We Remember Those Who Have Passed

We Remember Those Who Have Passed
obits trimper1

Granville Daniel Trimper

OCEAN CITY – Granville Daniel Trimper died Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin. He was 79.

Born Feb. 9, 1929, he was the son of the late Pearl Sullivan and Granville Christopher Trimper. He was the last remaining grandson of German immigrant Daniel Trimper, who in 1890 founded Windsor Resort/ Trimper’s Rides, now the nation’s longest continually owned and operated amusement park. He had served as the company’s manager and C.E.O.

A lifetime resident of Ocean City, he was past president of the Ocean City Lion’s Club, having been a Lion for 58 years. He was also a lifetime member of the Ocean City Fire Company, past president of the Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association, president of the Ocean City Museum Society, past president of the Downtown Association, helped in the creation of the OCDC and was a long standing member of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce. He served on the Board of Directors for Peninsula Bank and was vestryman and past senior warden of St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church.

In his later years, he was a member of the Evergreen Lodge #153 in Berlin, a 32nd degree Mason of the Scottish Right and was a member of the Boumi Temple and Ocean City Shrine club. He served as a member of the Worcester County Sanitary Commission and for over 20 years was on the Maryland Amusement Park Advisory Board. For 18 years, he served as an Ocean City councilman, council president, mayor of Ocean City and four years as a Worcester County Commissioner.

In 1981, Trimper was presented the prestigious Paul Hazard Award by the HMR Association. Twenty years later, he was recognized for his dedication in support of his community and was the recipient of the Ocean City Citizen of the Year 2000 Award. Just this past summer 2008, on behalf of the state of Maryland, Governor Martin O’Malley recognized his lifetime of community service and personally issued an official proclamation to Granville for his endless efforts in providing amusement and diversion for generations of Marylanders, from the often-mundane aspects of everyday life.

Trimper was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Joanne Morgan Trimper in 1991, and his infant brother, William Trimper. He is survived by his sister, Alice Bligh and her husband Jim, of Salisbury, and his wife, Martha Messick Trimper. He is also survived by his three children, John Douglas Trimper and wife Cindy, Linda T. Holloway and husband Ralph, and Stephanie T. Lewis and husband Brian. He had nine grandchildren, Christopher M. Trimper, Gordon Brooks Trimper, Chelsea L. Trimper, Andrew M. and Amy Holloway, Bradley J. and Iva Holloway, Matthew H. Lewis, Adam W. Lewis, Timothy E. Lewis, and Joanna Caroline Lewis, as well as two nephews, William R. Hopkins, and Richard Hopkins of Raleigh, NC

Services were held. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to the American Cancer Society,

c/o Gerri Harrison, 337 Winter Quarters Dr., Pocomoke City, MD 21851.

Paul Davis Williams

BERLIN – Paul Davis Williams, 77, died Friday, Oct. 24, 2008, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

Born in Berlin, he is a son of the late William "Bill" G. Williams Sr. and Bessie Beatrice Davis Williams.

He is survived by two daughters, Karen Peeples, and her children, Brandon and Michael, with his wife, Virsa; Michael is father to all three of Paul’s great-grandchildren, Zachary, Shawn and Thomas; and Terry Jordan and her husband, Ed, with their daughter, April.

There are three sons, Dean Williams and his wife, Kathy, with their children Brad, Ross and Kelly; Gary Williams and his wife, Amy, with their children, Victoria and Bethany; and Grant Williams and his wife, Linda. Also surviving is a sister, Marie Hanson of Fallston, Md.; numerous nieces, nephews; and a wonderful host of friends.

He began his early years at Valley Forge Military Academy, was a past president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and a member and past president of the Berlin Lions Club. He enjoyed many fond memories of the winter Lions Whole Hog Sale and the "all so funny" and successful "Womanless Beauty Pageants" plus any event the Lions Club members could conjure up to raise funds.

Starting at a young age in the "family business" of Williams Tavern, Paul enjoyed a fondness for pool — billiards. Pool leagues became a favorite pastime as he allowed himself the opportunity to win and lose bets playing. Best of all, he raved about his Sunday golf matches with his buddies, sometimes beating them, out at the Ocean City Golf and Yacht Club.

With the help of John Howard Burbage Sr. and Jack Grazier, the trio created the original cable television business on the Eastern Shore in 1963, named, Atlantic C.A.T.V. The partners prospered and then sold the business in the late 1960s. His long time employee, David Holland, has been with him from the beginning.

A pioneer in commercial television leasing, he wanted to thank all his longtime and many loyal customers for the success and trust you placed in him and his sons, Grant and Gary, for your continued support and patronage. There are few greater rewards in business.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers, though welcomed and appreciated, Paul and his family asks you to honor his life with a donation to the Berlin Lions Club or the Berlin Fire Department in recognition of their assistance and wonderful service.

Elsie "Betty" Murray

BERLIN – Elsie "Betty" Murray, 91, died Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

Born in Pennsylvania, she was a daughter of the late Irving and Bessie Chaires.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eldridge "Teny" Murray, and a brother, Robert Chaires.

She is survived by a son, V. Robert Murray and his wife, Peggy; a daughter, Ann Ullrich of Washington, Va.; four grandchildren, Douglas R. Murray and his wife, Lorie, of Aston, Pa., Gregory S. Murray and his wife, Teresa, of Chesapeake, Va., Kim Ullrich of Washington, Va., John Ullrich Jr. and his wife, Sharon of Rosamond, Calif.; and nine great-grandchildren.

She was a member of the Stevenson United Methodist Church.

Services were held. Donations may be made to the Stevenson United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 123 W. Main St., Berlin, Md. 21811.

Hugh Lawler Johnson III

OCEAN CITY – Hugh Lawler Johnson III, 61, died Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

Born in Montgomery Ala., he was a son of the late Hugh Lawler Johnson Jr. and Mary Lucille Sherrill Johnson.

He is survived by his wife, Tammy Johnson of Ocean City; two daughters, Kaitlyn Johnson of Ocean City and Kristine Turcol of Pittsville; three grandchildren, Alexis, Brooke and Frank Turcol; a sister, Melinda Johnson; and two nieces, Courtney Good and Chatham Barnett, all of Waitsville, Vt.

Johnson had worked in the crab shipping industry in Louisiana and later as a bartender at Ocean Downs Raceway. He was a member at St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Ocean City and was a golfing enthusiast.

Services were held. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Gerri Harrison, 337 Winter Quarters Drive, Pocomoke City, Md. 21851.

Arrangements are being handled by Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Irene Sophia McClay

BERLIN – Irene Sophia McClay, 86, died Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in New York, she was a daughter of the late Adam and Julia Kurpiewski Grodczizki.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Emmett McClay. She is survived by her children, Robert Corsa of Millsboro and Irene Ruscigno and her husband, Joe of Ocean Pines; four grandchildren, Christopher Corsa, Andrew Gmitter, Michele Corsa and Robert Corsa; and two great-grandchildren, Caroline and Danielle Corsa.

McClay was a telephone representative with the New York Telephone Co., and was a Bell Telephone retiree. She had attended St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Ocean Pines.

Services were held. Donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association, 1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, Md., 21093.

Arrangements are being handled by Burbage Funeral Home.