Obituaries from Gazette.net, December 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 *********************************************************************** *****Dec. 15, 2000***** Austin Allen Becraft Well digger Austin Allen Becraft, 90, a resident of Fairland Adventist Home since 1997, died Nov. 21 from complications after surgery. The son of the late Benjamin and the late Mary L. Kruhm Becraft, he was born in Burtonsville, and christened at Liberty Grove United Methodist Church in Burtonsville. Becraft was the last hand-dug, water well digger in the Laurel, Burtonsville and Beltsville area. He loved to play bingo and rummy, and was well liked by the residents and employees of Fairland Adventist Home. Becraft was predeceased by wife, Alice Nash Becraft, and son, Earl Becraft. He is survived by two sons, Leonard Becraft of Brookeville and Roland Becraft of Beltsville; one daughter, Mary Hardisty of Cape Coral, Fla.; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A funeral was held Dec. 12. Donna G. Cornwell Montgomery County school teacher Donna G. Cornwell, 60, of Rockville, died Dec. 1 at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Born in Colorado, she was the daughter of the late Jack and Evelyn Galloway Grewell. She was the wife of William J. Cornwell. Mrs. Cornwell was a graduate of Richard Montgomery High School. She received her bachelor of arts degree in education from Western Maryland College and her masterís degree from the University of Maryland. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg and the Rockville Senior Center. She was employed by Montgomery County Public Schools as a teacher; she retired in 1970. After retirement she taught in private schools. Mrs. Cornwell was active in civic and community issues. She did visitation and volunteer work at Asbury Health Care in Gaithersburg and other nursing homes. She enjoyed needlework, other arts and crafts, and working with the computer. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a daughter, Kara L. Stipe and husband Don of Virginia Beach, Va.; two brothers, J.D. Grewell of Silver Spring and Bruce Grewell of Florida; and a step-grandson. Memorial services were held Dec. 9 at Grace United Methodist Church. Interment was private. Arrangements were handled by Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville. Marsha C. Hallberg Foster care parent Marsha C. Hallberg, 50, of Olney, died Nov. 18 at Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Va. Born in Illinois, she was the daughter of Lorraine L. Rumps of Olney and the late August J. Rumps. She was the wife of Scott E. Hallberg. She was a foster care parent to at least 20 children in both Illinois and Maryland. She and her husband recently received a plaque honoring them as Foster Parents of the Year in Montgomery County. She was a child advocate in Illinois and a representative to the commission to re-evaluate the foster care system. In addition to her mother and husband, she is survived by six children, Douglas Hallberg of Illinois, Robin Hallberg of Gaithersburg, and Cynthia, Christina, Deyonne and Lisa Hallberg of Olney; one sister, Carol Rumps of Olney; and a half-brother, Wayne Rickfield of California. Funeral services were held Nov. 22 at Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville. Interment was private. Louise Thompson Harding Retired court clerk Louise Thompson Harding, 92, of Gaithersburg, died Dec. 10 at the Wilson Health Care Center in Gaithersburg. She was the wife of the late Alton L. Harding. Born in Rockville, she was the daughter of the late Walter S. and Bessie M. Belt Thompson. She was a retired clerk in the Trial Magistrate Court in Rockville. She was a past matron of OES Montgomery Chapter 93 and she was a member of Burtonsville Baptist Church. She is survived by nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her brother, Leslie B. Thompson. Friends may call at Olin L. Molesworth P.A. Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road in Damascus, from noon until services begin at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14. Interment will be in Union Cemetery in Burtonsville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Burtonsville Baptist Church, 3400 Spencerville Road, Burtonsville, Md. 20866. Walter M. Jarvis Jr. Psychiatrist Dr. Walter M. Jarvis Jr., 66, of Chevy Chase died Oct. 28 in a boating accident on the Chesapeake Bay while fishing. Dr. Jarvis was a longtime member of the medical community in Montgomery County in the private practice of psychiatry. He was born in London, Ky., and graduated from the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis, Tenn., in 1958. He served an internship at Tripler Army Hospital as an Air Force physician and was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base for the remainder of his duty. Dr. Jarvis finished his residency in psychiatry at Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami Medical School in 1966, and graduated from the Washington Psycho-analytic Institute in Washington, D.C. He was in private practice in Montgomery County for 32 years. Dr. Jarvis also worked as a consultant at the Federal Aviation Administration for many years. Dr. Jarvis was an avid pilot and enjoyed boating and fishing. He and his family spent many vacations flying in the Bahamas or boating and fishing the Chesapeake Bay. He grew up in Oak Ridge, Tenn., where he learned to fish with his father on the lakes of Eastern Tennessee. In addition to his former wife of 35 years, Frances Jarvis of Bethesda, Dr. Jarvis is survived by a sister, Patricia Goode of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; three daughters, Amy and Jennifer Jarvis, both of Chevy Chase, and Elizabeth Jarvis Hessami of Eustis, Fla.; and one grandchild. A private memorial service was held Nov. 1 on his boat off North Beach, Md. