John Givens

Obituary of John GivensIt is with a heavy heart that our family announces the passing of its patriarch, John Franklin Givens, after a long illness. Frank was born on January 27, 1936 in Imokalee, Florida. He was raised at the Palm Beach County Children's Home and entered the United States Coast Guard in 1953, serving in the Korean War and in Guam. He retired from military life as a Chief Petty Officer in 1970 and entered family life on May 8, 1966 when he married Roberta Maureen Crozier, known to all as Bobbi. Frank and Bobbi celebrated their 48th year of marriage on May 8, 2014 with all of their family in attendance. Frank worked for 40 years with the Palm Beach County Road and Bridge Department, was a local political figure serving on the town council and as Police Commissioner for the Town of Greenacres, Florida, retiring to Ocklawaha in 1993. He was also a member of the local VFW and the Moose Lodge. Frank is survived by his wife, Bobbi, daughter, Patti, son Ron, daughter in law, Kathy, daughter, Becky, son in law, Paul, daughter Keri, sister, Ann, sister, Jeanette, and brother, Leroy, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his brothers, Paul (Bud) and David, sister, Wilma, and great grandson, Jeremy. Frank will always be remembered by anyone lucky enough to meet him but he will best be remembered by his children for such things as "holding the hose", playing Santa Clause at the town Christmas parties, and Thanksgiving being referred to in his home as "Frank Givens Day." We, his family, expect that he will likely be surveying and building a new family compound in Heaven and running for office. Due to the venue, in lieu of flowers, donations are requested by the family to: Hospice of Marion County Sylvia's House PO Box 4860 Ocala, FL 34478-4860. Visitation will be held at ROBERTS FUNERAL HOMES, Downtown Chapel (606 SW 2nd Ave., Ocala 622-4141) on Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 from 6:00-8:00PM. Funeral Services will be held at Ocklawaha Bridge Baptist Church (14100 E. Hwy 40, Silver Springs 34488) on Wednesday, June 18th at 10:00AM with interment to follow at Florida National Cemetery.

John Givens

January 27, 1936 - June 14, 2014