Obituaries from Gazette.net, July 1997: Montgomery 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 *********************************************************************** *****Jul. 2, 1997***** F. Ann Lewis F. Ann Lewis, 57, of Gaithersburg, died Sunday, June 22, at Montgomery General Hospital, Olney. She was the wife of the late Donald E. Lewis. Born Sept. 13, 1939, at Gaithersburg, she was a daughter of the late Estel William and Stella Mae Musser Holston. Mrs. Lewis was employed as an administrative officer for 37 years with the U.S. Department of Energy. She was a member of Wesley Grove United Methodist Church, Woodfield. Survivors include two children, Donald E. Lewis Jr. of Adamstown and Sheila Mae Lewis Saunders of Mount Airy; five grandchildren; five brothers, William Estel Holston of Derwood, Charles Ralph Holston of Gaithersburg, James Franklin Holston of Franklin, W. Va., Robert Glen Holston of Gaithersburg and Brake Richard Holston of Monrovia; and one sister, Charlotte Elizabeth Light of Monrovia. Mrs. Lewis was predeceased by two sisters, Stella Mae Holston and Katherine Louise Holston Lewis; and three brothers, Lester Guynn Holston, Greeley Golden Holston and Howard Lawrence Holston. The family received friends on June 24 at the Molesworth Funeral Home, Damascus, where funeral services were held on June 25, Burial was in Laytonsville Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Mrs. Holston's name may be made to the American Cancer Society, Montgomery County Unit, 11323 Amherst Avenue, Silver Spring, Md. 20902. C. Irene Barber C. Irene Barber, 90, formerly of Damascus, died Sunday, June 22, at Frederick Memorial Hospital. She was the wife of the late Lester E. Barber. Born June 18, 1907, at New London, she was a daughter of the late Samuel and Lena King Tregoning. Prior to retirement Mrs. Barber had worked as a lab technician in the Hematology Department at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda. Survivors include two children, Donald l. Barber of Damascus and Eleanor McClosky of Mapleton, Maine; a brother, John Tregoning of Cedar Grove; a sister, Delma Mullineaux of Mount Airy; eight grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. The family received friends on June 25 at the Molesworth Funeral Home, Damascus, where funeral services were held on June 26 with the Rev. Mark Smiley, Salem United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial was in Salem Cemetery. Gail W. Kline Sr. Gail W. Kline Sr., 89, of Mount Airy, died Thursday, June 26, at his home. He was the husband of the late Ella E. Kline. Born Nov. 10, 1907, at Woodsboro, he was a son of the late Rufus Nelson and Emma Jane Lewis Kline. Mr. Kline was a longtime member of Howard Chapel/Ridgeville United Methodist Church, the church choir and the Methodist Men. He was also a member of the Mount Airy Senior Citizens. Survivors include a daughter, Mary K. Sanders of Marietta, Ga.; two sons, Gail W. Kline Jr. and Earl W. Kline, both of Mount Airy; a foster daughter, Martha H. Keller of Walkersville; 14 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. The family received friends on June 28 at the Molesworth Funeral Home, Damascus, where funeral services were held on June 29. Burial was in Mount Zion Haugh's Cemetery, Ladiesburg. Memorial contributions in Mr. Kline's name may be made to Hospice of Frederick County, P.O. Box 1799, Frederick, Md. 21702, or to the American Heart Association, 125 E. Patrick Street, Frederick, Md. 21701. Stella Harding Stella Harding, 84, of Rockville, died Saturday, June 28, at Genesis Eldercare Layhill Center, Silver Spring. Born May 19, 1913, at North Manheim, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Peter and Estella Shamis Solena. She was a registered nurse. Survivors include two daughters, Barbara D. Homburg of Silver Spring and Delores Douglas of Rockville; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Graveside services were held on July 1 at Montgomery United Methodist Church, Damascus, with the Rev. Peter Sweeney, St. Paul's Catholic Church, Damascus, officiating. Arrangements were by the Molesworth Funeral Home, Damascus. Jennie C. Giannini Jennie Casella Giannini, 79, of Mount Airy, died Saturday, June 28, at Frederick Memorial Hospital, She was the wife of the late John Giannini. Born Jan. 18, 1919, at New Britain, Conn., she was a daughter of the late Michael and Annette Nunziatta Casella. She was a homemaker and a Catholic. Survivors include two sons, Michael A. Giannini of Mount Airy and John Giannini of St. Johnsberry, Vt.; six grandchildren; and one brother, Michael Casella of New Britain. The family received friends on July 1 at the Molesworth Funeral Home, Damascus. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated later this week. