Obituaries from Gazette.net, September 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 *********************************************************************** *****Sept. 5, 2003***** Mary B. Drew Mary Burdette Drew, 46, of Poolesville, died Aug. 27, 2003, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville. Born March 9, 1957, in Olney, she was a daughter of Joyce Marie Harding Burdette of West Virginia and the late John David Burdette Sr. She was the wife of Charles W. Drew. Mrs. Drew graduated from Linganore High School in Mount Airy and attended the Hagerstown Business College in Hagerstown. Before her illness she had worked at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Frederick as a phlebotomist. She was also a hairdresser. Mrs. Drew liked to paint landscapes and enjoyed making Native American crafts. She also enjoyed being with her grandchildren. Besides her husband and mother, she is survived by three children, Tina Proffitt of Florida, Jerry Giles and John Giles, both of Poolesville; two grandchildren; three sisters, Phyllis Gregory of Florida, Brenda Hamilton and Judy Slusher, both of West Virginia; and two brothers, John Burdette Jr. and B.J. Burdette, both of West Virginia. A memorial service was held Saturday. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. The Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville handled the arrangements. Virgie I. Frank Virgie I. Frank, 94, of Damascus, died Aug. 28, 2003, at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Frederick. Born May 5, 1909, in Virginia, she was a daughter of the late Henry W. and Rose Kidwell Martyn. She was the wife of the late John A. Frank, who died in 1992. They were married for 59 years. Mrs. Frank was lovingly known as "Granny." She was a homemaker. She liked to cook, garden, quilt and dance. She is survived by two children, Edna Mae Nettles of Damascus and Johnny Frank and wife Donna of Florida; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Edith Montcreif of Colonial Beach, Va., and Christina Fulcher of Virginia. Nine siblings predeceased her. Funeral services were held Saturday at the Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville. The Rev. Jeffrey Jones officiated. Burial was in Laytonsville Cemetery. Margaret Mullinix Margaret Belle Schwartzbeck Mullinix, 88, of Union Bridge and formerly of Gaithersburg, died Sept. 1, 2003, at Longview Nursing Home in Manchester after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Charles Norman Mullinix, her husband of 55 years. Born Sept. 9, 1914, in Clarksburg, she was a daughter of the late Charles Ira and Agnes Irene Butt Schwartzbeck. Mrs. Mullinix attended the Quince Orchard School that closed in 1930. She graduated in 1931 from Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville. She had worked for F.W. Woolworth Company in Rockville as a personnel manager for many years and then for the National Geographic Society in Gaithersburg until retirement. She was a member of Hunting Hill United Methodist Church, now the Fairhaven United Methodist Church, helping with church dinners and other activities. She also enjoyed going to area fairs and watching her family members show their cattle. She enjoyed flowers, gardening, wildlife and the Baltimore Orioles. She is survived by a first cousin, whom she raised, Joseph A. Schwartzbeck Jr. and his wife Nona; and two brothers, Roland Schwartzbeck and his wife Peggy, and Richard Schwartzbeck and his wife Rita, all of Florida. Mrs. Mullinix was preceded in death by an infant sister, paternal brother Joseph Schwartzbeck and brother Charles Montgomery Buss Schwartzbeck. Memorial services will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Olin L. Molesworth Funeral Home, 26401 Ridge Road in Damascus. The family will receive friends following services. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dairy Department of the Carroll County 4H & FFA Fair, 700 Agricultural Center, Westminster, MD 21157. Harrison L. Harriday Harrison Lee "Dusty" Harriday, 66, of Rockville died of cancer on Aug. 24, 2003, at his home. Born Oct. 2, 1936, in Sandy Spring, he was the son of the late Richard Harriday and the late Emily Swales-Harriday. Mr. Harriday worked for F.O. Day, Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery County Government, City of Rockville and the Rockville Housing Authority. He received an outstanding achievement award from the Rockville Housing Authority. Survivors include eight children, Rita Harriday of Rockville, Susan Chaney of Germantown, Darrell Harriday of Rockville, Emily Harriday of Rockville, Kevin Harriday of Rockville, Katherine Harriday of Silver Spring, Charles Harriday of Frederick and Sandra Toalston of Mitchville, Mo.; four sisters, Margaret Frazier of Rockville, Lillie M. Harriday of Rockville, Janie Phelps of Richmond, Va., and Viola Sellman of Poolesville; one brother, John R. Harriday of Rockville; two daughters-in-law, four brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law, one uncle, 19 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by one sister, Marie Bell, and one brother, Alexander Harriday. A funeral was held Aug. 28 at Mount Calvary Baptist Church. Burial was in Lincoln Park Cemetery. Arrangements were made by