Donald L. Lyons
BERLIN – Donald Louis Lyons, age 63, died Wednesday, March 18, 2008 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.
Born in Wilmington, Del., he was the son of the late Zane Gray Lyons and Agnes Elishia Hastings. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Ann Legg Lyons; a twin brother, Lionel Gray Lyons and his wife Jean Ellen Smith Lyons of Selbyville; a sister, Beverly Lyons DeLuca and her husband Jim of Berwyn, Pa.; numerous nieces and nephews; and great nieces and great nephews.
Lyons had been employed with the Town of Berlin in the Public Works Department as a heavy equipment operator for 30 years. He was a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and was a graduate of the National School of Heavy Equipment in North Carolina. He was a member of the Berlin Baptist Church, Assateague Mobile Sports Fisherman Association, and a former member of Berlin Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Order of DeMolay.
Arrangements by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
John Deppisch
WEST OCEAN CITY – John Deppisch, age 88, of West Ocean City and formerly of Baltimore, passed away on March 20, 2008.
Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Harry and Mary Tragesser Deppisch. He served in the U.S. Army as platoon sergeant during WWII in North Africa and Italy with the Fifth Army, 209th Anti-aircraft Artillery Group. He retired from the US Army Aberdeen Proving Grounds where he was an engineering technician with the Research & Development Laboratories.
Deppisch served as an usher for more than 50 years at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Baltimore and Holy Savior Catholic Church in Ocean City. He was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8296 in Ocean City and of the American Legion Post #123 in Berlin.
Survivors include four nieces, Nancy Deppisch of Baltimore, Daviette Frystock of Brick, N.J., Janice MacDorman of Arlington, Va. and Anna Lee Troichuk of New Market, Tenn.
Services were held. The family suggests expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to Perry Point VA Hospital, VA Maryland Health Care System, Voluntary Service (135), 10 North Greene St., Baltimore, Md. 21201 or VFW Post #8296, 104 66th St., Ocean City, Md. 21842.
Arthur James Tatum
OCEAN CITY – Arthur James Tatum, 84, of Ocean City, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family members on Friday, March 21, 2008.
He was the husband of Mae Caroline Tatum with whom he shared 48 wonderful years of marriage. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., he was the son of the late Drew Ellis and Margaret Tatum.
He graduated from Bartram High School in 1942 and later attended St. Olaf College. He was a decorated veteran of World War II and served in the European Theatre with the U.S. Navy as a member of a Liberator flight crew flying critical missions over the English Channel during the Normandy invasion. His frequent pilot on those missions was Joseph Kennedy Jr., older brother of President John F. Kennedy. He later enlisted in the U.S. Marines where he served stateside during the Korean conflict.
Following his remarkable military career, Tatum worked briefly as a photographer and cab driver before beginning his career with the Piasecki Helicopter Company (later Boeing) where he worked as a flight inspector for 35 years prior to retiring in 1987. He spent retirement in Ocean City where he enjoyed square dancing with the Ocean Pines Square Dance Club and volunteer work at Assateague Island National Park.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by five children, Tom and his wife Patti of West Chester, Pa., Dan and his wife Sue of Brookhaven, Pa., Jack of Claymont, Del., Jim and his wife Judy of Oxford, Pa. and Kim Robbins and her husband Daryl of Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; 16 grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Drew Edward and Ellis Birch Tatum, and his first wife, Sarah Naomi, who died in 1958.
A memorial service will be held at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin on Saturday, March 29. Friends and family may call beginning at noon with the service held at p.m. In lieu of
flowers, contributions to Coastal Hospice and Palliative Care of Salisbury, Maryland, may be made in his name.
Mary Ruta
BERLIN – Mary Ruta, age 81, died Monday, March 24, 2008 at the Berlin Nursing Home.
She was the daughter of the late Nicholas and Malvinia Greten. She is survived by her beloved husband, Joseph G. Ruta; a son, Christopher Ruta and his wife Jennifer of Great Neck, N.Y.; a daughter, Allison Ruta of Ocean Pines; a brother, Nicholas Greten of Staten Island, N.Y.; a niece, Joanne Carlson of Staten Island, N.Y.; a nephew, Nicholas Greten, Jr. of Grand Rapids, N.Y.; and two grandchildren, Jessica Ruta and Erin Ruta.
She had worked as a secretary in the real estate and insurance businesses. She had been a volunteer at Atlantic General Hospital. She had a lot of involvement with Friends of the Library and enjoyed social teas.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, March 28 at 10 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Ocean Pines. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association, 209 C Milford St., Salisbury, Md. 21804. Arrangements are by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
Robert J. Davis
OCEAN CITY – Robert J. Davis, CEC, age 42, died Wednesday, March 12, 2008 in Ocean City.
Born in Maryland, he was the son of Wayne and Darlene Lashley.
He was a graduate of Allegany High School in 1983 with a G.P.A of 3.2 and a graduate of University of Maryland Eastern Shore with a G.P.A of 4.0.
He held the only title of "Chef of the Year" award twice for the ACF Delmara Peninsula. Among his achievements were ACF Culinary Competition Chairman, ACF Vice President, ACF President, Delmarva chapter, first place, Eastern Shore Culinary Competition, Custom Foods National. second place, and sixth place in the USA for his original recipe for clam chowder.
He was involved in numerous charity events, Santa to the Seniors, Winterfest of Lights in Ocean City any many Children’s fund raisers.
Along with his parents, he is survived by two sisters, Lori Blevins and husband Bob and Sarah Carmen and her husband Donald; nieces, Rachel and Kalee; and one nephew Seth. He is biological son of Robert J Davis.
His family wishes to thank Brice and Shirley Phillips, Phillips By the Sea, Lindley Murrary, Gerry Alivizato, Pollock Johnny’s, Sopranos and those that touched his life in some way.
A gathering of friends and family will be held on Monday, March 31, from 6-8 p.m. at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
Michael Capuano
BERLIN – Michael Capuano, age 68, died Saturday, March 22, 2008 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.
Born in New York, he was the son of the late Ralph and Rachel Troisi Capuano.
He was a 1958 graduate of Dumont High School in New Milford, N.J. He owned and operated Cappy’s Hardware, Inc. from 1962 until 1965. He then began a distinguished career with McCrory, Inc as a store manager in 1969. Subsequently, he held a number of Buying and Merchandising posts at the corporate office in York, Pa. His career culminated with his promotion to Senior Vice President General Merchandising Manager in 1987. He oversaw all variety and leisure merchandise for the 1300 stores of the largest 5 & 10 retailer in the country.
He became certified by the Carroll/Franklin Township Bureau of Police Service Dogs on May 26, 1979. Upon his certification, he assisted in establishing the canine training program for the Northern Regional Police Department of York County, Pa. He was involved in the program for five years, which is still active today.
He was a veteran, very active in charity and his local community of Ocean Pines. He was happily retired until his sudden passing. He will be sorely missed and was a blessing to all who knew him.
He was the beloved father of Deedre Capuano and Michaelson Capuano. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Devon; a sister, Maryanne and her husband John; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services were held. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.