Thanks to Pete Simonson for the suggestion of remembering our radio friends who have passed on.  
We'll include our own articles as well as obituaries. 



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Frank Vaught
Photo courtesy of Dave EdwardsPublished in the Orlando Sentinel on December 4, 2011 
VAUGHT, FRANK F., 81, passed peacefully at the V.A. community living center in Winter Park, FL on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, after a long battle of post esophageal cancer complications. Mr. Vaught is survived by sons Michael, Nashville, TN, Anthony, Cibolo, TX, Joseph, Orlando, FL, Patrick, Orlando, FL; two grandchildren, Preston and Gavin, sons of Anthony and Laura Vaught. Mr. Vaught was preceded in death by his first wife JoAnna, mother to Michael, Tony and Mr. Vaught's late daughter Karen. Born Feb. 19, 1930 in Williamson, VA, Vaught grew up and graduated high school in Huntington, WV. Vaught played baseball with the St. Louis farm system in Winston Salem, NC. He enlisted in the Army, 82nd Airborne Division and served from 1947 through 1958; Korean War Veteran and Marshall Island Operation Red Wing Veteran; witness to 17 Atomic bomb tests. Frank began his broadcasting career in Huntington, got a call from Channel 2 in Daytona Beach in 1958, and moved here to start his TV. broadcasting career. Soon after 2, Channel 6 in Orlando hired Vaught where he was mostly in the role of sports broadcasting, on the news morning, noon and night for 16 years. He organized and hosted charity golf tournaments and was noted for his attention to local schools and athletics. Frank took his voice to the radio too, broadcasting at WKIS(-AM 740), WHOO(-AM 990), the Gator Football network games and (WHTQ-FM 96.5) Q96. Vaught was inducted into the Florida Citrus Bowl hall of fame, media category. In Vaught's later career, he guided J and V Communications toward broadcasting the NBA's Orlando Magic games in Spanish in Orlando radio. Frank had a passion for golf, helping others, great laughs, a/v equipment and watching baseball, basketball and all other sports. A public memorial service for Frank Vaught will be December 9, 2011 at 11 a.m. at All Faiths, 4901 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32806. Mr. Vaught will be receiving full military honors on the 13th of December, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. 
Dr. Titus Venessa    1944 - 2023
Dr. Titus Venessa, age 79, of Orlando, Florida passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at AdventHealth Hospital East.
He was born on May 23, 1944 in Natabuela, Ecuador, son to his late parents, Pedro Jose and Digna Victoria (Andrade) Venessa. At the age of 5 he demonstrated a brilliant photographic memory and an eager interest in learning. Born into a poor family, he borrowed books to copy both the words and drawings by hand. Drawing came naturally and he developed his artistic talent. At age 7 he found God as he read the Bible which captivated his heart forever. God had always shown him favor and he never lost sight of the Lord's will. During childhood he was close to his grandmother, Virginia Andrade Martinez who was highly respected in the church and an expert in treating illnesses throughout the province. After graduating high school, he traveled to Quito working as a illustrator in an advertising workshop. One Sunday afternoon at 2:35pm, at the entrance of the cinema, he spotted Tita, his beloved wife. Within 2 years he proposed and they got married on June 4th, 1964. They had three children, Yvette, David and Jerry. Pursuing the American Dream, he volunteered for the church painting murals and being very involved in the community as a loving family man of God all the while teaching his children to do the same as they have continued to show their children to love and respect God as well. He continued 20+ years of education to then become Dr. Titus Venessa, Ph.D., Sc.D, a lecturer, author and research scientist in the fields of integrative, complementary medicine and food sciences. Dr. Venessa founded Forever Young Health Foods in 1991 and Dr. Venessa’s Formulas in 1998, now both 30+ year old companies continuing his legacy today. Dr. Venessa spent over 30 years as a radio host, producer and motivator of his own daily radio show “Salud Al Dia Con el Dr. Venessa”. Within his last years of life Dr. Venessa spent his time ministering, writing and filming biblical messages for anyone to view online in hopes to bring others closer to God. He finished research and wrote books that have yet to be published. He continued formulating new products and consulting others. In his last moments he shared 25 quotes of life, a few being: “Love is forever because God is forever and he wants us to be with him forever” - Dr. Venessa “Truths are based on experience and wisdom given by God” - Dr. Venessa “Health is the true principle of life” - Dr. Venessa Titus is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Tita Venessa; his daughter Yvette Moore and her husband, Javier; two sons, David Veneza and his wife, Simone, and Jerry Veneza; six grandchildren, Michael Moore, Ruben Moore, Taylor Veneza, Collett Mormontoy, Karina Veneza, and Kyla Veneza; and three great-grandchildren, Jason Moore, Nora Moore, and Gabriel Mormontoy. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, November 10, 2023 at 12:00 pm at Iglesia Adventista Hispana de Orlando, 455 N Goldenrod Rd, Orlando, with Pastor Ronald Paulin officiating. Friends may pay their respects prior to the service from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at the church on Friday, November 10. Interment will follow at Lake Mary Cemetery at 240 Greenleaf LN, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Bill Vermillion Passes  
Dick Camnitz aka Dick Shane reports the passing of an Orlando radio legend. Bill Vermillion known as "the weird beard" on WLOF-AM 950 has lost his 2 year battle with Cancer. Bill requested no formal funeral or memorial service but there most likely will be a celebration of his life at some later date.  Stay tuned for details as they become available.

