George Edmund Nunez II, 78, passed away on Feb. 8, 2013, of complications from cancer at Winter Haven Hospital.

Edmund was born in Ocala, Fla., to George Tierso Nunez and Helen Josephine Stringer Nunez on Nov. 12, 1934.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister; Sarah Barbara, first wife and mother of his children; Clara Hines Nunez; and a son, Philip.

He is survived by his wife, Lydia Baker Nunez; son, George Tierso Nunez II (Andrea) of Haines City, Fla.; daughter, Suzanne Marie Hood of Bonifay, Fla.; a stepson, Webster Bryon Baker; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a brother, Charles Tierso (Rhona) of Lakeland, Fla.

Edmund attended schools in Lakeland and Bartow, graduating from Summerlin Institute, Bartow, class of 1953. He was a gifted athlete, lettering in four sports; football, track, basketball and baseball. He was president of his senior class. He also excelled in voice in high school with the glee club, singing the tenor lead in several operettas and the Messiah at Summerlin.

He graduated in 1957 from Florida State University, where he was in Kappa Alpha Fraternity, with a degree in accounting. He joined his father in the accounting firm Nunez and Nunez in Bartow when he received his CPA license in 1958. Later the firm began a series of mergers to become the NCT Group CPAs with offices in Lakeland, Winter Haven and Sebring, Fla. Edmund managed the Winter Haven office. In 1987 he formed Nunez & Co. CPA, with his wife and partner, Lydia. He remained active as a CPA until his recent illness.

Edmund was active in serving his community. He was a volunteer fireman in Bartow, a member of the Rotary Clubs in Bartow and Winter Haven, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and the Junior Chamber of Commerce, holding both state and national offices, as State Vice President and National Jaycee treasurer. He retired from the Army having achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Edmund was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting and fishing with his lifelong friends. During deer season he spent weekends at a Georgia hunting camp with his friends and sitting in a tree stand waiting for the next trophy buck. In the spring time he spent his best time fly fishing with friends for the big bream in the Lake Hatchineha Chain. Summers were spent in the North Georgia Mountains in Blairsville, Ga., enjoying time with his wife, dogs and friends.

A celebration of his life will be held at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 145 E. Edgewood Drive, Lakeland, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013, at 3 p.m. The Rev. Timothy Nunez and the Rev. Leslie Nunez Steffenson, Edmunds’ nephew and niece will officiate.

In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to the Moffitt Cancer Center, Good Shepherd Hospice, or the local Humane Society or Polk County Animal Control in his memory.