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Britain. George Theodore George C. Theodore, 53, formerly of Germantown, died Tuesday, June 24, in Woodland Park, Colo. He was the husband of Lynne Theodore. Born July 5, 1943, in Lewiston, Maine, he was the son of Charles and Carmen Theodore. He was a retired police officer from Montgomery County. He also served four years in the United States Air Force and held a bachelor of science degree in psychology from the University of Maryland. Mr. Theodore was also a lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of Police. Surviving besides his wife are his mother Carmen Theodore of Cape May, N.J.; a son, Keith, and a daughter, Dawn, of Woodland Park; sisters Ellen Grant of Germantown and Joan Theodore of Goshen, N.J.; and a niece and nephew. A memorial service was held Friday, June 27 at High View Baptist Church in Woodland Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, 619 N. Nevada St., Colorado Springs, Colo., 80903 or the education fund for the Theodore children, c/o Mountain National Bank, P.O. Box 39, Woodland Park, Colo. 80866. Donations are also being excepted at the Colorado Police Protective Association, c/o Jay Huston, 1485 Kelly Johnson Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colo. 80920. Joseph J. Weeda Sr. Joseph J. Weeda Sr., 53, of Gaithersburg died June 28 of complications of diabetes at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville. Mr. Weeda was chief of the Grants Management Branch at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. He was a member of the Isaak Walton League of Damascus. He was the son of Helen Weeda of Chevy Chase and the late Joseph G. Weeda. Mr. Weeda had attended Ben Franklin University and Strayer College, where he received his bachelor's of science degree. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife Penny Weeda; children Joseph J. Weeda of Salt Lake City, Angela Weeda and Christine Weeda of Silver Spring; step son Peter Lee Sellers of Towson; brothers David Weeda of Potomac and Philip Weeda of Chevy Chase; sister Roseanne Shepler of Vienna, Va. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. today at Damascus United Methodist Church, 9700 New Church St., Damascus. Burial will be private. DeVol Funeral Home in Gaithersburg handled the arrangements. Memorial donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association, 1211 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; or to the Special Olympics of Montgomery County, P.O. Box 168, Poolesville, Md. 20837. Francis Richard Stone Francis Richard Stone, 81, of Takoma Park died June 26, 1997 at Washington Adventist Hospital, Takoma Park. He had been a volunteer at the former Shepherd's Table in Silver Spring. Mr. Stone was born June 22, 1916 in Scobey, Montana. He was the son of the late Rev. Reginald and Dora Stone. He was an electrician at Union Station for many years, until an accident resulted in the loss of his left arm and part of his left leg. He began volunteering at Shepherd's Table and as a result of his services, he was a finalist in the JC Penney Golden Rule Awards for Maryland in 1995. Survivors include his wife, Florence; children, David of Rockville, Richard of Highland, and Susan Stone of Gaithersburg, and one granddaughter, Kelly Elizabeth Stone. Services were held on June 30 at Woodside United Methodist Church, Silver Spring, Memorial contributions may be given to the church. Arrangements were provided by Rapp Funeral Services, Silver Spring. *****Jul. 16, 1997***** Florence E. Gray Florence Elizabeth Gray, 92, of Frederick, died Monday, July 7, at Citizens Nursing Home, Frederick, where she had been a resident. She was the wife of the late Alfred Hamilton Gray Sr. Born May 6, 1905, in Frederick County, she was a daughter of the late Franklin and Druscilla Wade Hackey. She attended Ebeneezer United Methodist Church and Maranatha Church of God. Frederick. Survivors include five sons, Alfred H. Gray Jr. of Frederick, James F. Gray of Ijamsville, Auburn L. Gray of Gaithersburg, Alphonso G. Gray of Germantown, and Paul W. Gray of Frederick; four daughters, Emmnora V. Sewell of Frederick, Etta Casey of Germantown, Shirley M.A.G. Fowler of Catonsville, and Doris A. Byrd of Gaithersburg; 59 grandchildren; 129 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great- grandchildren. Mrs. Gray was predeceased by three brothers, Harrison Hackey, Frank Hackey and Ernest Hackey; and four sisters, Della Jackson, Emmnora Diggs, Sarah Snowden and Eleanor Hackey. The family received friends on July 10 at the Stauffer Funeral Home, Frederick, where funeral services were held the same day, with the Rev. Luther Brown officiating. Burial was in Ebeneezer United Methodist Church Cemetery, Frederick. Sterling L. Hawkins Sterling L. Hawkins, 75, of Gaithersburg, died Monday, July 7, at his home. He was the husband of Ella E. Hawkins. Born Oct. 6, 1921, at Woodfield, he was a son of the late James Bradley and Hattie King Hawkins. Surviving besides his wife are three sons, Sterling L. Hawkins Jr. and Wayne E. Hawkins, both of Frederick, and Donald L. Hawkins of Monrovia; one daughter, Gloria H. Contrum of Baltimore; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; one brother, Charles Hawkins of Gaithersburg; and two sisters, Mary Bell Watkins of Germantown and Eleanor Stup of Woodfield. Mr. Hawkins was predeceased by two brothers, George Hawkins and James C. Hawkins. The family received friends on July 9 at the Molesworth Funeral Home, Damascus. Funeral services and burial were private. Memorial contributions in Mr. Hawkins' name may be made to Wesley Grove United Methodist Church, 23640 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg, Md. 20882. James Roy Lambert James Roy Lambert, 73, of Gaithersburg, died July 13 at his home. Born in Richlands, Va., he was a son of the late Everett and Gladys Turner Lambert. Mr. Lambert had worked as a Formica mechanic at a cabinet shop before retirement. He was an avid sports fan and loved to hunt and fish. He was of the Protestant faith. He is survived by his wife, Bertie E. Lambert; seven children, Lee R. Lambert of Florida, Carl E. Lambert of Dublin, Va., William C. Lambert of Gaithersburg, P. Denise Krawetzki of Germantown, Janet L. Wilson of Gaithersburg, Howard J. Lambert of Gaithersburg and Bethany M. Roberts of Germantown. He also is survived by seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, five sisters and one brother. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. July 17 at the Perry St. Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell, Va. Burial will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell. Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville handled the arrangements locally. Karl G. Kessler Karl Gunther Kessler, 77, of Bethesda, who retired from the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg as associate director for international and academic affairs in 1990, died July 7 of a heart attack at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda. He joined what was then the National Bureau of Standards in 1948 as a physicist, became chief of the spectroscopy section in 1959, chief of the atomic physics division in 1962, and was chief of the optical physics division from 1970-77. He was director of the center of absolute physical quantities from 1977-82 and director of the center for basic standards from 1982-86. In that year, he became associate director for international and academic programs, a position he held until his retirement. Born in Hamburg, German, Dr. Kessler came to the United States as a child in 1926. Naturalized in 1933, he went to the University of Michigan where he obtained his bachelor's of arts degree in 1941, master's degree in 1943 and Ph.D. in physics in 1947. He was a research physicist and assistant instructor at the University of Michigan from 1942-48 when he joined the NBS. Dr. Kessler was an internationally recognized expert on atomic spectroscopy and optical metrology. At NBS, he carried out research on high accuracy measurements of optical wavelengths as standards of length. He received an exceptional service award from the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1962 and the Allen V. Astin Measurement Science Award in 1984. That year, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Optical Society of America. He was a fellow of the American Physical Society and the Optical Society of America and was president of the latter in 1969. He was a member of the American Astronomical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, International Astronomical Union, Washington Academy of Sciences, Philosophical Society of Washington, Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, the former Betty Louise Kefgen of Bethesda; two daughters, Heidi Ann Kessler and Susan Mary DeBacker of Boulder, Colo. Funeral services were private. Burial was in Boulder. Leonard Marion Nelson Leonard Marion Nelson, 58, of Brookeville died July 5 at Brooke Grove Nursing Home in Olney. He was born June 14, 1939, in Sioux City, Iowa, and was a long-time resident of Cape Coral, Fla. Survivors include two sons, Bryant of Rockville and Chris of New Port Richey, Fla.; one daughter, Lisa of Madeira Beach, Fla.; three brothers, Calvin Nelson of Niceville, Fla., Fred Nelson of Fontana, Calif., and David Nelson of Tujunga, Calif.; two sisters, Lorraine Hinz of Pheland, Calif., and Sally Willis of Olney; and numerous other relatives and close friends. He was predeceased by one brother, John Nelson of Sioux City; and one sister, Lucille Legg of Sioux City. Interment and memorial services at Arlington National Cemetery are pending. *****Jul. 23, 1997***** Agnes Elene Graham Agnes Elene Graham, 56, of Germantown died Monday at her home. She is the daughter of Bertie M. Sheets of Rockville. Born April 6, 1941, in Highland, Md., she was a retired budget analyst. She was also a graduate of Gaithersburg High School. Surviving besides her mother are her daughter Kimberly F. Horn of Germantown; a brother H. Paul Sheets of Gaithersburg; a sister, E. Geneva Marschark of Florida; a son-in-law, a grandson and a grandaughter, all of Germantown. A memorial service will be held today at 11 a.m. at DeVol Funeral Home in Gaithersburg. Burial will be at Parklawn Memorial Park in Rockville. Joseph C. Curran Joseph Carroll Curran, 74, of Frederick, died Tuesday, July 15, at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, D.C. He was the husband of Margaret J. Curran. Born March 11, 1923, at Kensington, he was a son of Nellie M. Carlin Curran of Rockville and the late Marrian D. Curran. Mr. Curran had been involved with the elevator business, including sales, service, inspection and repair. He was an avid horseman and judge. He was a past member of the American Horseshow Association, the Knights of Columbus, International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local 10, a former member of the National Association of Elevator Safety Authorities and a member of St. Ignatius of Loyola Roman Catholic Church, Urbana. Surviving besides his wife and mother are four children, Mary Catherine Gilliam and Francis Scott Curran, both of Frederick, Joseph Glenn Curran of Mount Airy, and John Carroll Curran of Ijamsville; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and one sister, Eleanor June Branthover of Rockville. The family received friends on July 17 and 18 at the Molesworth Funeral Home, Damascus. