Obituaries from Gazette.net, January 2003: 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 *********************************************************************** *****Jan. 3, 2003***** George Smerlis Dr. George Smerlis, 60, of Gaithersburg, died Dec. 18 in Houston from complications following a bone marrow transplant. He was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocypic leukemia in early 2001. Dr. Smerlis, who practiced dentistry in Damascus for more than 30 years, was born in Malone, N.Y. He came to the Washington area to work as a cartographer after graduating from the State University of New York in Buffalo. He received his degree in dental medicine from the University of Maryland Dental School and moved to Damascus and opened a practice in town. He was an active member of the Damascus Rotary Club and enjoyed showing videos of his family travels at meetings. He was an amateur photographer and loved to travel. A memorial service was held Dec. 28 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Damascus. E. Bernard Lewis E. Bernard Lewis, 85, died Dec. 24 at his home in Damascus. He was the husband of Anna Irene Ifert Lewis. Born Oct. 15, 1917 in Thurston, he was a son of the late Cronin Filmore and Jemima C. Watkins Lewis. Before retirement, Mr. Lewis worked as a carpenter. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a member of American Legion Post 171 in Damascus and he was a member of Damascus United Methodist Church. Surviving besides his wife are five children: Leanah Marie Mills of Martinsburg, W.Va.; Ernest Bernard Lewis Jr. of Tennessee; Jeanette Grant Martin of Middletown; Robert Eugene Lewis of Frederick and Daniel Filmore Lewis of Charles Town, W.Va.; two sisters: Vinnie Lankford of Delaware and Lola Widemann of Illinois; eight grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday. Burial was in Parklawn Memorial Park in Rockville. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association -- Mid Atlantic Affiliate, PO Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va. or American Diabetes Association, 1211 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 501, Washington, D.C. 20036. Robert J. Dowling Sgt. Robert James Dowling, 78, of Germantown, died Dec. 18 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville of chronic leukemia. He was the husband of Regina N. (Ferguson) Dowling for 46 years. They were married Sept. 29, 1956, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cumberland. Mr. Dowling was born Sept. 19, 1924, in Booneville, Mo., to the late Charles Edward and Rose Susan January Dowling. Mr. Dowling spent his adolescent years on his Uncle Jim's farm in Walnut, Kan. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, 1951-1953. He was formerly active in the Knights of Columbus Council 6901 in Barnesville. He retired in 1977 from the National Institute of Standards and Technology as a steamfitter. He also worked at the National Institutes of Health from 1962 to 1966. From 1953 to 1962 he was employed by Mary's Dry Cleaners in Cumberland. His hobbies included gardening, hunting and fishing. Surviving in addition to his wife are one son, Charles James and his wife, Carol Myers Dowling of Highland; one daughter, Karen Regina and her husband, Terry Russell Tavenner of Hanover; three grandchildren, Kimberly Tavenner and Christine and Kevin Dowling; and two sisters, Donna and husband Bill Toms of Largo, Fla., and Rosalene and husband Ellsworth Thompson of LaPlata. One brother, Charles Edward Dowling, preceded Mr. Dowling in death. Funeral services were held Dec. 23 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Barnesville. Burial was in Garrison Forest VA Cemetery in Owings Mills. Lillian V. Beall Lillian Virginia Beall, 82, of Gaithersburg, died Dec. 17 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville. Born July 5, 1920 in Gaithersburg, she was a daughter of the late John Abram and Blanche Mills Hargett. She was the wife of Marion T. Beall, who died in 1996. Mrs. Beall graduated from Gaithersburg High School and was a member of Washington Grove United Methodist Church. Survivors include fours sons, Marion Beall and his wife, Emily, of Ocean City, John Beall and his wife, Linda, of Salisbury, Philip Beall and his wife, Judy, of Orlando, Fla., and Robert Beall and his wife, Trina, of Huntingtown; two brothers, John Hargett and his wife, Mary, of Monrovia and Thomas Hargett and his wife, Taiko, of Stockton, Calif.; three sisters, Martha Briggs of Gaithersburg, Esther King and her husband, Earl, of Clarksburg, and Shirley Kitzmiller and her husband, David, of Gaithersburg; and 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by two sisters, Lucille Hargett and Mary Crown, and one brother, Charles Hargett. Funeral services were held Dec. 23. Burial was in Forest Oak Cemetery, Gaithersburg. Wallace Keene Wallace "Wally" Keene, 62, died at his Derwood home Dec. 20 of a heart attack. He was the husband of Christine Carrico. A Vietnam veteran, Mr. Keene served in the Army from 1961-1967, achieving the rank of captain. In 1974 he