Thomas James Patton
BERLIN – Thomas James Patton, 77, passed away peacefully at his South Point home on the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, surrounded by family. He was born in Port Deposit, Md. to the late Gordon Sexton Patton and Ellen Robbins Whaley Patton. He graduated from St. Andrews School and then Princeton University. He served in the United States Army Counter Intelligence Corps from 1955-1957 in Berlin, Germany and then Bordeaux, France. He worked for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals for 25 years and was Vice President of International Marketing at the time of retirement. He came home to Berlin and was a force in the revitalization of the town of Berlin. He was involved in numerous projects including the restoration of the Odd Fellows Building, the Eagle Hotel, the Globe Theatre, St. Martins Church and his crown jewel, the Rackliffe House. He served as Senior Warden at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Berlin and was instrumental in bringing the Farmers Market to town. Devoted to his family, he also enjoyed hunting, fishing, tennis and writing. He was also very much involved in the conservation of the natural resources of the coastal bays and the preservation of the heritage of Worcester County. His self- published book, "Listen to the Voices, Follow the Trails", continues to offer insight into the not so distant past of this rural seaside community. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Jean Welliver Patton; their children, Catherine Anne Patton and her husband Stephen Farr and Elizabeth Patton Mulholland; grandchildren, Christina Mulholland, Michael Mulholland and Savanna Hastings; step grand children, Emily Farr and Alexander Farr; and his niece Cynthia Patton; and nephew William Patton. A celebration of life will be held Oct. 9, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Berlin. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Rackliffe House Trust, PO Box 578, Berlin, Md. 21811 or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 429, Berlin, Md. 21811.
Carroll Vach England
OCEAN CITY – Carroll Vach England, 57, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 23 at Coastal Hospice by the Lake in Salisbury.
She was the daughter of the late Richard Joseph and Mary Carroll Vach, sister of the late Mary Elizabeth Vach, and wife of the late Winston Marshall England, all of Ocean City.
She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth England Robinson and husband David; her son, Richard Marshall England and wife Gina; her grandson, Richard Winston England; brothers, Richard Vach Jr, Thomas Vach, Joshua Vach and wife Cindy; sister, Martha Vach Redding and husband Larry; and by nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was born in Baltimore and moved to Ocean City in 1966, where she attended Stephen Decatur High School and Salisbury State University, where she received her undergraduate and also Masters’ degree in education. She was a respected teacher and administrator at Buckingham Elementary School in Berlin for 20 years.
A memorial gathering will be held at Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. Donations may be made to the Worcester County Humane Society, P.O. Box 48, Berlin, Md. 21811
John L. Palmer
BERLIN – John L. Palmer, 84, of Berlin, died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010 at Berlin Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Berlin.
He was born in Berlin and was the son of the late Calvin H. and Bertha (Davis) Palmer.
He had been an auto parts manager with the former Bill Hall Ford in Berlin. He was a member of Stevenson United Methodist Church, Evergreen AF & AM #153 and Boggs Disharoon American Legion Post 123 all in Berlin. He was also a U.S. Army Veteran.
He is survived by his wife, Betty J. Palmer of Berlin; two sons, Allen L. Palmer and his wife Linda D. and Donald W. Palmer and his wife Linda W., all of Berlin; four grandsons, Christopher, Scott, Mathew and Ross Palmer; and four great grandchildren, Josephine, Elizabeth, Geren and Andrew Palmer.
He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Calvin D. and Harry L. Palmer, and a sister, Doris P. Bradford.
Services were held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21802.
John Cooper Cox
SELBYVILLE, Del. – John Cooper Cox, age 62, died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010 at his home in Selbyville.
Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late John Morrow Cox and Madeline Mary Cooper Cox. Cox had been a computer specialist with the Montgomery County Board of Education. He had served in the Maryland National Guard and had been a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Baltimore. He is survived by his sisters, Morrow Ziff of Springfield, Pa. and Lynne Coles and her husband Neil of Houston, Texas. There are several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Oct 2 at noon at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Friends may call one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Berlin.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Attn: Membership Dept., 6 Herndon Ave., Annapolis, Md. 21403 or the Maryland Coastal Bays, 9919 Stephen Decatur Hwy., #4, Ocean City, Md. 21842.