JEFFERSON DIGE BISHOP

Jefferson Dige Bishop, born July 1, 1913, in Chambers County, Ala., died May 4, 205, at age 101.

He was predeceased by his parents, U.S. and Alverta Roberts Bishop; his beloved wife of 54 years, Julia Higgins Bishop; brother, Harty Bishop; and son, Jeff Bishop.

He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Ivan and Jean Bishop of Andalusia; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Richard Brent of Pensacola; grandson, Ty Cowen (Debbie) and great-grandson, Cody, of Pensacola Beach; and grandson Drew Cowen (Kara) and great-granddaughters, Samantha and Rabecca, of Gulf Breeze; and close friend, Annette Bryant of Pensacola, formerly of Andalusia.

He moved to Andalusia with his family in 1946 to help bring a local radio station to his new hometown. During his years in radio, he had interests in stations in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. In 1965, he founded TV Cable Company of Andalusia. He actively participated in that business until his 98th birthday. During his career, he served as president of the Alabama Broadcasters Association and the Alabama Cable Television Association.

He loved his community and worked hard to make it a better place. He was proud to have been a part of bringing Lurleen B. Wallace Community College to Andalusia. He was recently honored for more than 60 years as a Scottish Rite Mason and Master Mason.

He always loved music. A lover of the “Big Band” sound, he would say, “Now that is REAL music.” As a young man, he played piano, trumpet, and tenor sax, and sang in five different dance bands. His wife, Julia, said he was “happiest man in the world when he was playing.” Even after leaving his involvement in bands, he continued to enjoy his music and share his talent. He played piano for the Men’s Bible Sunday School Class at First United Methodist Church for more than 40 years, and at the Lion’s Club for the musical part of their meetings.

He was a loving and encouraging family man; an employer who helped many of his employees strive for personal growth and success; an active member of his community; a friend of many; and an example for others to follow. A friend described him as “a true Southern gentleman.”

A celebration of his life will be held Fri., May 8, at Foreman Funeral Home in Andalusia. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with his funeral service to be held at 11 a.m. Pallbearers will be Bob Brooks, Jimmy Faulkner, Ty Cowen, Drew Cowen, Cody Cowen, Tommy Thomas, Mike Russell and Jamie Hawkins.

In lie of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1066, Andalusia, AL 36420

HAROLD EDWARD BARNES

Mr. Harold Edward Barnes, 82, of Andalusia, passed away on Mon., May 4, 2015, at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Mon., May 11, 2015, at the Purcell Funeral Home chapel in Bushnell, Fla. Interment will follow in the Florida National Cemetery with military honors and Keahey Funeral Home directing.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. tomorrow, Thurs., May 7, 2015, in the Keahey Funeral Home chapel and one hour prior to services in the Purcell Funeral Home chapel in Bushnell.

Survivors include a wife, Nancy Barnes of Andalusia; sons, Harold Beagle of Andalusia and Robin (Vickie) Barnes of Tampa, Fla.; daughters, Wanda Sealey of Brandon, Fla. and Pam (Don) Hillard of Brandon; step children, Lisa Weaver of Riverview, Fla., Marjorie Bryan of Brooksville, Fla. and James Beagle of Apollo Beach, Fla.; brothers, Barney (Betty) Barnes of Montgomery, Deward Barnes of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. and Wayne (Carolyn) Barnes of North Carolina; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Mr. Barnes was preceded in death by his son, Ronald Barnes.

RONNIE EDSON

Mr. Ronnie Edson, 65, of Red Level, passed away on Sun., May 3, 2015. Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Foreman Funeral Home.

ROBERT EUGENE LINDER

Robert Eugene Linder, 88, died Sat., May 2, 2015. Funeral services will be held tomorrow, Thurs., May 7, 2015, at Foreman Brown-service Funeral Home with Brother Herb Carlisle officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home at 1 p.m. with funeral services at 2 p.m.

During World War II, Robert E. Linder was drafted (at age 18) into military service with the U.S. Army. At the time of his draft, he was a student at Samson Alabama High School. He began active service with the Army on July 18, 1944. After completing basic artillery training in Camp Roberts, Calif., he was assigned to Service Battery, 757 Field Artillery Battalion. His Battery was stationed in Queson City, outside of Manila, Philippines. (He spent his 19th birthday in the Philippines.) He was assigned as an ammunition handler. He moved ammunition from an ammunition dump near the harbor in Manila to his firing batteries several miles north of Manila. He was discharged from the Army in October 1946.

He enrolled at Troy State Teacher’s College (now Troy University) in December 1948. Then, he transferred to Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University). On May 31, 1952, he graduated from AU with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. As a result of his ROTC training at Auburn, he was placed on orders to go to Korea. In Korea, he served in the Army as an executive officer of Headquarters Battery, 623 Field Artillery Battalion. He served in this capacity until he was rotated back to the states. He was discharged from the Army in late 1953 at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

While employed in Geneva, he enlisted in 1957 as an army officer in the Alabama National Guard. He served in the Army National Guard in Geneva and Andalusia for several years. He then transferred to the U.S. Army Reserves. He retired from reserve service in 1974 at the rank of major. His military service spanned at retirement — 20 plus years, with full military privileges.

He and his family moved to Andalusia in the fall of 1960 when he was employed as a Covington County Farm Agent with Auburn University Extension Service. To enhance his agricultural education background, he completed his master’s degree, plus 30 additional graduate semester credit hours in agriculture from Auburn University. He retired from the Covington County AU Extension Service as a county agent coordinator in 1987 with 27 plus years of employment. His local community service included over 50 years membership in the Andalusia Civitan Club and over 50 years membership with the Andalusia First Baptist Church. His post-retirement involvement included work on his farm and seasonal employment as a field representative of the Alabama Agricultural Statistics Service.

He was married for 62 years to Barbara Ann Northcutt Linder. They were the parents of two lovely daughters, Elaine Annette Linder and Victoria Jean Linder.

Mr. Linder was preceded in death by his parents, Irving Veron and Eula Mae Owens Linder; five brothers, Johnie Holland Linder, William Roland Linder, General Webster Linder, Marvin Veron Linder and Lee Edward Linder; three sisters, Rosalee Linder Zuberer, Sarah Ellen Linda Moore and Evelyn Mae Linder Herring. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; two daughters and a son-in-law, Elaine Linder and Victoria L. and Mike Coleman; and two grandsons, Wesley Garret Coleman and Andrew David Coleman.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

ARLIE BENSON TOMLIN

Mr. Arlie Benson Tomlin, 94, of Andalusia, passed away on Sat., May 2, 2015.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Wed., May 6, 2015, from West Highland Baptist Church with interment following in Andalusia Memorial Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby G. Tomlin of Andalusia; daughters and sons-in-law, Wanda T. Morris of Andalusia, Sandra and Keith Maddox of Andalusia, Jo Ann and Wayne Knox of Andalusia, and Robbin and Jay Glaser of Mobile; grandchildren, April Holland, Bethany Chance, Ben Chance, Jodie (Mark) Moody, Jayson Knox and Fran (Justin) Faircloth; six great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill and Betty Tomlin of Niagara Falls, N.Y. and Giles and Rebecca Tomlin of Spanish Fort; and sister, Bonnie Hill Impecoven of Winter Haven, Fla.

He is preceded in death by his parents, J.H. and Pearl Pitts Tomlin; brothers, Herbert Shirley Tomlin and Jack Tomlin; and sisters, Agnes May, Susie Bennett and Annette Jeffcoat.

Flowers or memorials can be made to West Highland Baptist Church.

Those unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com.