Obituaries from Gazette.net, July 2000: Frederick Co., MD Permission has generously been granted by Gazette.net to include these obituaries in the MDGenWeb Archives. This publication is available on-line at http://www.gazette.net. *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** *****July 6, 2000***** Virginia L. Foster Mrs. Virginia L. Foster, age 90, of Adamstown, formerly of Washington Grove, died on Saturday, July 1, at the Victory House Group Home in Clarksburg. She was born Dec. 24, 1909, in Germantown. She was the wife of the late Francis Foster. Mrs. Foster attended Poolesville High School and graduated from Strayer Business School in Washington, D.C. She worked for 41 years for the Montgomery Mutual Insurance Co. in Sandy Spring as a secretary. After retiring, she went to work for Bruce Variety Store in Gaithersburg until they closed and then worked at the Ben Franklin Store in Gaithersburg. She was a member of the Neelsville Presbyterian Church in Germantown and was an active member there. She enjoyed crocheting, knitting and loved to dance. She loved life and was active in her community. Mrs. Foster kept a daily diary from 1928 until she became ill in 1997. She is survived by two children, Mary Jo Morris and husband Robert of Orinda, Calif., and Thomas G. Darby Jr. and wife Ruth of Adamstown. She is also survived by five grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home, 21525 Laytonsville Road, Laytonsville, today at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Monocacy Cemetery, Beallsville. Mr. Fred S. Rachel Jr. Fred S. Rachel Jr., 50, of Gaithersburg, died Friday, June 30, at Washington Adventist Hospital. Born July 2, 1949, in Maryland, he was the son of the late Fred S. Sr. and Norma J. Riley Rachel. Surviving are two brothers, Ben Rachel of Frederick and Kerry Rachel of Laurelton, Pa.; one sister, Tammy Haught of Mount Airy; and many nieces and nephews. Graveside services and interment were held at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick. The Rev. Jimmy Fox of the First Baptist Church of Damascus officiated. Olin L. Molesworth P.A. Funeral Home in Damascus handled the arrangements. Robert Earl Simmons Mr. Robert Earl Simmons, 51, of Monrovia, died on Friday, June 30 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. He was the husband of Paula Long-Simmons. Born in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 30, 1948, he was the son of the late Richard Allen Simmons and June Wenrick Simmons. Mr. Simmons was a transportation supervisor for Montgomery County Public Schools, where he had worked since 1970. He was a life member and retired captain of the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. Simmons was an active member of the New Market Volunteer Fire Department. Surviving in addition to his wife are three children, Heather Marie Simmons, Elizabeth Andrea Simmons and Dustin Wenrick Simmons, all of Monrovia; four brothers, Michael A. Simmons and his wife Sande of Grantsville, Donald M. Simmons and his wife Carolyn of Hilton Head, S.C., Gary D. Simmons and his wife Brenda of Ocala, Fla., and Lawrence R. Simmons and his wife Sue of Monrovia. He is also survived by seven nieces and five nephews, plus a host of other relatives. Mr. Simmons is also remembered by a special friend, Gladys Martin- Budd of Rockville. Services will be held today at 10 a.m at Olin L. Molesworth Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road, Damascus. Interment will be in Parklawn Memorial Park, Rockville. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a trust fund for Mr. Simmons' son in care of the AllFirst Bank, Germantown Branch. *****July 13, 2000***** Leonard Wolfson Mr. Leonard Wolfson, 90, of Frederick died Wednesday, July 5, 2000, at Frederick Memorial Hospital. He was the husband of Bessie Cohen Wolfson, who died Jan. 15, 1999. Born July 23, 1909, in Boston, he was the son of the late Paul Ralph and Dora Rogolski Wolfson. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1928. He earned his master's and bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering from Northeastern University. Mr. Wolfson worked as an electrical engineer for General Electric in Lynn, Mass., for more than 30 years. He was also an accomplished musician, playing trumpet in several dance bands in Boston and throughout the New England area. He served in the National Guard during World War II. Mr. Wolfson was a member of Beth Shalom Congregation, Frederick, where he was an active member of the social club, a group for senior citizens within the synagogue. He was a former member of Temple Tifereth Israel in Winthrop, Mass., Winthrop Golf Club; Masonic Ocean Lodge in Winthrop; and American Federation of Musicians, Boston Local 9. Surviving are two daughters, Phyllis Issacson and husband Louis of Brattleboro, Vt., and Norma Kelsey and husband Morris of Walkersville; four grandchildren, Ronald Issacson and wife Nancy of Germantown, Karen Issacson Block and husband David of Davis, Calif., David Kelsey of New York City, and Michael Kelsey and wife Aviva of Pittsburgh; and five great grandchildren, Elena and Steven Issacson, Andrew and Jessica Beth Block, and Nathan Kelsey. Mr. Wolfson was preceded in death by two brothers, Dexter and Norman Wolfson. A graveside service was held Friday, July 7, in the Garden of Solomon at Resthaven Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Beth Shalom Congregation, 1011 N. Market St., Frederick, MD 21701; or American Heart Association, 1080 