Robert L. Sterner

The Rev. Robert Sterner, a retired Florida Conference elder, died July 22. Sterner became a deacon in 1971 and an elder in full connection in 1973. He went on incapacity leave in 1980 and had been on disability leave since 1985. Sterner served DeLeon Springs United Methodist Church; Lake Helen United Methodist Church; Tice United Methodist Church; Greensboro United Methodist Church; Murray Hill United Methodist Church, Jacksonville; Bronson United Methodist Church; Alachua Parish; and First United Methodist Church, Reddick.

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Paul John Wagner

The Rev. Paul Wagner, a retired former Florida Conference elder, died Aug. 17. Wagner became a deacon in 1942 and an elder in full connection in 1943. He served Arlington-Gilmore Methodist Church, Jacksonville, and as a chaplain in the United States Navy. He founded Palma Ceia Methodist Church in Tampa and served there until he withdrew from The Methodist Church in 1963.

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Warren Huntington

The Rev. Warren Huntington, a retired Florida Conference elder, died Aug. 22. Huntington became a deacon in 1964 and an elder in full connection in 1968. Huntington served Miami Lakes Methodist Church; Epperson Memorial United Methodist Church, Jacksonville; Conway United Methodist Church, Orlando; Peeler Memorial United Methodist Church, Jacksonville; Northside United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg; Sebastian United Methodist Church; and St. John’s United Methodist Church, Sarasota, before retiring in 1991.

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John James Rooks

The Rev. John Rooks, a retired Florida Conference elder, died Aug. 24. Rooks became a full-time local pastor in the North Carolina Conference in 1938 before transferring to the Florida Conference in 1939. He became a Florida Conference elder in full connection in 1942, serving Trinity Methodist Church, St. Petersburg; College Heights Methodist Church, Lakeland; First Methodist Church, Fort Myers; First United Methodist Church, Winter Park; and First United Methodist Church, Gainesville, before retiring in 1979. He also served as superintendent of the former Lakeland District and program superintendent for the Florida Conference Council, a position that was later called Council program director.

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Paul H. Watts

The Rev. Paul H. Watts, a retired Florida Conference elder, died Sept. 16. Watts became an elder in full connection in the Central Pennsylvania Conference in 1954 before transferring to the Florida Conference in 1961. Watts served White City United Methodist Church, Jensen Beach; Aldersgate-Wesley United Methodist Churches, Fort Lauderdale; Melrose United Methodist Church; Patterson Memorial United Methodist Church, Lutz; Macclenny United Methodist Church; Lakewood Park United Methodist Church, Lakeland; Trinity United Methodist Church, Plant City; Lake Panasoffkee United Methodist Church; and Trinity United Methodist Church, Winter Haven, before retiring in 1986.

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News media contact: Tita Parham, 800-282-8011, tparham@flumc.org, Orlando

*Parham is managing editor of e-Review Florida United Methodist News Service.
**Kelley is subscription manager, photographer and contributing writer for e-Review Florida United Methodist News Service.