We Remember Those We Have Lost

Charles W. Grinath

Charles W. Grinath

Charles William Grinath

BERLIN — Charles William Grinath, 66, of Powellville passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 29, 2014, in his home.

He was born in Baltimore on Nov. 5, 1947 to the late Lillian Mae and Charles W. Grinath.

After Charlie graduated from Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in the Vietnam War as a sergeant in the Army Infantry Recon Unit. Injured in combat, he received the Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and was a distinguished recipient of the Purple Heart. After retirement from Bell Atlantic and other communications services, Charlie went on to live the good life. Devoted to the love of his family and his love of boating and off-shore fishing, he enjoyed time with his cherished loved ones, his close friends, and his fishing buddies. His passion for offshore fishing put him on two winning teams of the White Marlin Open tournament in 1993 and 1995. Everybody who knew Charlie was touched by his larger than life personality.

Charlie was a member of the Ocean City Marlin Club, the Ocean City Reef Foundation, Powellville VFW Post 2996 and the Berlin American Legion Post 123.

Charlie will be lovingly missed by the love of his life, Becky Ann Grinath; daughter, Jennifer Grinath; son, Frank Rayne; brother, Jack (Peggy) Grinath; sister, Bonnie Schroen; cousin, Donald (Ronnie) Walker; several nieces and nephews; and many friends Charlie has touched along the way.

In addition to his parents, Charlie was also preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn Hagner Grinath, and his sister, Paula Kelly.

Services were held. In lieu, of flowers, contributions in his memory bay be made to the Wicomico County Humane Society, 5130 Citation Dr., Salisbury, Md. 21804.

The family wishes to thank all friends, loved ones and medical staff for their love, care and support through the years. Additional thanks goes to Dr. James Rano for his special friendship, care and attention. Please visit www.boundsfuneralhome.com to send condolences to the family.

Dorothy L. Yarko

Dorothy L. Yarko

Dorothy Louise Yarko

OCEAN CITY — Dorothy Louise Yarko, age 81, died Sunday, May 4, 2014 at her home.

Born in Patton, Pa., she was the daughter of the late William and Margaret Bailey Long. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Tom Yarko, and children, Amy Majors and her husband Charles of Pickens, S.C., Sharon Stamer and her husband Tim of Eldersburg, Md., Thomas William Yarko and his wife Mary of Elkridge, Md. and Timothy Allen Yarko of York, Pa. There are six grandchildren, Chris Lapole, Kim Lapole, Victoria Yarko, Katie Stamer, Jonathan Yarko and Corey Yarko. Also surviving is a great grandson, Robert Lee Paul Holloway. There is also a brother Richard Long and his wife Millie of Patton, Pa. and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Yarko had worked as a seamstress in Patton, Pa., in venetian blind production for Roper in Columbia, Md., and in circuit board production for Pace in Laurel, Md.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 1 p.m. at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Friends may call one hour prior to the service. Expressions of condolence may be sent to the family at www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

James Ronald Nooney

BERLIN — James Ronald Nooney, ”Jim”, age 63, died Thursday, May 1, 2014 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

Born in Charleston, W.Va., he was the son of the late James Henry Nooney and Melva Welch Nooney. He is survived by his wife, Melanie M. Buchanan Nooney, and sons, Adam Nooney and his wife Samantha of Charleston, W.Va., Jon Nooney and his wife Demiah of Ocean Pines, and Nick Nooney and his wife, Michelle of Charleston, W.Va. There are five grandchildren, Cooper Nooney, Cameron Nooney, Arabella Nooney, Rhyder Nooney and Wyatt Nooney.

Mr. Nooney served in the Army National Guard of West Virginia. He loved politics and worked in the public relations field most of his life. He was the host of “Eggs and Issues”, an early morning show on WETT Radio, did weather and public programming, and was the original host for “Good Things Delmarva” for WMDT, Channel 47, where he received two Telly Awards. He was President of the Maryland Troopers Foundation Golf Tournament, organizer supporting St. Jude Children’s Hospital, active in fund raising for Alzheimer’s Foundation and Star Charities, Habitat for Humanity, Ocean City Air Show, member of Ocean City and Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club in Clendenin, W.Va., and a founding member of the Ocean City Parrot Head Club.

Services were held. A donation in his memory may be made to American Cancer Society Northern Worcester County Relay for Life, 1315 Mt. Hermon Rd. Suite D, Salisbury, Md. 21804, or Maryland Troopers Foundation, 1300 Reisterstown Rd., Pikesville, Md. 21208. Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com .