W. Patrick St., Suite 11-150, Frederick, MD 21703. Arrangements were handled by Stauffer Funeral Homes, Frederick. The Rev. Israel A.S. Yost The Rev. Israel A.S. Yost, 84, of Catalpa Road, Frederick, where he lived the past six years, died Sunday, June 25, at Northampton Manor, Frederick. He was the husband of Peggy V. Landon Yost. Born in Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Ammon H.A. and Lillie Sassaman Yost. He was a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church. Yost graduated from Muhlenberg College and Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. As an ELCA Lutheran pastor from 1940 until 1981, he served congregations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Hawaii and Maryland at Prince of Peace in Rosedale. He was literacy director for Wabag Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea. In addition to his pastoral work, he taught high school Latin and English for many years. During World War II, he served as an Army chaplain with the Japanese-American 100th Battalion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the 34th Division. He received the Legion of Merit and the Italian Cross of Military Valor. In retirement, he volunteered as a prison chaplain, adult literacy teacher and American Red Cross board member for many years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by four daughters and seven sons, Monica of Frederick, Christian of Stratham, N.H., Israel J. of Lee, N.H., Nathan of Bexley, Ohio, Faith of Plymouth, N.H., Hannah of Torrance, Calif., Reuben of Juneau, Ark., Homer of Frederick, Peter of Brattleboro, Vt., Maria of Jefferson, and Luther of Pocatello, Idaho; and 12 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Elva Yost Seip; and one brother, Robert L. Yost. Funeral services were held June 28 at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. Memorial gifts may be given to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Hospice of Frederick County or a charity of one's choice. Michael John Vizas Mr. Michael John Vizas, 55, of Walkersville died Friday, July 7, at Frederick Memorial Hospital. He was the husband of Lynn Vizas. They were married for 36 years. Born Aug. 31, 1944, in Watertown, N.Y., he was a son of Christopher John and Catherine Rebecca Vizas of Colorado Springs, Colo. He taught social studies, government and contemporary issues at Damascus High School. Mr. Vizas had been a teacher in the Montgomery Public School system since 1970. Mr. Vizas was a breeder and trainer of German short hair pointers. He retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 1975. He served during the Vietnam War. Mr. Vizas was a member of The Retired Officers Association and was an active member of many dog breeder and trainer associations. Surviving in addition to his wife and parents are two sons, Richard Christopher Vizas and wife Kyra of Santa Cruz, Calif., and John Michael Vizas and wife Susan of Frederick; two daughters, Jennifer Vizas of Durham, N.C., and Heather Vizas-Dembeck and husband Christian of Ellicott City; one grandson, Issac Vizas of Santa Cruz; and three brothers, Robert John Vizas of Berkeley, Calif., Christopher John Vizas II of Washington, D.C., and William Euwart Vizas of Denver. Mr. Vizas also will be remembered by the administration, staff and faculty members of Damascus High. Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 12, at Walkersville United Methodist Church in Walkersville. Those desiring may send memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, Frederick County Unit, 1011 E. Patrick St., Frederick, MD 21701. Arrangements were handled by Stauffer Funeral Home, Frederick. *****July 20, 2000***** Austin Elmer Kinna Mr. Austin Elmer Kinna, 64, of Damascus and Selbyville, Del., died Sunday, July 16, at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. He was the husband of Virginia N. Kinna. Born Nov. 30, 1935, in Myersville, he was the son of the late William and Lola Gladhill Kinna. Mr. Kinna attended Roxanna Wesleyan Church in Delaware and Grace Community Church in Maryland. Surviving in addition to his wife are three children, Wanda Closs and her husband Eric, Dean Kinna and his wife Danita, and Brenda Wolfe and her husband Ralph, all of Mount Airy; five grandchildren, Samuel and Haley Closs, Kurtis Kinna, and Britney and Stephanie Wolfe, all of Mount Airy; and four brothers and three sisters and their families. Funeral services were held July 19. Private interment will be in Parklawn Memorial Park, Rockville. *****July 28, 2000***** M. Gail Newcomb Mrs. M. Gail Newcomb, 64, of Rt. 1, Box 1205, Harpers Ferry, W.Va., died Saturday, July 8, at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. She was the wife of James Edward Newcomb. Born June 12, 1936, in Kingsport, Tenn., she was a daughter of Margaret Hyatt Renfro and the late Robert Riley Renfro. She was a secretary for the Montgomery County Board of Education. Surviving in addition to her mother and husband are three children, Sharon Kapsch and husband Jay, and Susan Jensen and husband Mike, all of Frederick, and Brian E. Newcomb and wife Kim of Blairsville, Pa.; seven grandchildren; one sister, Sharon Reel of Annapolis; one brother, Robert W. Renfro of Harper's Ferry; and numerous nieces and nephews. Interment was in Resthaven Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association, 3120 Timanus Lane, Suite 106, Baltimore, MD 21244. Funeral arrangements were handled by Robert E. Daily and Son Funeral Home, Frederick.