Snowden Funeral Home in Rockville. Barbara Leslie O'Neill Barbara Leslie (Hunt) O'Neill, 49, of Rockville died at home on Aug. 19, 2003, after living several years with a severe cardiovascular condition. She is survived by her husband of nearly 25 years, Ray; two daughters in college and high school, respectively, Allison and Erin; and her parents, Bernard and Betty Lou Hunt of Boonsboro. Mrs. O'Neill moved from New York to Bethesda at age 6. She graduated from Bethesda Elementary School, Leland Junior High and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in 1972 and received a bachelor of science degree in biology from George Washington University in 1976. She worked in the Washington, D.C., area since graduation in medical offices, researching retroviruses at Microbiological Associates in Bethesda, researching coronaviruses and salmonella at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, and most recently providing information technology support for Tech Systems Inc. of Glen Echo. She enjoyed being a mother and homemaker, ocean beaches, reading, cooking and water gardening. A memorial service will be held in December at Cedar Lane Unitarian Church in Bethesda. For more information, e-mail rayorayo@aol.com. Bernard W. Tassler Bernard W. "Barney" Tassler, 91, died Aug. 13, 2003, at Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring. He lived at Woodside Center nursing home in Silver Spring. Between 1940 and 1960, Mr. Tassler was managing editor of the American Federationist, the AFL-CIO's monthly magazine. Before he moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1940, he covered city hall for the Long Island Press. He was a writer and editor in the early 1960s for the U.S. Department of Labor. He worked for a radio station and the Journal-American in New York between 1964-1972 before returning to Washington, where he served as a part-time copy editor for the Baltimore Sun and worked for the International Medical News Group in Rockville. He and his late wife, Cecil Burchess Tassler, performed as Barney and Ceil at Washington area dance and music venues. Mr. Tassler is survived by two children, Susan T. Ginsberg of Silver Spring and Alan Tassler of Washington, D.C.; a sister, Adrienne T. Farrell of Washington; a brother, Benjamin Tassler of Las Vegas; and three grandchildren. In addition to his wife, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Myron Tassler and his son-in-law, Albert Ginsberg. A graveside service was held Aug. 24 at King David Memorial Gardens, Falls Church, Va. A memorial celebration will be held Nov. 2 at a time and place to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of choice. Lorena Betancourt Lorena Elizabeth Betancourt, 65, of Silver Spring died Aug. 25, 2003, at Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham after a brief bout with pneumonia. Mrs. Betancourt was the owner of Complete Tax & Accounting Service, a member of the Maryland Association of Accountants and an enrolled agent with the IRS. She was an active member of Jehovah's Witnesses. Born Jan. 25, 1938, in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Pansey Ruppert. She is survived by her husband, Victor Betancourt, her daughter, Carmen Robertson and husband Eric Robertson, granddaughters Elena and Dana Robertson, all of Frederick, and many cousins and friends. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Saturday at the Silver Spring Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 815 Milestone Drive, Silver Spring. Helen B. Young Helen Burse Snowden Young, 78, of Washington, N.C., formerly of Rockville, died Aug. 29, 2003, at Washington Hospital Center. Born Feb. 18, 1925, in North Carolina, she was the daughter of Mary Lee Smith and Daniel Burse. She was the wife of Silas Young. Mrs. Young was a teacher in the Montgomery County school system. In addition to her husband, she is survived by three children, Gina Harrell of Silver Spring, Rubina Jamison of Suitland and Sandra Manigault of Stafford, Va.; and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church, 814 Westmore Ave. in Rockville. Arrangements were made by Snowden Funeral Home in Rockville. *****Sept. 12, 2003***** Florence D. Rich Florence Davis Rich, 86, of Chevy Chase died Aug. 27, 2003, at Casey House in Rockville after a long illness. Born April 20, 1917, in Philadelphia, Pa., she was the wife of Seymour Rich for 64 years. Mrs. Rich grew up in Atlantic City. She graduated from high school in 1933, and moved to Washington, D.C. She modeled at Palia Royal Department Store, sat for portrait artists, posed in newspaper advertising for The Washington Gas Co., and appeared in The Washington Post in outdoor photo shoots at Rawlins Park. During World War II, Mrs. Rich was active in B'nai B'rith, where she organized and ran entertainment for disabled veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. From 1936 to 1994, Mrs. Rich worked with her husband as a hostess and helped run the family restaurant businesses throughout the Washington, D.C. region. Survivors, in addition to her husband, include a son, Ronald J. Rich of Gaithersburg; a daughter, Jacqueline Hausler and her husband Gene of Urbana; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Services were held at The