Florida May Carlson Gilmartin was born on May 18, 1926 to Laura Caspara (Anderson) Carlson and Olaf Carlson in the rural section of Orlando, Florida aptly named Goldenrod for the beautiful flowers that dotted the landscape. She was the third child of Laura and Olaf, however, she was the first of their children born in the fine state of Florida. This is how she earned her name, Florida. She was bequeathed the middle name May since she was born in the month of May.
Unhappy working in the silver mines of Aspen Colorado and wishing to escape the dreaded illness known as miner’s consumption, her father, Olaf, packed his wife, Laura, their son, Olaf Ingvald (Ding) and their daughter, Yarda Linnaea into the family automobile and began the 2,005 mile journey to Orlando, Florida.
Upon arrival, Olaf learned that he had been swindled. He had been sold forty acres that begins at the Goldenrod Post Office. Olaf’s property had also been sold to people who wanted to develop a subdivision. These people wanted to develop the first subdivision in Goldenrod call Suburban Homes. They tried to persuade Olaf to trade this land for all of the property they owned around the chain of Lakes in Winter Park. This is where all of the multimillion dollar homes are built now. Back then, with no air conditioning or critter control, our Granny was having nothing to do with that swampy old land full of bugs, snakes and mosquitoes. So they said no and sued for their land. And that is how the Carlsons gave up the chance to be rich. Now, he had to find a place for his family of four to live. When Olaf asked a wealthy land owner, Mr. Mathers, if he would allow them to camp on his orange groves on Lake Bright, Mr. Mathers, fearing they were a bunch of traveling gypsies, turned his family away.
Olaf eventually found another site and began building temporary housing for his family while his lawsuit made its way through the court system. In the end, the judge ruled in the Carlson’s favor. Upon winning back his homestead, Olaf began building his family’s permanent home on the spot now occupied by the Goldenrod Post Office using mostly lumber and nails salvaged from older, demolished buildings.
Florida May’s first memory was about the age of two. Her father had the temporary home moved next to their permanent residence to be used as his barn/workshop. As Florida May sees the building coming up the dirt road, she begins to shout,”Here comes Mamma’s house! Here comes Momma’s house!”
Another special memory Florida loved to tell was when her baby brother, William Elmer Carlson was born. Florida was almost three years old, Yarda (11/2/1919) was going on ten years old, and Ding born 5/19/1917 was almost twelve. The only phone was at Spelthousen's store up on Aloma Avenue. The ladies worked out an arrangement that when Laura Carlson went into labor, she would hang a dish towel on her clothesline. Mrs. Spelthousen would then call the doctor in Winter Park as soon as she saw the dish towel signal. And that is how the doctor got word that it was time to deliver William Elmer Carlson on March 5, 1929.
Florida May Carlson Gilmartin
Florida attended Winter Park Elementary School in downtown Winter Park at age six. She was an excellent student, loved by students and teachers alike. In first grade, her teacher honored Florida with the Perfect Attendance Award. She presented Florida with an artificial flower arrangement. The teacher reached high up on her bookcase, pulled down the artificial flower arrangement and handed it to her grateful student, Miss Florida May Carlson for Perfect Attendance. Florida said she never forgot this award, the first of numerous awards.
Florida and her two brothers and one sister usually rode the school bus into Winter Park for school. She also told us that her father would occasionally let her drive his car the three miles to school as young as thirteen years of age.
Florida often sought the company and comradery of her younger brother and his buddies as often as she could. However, she complained that she had a difficult time keeping up the brisk pace. The boys spent a great deal of their time hunting and fishing. On one occasion, they were fishing on one of the numerous lakes found in Goldenrod when Florida encountered a Water Moccasin. The moccasin struck and bit Florida on the foot before she could react. Florida screamed for Bill’s help. Bill pulled her to safety, but then made her limp back home for medical care. Years later, when their beloved dog, Fifi, was bitten by a Water Moccasin, Bill carried Fifi home for help. Florida often remarked that this proved that Bill must have loved Fifi more than his own sister.