Longtime Orlando Radio Giant William Joseph Vermillion Jr. dies of cancer at 71     
Rich McKay Sentinel Staff Writer  May 27, 2008
Before the homogenization of radio, it was the voice of "The Weird Beard" who ruled Orlando's airwaves with rapid-fire banter, free-style record selections and a zaniness that has all but been sterilized out of existence. The voice of Weird Beard, a '60s- and '70s-era disc jockey for WLOF AM -- fell silent a little after 1 p.m. Saturday when he succumbed to a long fight with intestinal cancer, his son said. Vermillion was 71. "The chemotherapy had just worn him out," his son, William Fred Vermillion, said Monday from his Orlando home where a  number of longtime friends and well-wishers gathered. There was no formal announcement and no funeral or service is planned, the younger Vermillion said, following his father's wishes. But news of the elder Vermillion's passing spread across Internet websites devoted to radio days of yesteryear. Steve Rutledge, whose late father John (Rutledge) once owned the Orlando station, said that Vermillion should be remembered not only  for his on-air presence, which was a must-listen for young people wanting the Beatles and later Jimi Hendrix, but for his uncanny ability to pick tomorrow's top songs before anyone else. "He was known as 'B-side Bill' because he'd listen to the flip side of a record, not just the A-side that the record producers were promoting," said Rutledge, now of Memphis, Tenn. "He was truly a legend, nationally known, everybody and his brother knew Weird Beard," he said. Former colleague Lee Arnold, now of Milwaukee, said Vermillion is credited for putting Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" on the top-40 lists of the country back in 1967. After leaving the station before it was sold and automated in 1982, Vermillion became a recording engineer for BeeJay Recording Studio where he helped make albums for bands such as Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot and Judas Priest. In addition to his son, the elder Vermillion is survived by his wife Bonnie Vermillion of Winter Park; his brother Robert J. Vermillion of Great Falls, Mont.; daughter-in-law Brenda Vermillion; grandson Christopher Vermillion; and granddaughter  Anastajia Williams.
Rich McKay can be reached at rmckay@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5470.  Copyright © 2008, Orlando Sentinel
Beloved Disc Jockey Dies In Crash
February 4, 2005 Orlando Sentinel
ORANGE COUNTY - A veteran disc jockey died Wednesday afternoon from injuries in a head-on crash east of Orlando. Michelin Villalobos' sport utility vehicle rammed a car about 12:56PM after he swerved across the center line into the southbound lane of Econlockhatchee Trail, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Villalobos, 78, hosted a program on Saturdays for radio station WONQ-AM 1140 in Casselberry. A Central Florida resident for about 20 years, he was well-known for his earlier radio career in Puerto Rico, grieving callers to the station said Thursday. An autopsy will determine if Villalobos suffered some sort of medical emergency in the moments before the crash, said Trooper Kim Miller, an FHP spokeswoman. The driver and two passenger in the southbound car were treated at Orlando Regional Medical Center and Florida Hospital East with less-severe injuries, the FHP said.

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