Ruth Imogene Bryan
BERLIN – Ruth Imogene Bryan, 72, died Friday, March 27, 2009, at The Peninsula Regional Medical Center.
Born in West Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Ralph H. Linkous and Clara Doyle Linkous. She is survived by her son, William Grauling, Jr. and his wife, Sharon, of Baltimore; her daughters, Bette Mae Grauling of Salisbury, Terri French and her husband, Lenny, of Berlin, and Tina Majeski of Berlin; seven grandchildren, William Grauling III, Rebecca Grauling, Tiffany Coyne, Mitchel Cook, Nicholas French, David Majeski, Jr., and Christina Majeski; two great-grandchildren, Stephen and Shannon; two brothers, Jack Linkous and Samuel Linkous; and one sister, Barbara Bach.
She was very active with her church, St. Peters Lutheran in Ocean City. She devoted herself to taking care of her children and their children. Her favorite time of the year was Easter with the gardening and flowers. She also worked for many years at the Bethlehem Steel Plant in Baltimore.
Services were held. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the St. Peters Lutheran Church Building Fund, 10301 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md. 21842.
Ronald Morris Patey
SALISBURY – Ronald Morris Patey, age 62, died Sunday, March 29, 2009 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.
Born in Willards, he was the son of Elizabeth Mitchell Patey and the late Elwood Patey.
He had worked as a construction superintendent for 18 years with Gillis Gilkerson Builders. He was a member of the Willards Volunteer Fire Company for 41 years and had served as Chaplain.
Along with his mother, he is survived by his wife, Deborah Wheatley Patey; a daughter, Hollie Patey Jones and her husband Leonard "Buddy" of Sharptown; two grandchildren, Breanna and Bethany Jones; twin brother, Doanld W. Patey and his wife Wina of Berlin; brothers Alan and Tommy Patey of Willards; sisters Jeannette Long and her husband George of Coppers Cove, Texas and Marie Monroe and her husband Keith of Millsboro, Del.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Willards Lions Club. Pastor David Herr and Pastor Harvey Dixon will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Willards Volunteer Fire Company, PO Box 38, Willards, Md. 21874 or Powellville Ruritan Club, PO Box 446, Pittsville, Md. 21850. Arrangements by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
Katherine F. Rodden
BERLIN – Katherine F. Rodden, age 86, died Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at the Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Born in Washington, D.C. she was the only child of the late James Wilson Flaherty and Katharine Grant Flaherty. She had lived in Ocean City with her husband, Bernie Rodden, who preceded her in death in 2001.
Along with her husband and family, Rodden had opened in Ocean City Maui Golf, which is still owned and operated by the Rodden family. She had attended the Juilliard School of Music and had formerly been a music teacher and was instrumental in the formation of the Harlem Boys Choir.
She is survived by two sons, Martin Daniel Smith-Rodden and his wife Pam of Portsmouth, Va. and Phillip Thomas Rodden and his wife Sue of Ocean City; a step-son James Forrest Rodden and his wife Kathy of Carneys Point, N.J.; nine grandchildren, Wilson Rodden, Kate Rodden, Christian Rodden, Elizabeth Rodden, Andrew Webster, Tori Abell, Jarrett Abell, Karen Perry and Denise Dyson; and five great grandchildren, Tristin, Ashley, Zach, Austin and Emma.
Services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor, St. Martin’s Home, 601 Maiden Choice Lane, Baltimore, Md. 21228. Arrangements by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
Gerald P. Nye III (Jerry)
SALISBURY – Gerald P. Nye III, 44, died on March 20, 2009 at The Coastal Hospice at the Lake of brain cancer.
He was the son of Lisi Ruczynski of Ocean Pines, and Gerald P. Nye, Jr., of Lake Park, Fla. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Sen. Gerald P. and Marguerite Nye and Lila Maki, all of Chevy Chase, Md., and his stepfather Narcy (Ski) Ruczynski of Ocean Pines.
He is survived by his parents and also a daughter, Brittany Lauren Nye of Silver Spring; his brother, Christopher and Aimee Dunn, niece Madison Nicole Dunn of Frederick; uncle Richard J. Nye of Williamsport, Md.; uncle and aunt the Rev. John and Deborah Nye Corgan of West Hartford, Conn.; and many loving cousins and friends.
He grew up in Chevy Chase and graduated from Good Counsel High School in Olney. He spent the last 10 years living and loving life in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., where he leaves many close friends.
A memorial celebration of his life will be held on April 18 from 1-3 p.m. at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase. Interment of his ashes will be at Ft. Lincoln Cemetery at a later date.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in his name to the Coastal Hospice at the Lake, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21802.
