We Remember Those Who Have Passed

We Remember Those Who Have Passed
Obits William Venable

William Ward Venable

BERLIN – William Ward Venable "Bill", age 88, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.

Born in Danville, Va., he was the son of the late Charles Patton Venable and Edna Massey Venable.

Venable had been the owner and operator of Venables Cleaners in Berlin, Ocean City, Ocean Pines and Pocomoke City carrying on the business his parents had started in 1924. He retired in 1982. He was a member of the Atlantic United Methodist Church in Ocean City, Evergreen Masonic Lodge #153 AF & AM in Berlin, York Rite in Salisbury, Past High Priest of Chesapeake Royal Arch Chapter #17, Past Trice Illustrious Master of Giblim Council #12, Past Record of the Thomas J. Shryock Commandery #11, a member of the Salisbury Scottish Rite Bodies, a 33 degree mason, Past Almoner of Salisbury, member of the Chesapeake Consistory of Baltimore, life member of the Boumi Shrine, member of Boumi 100 Club. He held membership in the Eastern Shore Shrine Club of Virginia, Lower Delaware Shrine Club, Ocean City Shrine Club President in 1985, the Royal Order of Scotland life member since 1963, and 50-year member of Tall Cedars of Lebanon of Milford, Del.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Sarah Jane Hitchens Venable; three sons, William Weldon Venable "Bill" and his wife Sandra of Bishopville, Ward Patton Venable "Pat" and his wife Kay of Parsonsburg and Dale Emory Venable and his wife Denise of Bishopville; a granddaughter, Ellen Venable Passwater of Greenville, N.C.; a step-granddaughter, Maddie Farlow of Bishopville; two great grandsons, Matthew and Thomas Passwater of Greenville, N.C.; a sister, Olga Quillen of Berlin; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a son James Brice Venable "J.B." in 2003; his brothers, Charles, Paul and Weldon Venable; and sisters, Irma Pearl and Estelle Croswell.

Services were held. Donations may be made to Atlantic General Hospital, 9733 Healthway Dr., Berlin, Md. 21811 or to the Berlin Volunteer Fire Company, 214 N. Main St., Berlin, Md. 21811.

Arrangements by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Robert Bowen Duke II

SAN MIGUEL, Mexico – Robert Bowen “Bob” Duke II, 70, of Baltimore and San Miguel, Mexico, and formerly of Berlin, died on Dec. 26, 2008 at home in San Miguel.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1938 to the late Robert B. and Pearl Duke, he was a 1960 graduate of Texas A&M and went on to Navy Officers Candidate School in Newport, R.I. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and stationed aboard the USS Tolovana AO-64. He moved to Berlin and built homes and sold real estate for many years. He was a past president of the Berlin Lions Club, active in Berlin Little League, served on the Board of Directors of Ocean City Golf and Yacht Club, and served on the Vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Berlin.

Duke was an avid golfer and enjoyed fishing, horseback riding and organic farming. He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Duke is survived by his wife, Joan R. Duke; his sons, Robert Bowen Duke III of Ocean City and Christopher Bradford Duke and his wife Rori of Arnold; four grandchildren, Robert Bowen Duke IV and Kennedy Nicole Duke of Ocean City and Audrey Marie Duke and Caroline Phillips Duke of Arnold,; a brother, Thomas Duke and his wife Elizabeth of Texas; and a nephew Wade Duke. He was preceded in death by a niece, Valorie Duke. He will also be remembered by three stepchildren and three step grandchildren.

His wishes of cremation were carried out in Mexico, where a celebration of life was held. A memorial service will be held this spring in Ocean City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center in Baltimore, Md.

Arthur Crawford, Jr.

BERLIN – Arthur Crawford, Jr. died on Dec. 31, 2008.

He was the beloved husband of the late Virginia Theresa Crawford (nee Dudzinski); devoted father of Martin A. Crawford and his wife Nancy, Linda Moss, Patricia C. Aiken and her husband Joseph and James M. Crawford and his wife Jeanne; dear brother of Jeanette M. Spedden and the late Joan N. Crawford; and loving grandfather of nine. Also survived by his lovely companion, Patsy Valenti.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to the American Heart Association, 415 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, Md. 21203.

Paul Joseph Alfonsi

SALISBURY – Paul Joseph Alfonsi, age 76 of Salisbury and Ocean City, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008, at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.

Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Anthony Alfonsi and Katherine Barona Alfonsi.

He was preceded in death by his wife C. Carol Alfonsi in 1995. He is survived by his beloved wife, Bessie Alfonsi of Salisbury; a beloved daughter, Christine Alfonsi and her fiancé Douglas Freeman; and five step children, Joseph Yuhas and his wife Barbara, Carolyn Yuhas, Mary Ann Yuhas, Kenneth Yuhas and his wife Kelly and Leonard Yuhas. There are seven step-grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister, Ernestine Ridgeway; a special niece, Kay Alfonsi Pryor and her husband Douglas and their children Betsy and Sara; and several other nieces and nephews.

Alfonsi was a graduate of University of Maryland and George Washington University. He was an Aerospace Engineer with NASA in Wallops Island, co-owned and operated the Chalet Motel & Apartments in Ocean City with his late wife and was a member of the Hotel Motel Restaurant Association and the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea/Holy Savior Catholic Church in Ocean City and was an Army Veteran of the Korean conflict.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s by the Sea/Holy Savior, 1705 Philadelphia Ave., Ocean City, Md. 21842 and Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21811.

Charlotte C. DaShiell

OCEAN CITY – Charlotte C. DaShiell, age 77, passed away on Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.

Born in Bluefield, W.Va. on June 23, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Edward Moore and Gladys Stanger Moore. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard F. DaShiell in 2003.

She is survived by her daughter, Deborah C. DaSheill and her husband Richard A. DiFlippo, and two grandsons, Maxwell D. DiFlippo and Zachary A. DiFlippo of Ocean City.

At her request cremation followed her death. Services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ocean City Worship Center, 10736 Ocean Gateway, Berlin, Md. 21811. Arrangements by Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Rita Louise King
BERLIN – Rita Louise King, age 86, died Jan. 2, 2009 at Berlin Nursing &
Rehabilitation Center.

Born in Defiance, Pa., she was the daughter of the late James McCavitt and Annie LaPors McCavitt. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Emmett King in 1992.

She is survived by two sons, Robert James King and Richard Dennis King of Ocean Pines; a daughter, Carol Knarr of Ocean Pines; a brother, Donald McCavitt of Palo Alto, Calif.; a sister, Patricia Marks of Rockville, MD; seven grandchildren, Debbie Kerns, Steve Crocker, Richard Crocker, Chris Crocker, Suzanne King, Teresa Cozie and Robert James King, Jr.; eight great grandchildren, Adison Cozie, Reese Cozie, Matthew Kerns, Michael Kerns, Randy Crocker, Scott Crocker, Christopher Crocker and Kevin Crocker; and several nieces and nephews.

King was a graduate of the Georgetown University School of Nursing in Washington DC. She had worked as a private duty registered nurse. She was a member of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Washington DC.

Services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21804.

Arrangements by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.