Obituaries

LAWRENCE S. EPSTEIN, 60, of Tampa, died Oct. 15. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he was a veteran of Indo China, Panama and the Gulf War. He served in the Jewish War Veterans as a Department of New York Executive Committee Member, Post I Commander, New York County Commander, Department of New York Service Officer, National Service Officer for the Department of New York, Associate National Service Officer of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, co-chair of the Vietnam Veterans Committee of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and American Legion Post Five in Tampa. Survivors include his mother, Shirley Epstein; brother and sister-inlaw, Edward and Doreen Epstein; and companion, Anne DeGennaro. The family suggests memorials may be made to American Legion Post Five in Tampa. (Blount & Curry Funeral Home)

NORMAN ROUTENBERG, 92, of Largo, formerly from Lakeland, died Oct. 10. He was a member of Temple B’nai Israel in Clearwater and an active member for 50 years of Temple Emanuel in Lakeland, serving as president for three years. He was also a long time member and officer of B’nai B’rith. Prior to retiring he owned a department store in Kentucky and later in Lakeland worked in retail. He was a long time donor to the blood bank, giving over 11 gallons. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Norma; son and daughter- in-law, David and Kerri; daughter, Ruth; and four grandchildren. The family suggests memorials may be made to Temple Emanuel in Lakeland or the Suncoast Hospice. (Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home)

SARAH S. THORNTON, 90, of Crystal River, died Oct. 17. A native of New York City, she had served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was a homemaker. Survivors include daughters and son-in-law, Lenore and Glenn Richter, Rita Surger, Diane Tokajer; sons and daughter-in-law, Allen, Mark, Lee, and William and Nina Wolfson; sister, Sue Haimes; eleven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. The family suggests memorials may be made to Congregation Beth Sholom in Beverly Hills, any Hospice organization, Beverly Hills Chapter of Hadassah or the Senior Center of Lecanto. (David C. Gross Funeral Homes, Beth David Chapel)

HAROLD TOBIN, 87, of Tampa, died Oct. 10. He moved to Tampa 15 years ago from Detroit, MI. He was a veteran of the U.S. Merchant Marine. He was a Mason. Survivors include his sons, Michael, of New Mexico, Jonathan, of Detroit, Nelson of Tampa; sister Harriet Blank, of Sarasota; and five grandchildren. (Segal Funeral Home, Beth David Chapel)