David Franklin Hedges Jr.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — David Franklin Hedges Jr, a longtime resident of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area residing in Kearneysville, W.Va. and Ocean City, went to be with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, at the age of 66.
David F. Hedges
Born July 26, 1949, he was the son of Mary Hedges and the late David Hedges. He was the beloved husband of the late Margaret Anne Hedges whom he married on Nov. 29, 1975. David achieved his Master’s Degree from University of Maryland and was a proud member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He went on to establish his 31-year career with Montgomery County Public Schools and retired as the Executive Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer. In 2006, he and his wife moved to Kearneysville, W.Va. where they had built their dream home. He enjoyed working and took a position as the Business Manager for South Hagerstown High School where he later retired in 2013.
David had a love for Ocean City and enjoyed spending most of his time on the beach, reading books, playing with grandkids and spending time with friends. He will be remembered most for his kind spirit, gentle nature, and devoted love he had for his family.
He is survived by his sons, Brock Hedges (Brooke) of Ashburn, Va., Brett Hedges (Jen) of Sterling, Va. and Bryan Hedges (Kelly) of Dana Point, Calif.; mother, Mary Hedges, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; sister, Ann Bourne (John); five grandchildren, Trey, Cameron, Brayden, Bryce Hedges and Ethan Model; mother-in-law, Anne Weismiller; sister-in-law, Debbie Weismiller; brother-in-law, Bobby Weismiller and Gary Weismiller (Angie); nieces, Kristen Weismiller and Tasha Polke; nephews, Robert, Christopher, and Drew Weismiller, and Caleb Bourne. Also preceded in death by his father-in-law, Robert Weismiller.
Services were held.
Paul Thomas Cerniglia
BERLIN — Paul Thomas Cerniglia, age 49, who was born on Jan. 14, 1966, went to be with the lord on Jan. 2, 2016 at Atlantic General Hospital, surrounded by his family and friends.
Paul T. Cerniglia
He was born in Baltimore, where he spent his childhood years, before coming to Ocean City in 2001.He is survived by his parents James and Yvonne Cerniglia, sisters Kathy and Colleen Cerniglia, brother Vince Cerniglia, and longtime girlfriend Lisa Biasucci, and several nieces and nephews.
Paul enjoyed crabbing, fishing, drawing, boating and music. He will be sadly missed by all the lives he touched.
Paul requested his remains be cremated, no formal service will be held. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, (MDA) 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 1500, Chicago, Ill. 60606. Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com
Lowell Franklin “Gus” Eggert
OCEAN CITY — Rear Admiral Lowell Franklin “Gus” Eggert, 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015 in his home in Ocean City.
Lowell Franklin Eggert
Lowell was born in Milwaukee, Wis. in 1929 to Frank John Eggert and Caroline Heppert. Family called him “Bill” or “Brother”. On June 7, 1952, he married Dolores Stella Conlin of Philadelphia and they raised seven children together. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Corrine (Eggert) Herrmann.
Admiral Eggert, nicknamed “Gus” by classmates, graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1952. After serving as the navigator on an aircraft carrier, he reported to Pensacola, Fla. for flight training earning his designation as a Naval Aviator on 23 December 1954. He then completed several Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises as an attack pilot before graduating from the Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Md., where he then served as an Ordinance Test Project Pilot. Later in his career he returned to TPS as the Deputy Director and Chief Flight Instructor. He transitioned to the Pacific and assumed command of Attack Squadron, VA-192, flying many combat missions in the A4-F Skyhawk over Vietnam. During the height of the Vietnam air war, Commander Eggert led extensive combat missions as the Commander of Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), including the largest air-to-air engagement of the war. CVW-9 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation under his leadership. Subsequent assignments included command of the amphibious landing ship, USS Denver (LPD-9) followed by command of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) in1974. After then being selected for flag rank, he served as the Commander of Fleet Air Forces Western Pacific, based in Atsugi, Japan, and as the Inspector General for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and Atlantic Command. He retired from active naval service in October 1983, yet remained engaged with the Navy volunteering his service as the President of the Board of the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Association in Lexington Park, Md. His awards include the Navy Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit and Five Distinguished Flying Crosses.
Gus Eggert was much more than an accomplished and decorated naval officer. His biggest achievements came from the quiet unsung acts of a dedicated family man. He was a loyal and loving husband to his wife Dee through sixty-three years of marriage and frequent family moves. Gus and Dee together instilled in each of their seven children the importance of faith, respect, family trust and education. The Eggert family of nine came together each evening for dinner, attended Mass every Sunday and drove across country with their dogs in one vehicle numerous times. He was a fun dad and shared his love for camping, sailing and skiing with his children. At a young age, he taught them all how to tie a good knot, safely handle a jackknife, build a lean-to, start a fire in the rain, and find the direction of the wind, clean water and the North Star. He loved to tinker with boats and cars and build things from scrap lumber. He enjoyed a good story, always had a garden and never let the birdfeeders go empty. He was a kind man who loved animals, his family and butter pecan ice cream.
Admiral Eggert is survived by his devoted wife Dolores (Conlin) Eggert, and children Christopher Eggert and his wife Karen of Huntington, Md., Michael Eggert of San Francisco, Calif., Martha McWatters and her husband Bernard of Coronado, Calif., Kathleen Lucero and her husband Joseph of Columbia, Mo., Frank Eggert of Arlington, Va., Peter Eggert and his wife Amy of Brookfield, Wis., and Gussie Sholtis and her husband Tom of Berlin. Survivors also include his 11 grandchildren, Kathrin Loeffert, Capt. Brendan McWatters, USMC, Quinn McWatters, Shannon Hill, Jessica Lucero, Heidi Eggert, Kyle Hill, Lilly Eggert, Mariah Lucero, Annie Eggert, MDN Caleb Lucero and five great-grandchildren, two nephews and five nieces.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the United States Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis on Jan. 15, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. Eggert will receive full military honors and will be interred at the USNA Cemetery. In lieu of flowers a donation in his memory may be made to: Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Association, 22156 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, Md. 20653 Letters of condolence may be sent via www.burbagefuneralhome.com
Heather Nicole Byrd
OCEAN CITY — An aspiring model, exceptional aunt and an awesome source of light in this world has fought her fourth and final round of leukemia this past year and is finally at peace. She was born April 20, 1991 and died on Dec. 29, 2015.
Heather Nicole Byrd
A graduate of Mervo High School (2009) in Baltimore City and a recent local, though she been visiting with her father for the past 12 years, an employee of OC Steamers and attended Wor-Wic upon moving locally up until this last round of her leukemia.
Eight years into her fight starting at the age of 16, she had truly become a source of inspiration and a beacon of hope to everyone. Always accepting of others regardless of their flaws and shortcomings, giving more than she received and touching people’s hearts all around her.
She is survived by her father and grandfather (Kenneth Byrd Jr. and Sr.); brother, Johnathan; aunt Kim; nephew Lil Kenny and, of course, Gizmo (her yorkie).
Even though never fully achieving her full dream, she had done a shoot in modern hair and had photo cover of a book published in Germany.
Heather has truly touched and blessed all of those she has come upon and will be truly cherished and remebered for all eternity.
Rest in peace Heather, daddy loves and misses you.