Helen Peikin  4-8-91
Helen Peikin Finke, a feisty senior citizens advocate known to thousands in Central Florida through her newspaper, television and radio commentaries, died Monday, April 8, 1991. She was 76. Immaculately groomed and always wearing a hat, the diminutive Philadelphia native wrote ''Speakin' with Peikin,'' an advice column for seniors in the The Orlando Sentinel in the 1970s and early 1980s. Her radio and television shows began in 1961 and aired periodically for 25 years. ''Some called her feisty - she was 90 pounds of dynamite,'' said her husband, Rene Finke. In 1978, Peikin was elected to represent 90,000 senior citizens of Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties as a Senator in the Silver-Haired Legislature, a mock legislative session in Tallahassee focusing on senior issues. Peikin walked out on the first day of the session in protest of the conditions of the lodging provided by Florida State University. When her replacement, Leo Ware, blasted Peikin for the walkout, she responded in her usual hard-boiled manner, ''I don't give a damn what anybody else thinks.'' Peikin annually hosted Senior Season kickoff at the Atlantis Theater at Sea World, drawing crowds of more than 4,000 seniors. ''She was the leading advocate for the aged in this area,'' said Charles Unkovic, professor of sociology at the University of Central Florida, which gave her the Golden Rule Award. ''She knew all the important people. She would think nothing of picking up the phone and calling the governor'' to help a senior citizen who had a problem. 

Murray Pendleton was fearless. He loved fast cars and dangerous missions. He volunteered to serve on an elite bomb squad during World War II and spent 37 years working for the Daytona Beach International Speedway and NASCAR. The Port Orange man died Monday at age 85. Pendleton was born in St. John, New Brunswick, and moved to the United States when he was 16. A veteran of the U.S. Army Air Forces, he was wounded twice in North Africa defusing bombs. The second time, he lost his leg and received the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster. He also was awarded the U.S. Defense Medal and Medal for Service in Europe and North Africa Theater of Operation. After the accident, he continued to serve another two years as the manager of the Armed Forces Radio and Television at Martin Army Community Hospital in Fort Benning, Ga. He spent his free time visiting the hospital to lift the spirits of injured soldiers. Pendleton moved to Daytona Beach in 1961 and worked as program director of WSBB(-AM 1230) radio in New Smyrna Beach. He took a job as staff assistant for the Daytona Beach International Speedway and NASCAR to fuel his love for racing. His job included picking up VIPs at the airport, announcing races, working traffic control and clearing the track. During the 1960s, Pendleton and his wife started Million Dollar Bandstand, a portable disco that traveled to weddings and entertained teens at recreation centers and dances. Pendleton used his Bandstand engagements to expand WSBB’s radio audience.  "My dad worked two or three jobs and never took a sick day," said Scott Pendleton, his youngest son. "He would come home with his leg bleeding from standing all day, but he never complained." Murray Pendleton was a coffee addict who always had a thermos full by his side. He wore a prosthesis and never let his disability stop him from participating in any activity, said his wife, Elaine. "He accepted the loss of his leg from the beginning," Elaine said. "He loved to putter around the garage. He worked on his car, changed his own oil and could fix anything." The couple met at a blind date at the drag races and were married for 45 years. His oldest daughter, Betty Jean "Ringo" Pendleton, said she has fond memories of tagging along with her father to races. She said he was a big fan of Richard and Lee Petty and decorated his Dodge station wagon with NASCAR decals.  "For years, we had a first-aid kit and stretcher in the back of the station wagon," she said. "His car was used in case of an accident because they didn't have ambulances waiting around in those days," she said. When Pendleton retired in 1986, the couple purchased a recreational vehicle and traveled around the United States. He served as president and vice president of the Daytona Drifters RV Camping Club. He also is survived by his sons; Buddy Pendleton of Ocoee, Bill Pendleton of Apopka and Thomas Pendleton of South Daytona; daughter, Debbie Card of Port Orange; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Shannon Maloney Funeral Home in Port Orange is handling the arrangements.

Butch Prevatt   5-13-01
He was born in Palatka, but grew up in Hastings. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1970. While in high school, he began working for the Palatka Daily News. He was a senior reporter with 30 years of service. He worked for a short time for WIYD(-AM 1260) radio as a news reporter. Clarence Arnold ''Butch'' Prevatt, 49, Gainesville and Palatka, died at North Florida Regional Medical Center, following a short illness. He was a former member of the River City Repertory Company Theatre group, acting in several plays. He enjoyed theater, regularly attending plays in Palatka, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Ocala and Orlando, and he was a volunteer at the Hippodrome State Theater in Gainesville for many years. He enjoyed collecting Lauren Bacall and Tallulah Bankhead memorabilia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence A. and Earie Prevatt, and by a sister, Pearl Marie Fisher. He is survived by his longtime companion, Mark Bass, Gainesville; two brothers, Harry Robert ''Bobby'' Prevatt, Richard Albert Prevatt, both of St. Augustine; a sister, Mary Frances Noles, Shreveport, La.; and by numerous nieces and nephews. He was born in Palatka, but grew up in Hastings. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1970. While in high school, he began working for the Palatka Daily News. He was a senior reporter with 30 years of service. He worked for a short time for WIYD(-AM 1260) radio as a news reporter. Clarence Arnold ''Butch'' Prevatt, 49, Gainesville and Palatka, died at North Florida Regional Medical Center, following a short illness. He was a former member of the River City Repertory Company Theatre group, acting in several plays. He enjoyed theater, regularly attending plays in Palatka, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Ocala and Orlando, and he was a volunteer at the Hippodrome State Theater in Gainesville for many years. He enjoyed collecting Lauren Bacall and Tallulah Bankhead memorabilia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence A. and Earie Prevatt, and by a sister, Pearl Marie Fisher. He is survived by his longtime companion, Mark Bass, Gainesville; two brothers, Harry Robert ''Bobby'' Prevatt, Richard Albert Prevatt, both of St. Augustine; a sister, Mary Frances Noles, Shreveport, La.; and by numerous nieces and nephews.