Shirley Ann Esham Gilliss

BERLIN — Shirley Ann Esham Gilliss went peacefully to God April 30, 2014.

Born June 16, 1931, she was the second child of Audrey Nock and Powell Esham and the last born to the Esham family on the Esham Dairy Farm in Berlin.

She was predeceased by her husband, Robins L. Gilliss, Sr., her brother, Powell W. Esham, and the sister of her heart, Millie Villani.

She is survived by her three children, R. Lee Gilliss, Jr, his wife Ginger of Berlin and their children Robins L. III (Robbie), his wife Melissa and their children Kingley and Mea of York, Pa., Audrey G. Windsor, her husband Jason and their daughter Adeline of Saint Martins, John P. Gilliss and his wife Patricia of Palm Harbor, Fla. and their children Kristin of San Francisco, CA and John Ryan of Palm Harbor, Fla., her daughter S. E. (Beth) Gilliss and her friend Paul Flynn of Saint Martins round out her closest circle of love.

Our Mom loved people, singing, and a good party. Her kitties and the two chihuahuas (which invaded her home for the last few years) always made her smile. And then there were the frogs, lots of frogs.

Her grandchildren were her great delight and the three greats she was blessed to hold lifted her heart. Her extended Esham family was a source of love, support, funny stories and pride.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers, Shirley requested donations in her memory go to Shriners Hospitals for Children, P.O. Box 1525, Ranson, W.Va. 25438-0018 or www.loveshriners.org or The Cricket Center of Berlin, Attn: Wendy Myers, P.O. Box 97, Berlin, Md. 21811.

James E. McGaha

James E. McGaha

James Edward McGaha

OCEAN CITY — James Edward McGaha, “Jim” age 88, died Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at the Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Newport, Tenn., he was the son of the late George and Eunice Britt McGaha. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy E. Agin and her husband Tom, and Edith Matsinger. He is also survived by Brady S. Bowman, who he loved like a son, and Brady’s girlfriend and Jim’s caregiver, Lisa H. Bentz. Also surviving are two special young ladies who he loved like granddaughters, Allison Bowman and Shelby Bowman and their mother Cyndi Hof, Dee and Karen Kreeger and their son Austin, many nieces and nephews and special friends Charlene Battaglia, Chris Dietz and Courtney Hevner and other family and friends.

Mr. McGaha was a 27-year career Army veteran, retiring in 1975 as a Master Sergeant. He had been a volunteer at the Ocean City Branch of the Worcester County Library for many years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City and member and Post Adjutant of the VFW Post #8296 in Ocean City. He was also a member of the Sinepuxent American Legion Post #166 in Ocean City.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at 1 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Ocean City. Rev. Alex Ayers will officiate. Inurnment will be at a future date at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be mad to the VFW Post #8296, 104 66th Street, Ocean City, Md. 21842-8198 or to the Ocean City Branch of the Worcester County Library, 10003 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, Md. 21842.

Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.burbagefuneralhome.com.

Mary E. Garry

Mary E. Garry

Mary Elizabeth Garry

BERLIN — Mary Elizabeth Garry, 54, of Berlin, passed away on Sunday, May 4, 2014 at her home.

Born in Baltimore, she was the daughter of Lawrence Wagner, Sr. and Mary E. Gibbs Wagner of Hunt Valley, Md.

Prior to her disability, Mary had worked as an office supervisor for an engineering firm. She was a member of CDA and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Mary is survived by her husband of 15 years, Pat Garry; a daughter, Sarah A. Narbut of Berlin; a step-son, Shawn P. Garry and his wife, Emile of Lake Charles, La.; a step-daughter, Heather C. Hilferty and her husband, Richard of Collegeville, Pa.; five grandchildren, Isabella, Ava, Julia, Elijah and Liam; three sisters, Cathy Dayberry and her husband, Michael, Susan Lurz and Ruth McCullough and her husband, Robert, all of Baltimore; two brothers, Lawrence Wagner, Jr. of Baltimore and Mark Wagner and his wife, Mindy of Hunt Valley; and her beloved pet dog, “Pudgy”. She was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Elizabeth A. Narbut.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 1301 Philadelphia Avenue, Ocean City, Md. 21842.

Contributions may be made in her memory to Miles2give.org, which is a non-profit organization that supports research for Sarcoma Cancer. They recently ran in Mary’s honor.

Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, PA, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, Md. 21804. Please visit www.hollowayfh.com to express condolences to the family.