began working for the government as a senior executive service member. He retired from the government in 1995 to start a consulting company. Mr. Keene was active in the Greater Shady Grove Civic Alliance since 1998. He also served as the newsletter editor and webmaster for Christ Episcopal Church in Rockville, and held positions with the Council for Excellence in Government and The Public Employees Roundtable. Surviving in addition to his wife are two daughters, Melissa Hurt and Christina Wick, both of Lothian, and four grandchildren, Maddie and Jay Hurt and Colin and Maureen Wick. A memorial service was held Dec. 30 at Christ Episcopal Church in Rockville. Contributions may be made to the Hemophilia Foundation of Maryland, 8043 Kimberly Road, Baltimore, MD 21222. Sidney M. Block Sidney Martin Block, 77, of Rockville, died at his home on Dec. 13 after a lengthy illness. Mr. Block was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. to the late Abraham Block and Mollie Tepper and attended the City College of New York. He pursued artistic interests and as a young man he apprenticed as a sculptor. His lifelong interests included Civil War history, classical music, and chess. Mr. Block worked in sales positions both in New York and the Washington area. He moved to Washington, D.C., in 1951 and to Maryland in 1954. During World War II, he worked as a machinist at the American Instrument Company in Silver Spring. He retired from Sears Roebuck & Co. in 1986. Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Judith Deborah Block of Rockville; two sons, Alan William Block of Bethesda and Michael Dana Block of Crofton; daughter-in-law Patti Block; two grandchildren, Melissa Anna Morgan and Casey Renee Block; and a sister, Gertrude Feldman of Florida. Melvin A. Lehman Melvin A. Lehman, 87, of Frederick, formerly of Kensington, died Dec. 18 at The Willows at Crumland Farms, Frederick. Born April 7, 1915 in Fairland, Md., he was a son of the late Jacob and Florence Duvall Lehman. He was the husband of the late Susan A. Lehman, who died in 1996. Mr. Lehman attended Fairland School in Fairland, Md., and served in the Army during World War II. He was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Silver Spring and taught Sunday school. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge 215 in Silver Spring. Mr. Lehman had worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 40 years and retired in 1974 as a supervisor. He had served as president of the Letter Carriers Union Branch 2611 in Silver Spring. He liked to travel and fish. Mr. Lehman is survived by two children: Alan Lehman and wife Elsie of Mt. Airy, and Debbie Endlich and husband Cor of Thurmont; and four grandchildren. Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville handled the arrangements. Burial will be at Burtonsville Union Cemetery in Burtonsville. *****Jan. 8, 2003***** Norma B. Watkins Norma Bell Watkins, 95, of Cedar Grove, died Jan. 3 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville. She was the wife of the late Wilbur N. Watkins. Born July 7, 1907, just outside of Damascus in Purdum, she was a daughter of the late Edward Walter and Fannie Delma Dutrow King. Mrs. Watkins was a homemaker and a member of the Salem United Methodist Church in Cedar Grove. She was the last of her immediate family and is survived by a number of nieces and nephews. Graveside services and burial were held Tuesday at Salem Cemetery in Germantown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Salem United Methodist Church, 23725 Ridge Road, Germantown, MD 20874. John F. Bell John F. Bell, 68, of Damascus, died Jan. 2 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville. He was the husband of Mary Jane Bell. Born Aug. 23, 1934, in Washington, D.C., he was a son of the late Rollin M. and Mildred McDonough Bell. Mr. Bell served in the U.S. Army. He worked at the U.S. Postal Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., and at retirement had more than 40 years of government service. He was a member of the Gold Star Post 191 American Legion of Mount Airy, Moose Lodge 948 in Charles Town, W.Va., and St. Paul's Catholic Church in Damascus. In addition to his wife, survivors include three sons, John F. Bell Jr. of Clarksville, Michael A. Bell of Laurel and Stephen M. Bell of Silver Spring; one sister, Jean Jones of Crofton; and three granddaughters. Mr. Bell was preceded in death by his brother, Rollin M. Bell Jr. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Tuesday at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Damascus. Burial was in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery in Poplar Springs. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Scholarship Fund of Post 191, P.O. Box 24, Mount Airy, MD 21771. Aubrey B. Jenkins Mr. Aubrey Benton Jenkins, 93, of Laytonsville died Jan. 6, 2003, at Casey House, Rockville. Born May 28, 1909, in Luray, Va., he was a son of the late James W. and Myrtle Lee Painter Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins worked for the D.C. Transit Company in Washington, D.C., as a bus driver and retired after many years of service. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church. His hobbies included horseshoes, pool and crossword puzzles. Mr. Jenkins is survived by one son, Keith B. Jenkins and his wife, Ingrid, of Laytonsville; one sister, Lillie May Jenkins of Luray, Va.; two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one great great grandson. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home, 21525 Laytonsville Road, Laytonsville. Friends may visit with the family at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Ft. Lincoln Cemetery, Brentwood. Arrangements were made by the Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home, Laytonsville. Ann McGrath Robert O. Winfield Sr. Robert O'Neal Winfield Sr., 55, of Damascus, died Dec. 27, 2002, at Washington, D.C., Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Born May 24, 1947, in Frederick, he was a son of the late Fred and Louise Rau Winfield. He was the husband of the late Diana Winfield, who died in 1988. Mr. Winfield served in the U.S. Army from 1965 until 1968. He worked at various places as a car salesman. He was a graduate of Gaithersburg High School. He is survived by a daughter, Candace Ranae Winfield of Damascus and her friend, Greg B. Lee, also of Damascus; three grandchildren, Brittany and Chelsea Fisher of Damascus and Dianna Winfield of Mount Airy; a sister, Georgia Lee Bennett of Faulkner; and a brother, Kenneth E. Winfield of Ijamsville. He was preceded in death by a son, Robert O. Winfield Jr., in 1994. Memorial services were held Saturday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Laytonsville. Burial was in the church cemetery. Jo Anne Householder Jo Anne Householder, 68, of Germantown, died Jan. 4 at her home. She was the wife of Ronald E. Householder. Born June 7, 1934, in Mt. Savage, she was the daughter of Verta Jenkins Reed of Germantown and the late George Thomas Reed. Surviving in addition to her husband are four sons, Randall Householder of Damascus, Keith Householder of Westminster, Darrell Householder of Germantown, and Brett Householder of Sterling, Va., and seven grandchildren. Services and burial are private. Christel S. Hren Christel Susanne Hren, 42, of Poolesville and Wiesbaden, Germany, died Dec. 3 in Wiesbaden. Born Nov. 11, 1960 in Wiesbaden, she was the daughter of Marga Barth and the late Karl Barth. Mrs. Hren, her husband and their children temporarily relocated from Poolesville to Germany in February 2002. Survivors include her husband, Karl Hren; a daughter, Jennifer Hren; son Christopher Hren; her mother; and two brothers, Juergen and Rainer Barth. Memorial services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, 17230 Tom Fox Ave. in Poolesville. Following the Mass a reception will be held at McDonald Hall, Memorial United Methodist Church, 17821 Elgin Road in Poolesville. Friends are also invited to stop by at 7 p.m. on Friday for an informal gathering at the home of Gary and Lisa Thuro, 17022 Hersperger Lane in Poolesville. Eva Marie Harvel Eva Marie Harvel, 86, of Dickerson, formerly of Rockville and Brookeville, died Dec. 30 at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Frederick. She was born Sept. 10, 1916, in Leesburg, Va. She was the wife of the late Charles W. Harvel, who died in 1988. Mrs. Harvel was a member of Salem United Methodist Church in Brookeville and the Women's Auxiliary of the church. She was a homemaker and enjoyed reading and sewing. Mrs. Harvel is survived by seven children, Charles Gilbert Harvel of Virginia, Kenneth P. Harvel of Damascus, Jean Parker of Laurel, Lois Staley of Dickerson, Annette Wilfong of Hagerstown, Joyce Seese of Tennessee and Dianne Harvel of Virginia; and 13 grandchildren. The funeral service was held Jan. 3 at Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville. Burial followed at Darnestown Presbyterian Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Salem United Methodist Church, 12 High St., Brookeville, Md. 20833. John Carney Monro John Carney ''Scotty'' Monro, 60, a retired National Weather Service hydrologist who helped develop a national system for forecasting flash floods, died of lung cancer Dec. 30 at his Aspen Hill home. Dr. Monro and his wife Nancy Ullrich Monro moved to the area in 1966 when he took a position as a research hydrologist with the weather service. A native of Patterson, N.J., he was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, earning both his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering. His doctorate in hydrology was awarded by the University of Arizona. Prior to coming to Maryland, Dr. Monro worked for one year with the Corps of Engineers in Pittsburgh. He was among a group of hydrologists who was awarded the Department of Commerce's Silver Medal for its work on the national river forecasting system. Designed to prevent loss of life and property by foretelling flash floods before they occurred, the system is still in use across the country. Dr. Monro retired in 1996 after 31 years of service. He was a member of the Federal