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on July 19 at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church, Urbana. Burial was in St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Forest Glen. Memorial contributions in Mr. Curran's name may be made to the American Diabetes Association of Maryland, 407 Central Avenue, Reisterstown, Md. 21136, or to the National Center for the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, Md. 21230. William E. Smith William Edward Smith, 63, of Clarksburg, died Wednesday, July 16, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Rockville. Born Oct. 18, 1933, at Dickerson, he was a son of the late Franklin and Beulah Nichols Smith. Survivors include a son, William E. Smith Jr. of Urbana; a brother, Lee E. Smith of Dickerson; one grandchild; and two sisters, Elsie Malone of Boyds and Sarah Allnutt of Frederick. Mr. Smith was predeceased by a child, Sandy Lee Smith, and three brothers, Donald Howard, Russel Smith and James Smith. The family received friends on July 18 at the Hilton Funeral Home in Barnesville, where funeral services were held on July 19. Inurnment will be at a later date. Florence Woodward Florence Woodward, 87, of Olney died July 12, 1997 at Brooke Grove Nursing Home. She was a longtime east county resident from a farming family. Born Aug. 16, 1909 in the Fairland area, Mrs. Woodward was a member of the Spencerville Free Methodist Church since the late 1920s. She was a substitute mother, health care provider and Sunday School teacher, and participated in the activities at the campground on Peach Orchard Road as late as 1996. She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Woodward. She is survived by a brother, Lester Wright; daughters, Anna Poole and Jean Weinel; son, Donald Woodward; grandchildren, Peggy and Kenneth Poole Jr., Pamela and Keith Weinel, Sandra Tull, Julie Miller, Amy Knight and Shane Woodward; and six great- grandchildren. Services were held July 15 at Spencerville Free Methodist Church. William I. Fallon Jr. William I. Fallon Jr., 60, of Olney died Saturday at his home. He was the husband of Phyllis C. Fallon. Born Jan. 19, 1937, in Pennsylvania, he was a son of the late William I. Fallon Sr. and Helen Gosnear Fallon. Mr. Fallon graduated from St. Joseph Prep in Philadelphia and from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. He received his master's degree in business management from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Olney and was chairman of the parish building committee. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He had served as chairman of the board of Montgomery General Hospital and most recently was chairman of the board of the Montgomery General Hospital Parent Corporation. Mr. Fallon had retired from COMSAT in Clarksburg, where he had worked for approximately 27 years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by five children, William I. Fallon III of Germantown, Helen Ann McCormick of Columbia, Lisa M. Napolitano and Karen L. Fallon, both of New York, and Shaun P. Fallon of Baltimore; and five grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at noon today at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Olney. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Aspen Hill. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Peter's Catholic Church or to Montgomery General Hospital. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville. Lilly Lansky Lilly Sidon Stadler Lansky, 88, formerly of Silver Spring, died July 15, 1997, at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda after an illness. She was a survivor of the Nazi occupation and its forced labor camps. Born May 29, 1909, in Vienna, Austria, she was the daughter of Leopold and Marie Braun Sidon. She was married in 1928 to Henryk Ernest Stadler, and had two daughters, Gertrud and Susanne. The family fled to Budapest in 1939 when Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia. Mrs. Lansky cared for her two children and mother-in-law when her husband was taken to a forced labor camp, and after he returned for a single day in October 1944, he registered with the Nazi authorities and was never seen again. Gertrud was sent to live with friends in Budapest and survived the war, but Mrs. Lansky and Susanne were taken to the Budapest Jewish "ghetto" in January 1945. She was taken twice to forced labor camps, but managed to escape. She and Susanne survived until the liberation in February 1945. During the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, she and Susanne, escaped to San Francisco, where she eventually married Samuel Lansky and moved to his home in Memphis where she lived until his death. In 1980, she moved to Silver Spring to live near her daughter, Susanne, and her family, and eventually moved to the Hebrew Home in Rockville. She is survived by her sister, Greta Landesmann of San Francisco; daughter, Susanne Shore and son-in-law Moris Shore, both of Silver Spring; four grandchildren; stepchildren, Bernice and Alvin Banes of Memphis, and their children.