dean Graham of Odessa, Texas, and Marjorie Kastick of Daytona Beach.
He was preceded in death by his bride of 62 years, Bettylou Quilhot Lewers; daughter, Toni Sumner; parents, Joe Desmond and Lula Viola (Horton) Lewers; sister, Eddie Jo Lewers; two brothers Jerry Don Lewers and Bennie Carl Lankford.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at: <a href="http://www.nationalcremation.com/location/ruskin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.nationalcremation.com/location/ruskin</a>
<h3><strong><a href="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2017/11/obitVitoloJoseph.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-19696" src="/assets/images/uploads/wp/2017/11/obitVitoloJoseph.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="249" /></a>Joseph A. Vitolo</strong></h3>
Joseph A. Vitolo, 92, of Sun City Center, Fla. passed away on November 3, 2017, with his wife of 44 years, Lina Vitolo, by his side.
Joseph was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1925, the son of John Vitolo and Lucy Guadagno Vitolo. Joseph was a decorated World War II veteran, having served with the 10th Mountain Division of the U. S. Army in Italy. He received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his actions in the battle near Castel d'Aiano, Italy. A Funeral service took place on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home, 6919 Providence Road, Riverview, FL 33578.