Employees Retirement Group. His interests included golf and gardening. He was known in his Aspen Hill neighborhood for his impeccable lawn -- always lush, green and well-trimmed -- as well as for the landscaping which graced his yard. In addition to his wife of 40 years, he is survived by two daughters, Anne Mickelson of Kensington and Barbara Mellor of Potomac; a brother; and four grandchildren. Henry Grady Davis Jr. Henry Grady Davis Jr., 85, of Charles Town, W.Va., formerly of Wheaton, died Dec. 27, 2002, at Glade Valley Nursing Home. Retired with 36 years of service from the former C&P Telephone Company (now Verizon), Mr. Davis held various positions in the Alexandria Graham Bell Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America in which he received the 1974 Pioneer of the Year Award. An Army veteran of World War II, he served in the Army counter-intelligence, was a jury foreman in the trial of "Axis Sally," and participated in work essential to the production of the atomic bomb. Henry served as past monarch of Kallipolis Grotto in Washington, D.C. He was a member of Hughes United Methodist Church in Wheaton, Asbury United Methodist Church in Charles Town and a 50-year member of Wheaton Lodge No. 228. Born Sept. 29, 1917, in Greensboro, N.C., he was the son of the late Henry G. and Mary Lillian Clarida Davis. He was the husband for 56 years of the late Dorothy G. Davis. A son, Stephen G. Davis, and a sister, Edith Rhodes, also preceded him in death. Survivors include a son, Hank Davis and wife Ellie of Thurmont; a sister, Dorothy Weaver of Rockville; a daughter-in-law, Kathleen P. Davis of Bedford. Pa.; grandchildren Cassie Diehm and husband Niko of New York, Heather Haller and husband Joe of Poolesville, Kim May of Bedford, Pa., Karen Young and husband Alex of Bedford, Pa., Lisa Haller and husband Steve of Brunswick, and Rick Davis and wife Emily of Walkersville; sister-in-law Nancy G. Puddy of Germantown; and nine great-grandchildren. A service was held Monday at Stauffer Funeral Home, Frederick. The Rev. Robert McEllroy officiated. Burial followed at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Woodholme Medical Building, Suite 515, 1838 Green Tree Road, Baltimore, MD 21208. *****Jan. 15, 2003***** Ina V. Haines Ina V. Haines, 72, of Germantown, died Jan. 10 at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. Born Dec. 3, 1930, in Bergton, Va., she was the daughter of the late Herman M. and Nellie Cullers Fitzwater. Mrs. Haines graduated from Richard Montgomery High School and worked for Giant Food for 29 years as a deli clerk. Her hobbies included reading, gardening, canning and watching TV. Survivors include her former husband, Otis E. Haines; three children, Betty J. Carpenter and her husband, Joe, of Rockville, Robert O. Haines and his wife, Diane, of Silver Spring, and John E. Haines and his wife, Vicky, of Frederick; three brothers, Kevin Fitzwater of Frederick, Herman Fitzwater and his wife, Lucille, of Hagerstown, and Armer Fitzwater and his wife, Pat, of Mount Airy; two sisters, Mary Virts and her husband, Arthur, of Boyds and Loretta Jeffers of Walkersville; two grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one son, Otis E. Haines Jr., and one sister, Vada Stottlemyer. Funeral services will be held today at 11 a.m. at the Hilton Funeral Home, 22111 Beallsville Road, Barnesville. Burial will be in Boyds Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Boyds. Donald R. Christ Donald R. Christ, 52, beloved husband of Diana G. (Greenfield) Christ, of Middletown, died Dec. 31, 2002, at the Phoenixville, Pa., hospital. He suffered a massive heart attack while driving back to his hometown of Pottstown, Pa., from a Philadelphia hospital where he had been visiting his mother who had heart surgery. He was born Sept. 11, 1950, in Pottstown, Pa., and was the son of Richard and Ann (Schultz) Christ. He graduated from Pottstown High School in 1968. Mr. Christ graduated from American University in 1972 with a degree in marketing. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by one son, Jeffrey D. Christ, 14; one daughter, Andrea V. Christ, 11; and one sister, Diane Johnston of Douglassville, Pa. Mr. Christ worked in the Information Technology (IT) field for more than 25 years, including 10 years in IT department leadership roles. He was the chief information officer at Asbury Services, an adult assisted-living community in Gaithersburg. Mr. Christ was a member and featured speaker of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, as well as the Maryland Non- Profit Homes for the Aging. Mr. Christ was also a member of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. Previous to his employment with Asbury Services, he was employed by Aspen Systems in Rockville and GEICO Corp. in Washington, D.C., where he worked for almost 20 years, and had project management, operations management, programming and application programming management responsibilities. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Jan. 25 at Middletown United Methodist Church. Contributions in his name may be made to the American Heart Association, AHA Memorial Processing Center, PO Box 5216, Glenn Allen, VA 23058-5216 or the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, c/o Phillip Merrill Environmental Center, 6 Herndon Drive, Annapolis, MD 21403. Josephine E. German Mrs. Josephine Edith German, 83, of Gaithersburg died on Friday, January 10, 2003, at Wilson Health Care in Gaithersburg. Born April 22, 1919, in Redland, Md., she was a daughter of the late William Carlton and Edith Josephine Johnson Daymude. She was the wife of William C. German. Mrs. German was a homemaker. Her hobbies included gardening, crocheting and cooking. She was a member of the Epworth United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg. Besides her husband, Mrs. German is survived by two sons, William C. German Jr. and his wife, Ellen, of Damascus, and Ray E. German and his wife, Ruth Ann, of Frederick; five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Epworth United Methodist Church, 9008 Rosemont Drive, Gaithersburg. Friends may visit with the family from 9:30 until 10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the service. Burial will be in Flower Hill Church of the Brethren Cemetery, Redland. Memorial contributions may be made to the Epworth United Methodist Church. Arrangements were made by the Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home, Laytonsville. Helen Cecil Kanode Plummer Helen Cecil Kanode Plummer, 91, of Gaithersburg, died Jan. 6 at Montgomery Village Care and Rehabilitation. Born Feb. 23, 1911, in Middlebrook, Montgomery County, she was the daughter of the late Harry B. and Essie Mae Kanode. She married Walter Lee "Brownie" Plummer in 1932. Mrs. Plummer graduated from Gaithersburg High School and continued her education at Strayer Business School. Mrs. Plummer worked as a receptionist at the Department of Social Services for the state of Maryland. She retired in 1973. She was a lifetime member of Epworth United Methodist Church. At Epworth, she was a member of the Beulah Class and helped with the annual Ham and Turkey dinner preparations. She enjoyed playing the piano. Mrs. Plummer is survived by a daughter, Joan Elaine Plummer Coch-ran; two grandchildren, Paul E. Coch-ran and Steven L. Cochran; two great-grandchildren, Russell A. Cochran and Rachael L. Cochran; one brother, H. Newton Kanode of Adamstown; and two nieces and nephews. Mrs. Plummer was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Margaret Sugrue. A memorial service was held Jan. 10 at Epworth United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to Epworth United Methodist Church, 9008 Rosemont Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Raymond J. Moore Sr. Raymond J. Moore Sr., 83, of Lehigh Acres, Fla., and Southern Shores, N.C., died Jan. 6, 2003. He was born May 16, 1919, in Statesville, N.C., to the late William Lucky and Daisy Jennings Moore. He was a chemical/nuclear engineer and had retired from the Atomic Energy Commission in Germantown in 1979. He loved to sing in his church choirs at Grace United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church in North Carolina and Christ United Methodist Church in Lehigh Acres, Fla. Mr. Moore is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Gladys Franke Moore; his daughter, Barbara Dougherty and her husband, Paul, of Germantown; his son Charles "Jay" Moore of Southern Shores, N.C.; his sister Muriel Weathers and her husband, Charlie, of Raleigh, N.C.; five grandchildren, five great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. His son, Raymond J. Moore Jr.; his daughter, Marilyn Moore Lee; his brother, William L. Moore Jr.; and his sister, Gertrude Moore George, preceded him in death. A memorial service was held Saturday in Florida. Burial will be held in Maryland. Dorothy J. Born Dorothy Jean Born, 81, of Sykesville, formerly a long-time resident of the Olney area, died Jan. 7 at the Fairhaven retirement community. She had Alzheimer's disease. She was the wife of Roscoe C. Born. Born Dorothy Jean Anstaett in Osage County, Kans., she attended College of Emporia until her marriage in 1941 to Mr. Born, a journalist, when she moved to Topeka. In 1957 she moved with her family to Montgomery County when her husband joined the Washington bureau of The Wall Street Journal. In 1972 the family moved to a wooded property near the Patuxent River, where she spent hours daily nurturing wild flowers while working to preserve the natural landscape. In addition to her husband, she is survived by four children, Karen Andersen of Bandana, N.C., Roscoe Born III of New York City, Flint Born of Cambridge, Mass., and Lynne Myers of Bangkok, Thailand; one sister, Rosalie Frankamp of Wichita; and four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Jan. 18 at the chapel at Fairhaven. Burial will be in Woodside Cemetery. Ann McGrath Ann Meier McGrath, 66, died Dec. 18 at her home in Clarksburg. She was born Sept. 21, 1936, in St. Charles, Mo. She was the daughter of the late Oscar William and Marjorie Linahan Meier. Ms. McGrath graduated from Sidwell