| | Maurice Wilbur Monroe 
POLK CITY - Maurice Wilbur Monroe was born on a farm near Bronson, Michigan on December 15, 1919. He was the third of three boys born to the late Mabel (Crane) Monroe and her husband Carlton J. Monroe. As a young boy Mr. Monroe worked on the family farm, hunted small game, and played football for Bronson High School where he graduated in 1937. He remained a football fan throughout his life. Mr. Monroe served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II from September 29, 1941 to June 25 1946, followed by a brief stint in the U.S. Naval Reserves. During the war he was stationed in New Orleans and Morgan City, Louisiana; and on the Hawaiian Islands of Oahu and Kauai, as well as in Santa Barbara, California. Years later he would joke that it was during this time that he learned there were places to live in the United States that did not snow in the winter. After the war he was honorably discharged and briefly returned to Bronson, Michigan to work as a carpenter. In the winter of ‘46-‘47 he moved to Pinellas County, Florida. Initially he lived in a travel trailer on the beach but later began building a house in Pinellas Park, Florida using his knowledge as a carpenter, and without borrowing any money. On November 22, 1957 he married Anne Eugenia Mansur, and together they had three children; Marilyn, Kenneth and David. All three children were born prematurely and two died shortly after birth. Mr. Monroe moved his family to Titusville, Florida in 1963 to work at the then-emerging Kennedy Space Center. On weekends he enjoyed boating and fishing, and the family bought property on Alligator Lake near St. Cloud. His wife Anne passed away on July 30, 1977. He married Genevieve Whitt on November 18, 1978, and retired from construction work on January 1, 1982. During retirement he helped construct the Church of God of Prophesy in Titusville and a house for a stepson in West Virginia. In 1995 the couple moved from Titusville to Polk City, Florida, and became members of the Mount Olive Recreation Club where Mr. Monroe was instrumental in initiating a thrice-weekly pool tournament among the men in the neighborhood. His wife Genevieve died on August 13, 2000. He continued to live independently at home until moving to the Lake Morton Plaza Assisted Living Facility in February, and finally to the George C. Forsythe Hospice House in Auburndale on June 26th. He died of cancer on July 5, 2006. Mr. Monroe was a longtime financial contributor to the Reagan Ranch, the Florida Sheriffs Association, a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, and a life-member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was devoutly patriotic and flew the American flag every day. He is survived by his son, Kenneth S. Monroe of Arlington, Virginia. The family will receive friendsfrom 2:00pm till 4:00pm, Sunday, July 9, 2006 at Oak Ridge Funeral Care. Funeral services will be held at 10:00am, Monday, July 10, 2006 at the Oak Ridge Funeral Care Chapel, 2425 West Havendale Blvd, Winter Haven, Florida 33881 with Pastor Charles Harkala officiating.. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made in memory of Maurice W. Monroe to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, Florida 33823. He will be interred in the Garden Mausoleum at Memorial Park Cemetery, 49th Street and 54th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, Florida.
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