Obituaries from Gazette.net, August 2002: 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 *********************************************************************** *****Aug. 2, 2002***** Gertrude R. Ager Mrs. Gertrude R. Ager (nee LaVigne), 77, of Frederick, formerly of Montgomery Village, died of heart failure, Monday, July 29 at Country Meadows Retirement Community in Frederick. Born May 14, 1925 in Rumford, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Romeo LaVigne and Marie Sabine Bouchard. She enjoyed traveling, socializing with friends, water coloring, and playing card games. She was devoted to her two grandchildren. Previous to her retirement in Maryland, she lived in New York City for many years where she was a medical secretary. She is survived by a son, Thomas Ager and wife, Linda of Frederick; two daughters, Carole Mason and fiancé, Rick Rathjan, and Joan Walker and husband, Bill of New Jersey; a sister, Irene Heslin of New Jersey; a brother, Paul LaVigne of New Jersey; two grandsons, Lucas and Colin Ager; and a step- granddaughter, Kristina Nagai and her son, Kalani Nash. She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter Ager and her brother, Joey LaVigne. The family will receive friends Thursday, Aug. 1 from 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. at the Robert Spearing Funeral Home, Inc., 155 Kinderkamack Road, Park Ridge, NJ. A Memorial Service will be held at the Gaithersburg Senior Center at a later date. Dewey Alton Reed Jr. Dewey Alton Reed Jr., 64, of Jefferson, died suddenly on Saturday, July 27 at Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Ranson, W.Va. He was the husband of Callie Marie Reed. Born May 24, 1938 in Poolesville, he is the son of Vergie Lee Pangle Thompson of Frederick and the late Dewey A. Reed Sr. Mr. Reed was a professional carpenter. He owned and operated his own company, D.A.R.T. He had also worked as a sales representative for Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Frederick, winning an award in 1966. He loved music. Mr. Reed learned to play a guitar at an early age, and played throughout his entire life. Surviving besides his wife and mother are two daughters: Vickie Sowers of Frederick and Lisa Hunter of Waynesboro, Pa., two sons Mark Reed of Falling Waters, W.Va. and Jay Reed of Baltimore, two brothers: Larry Reed of W.Va. and Alton Reed of Frederick, three sisters, Nancy Shore of Frederick, Renee of Frederick and Tina of W.Va., three grandsons and five granddaughters: Aunt Hattie Reed of Rockville, Uncle Fred Pangle of Florida and two very special brothers-in-law, David Moore and Danny Moore, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mr. Reed is preceded in death by a son, Dewey Alton Reed III, and a brother, William Reed. Friends may call 7-9 p.m. today at the Olin T. Molesworth P.A., Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road in Damascus. Graveside services and interment will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2 at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, U.S. 15 North, Frederick. The Rev. George Johnston, his pastor from Bluefield, W.Va., will officiate. *****Aug. 8, 2002***** Byron H. Miller Byron H. Miller of Frederick died on Monday, July 29, 2002. He was the beloved husband of the late Charlotte L. Miller; loving father of Karlene Y. Adams of Gettysburg, Pa., and Bryon L. Miller of Frederick; loving grandfather of Byron Bret Bespitch, Charlotte Michele Holden, Brandon Lee Miller and Lesley-Anne Miller; beloved great-grandfather of Taylor and Blake Holden; beloved brother of Margaret Duvall and Nathan M. Miller. Services were held at Grace United Methodist Church, Gaithersburg, on Saturday, Aug. 3. Interment was at Parklawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, Montgomery County Division, 839 Quince Orchard Blvd., Suite E, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. *****Aug. 22, 2002***** Joan Raffensberger Mrs. Joan M. Raffensberger, 63, of Frederick, died on Monday, Aug. 19, 2002, at her residence following her sixth battle with cancer. She was the wife of Regis R. Raffensberger. They were married March 24, 1958. Born March 12, 1939, in Baltimore, she was a daughter of the late Raymond and Dorothy Paff Landsman. She attended parochial schools in Baltimore, and later graduated from Forest Park High School. She was a devoted homemaker and loving wife, mother and grandmother to her family. She was a member of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Frederick, and enjoyed traveling, entertaining, and cooking. Mrs. Raffensberger was a cancer activist for many years and had been an active fund-raiser and co-chair of the annual Relay for Life, was active with the Cancer Survivor Days, in conjunction with Frederick Memorial Hospital and spent many hours volunteering as a counselor with numerous cancer patients sharing her guidance, care and support. Besides her husband, she is survived by three children, Kenneth Raffensberger, and wife, Pam, of Lancaster, Pa.; Kathleen Davis, and husband, John, of Lutherville, and Keith Raffensberger, of Ocean City; six grandchildren, Mallory, Gracie, and Charlie Raffensberger, of Lancaster, Jeremy and Eric Davis, of Lutherville, and Blake Raffensberger, of Ocean City; seven brothers and sisters, Jerry Landsman, Jimmy Landsman, Jack Landsman, Jay Landsman, Jeff Landsman, Janice Hoff, and Joel Landsman; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Joseph Landsman, and Marty Landsman. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Loring Byers Funeral Home, 8728 Liberty Road, Randallstown. The Rev. Robert J. Jaskot, of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and former associate pastor of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Frederick, will officiate. Interment will be in Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, Timonium. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to Hospice of Frederick County, Inc., P.O. Box 1799, Frederick, MD 21702-1799. Silas Cooper Mr. Silas Buford Cooper, 75, of 10 Blue Ridge Ave., Thurmont, died Aug.2, 2002, at Citizens Nursing Home, Frederick. Born Oct. 15, 1926, in Arno, Va., he was the son of the late John Clayton and Pina Williams Cooper. Mr. Cooper was a retired shoe cutter for 45 years with the Thurmont Shoe company. He was a Protestant. Mr. Cooper was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S Navy. Surviving are one son, Michael E. Cooper of Thurmont; one daughter, Sharon Cooper Burke of Palacios, Texas; one sister, Christine Coffman of Thurmont; one brother, John Paul Cooper and wife Elaine of Thurmont; sister-in-law Bernice Cooper of Walkersville; granddaughter Shelly Novak and husband Mark of Port Lavaca, Texas; and great-grandson Anthony Rijos of Texas. Mr. Cooper was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Lehrl; and three brothers, James Andrew Cooper, Lewis Cooper and Joe Cooper. Services were held Aug. 6 at Robert E. Dailey & Son Funeral Home in Thurmont, with the Rev. Larry Eby officiating. Interment was in Creagerstown Cemetery, Creagerstown. John T. Williams Funeral Home, Brunswick, is in charge of arrangements. Frederick K. Johnson Mr. Frederick K. Johnson, 90, of Frederick, died Aug. 3, 2002, at the North Hampton Nursing Home. He was born in Weirton, W.Va., on Sept. 27, 1912, but spent most of his life in Takoma Park, Wheaton and the last 20 years in Frederick. He was the husband of the late Bertha Johnson and father of the late Linda Davis. Mr. Johnson, retired from the Milk Drivers and Dairy Employees Union Local 246 in the early 1960s. His hobbies included carpentry and watching the Washington Redskins. He was instrumental in the construction of the Pentagon and Naval Yard. He is survived by his children, Fred Johnson of Gaithersburg, Mary Pitrone of Gaithersburg, Barbara Tompkins of Frederick and Norma Sullivan of Frederick; 12 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. He was the uncle of Baltimore Orioles Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, Steve Barber, and of Richard Barber. Services were held at DeVol Funeral Home, 10 E. Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg. Burial was in Parklawn Cemetery, Rockville.