Friends High School in Washington, D.C., Bennington College in Bennington, Vt., and studied at Harvard Graduate School of Design in Cambridge, Mass. After achieving her master of science degree in urban planning at the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture in New York, she worked for the Redevelopment Land Agency in Washington, D.C., the Urban Renewal Project in Southwest Washington, D.C. and other areas within the city's planning division, until her twins, Maeve and Joe, were born in 1967. Ms. McGrath was appointed as a commissioner of the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission in 1969, and after that worked in Northern Montgomery and Frederick counties as broker/proprietor of Country Properties Inc. She was also owner/proprietor of Country Market of Urbana and Cafe Annie during the 1980s. Survivors include three children, Joe McGrath of Frederick, Maeve Starliper of Hagerstown and Meghan Duncan of Clarksburg. A memorial service was held Sunday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Montgomery Hospice, 1450 Research Blvd., Suite 310, Rockville, MD 20850. Philip L. Bridgham Philip Low Bridgham, 81, of Rockville died Jan. 4. He was the husband of Betty Bridgham. Born Jan. 20, 1921, in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, he attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, where he earned a bachelor's degree in history with a minor in political science and philosophy. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1942 from Grinnell College, which led to his being admitted to the Navy Japanese Language School located at the University of Colorado in Boulder in January 1943. After completing Japanese Language School in March 1944, Mr. Bridgham was sent to the Advanced Naval Intelligence School in New York City for one month and then assigned for six weeks to the Navy Unit in Tracey, Calif., for further training and practice in the interrogation of Japanese prisoners of war. Mr. Bridgham spent the next year from September 1944 through most of August 1945 serving in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines. His duties consisted primarily of translating captured Japanese documents. After a preliminary stay in Hollandia, New Guinea, attached to COM 7th Fleet, he was assigned to ATIS (Allied Translation and Interrogation Section) located in Brisbane, Australia. In the spring of 1945 he returned to Hollandia and translated a document revealing that a crack Japanese Army thought to be stationed in Manchuria had been transferred to Japan to prepare for the Allied invasion. After a six-month stay in New Guinea, Mr. Bridgham was sent to Manila in May 1945 to help prepare for the invasion of Japan. At the end of the war Mr. Bridgham was stationed in Tokyo, and was one of the first language officers to arrive after the surrender in late August. From August 1945 to April 1946, he spent the occupation assigned as an interpreter- aide to Maj. General Casey. For his service, Mr. Bridgham received the Victory Ribbon, the American Area Campaign Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon. After the war, Mr. Bridgham went on to earn a doctorate degree at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 1948. He then spent four years teaching at the University of Hawaii and Dickinson College until he joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1952. He learned Chinese and became a China specialist. He has published articles concerning China's domestic politics and Sino-Soviet relations and was the first to appear in print publicly as a CIA analyst. After 32 years of working for the CIA, he retired in September 1984. After his retirement, Mr. Bridgham devoted his time to teaching a survey course, "Japan Today," at the Institute for Learning in Retirement, a special program at American University in Washington, D.C., where he also team taught the courses "China Today" and "Present Day Asia." In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children, Amy Kamble and Timothy Bridgham, and two grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at Rockville Presbyterian Church, 215 West Montgomery Ave. in Rockville. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Institute for Learning in Retirement, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20016. Arrangements were made by Collins Funeral Home in Silver Spring. Judith Ann Lindley Judith Ann Lindley, 58, of Rockville died Jan. 2 at her home. She was born Nov. 6, 1944, in McAlester, Okla., the daughter of Doris Storric DeGiacomo and the late Dan DeGiacomo. She lived and worked in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas for many years. She moved on Rockville in 1993. She was an avid marathon runner and cyclist. Ms. Lindley is survived by her husband, Freddy Blunt; two sons, Todd and Trent Lindley; two grandsons; her mother, Doris Storrie-Brock, and stepfather, Jim Brock; three sisters, Janet Leslie and Diana Costa of Naples, Fla., and Daphne Brock of Little Rock, Ark.; four brothers; Danny, Bobby, Anthony and J.D., all of McAlester; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held Jan. 7 at People's Community Baptist Church. Arrangements were handled by Snowden Funeral Home in Rockville. *****Jan. 22, 2003***** Katharine A. Moore Ms. Katharine A. Moore, 90, died Jan. 18, 2003, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. Born March 25, 1912, in Bethlehem, Pa., she was a graduate of Cedar Crest College and a high school German teacher. Ms. Moore is survived by two sisters, the Rev. Mary Alice Butrofsky and the Rev. Beatrice W. McConnell. