Gola Proveau

Gola Proveau, 96 Snively Groves

LAKE WALES -- For many years, Mr. Gola Proveau planted and maintained a vegetable garden and shared the produce with friends and neighbors.

"He had half of his yard in a vegetable garden and he about furnished the neighbors with fresh vegetables," said his brother-in-law, Delmas Dixon of Lake Wales. "He did that up until he had cataract surgery and lost sight in his eyes and he never gained sight back. That was about 12 years ago."

Mr. Proveau, a longtime resident of Lake Wales, died of heart failure Monday (Sept. 26, 2005) at The Crossroads in Davenport. He was 96.

Born in Statesboro, Ga., on Nov. 10, 1908, he was one of seven children. He served in the Army during World War II and was stationed in Africa and Italy.

He came to Lake Wales from Statesboro 60 years ago, and worked for Snively Groves as a grove foreman. He later worked as a streetsweeper for the city of Lake Wales for several years until his retirement.

"At that time, he knew just about everybody, he had lived here so long," Dixon said.

Mr. Proveau was an easy-going, pleasant man who enjoyed fishing in the lakes around Polk County.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Lake Wales.

Mr. Proveau was preceded in death by his wife, Ailine Proveau, in 1996. In addition to his brother-in-law, Delmas Dixon, he is survived by his sister, Mozell Arnold, Avon Park.

Graveside services will be at 1 this afternoon at Lake Wales Cemetery.

Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Lake Wales