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association. William W. Kranz Heeren Electric Company owner William W. Kranz, 80, of Ashton, died Dec. 10 at Casey House in Rockville. A longtime resident of Kankakee, Ill., he was born in Chicago. He served in the Army Air Force from June 1942 to January 1946, working as a radio operator on planes flying ìThe Humpî of the Himalayas during the China- Burma-India Campaign. He married Eileen Heeren in June 1943 and moved to Kankakee in 1953, where he purchased Heeren Electric Co. in 1962. Mr. Kranz moved to Ashton in 1993. He was a member of the National Electrical Contractors Association, Builders Club, Knights of Columbus, the American Bell Association and the National Netsuke Society. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, bowling and hunting, and was an avid collector of bells, Native American artifacts, netsukes and mechanical toys. Mr. Kranz is survived by his wife, Eileen; daughter Pamela LaGrassa and son- in-law Stephen LaGrassa of Royal Oak, Mich., daughter Christine Smith and son- in-law James Smith of Washington, D.C., and daughter Patricia Kranz of New York City; a brother, Walter; five grandchildren; and 14 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father, Steve; mother, Caroline; and brothers Frank, Steve and Herman. A Mass will be held at 10 a.m. today at St. Peterís Catholic Church in Olney. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Francis J. Collins Funeral Home in Silver Spring handled the arrangements. Marsha Lynn Monarch Registered nurse Marsha Lynn Monarch, 46, of Laytonsville died Dec. 9 at her home. She was a registered nurse and a member of Wesley Grove United Methodist Church, Woodfield. She was the wife of J. Richard Monarch. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., she was the daughter of Albert S. and Emily Morton Wise Brenneman of Ambler, Pa. Surviving besides her husband and parents are two sons, Jeffrey L. Monarch and Adam R. Monarch; sisters Emily Constable of North Wales, Pa., and Kathy Moyer of Skippack, Pa.; and a number of nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at Wesley Grove United Methodist Church, 23640 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Marsha L. Monarch Memorial Fund, in care of Wesley Grove United Methodist Church, 23640 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20882 or to the L.T.A. Research Clinic, P.O. BoxF-42689 Freeport, Bahamas. Arrangements will be provided by Olin L. Molesworth Funeral Home, Damascus. Harriett H. Odum Policewoman Harriett H. Odum, 81, of Washington, D.C., died Nov. 22 at Montgomery General Hospital in Olney. She was the daughter of the late William Leroy and Harriett Morrow Hughes. She was the wife of the late Leonard E. Odum. Mrs. Odum attended American University. She was of the Catholic faith and was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. She was the first general service policewoman in Washington, D.C., where she had worked at Third and Indiana avenues in Washington, which served as police headquarters from 1949 until she retired in 1969. She was a member of the Retired Policemanís Association in D.C. Mrs. Odum is survived by three children, Mary C. Larson of Olney, Leonard E. Odum Jr. of California and Frances A. Odum of Inwood, W.Va.; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Nov. 27 at St. Peterís Catholic Church in Olney. Interment was at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville handled the arrangements. Charles R. Ray Retired NASA director Charles Ryan Ray, 70, of Montgomery Village died Dec. 8 at Holy Cross Hospital. He retired in 1990 as NASAís Deputy Director for User Services, Information Systems and Technologies Division. During his 40-year career, Mr. Ray managed information technology programs for General Electric, the Department of Defense and NASA. He was responsible for formulating policy, as well as evaluating and implementing ADP programs. In 1986, after 30 years of service to the United States Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves, he retired as Lieutenant Colonel. He was a graduate of Syracuse University. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Lois Ann Power of Montgomery Village; four children, Laura Anne Ray of Bonita Springs, Fla., Arby Ryan and Mark Robert Ray of Gaithersburg, Kurt Alan Ray of Silver Spring; one brother, David Peter Ray of Hyde Park, N.Y.; three granddaughters, three grandsons and one great- granddaughter. Friends may call 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at DeVol Funeral Home, 10 E. Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg. Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society, Montgomery County Unit, 11331 Amherst Ave., Silver Spring, Md. 20902. Katherine Jean "Kate" Douglas Swanson County resident Katherine Jean "Kate" Douglas Swanson, 53, formerly of Chevy Chase, died Nov. 17 in Lindstrom, Minn., of cardiac arrhythmia. Born in Chevy Chase, she attended Rollingwood Elementary School, and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in 1965 and Iowa State University in 1969. In high school she was a National Honor Society member, a National Merit Scholar and a Betty Crocker Award winner. She worked at various jobs while living in Rockville, before marrying Gordon Swanson in 1984. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her mother, Florence Douglas of Chevy Chase; two sisters, Margaret Lawson of Atlanta, Ga., and Elizabeth Douglas of Middleburg, Va.; and four nieces and nephews. Essie Dale Weakley Cryptographer Essie Dale Weakley, 89, of Olney, died Nov. 28 at her home. Born in Elkton, Va., she was the daughter of the late Seldon and Fannie Meadows Lam. Twice married, her marriage to John Taylor ended in divorce and her second husband, Harley Weakley, died in 1996. Mrs. Weakley worked as a cryptographer for the National Security Agency for about 20 years before retiring in 1970. She liked oil painting and exhibited her work at the National Security Agency. She also made porcelain dolls. Mrs. Weakley is survived by three children from her first marriage, Dorothy Hagler of Olney, and Vernon Taylor and Jean Barney, both of Silver Spring; a daughter from her second marriage, Elizabeth Weakley of Silver Spring; two sisters, Allie Schreider of Silver Spring and Geraldine Wood of Pennsylvania; five brothers, William Lam of Baltimore, Lee Lam and Melvin Lam of Pennsylvania, and Russell Lam of California and Orville Lam of Delaware; and 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Services and interment were private. Arrangements were handled by Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville. *****Dec. 22, 2000***** George J. Flanagan U.S. Postal Service manager George J. Flanagan, 82, of Silver Spring, died Dec. 11 at his home. Born in Washington, D.C., he was the husband of the late Ann Marie Flanagan. Mr. Flanagan served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. He had worked for 15 years at a patent law firm as a researcher. He later worked as a manager in operations for the U.S. Postal Service where he retired after 32 years. He was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Silver Spring. Mr. Flanagan was a Washington Redskins fan. He was a member of the Billiards Club at Leisure World, as well as the Republican Club and Garden Club. Survivors include son, Patrick R. Flanagan, and his wife, Meg, of Laytonsville; granddaughters, Jennifer and Molly Flanagan, both of Laytonsville; and three sisters. Friends were received Dec. 14 at the Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville. Mass of Christian Burial was offered Dec. 15 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. Interment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Silver Spring. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church Building Fund, 15663 Norbeck Road, Silver Spring, Md. 20906. Dr. Walter M. Jarvis Jr. Psychiatrist Dr. Walter M. Jarvis Jr., 66, of Chevy Chase died Oct. 28 in a boating accident on the Chesapeake Bay while fishing. Dr. Jarvis was a longtime member of the medical community in Montgomery County in the private practice of psychiatry. He was born in London, Ky., and graduated from the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis, Tenn., in 1958. He served an internship at Tripler Army Hospital as an Air Force physician and was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base for the remainder of his duty. Dr. Jarvis finished his residency in psychiatry at Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami Medical School in 1966, and graduated from the Washington Psycho-analytic Institute in Washington, D.C. He was in private practice in Montgomery County for 32 years. Dr. Jarvis also worked as a consultant at the Federal Aviation Administration for many years. Dr. Jarvis was an avid pilot and enjoyed boating and fishing. He and his family spent many vacations flying in the Bahamas or boating and fishing the Chesapeake Bay. He grew up in Oak Ridge, Tenn., where he learned to fish with his father on the lakes of Eastern Tennessee. In addition to his former wife of 35 years Frances Jarvis of Bethesda, Dr. Jarvis is survived by a sister, Patricia Goode of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; three daughters, Amy and Jennifer Jarvis, both of Chevy Chase, and Elizabeth Jarvis Hessami of Eustis, Fla.; one grandchild. A private memorial service was held Nov. 1 on his boat off North Beach, Md. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Charles R. Ray NASA director Charles Ryan Ray, 70, of Montgomery Village, died Dec. 8 at Holy Cross Hospital. He retired in 1990 as NASA's deputy director for user services, information systems and technologies. During his 40-year career, Mr. Ray managed information technology programs for General Electric, the Department of Defense and NASA. In 1986, after 30 years of service to the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves, he retired as lieutenant colonel. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Lois Ann Power of Montgomery Village; children, Laura Anne Ray of Bonita Springs, Fla., Arby Ryan and Mark Robert Ray of Gaithersburg, Kurt Alan Ray of Silver Spring; brother, David Peter Ray of Hyde Park, N.Y.; three granddaughters, three grandsons and one great- granddaughter. Services were held at DeVol Funeral Home. Interment followed in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Montgomery County Unit, 11331 Amherst Ave., Silver Spring, Md. 20902. Homer E. Williams Maintenance worker Homer Edward Williams, 67, of Silver Spring, died Dec. 16 at his home. Born July 14, 1933, in Mississippi, he was the son of the late Homer and Myrtle Edwards Williams. Mr. Williams worked in maintenance for a center for the handicapped in Silver Spring. He liked to watch television, especially sports. He is survived by brothers, John B. Williams and his wife, Shirley, of Damascus, and Billy Williams of Silver Spring; and nieces and nephews. Services and interment were private. Arrangements were handled by the Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville. *****Dec. 29, 2000***** Kenneth O. Connelly Kenneth O. Connelly Sr., 70, died Dec. 24, 2000, at his home in Frederick. He was a retired brick mason. Born Nov. 16, 1930, in Germantown, he was the son of the late Louis David and Dorothy Maye Lowe Connelly. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sina E. Connelly; children Karen Moore and her husband David of Jefferson; Darlene Butt and her husband Maurice of Gaithersburg; Tina Aleshire and her husband Isaac of Frederick; Kenneth Connelly Jr. and hjs wife Virginia of Brunswick and Rodney Connelly Sr. of Frederick; sister Janice Butt of Germantown and brothers Robert Connelly of Mount Airy; Ralph Connelly of Boyds and John Rankin of Arizona; 16 grandchildren; 7 great- grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers Jim and Lewis Connelly. Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Olin L. Molesworth Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road, Damascus. Services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, Frederick. Joseph Armstrong Kitchin Joseph Armstrong Kitchin, 90, a retired foreign service officer, died Nov. 21 at Asbury Methodist Home in Gaithersburg following a stroke. He was a resident of Potomac from 1964 until 1998, when he moved to Asbury Methodist Home. Dr. Kitchin retired from the U.S. Department of State in 1971 after a career as a political attaché for Asia. His postings took him to India, Afghanistan, Burma, Singapore, Egypt, and Indochina. After retirement, he continued to work as a state department consultant for several years, and also was a real estate agent for W. C. & A. N. Miller. Dr. Kitchin was born in Walhalla, N.D. on May 1, 1910. He received a bachelor's degree from University of North Dakota, financing his studies during the Depression alternately by raising chickens and playing saxophone in a ragtime band. After stints as a choir singer, high school teacher, and furnace attendant, he earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Michigan in 1942, with a specialization in international law. During World War II, Dr. Kitchin served in the U.S. Marine Corps. His military service was primarily spent in combat in the Pacific, participating in the fighting in Guadalcanal, Bougainville and the Philippines. By the end of the war, he had risen to the rank of major and was decorated for valorous action in the Soloman Islands and in the liberation of the Philippines. After the war, he taught political science at Columbia University and University of Maryland, and in 1952 was offered a Fulbright grant to administer an academic program in Thailand, along with his wife, Dr. Aileen Traver Kitchin. Following this, Dr. Kitchin received an appointment as a political attaché to the then fledging USIA and spent most of his foreign service career in Asia. His wife, Aileen Traver Kitchin, died in 1982. His daughter, Rosemary Ilona Kitchin, died in 1990. Survivors include his son, Dirk Traver Kitchin; grandson, Michael Joseph Kitchin; granddaughter, Ilona Turner Geary; two minor grandchildren; and great- grandchildren. David G. Marshall David Glenn Marshall, 42, of Frederick died Dec. 18, 2000, at Frederick Memorial Hospital. He was a lineman supervisor at Frederick Aviation. Born Aug. 18, 1958, in Olney, he was the son of George J. Marshall of Frederick and Joan Edwards Ruff and her husband William of Gaithersburg. Mr. Marshall was a 1976 graduate of Damascus High School and attended Montgomery College for two years. In addition to his parents and stepfather, he is survived by his sister Susan L. North and her husband Michael of Brainerd, Minn., brother James E. Marshall and his wife Karolyn of New Windsor and sister Karen E. Nichols and her husband Brett of Frederick; grandfather Emory B. Edwards of Clarksburg; a nephew, Thomas E. North and a niece Jennifer L. North, both of Minnesota; and many aunts and uncles and cousins. Services were held Friday at the Olin L. Molesworth Funeral Home, Damascus. Interment followed at Clarksburg Methodist Cemetery, Clarksburg. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society 11323 Amherst Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20902.