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at DeVol Funeral Home, 10 E. Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg. Memorial contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 16420 S. Westland Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Arrangements were made by DeVol Funeral Home. Priscilla R. Smith Priscilla Rae Smith, 25, of Dickerson, died Jan. 17 in a car crash. She was the wife of Ernie Smith of Poolesville. Born on Jan. 16, 1978, in Ventura, Calif., she was the daughter of John and Kathleen Watson of Poolesville. Surviving besides her husband and parents are one son, Austin Smith; two sisters, Lydia Watson of Poolesville and Amanda Watson of Dickerson; her maternal grandparents, Ray and Eleaner Douglas of West Virginia; paternal grandparents, Jesse W. and Grace U. Watson of Pennsylvania; an aunt, Linda Rice of Poolesville; aunt and uncle, Theresa and Ray Douglas of Poolesville; cousins, Autumn, Glenn and Johnny Rice, Ray Ray and Jesse Douglas and niece, Arianna McDonald. Funeral services were held Tuesday. Burial was at Monocacy Cemetery in Beallsville. In lieu of flowers the family is accepting donations toward the funeral expenses. Paul E. Close Paul Eugene Close, 43, of Germantown, died Jan. 16. He was born in Golden Valley, Minn., and was the husband of Ann Close. In addition to his wife, survivors include four children, Jessica Ann Close, Kevin Michael Close, Kara Marie Close and Mary Madelon Close; and several brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and one great-nephew. A Mass of Christian burial was offered at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rockville on Monday. Burial was at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity, 4 E. Church St., Frederick, MD 21701. Benjamin D. Brooks Benjamin David Brooks, 21, of Clarksburg died Jan. 18 of injuries sustained in an auto accident. Born in Fairfax, Va., on Aug. 24, 1981, he was the son of Kathryn J. Schwarz Cross and her husband, Jarrett, of Clarksburg. Surviving in addition to his mother and stepfather are four brothers, Nathaniel S. Brooks of Seattle, Kevin D. Brooks of Clarksburg, Matthew J. Cross of Clarksburg and James J. Cross of Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; and maternal grandparents Robert H. and Margaret H. Schwarz of Boise, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his father, Stephen Victor Cross, and grandparents Frances and Nancy Brooks and Pricilla Cross. Memorial services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, 205 South Summit Ave., Gaithersburg. Burial will be in the Church Columbarium. Donald R. Christ Donald R. Christ, 52, of Gaithersburg, died Dec. 31 at the Phoenixville, Pa., hospital. He was the husband of Diana G. (Greenfield) Christ, of Middletown. He was born Sept. 11, 1950, in Pottstown, Pa., and was the son of Richard and Ann (Schultz) Christ. He graduated from Pottstown High School in 1968. Mr. Christ graduated from American University in 1972 with a degree in marketing. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by one son, Jeffrey D. Christ, 14; one daughter, Andrea V. Christ, 11; and one sister, Diane Johnston of Douglassville, Pa. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Jan. 25 at Middletown United Methodist Church. Contributions in his name may be made to the American Heart Association, AHA Memorial Processing Center, P.O. Box 5216, Glenn Allen, VA 23058-5216 or the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, c/o Phillip Merrill Environmental Center, 6 Herndon Drive, Annapolis, MD 21403. Hartford Ernest Robarts Bealer Hartford E. Bealer of Chevy Chase and Capon Bridge, W.Va., died Jan. 9 in West Palm Beach, Fla. He was born Sept. 29, 1909, in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Center High School in 1927, at which point he co-founded Brooklyn Coal Company. The company served the metropolitan area for 34 years before he sold it. During this time, he earned a master's in law and patent law from National University, was a member of Sigma Nu Legal Fraternity, and an officer and active member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club of Washington, D.C. Mr. Bealer began his family in the 1940s in Chevy Chase, where he lived for 60 years. In 1951, he turned his interest in real estate investment into Hartford E. Bealer Development Corporation and Hartford E. Bealer Properties Inc. A prominent figure in the world of investment banking, in 1969, he co-founded and became president of Chevy Chase Bank, introducing free-checking to the area. He was on