Edward E. Eyring, Sr.
BALTIMORE – Edward Erhard Eyring, Sr., retired president of a family-owned contracting firm that built a number of notable Baltimore buildings, died of complications from a stroke March 19 at St. Joseph Medical Center. The longtime Ruxton resident was 89.
He was born and raised in Highlandtown, was a 1938 graduate of Mount St. Joseph High School in Irvington and attended Villanova University.
In 1941, he joined E. Eyring & Sons Co., which had been established by his grandfather, Erhard Eyring, in 1887. When his father died in 1964, he succeeded him and operated the company until 1977, when he retired and closed the business. He worked as a consultant with the Edward T. Morris Construction Co. Inc. from 1977-80.
Surviving are his wife of 59 years, the former Rita Connolly; a son, Edward E. Eyring Jr. of Abingdon; a daughter, Deborah Sue Eyring of Baltimore; and three grandsons.
Robert S. Craig
OCEAN CITY – Captain Robert S. Craig, 90, died Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury.
Born in Wilmington, Del., he was the son of the late Frank S. Craig and Marian Kyle Craig. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Mason Craig, and a son, James Russell Craig, both in 2008, and a sister, Barbara Craig
Craig was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his B.A. degree and a Masters Degree in Mathematics. In 1940, he married Virginia Mason of Berlin. He taught briefly at Friends School and from 1940-1981 taught Latin and Math at Principia Upper School in St. Louis, Mo, where he also coached football, basketball, tennis, and golf and taught water safety.
Throughout this period, he worked in Ocean City in the summers, serving on the Ocean City Beach Patrol for 52 years from the mid-1930s to 1986. He was captain from 1946-1986. In 1981, he moved to Ocean City permanently. He was an avid photographer and published some images including a record album cover while also contributing to yearbook photography, graduation photographs, and Camera Club sponsorship at Principia. He was a member of the Ocean City Golf and Yacht Club where his daughter was his favorite golf partner. He also served as a lay reader and on the board of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Rehoboth Beach, Del. He was on the Ethics Committee for the Town of Ocean City and served on the
Board of the Friends of the Worcester County Library, Ocean City Library. Since 1952, Craig was a member of the Tuscan Masonic Lodge in St. Louis, Mo., where he became a 32nd Degree Mason. Throughout his life, he enjoyed the music of the Big Band era; in recent years he gave numerous presentations to local civic organizations and co-emceed a radio program on the vocalists and band leaders of the 1930s, 1940s, and ’50s.
He is survived by his son, Robert M. Craig and his wife Carole Anne of Atlanta, Ga.; a daughter, Mary Dale Craig of Ocean City; a grandson, Christopher Kyle Craig and his wife Lynlee Squires Craig; and a great granddaughter, Emma Ruth Craig; a brother, Frank S. Craig, Jr. and his wife Jane of Melbourne Beach, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ocean City Beach Patrol, PO Box 158, Ocean City, Md. 21842.
Margaret Brennan Fennell
OCEAN PINES – Margaret Brennan Fennell, age 76, died Sunday, March 29, 2009 at Coastal Hospice at the Lake in Salisbury.
Born in New York City, N.Y. she was the daughter of the late Cornelius Joseph Brennan and Jessie McAloon Brennan.
Fennell was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. She was a graduate of Mother Cabrini High School in New York City. She was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Ocean Pines, Ocean Pines Library, Bridge Club, 9 Hole Golf Group and Salisbury University Public Radio Station.
She is survived by her husband, Patrick Joseph Fennell; a son, Kevin Patrick Fennell of San Diego, Calif.; four daughters, Jessica Fennell Hoopes and her husband Thomas of West Chester, Pa., Jennifer Fennell of New York, N.Y., Pamela Fennell Jacobs and her husband Fred of Berwyn, Pa. and Patty Fennell Restivo and her husband Mark of Ellicott City, Md.; seven grandchildren, Rachael Fennell, Patrick Hoopes, Thomas Hoopes, Jessica Brennan Jacobs, Danny Hoopes, Courtney Brennan Restivo and Nicholas Restivo; a sister, Jessica Finnegan and her husband Thomas of Venice, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Brennan.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, April 4 at 11 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11211 Beauchamp Rd., Ocean Pines, Md. 21811. Rev. Thomas J. Protack will officiate. Friends may call one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21804. Arrangements by the Burbage Funeral Home.
Gail F. Morris
PITTSVILLE – Gail F. Morris, 62, was welcomed into Heaven on March 25, 2009 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.
She was the daughter of the late Francis and Mabel Donaway Hudson.