Florida continued to achieve academic excellence at Winter Park High School earning the distinction of class Salutatorian. Her father and mother always stressed the importance of education and urged their Salutatorian to study law. Florida, however, eventually decided to major in Pharmacy. During her research into pharmacy, Florida discovered that the all girl’s school, Florida State University, did not offer a pharmacy major. She would have to attend the boy’s school, The University of Florida, if she wanted to pursue a degree in Pharmacy. In order to qualify, she would need to earn a 3.8 grade point average while attending the women’s college, Florida State for one year. With World War II underway, Florida boarded a bus to begin her college career in Tallahassee, Florida. After a year at FSU, Florida May earned a 4.0 and was accepted to the University of Florida where she completed her Pharmacy degree, Magna Cum Laude.
It was at the University of Florida that Florida met William Hugh Gilmartin, Jr. Bill graduated from Fork Union Military Academy and decided to head south. He and a friend hitch-hiked down to Gainesville and enrolled in the University of Florida. While looking for her schedule, Florida felt a tap on her shoulder. As she turned around, there was Bill Gilmartin, asking her if he knew her from New York. This was the beginning of a love that lasted until Bill passed away on November 2, 2014.
Florida May Carlson Gilmartin
Florida graduated from the University of Florida in 1946 with her degree in Pharmacy and returned to her hometown of Goldenrod, Florida. Her first job was in a pharmacy in Sanford, Florida. The following year she was hired at Evan’s Pharmacy in downtown Orlando. She remained with Mr. Evans until 1957 when her husband moved the Family to Hollywood, Florida.
From 1957 until 1966 Florida decided to stay at home and raise her three children, William Hugh III, Cassie Marie and Olaf Shawn. She often told us how she carted her youngest child around in a cardboard box in the back seat of her pink Lincoln. In 1967, Florida went back to work at a small pharmacy on Johnson Street. She then found a position at Hallandale Pharmacy. She stayed on until the pharmacy closed in 1969. She was so proud of her loyalty to her employer, and felt her loyalty helped her procure her final professional position. She applied and obtained an interview with the Pharmacy Department at Hollywood Memorial Hospital. Accompanied by her husband, Florida interviewed and secured the job of Staff Pharmacist. When her sister, Yarda, learned that Florida was earning more money in her first year as a returning pharmacist than Yarda was making as a Nurse Anesthetist with ten plus years’ experience, she could not believe her own ears.
Florida worked at Hollywood Memorial Hospital Pharmacy from 1969 until her retirement in 1991. Upon retirement, Florida dedicated her time to helping raise her grandchildren, assisting her neighbors who could no longer drive and enjoying time at her beach house in Ft. Pierce, Florida.
Florida was predeceased by her mother and father, Laura Caspara (Anderson) and Olaf Carlson; her husband, William Hugh Gilmartin, Jr.; her brother, Olaf Ingvald (Ding) Carlson; her sister Yarda Linnaea Rusterholz; and her brother Brig. General William Elmer Carlson, Retired and his wife, Nancy Virginia Carlson.
She is survived by her children and their spouses, William Hugh Gilmartin III and his wife Cathy W. Zuvich Gilmartin; daughter Cassie Marie Gilmartin Oden and her husband Carl George Oden; and Florida’s son Olaf Shawn Gilmartin and his wife Marcia Bush Gilmartin.
Florida leaves behind her grandchildren Jeffrey Earl Oden and his wife Stacie Gabrielle Harrington Oden; Sean Ryan Gilmartin and his wife Gina Whitworth Gilmartin; William Hugh Gilmartin IV; Cortney Elizabeth Gilmartin Mora and her husband Gabriel Mora; Carl Eric Oden and his girlfriend Julissa Negron; and William Brett Oden and his girlfriend Virginia Vlassick. She is also the proud great-grand mother of Kylee James Gilmartin, Austin Ryan Gilmartin, Cooper William Gilmartin, Quinn Martha Oden, Ella May Mora, Parker Marie Gilmartin and Dillan Lucia Oden.
Other surviving relatives are Sue Walton formerly of New Jersey and Nantucket Island; John Wetzel of New Jersey; Barbara Carlson of San Antonio Texas; Craig Carlson and his wife Diane of San Antonio, Texas; Rosemary O’Shea of Goldenrod, Florida; Hal Carlson and his wife Karen of San Antonio, Texas; Bradley Carlson and his wife Marcy of Tampa, Florida; Cecilie Ann Housewright of Orlando, Florida; Paul Akermo Carlson of Orlando, Florida; Courtney Housewright and her son, Austin of Orlando, Florida; Brittany Carlson Harrell and her husband, Mike Harrell of California; and Summer Carlson of Orlando, Florida.
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