the board of directors until it was sold to Citizens Bank of Maryland. He participated daily in business and leisure into his late 80s. His wife, Elizabeth Anderson Bealer, died in 1980, after a marriage of 45 years. He is survived by two daughters, Nancy Bealer Parker of Potomac and Sally Bealer Kirchiro of Bethesda; five grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. The family requests that expressions of sympathy be made in Hartford's name to the American Cancer Society. Bob Horn Bob Horn, 53, of Germantown, died Jan. 19. He was the husband of Elizabeth Horn. Born Dec. 22, 1949, in Tel Aviv, Israel, he was the son of the late David and Freida Horn. He worked for the federal government in human resources. In addition to his wife, survivors include two children, Michelle and Stacy Horn of Germantown, and a sister, Sara Feldman of Baltimore. Funeral services and burial were held at the Judean Memorial Gardens in Olney on Tuesday. The family is mourning at 11904 Scovell Terrace in Germantown. Alma Mae Shoemaker Alma Mae Keemer Shoemaker, 94, a long-time resident of the Washington area who worked in three school cafeterias in Montgomery County, died of pneumonia Jan. 12 at her home in Rockville. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Mrs. Shoemaker was raised by her grandparents on a farm in Moravia, Iowa. She worked her way through college, earning a degree from Iowa Wesleyan, and taught for seven years in a one-room school in rural Iowa. She married Frederic Berlin Shoemaker in 1934 and accompanied him to Los Angeles, Signal Mountain, Tenn., and Boston before settling in Bethesda in 1950. Her husband died in 1971. After a second career preparing food in cafeterias at three Montgomery County public schools -- North Bethesda Junior High, Woodward High School and Walter Johnson High School -- Mrs. Shoemaker retired in 1988 at the age of 80. After retiring, she moved to Dunkirk, Md., then to Rockville in 1994. Known for her great cooking and lively sense of humor, Mrs. Shoemaker was an active supporter of church programs and missionary work throughout the world. She was a member of Bethesda Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church of Waldorf. She belonged to Pi Beta Phi, which recently awarded her a 75-year membership certificate. Known affectionately as "Lala" to her family and many of her friends and colleagues, her survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Andrew L. Sonner of Rockville; a son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Dianna Shoemaker of Dunkirk; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her two sisters, Mary and Anabeth; her brother, Paul; and her nephew, Richard. Arrangements were handled by Pumphrey's Colonial Funeral Home in Rockville. James W. Stewart Jr. James W. Stewart Jr., 76, of Rockville died Jan. 14. Born in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 11, 1926, he was a member of Steam Fitter's Local 602 of Washington for 55 years. He worked for Johnson Controls Inc. as a pneumatic controls journeyman for 50 years. Mr. Stewart was an avid Redskins and Orioles fan. He was predeceased by his wife, Patricia D. Stewart. He is survived by a daughter, Judy Stewart Fuhrmann; a son, Rick Stewart; seven grandchildren; and other family and friends. A graveside service was held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery Chapel on Jan. 17. Arrangements were handled by Pumphrey's Colonial Funeral Home in Rockville. Herbert L. Thomas Herbert Lee Thomas, 74, of Rockville, formerly of Princeton, W.Va., died Jan. 17. Born June 17, 1928, in Princeton, he was the son of the late Frank Allen Thomas and Betty Elizabeth Callahan Thomas. He was the husband of Lois Thomas. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children, Malinda Davis and husband Larry Davis, and Wayne Thomas and wife Linda Thomas; one sister, Nellie I. Hillman; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sons, Jerry Thomas and David Thomas, four sisters and three brothers. A funeral service was held Tuesday at Trinity Baptist Church in Rockville. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Funeral Directory, Athens Road in Princeton. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Memorial Funeral Directory. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Princeton. Arrangements were made by DeVol Funeral Home in Gaithersburg. Warren C.P. Conklin Warren C.P. Conklin, 81, of Rockville died Jan. 19 at Rockville Nursing Home. Born Oct. 20, 1921, at his residence, he was a son of the late Russell W. and Lucille England Conklin. Survivors include one sister-in-law, Jeanne Conklin of Greenville, N.C.; one niece, Deborah Conklin of Greenville, N.C.; one nephew, Tim Conklin and wife Patricia of Orlando, Fla.; and several cousins. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. today at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (Historic Chapel), 520 Veirs Mill Road in Rockville. Burial will be in Rockville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements were made by Pumphrey’s Funeral Home in Rockville.