She was a 1964 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and had worked at Heinemann Electric for many years, and most recently as an in-home care giver. She was a wonderful wife, a devoted mother, mom mom and the best sister. She was a treasure to all who knew and loved her. She will be missed, but the mourners know in their hearts she is talking to God about planting flowers, hanging some baskets and cutting grass, her favorite things to do.
She married Nelson O. Morris in 1966 and together they had three children, Donna Timmons of Pittsville, Ron Morris and his wife Jessica of Carlisle, Pa. and Wendy Morris of Salisbury. She also leaves to cherish her memory seven grandchildren, Brittany and Lindsey Timmons, Brianna, Brady and Brinlee Morris, Jacob and Sarah Fiorelli. She is also survived by her sister, Nancy Owens, and her brother-in-law, Eddie, of Clayton, Del.; several nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends and extended family. She never met a
stranger, to know her was to love her. Nothing was more important to her than her family, friends and home. She was preceded in death by a brother, George Davis.
Services were held. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Pittsville Fire Department, PO Box 387, Pittsville, Md. 21850.
Lloyd Henry Nock
BERLIN – Lloyd Henry Nock, age 85, died Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.
Born in Berlin, he was the son of the late Gordon and Rosina McCabe Nock. He is survived by his wife of 65 wonderful years, Mildred Niblett Nock. They were married on Aug. 28, 1943.
Nock was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He had been a farmer throughout his life. He retired from the United States Postal Service after 30 years of service. He was a member of Stevenson United Methodist Church in Berlin where he served as head usher.
Along with his wife, he is survived by his children, Shirley Scott and her husband Bennett and Lloyd "Sonny" Nock and his wife Vicki; cherished family member JoAnne Donovan; five grandchildren, David Scott, Sharon Bradford, Kelly Bowden, Brandy Phillips and Nathan Nock; 11 great grandchildren, Matthew, Michael and Luke Scott, Will and Jenna Bradford, Emily and Kayla Bowden, Connor Farran, Jack and Todd Phillips, Ethan Nock, and, Tucker Lloyd Nock, due in May; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his five brothers, Matthew, Sewell, Preston, Wallace and Norman Nock
and a sister Elsie Nock Dennis.
Services were held. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Stevenson United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 123 N. Main St., Berlin, Md. 21811.
Arrangements by the Burbage Funeral Home.
William A. Keagle
OCEAN CITY – William A. Keagle passed into eternal life on March 23, 2009.
He was the loving husband of the late Mary M. Keagle (nee Goeller) and devoted father of William A. Keagle, Jr., and his wife Diane, Jean Marie Keagle and her husband J.B. Jefferson, known affectionately in the resort area as Bean and Boz, John F. Keagle and his wife Cathy and Joseph M. Keagle and his wife Karen.
Keagle was the dear brother of Betty K. Schultz and the late M. Beach Schultz; and the late A. Marvin Keagle and his wife Beverly. He was the cherished grandfather of Sara M. Kaler and her husband Keith along with Lee H., Matthew S., Thomas J., Joseph M. Jr., and Mary G. Keagle. He was also great-grandfather to Ryan W. and Natalie R. Kaler.
Keagle was born in Baltimore and moved to Anne Arundel County after he was married in the 1950s. He was a veteran of World War II and worked at the Maryland House of Corrections until retirement in 1980. He was a devoted father and husband. Keagle enjoyed his time on the Eastern Shore, where he lived near the end of his days with his daughter Jean (Bean) and son-in-law (Boz). Always a colorful character, he shared Boz and Bean’s passion for community service and charitable works. Among other things, he also painted the numbers on the mugs at the Greene Turtle in West Ocean City.
Funeral services were held in Howard County. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Howard M. Lucas
DOVER, N.J. – Howard M. “Luke” Lucas, 80, formerly of Berlin, passed away at the Respiratory Rehab Center in Dover, N.J. on Friday, March 13, 2009.
Born in Hawthorne, N.J., he lived in Piscataway, N.J. for 35 years, then in Berlin for 14 years prior to moving back to New Jersey three years ago.
He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War in the early 1950s. He went on to work as a watchmaker for Lane Jewelers in Nutley, N.J. He then went to work as an electronic device technician for Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies for 35 years before retiring in 1990.
He was a member of the Sinepuxent American Legion Post 166, the Anglers Club of Ocean Pines and the AMSFA.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Alberta (Brabban) Lucas of Rockaway Township, N.J.; his loving daughter, Tracy Jr. and her husband, Brian Fitzgerald; and his grandchildren, Casey Lucas Fitzgerald and Colin William Fitzgerald, all of Budd Lake, N.J.