Mother of 5 was Army veteran of WW II

9/13/2005

GENOA - Florence E. Bloomfield, 82, a World War II veteran who raised five children after returning from the war, died Sunday in the Genoa Retirement Village.

The cause of death is still unknown, family members said.

Mrs. Bloomfield, who was born in Port Clinton, enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served as a control tower operator until 1946, attaining the rank of corporal.

"She and my father both served in the war, but they never talked much about it," said Gary Bloomfield, her son.

He said that she joined the Army after graduating from high school, and that she met her husband, Kenneth Bloomfield, after her military service. They were married on Oct. 15, 1946. Her husband died on Nov. 11, 1981.

"She was a very good-natured person. She had more heart than anyone I ever knew," her son said.

He said that she loved spending time her family, and also spent a lot of time in her garden.

"She was always planting flowers. Carnations were her favorite," Mr. Bloomfield said.

Surviving are her daughters, Leona Dupler, Ruth Brittian, and Elizabeth Bodi; sons, Kenneth and Gary; 10 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will start at 2 p.m. today in the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home, where funeral services will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

The family suggests tributes to the Genoa Retirement Village or the American Red Cross-Katrina Relief Fund.