Washington Hebrew Congregation, and burial is in the Judean Memorial Gardens, Rockville. Arrangements were handled by Edward Sagel Funeral Home, Rockville. James M. Spencer James Murray Spencer, 59, of Gaithersburg died of colon cancer Sept. 5, 2003 at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. Born October 26, 1943 in Lexington, Ky., he was a son of Mary Murray Spencer and the late Rev. Charles S. Spencer. He was the husband of Charlotte Spencer for 22 years. Mr. Spencer earned a bachelor of science degree from Clemson University in 1965. He was a computer analyst with the Fannie Mae Corporation. He was a scoutmaster for 25 years with the Boy Scouts of America and a youth leader at Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church. Survivors in addition to his wife and mother include one daughter, Mary C. Spencer of Gaithersburg and three brothers, J. Arthur Spencer of Annapolis, Md., Dr. Charles S. Spencer Jr. of Arlington, Va. and Daniel P. Spencer of Rockville. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m., Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, 610 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. Burial will be in Edisto Island Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Edisto Island, S.C. Memorial contributions may be made to GPC c/o the Murray Spencer Memorial Fund, 610 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877. Arrangements were made by DeVol Funeral Home, Gaithersburg. Dr. William C. Stamm Dr. William Carl Stamm, 61, of Montgomery Village died Sept. 3, 2003 of natural causes at Collingswood Nursing Home in Rockville. Born July 12, 1942 in Bronxville, N.Y., he was a son of the late Carl and Marian Stamm. Dr. Stamm earned a bachelor of science degree from Iona College and a master of science degree and a Ph.D. in physics from Catholic University. He worked at IBM and was a member of Mensa. Survivors include one son, Thomas Stamm of Louisville, Colo., and two brothers, Carl Stamm of Hendersonville, N.C. and Mark Stamm of Palatine, Ill. His marriage to Colleen Stamm ended in divorce. A mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Saturday, Sept.6 at St. Martin's Catholic Church, 200 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. Burial was in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring. Memorial donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, Texas 75265-0309. Arrangements were made by DeVol Funeral Home, Gaithersburg. Margaret A. Fetsko Margaret A. Fetsko, 66, of Deland, Fla., formerly of Rockville, Germantown and Gaithersburg, died of a heart attack on Aug. 26, 2003, at her home. Born June 23, 1937, in Madison, W.Va., she was a daughter of the late Raymond H. and Elsie Juanita Pauley Young. She was retired from the U.S. Department of Energy in Germantown. Mrs. Fetsko spent many years as an active member and officer of the Rockville Republican Women's Club and was an active Booster Club member and officer at Richard Montgomery High School. She was also an active member of New Beginnings, a social group for separated and divorced adults. Mrs. Fetsko recently relocated to Deland, where she was very active in the Florida Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and the Magnolia Circle of the Deland Garden Club. Survivors include a son, Michael Fetsko of Charlotte Hall, Md.; a daughter, Michele Liston of Ashburn, Va.; one brother, John Young of South Charleston, W.Va.; two sisters, Janice Todd of Mount Dora, Fla., and Jean Workman of Deltona, Fla.; and two grandchildren. She was divorced from Michael J. Fetsko of White Oak. Mrs. Fetsko was buried in Memory Gardens in Madison. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Care, 1143 Dunbar Ave., Dunbar, W.Va. 25064. Stevens Funeral Home in Madison handled arrangements. Barbara Brewster Bonner Barbara Brewster Bonner, 46, a 1974 graduate of Wootton High School in Rockville, died Aug. 1, 2003, at her home in Upton, Mass. The cause of her death has not been determined. Dr. Bonner was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and spent the first 10 years of her life abroad, returning to the United States at the age of 10. She was a graduate of Williams College, received a master's degree in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tufts University. In the last decade, Dr. Bonner became known worldwide for developing new protocols for treating endangered species of Asian turtles. She founded The Turtle Hospital of New England, and was part of the adjunct faculty of Tufts Veterinary School at Grafton, Mass. Survivors include her husband, Michael Penko of Upton, Mass.; her parents, Albert and Faye Hyson Bonner of Potomac; and three sisters. Robert L. John Jr. Robert Lee John Jr., 42, of Rockville died of cancer on Sept. 8, 2003, at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring. Born Oct. 20, 1960, he was a son of Robert Lee John Sr. and Mary Moore Goebel. He was the husband of Susan John for 22 years. Mr. John worked at Verizon for 24 years. In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by two sons, Robert L. John III of Rockville and Kevin J. John of Rockville; four sisters and one brother. A funeral will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Martin's Catholic Church, 201 S. Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Aspen Hill. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, Ga. 30368. Arrangements were made by DeVol Funeral Home in Gaithersburg. *****Sep. 19, 2003***** Marjorie S. Thomason Mrs. Marjorie Story Thomason, 77, of Chevy Chase died Sept. 14 at her home. Born April 17, 1926 in Asbury Park, N.J., she was the daughter of J. Howard and Helen Shepard Story. She was the wife of Robert A. Thomason for 57 years. Mrs. Thomason graduated from Asbury Park High School in 1944 and volunteered at Park School in Brooklandville, Md. She was an active volunteer in Head Start and Mental Health programs in Baltimore from 1956 to 1967 and co-founded Lambert's Cove Inn on the island of Martha's Vineyard. Survivors in addition to her husband include five children, James S. Thomason of Fairfax, Va., Diane M. Thomason of Chevy Chase, Anne Cavanagh of Bethesda, Peter A. Thomason and John S. Thomason of Ypsilanti, Mich.; one sister, Marcia Braman, of Baltimore; 15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. at Pumphrey's Bethesda-Chevy Chase Funeral Home, 7557 Wisconsin Ave., in Bethesda. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to Park School, 2425 Old Court Rd., Brooklandville, MD 21022. Arrangements were made by Pumphrey's Bethesda-Chevy Chase Funeral Home, Bethesda. Barbara Brewster Bonner Barbara Brewster Bonner, 46, a 1974 graduate of Wootton High School in Rockville, died Aug. 1, 2003, at her home in Upton, Mass. The cause of her death has not be determined. Dr. Bonner was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and spent the first 10 years of her life abroad, returning to the United States at the age of 10. She was a graduate of Williams College, received a master's degree in microbiology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tufts University. In the last decade, Dr. Bonner became known worldwide for developing new protocols for treating endangered species of Asian turtles. She founded The Turtle Hospital of New England, and was part of the adjunct faculty of Tufts Veterinary School at Grafton, Mass. Survivors include her husband, Michael Penko of Upton, Mass.; her parents, Albert and Faye Hyson Bonner of Potomac; and three sisters, Constance Davis of Westminster, Jocelyn Foote of Adamstown, and Suzanne Hoyt of Glastonsbury, Conn. Bruce J. Panagos Bruce J. Panagos, 44, died at his Potomac home Sept. 6 following a fall. He was the son of John and Mary Ann Panagos, also of Potomac. Mr. Panagos attended Our Lady of Mercy School and Bullis School, both in Potomac. After graduating high school, he attended Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. Following college, Mr. Panagos worked for three years in the advertising department at The Gazette, owned at the time by his father. He left to become the advertising director of The Sentinel newspapers in Montgomery County. After two years at The Sentinel, he became associate publisher of the Legal Times in Washington, D.C. After two years at the Legal Times, Mr. Panagos acquired Mid-Atlantic Restaurant Digest, a monthly trade tabloid for food service industry professionals in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and became its editor, publisher and owner. Mr. Panagos is survived by his wife, Donna, and two children, Matthew and Olivia. He is also survived by his parents, John and Mary Ann, and sisters Linda Madden and Diane Panagos Noone, both of Galveston, Texas, Kathy Armstrong of Germantown and Lisa Marie Panagos of Hollywood, Calif. Joseph Gawler's Sons in Washington, D.C. handled the arrangements. A mass of Christian burial was held Sept. 12 at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Potomac. Mr. Panagos is buried at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery in Rockville. Murray L. Andrews Murray Lewis Andrews, 90, of Venice, Fla., formerly of Damascus, died Sept. 12, 2003, in Venice, Fla. Born February 12, 1913, in Warfordsburg, Pa., he was the son of Samuel M. and Blanche Yonker Andrews. He was the husband of the late Dorothy Brooks Andrews who died in 1994. Mr. Andrews earned a bachelor of arts degree from Shepherd College in 1935 and graduated from Catholic University in 1950 with a Library certification. He earned a master of arts degree in 1960 from the University of Maryland. Mr. Andrews taught in Washington County, Md., for eight years, worked in the Library of Congress for six years and was a librarian in Montgomery County for 22 years. He retired Sept. 1, 1972. He was a 50-year Mason with the James W. Bowers Lodge No. 173 in Hancock, the Venice High Twelve Club, an honorary member of the Maryland Educational Media Organization, and a member of the National and Maryland State Library Organization. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Esther Lounge in the Village on the Isle, Venice, Fla. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 508 Riviera St., Venice, Fla. 34285. Arrangements were made by Ewing Funeral Home, Venice, Fla. Carmine F. Riccio Mr. Carmine F. "Bimbo" Riccio, 84, of Gaithersburg, formerly of the Bronx New York, died on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at the Beverly Health Care Center, Frederick. He was the husband of Evarista Riccio of the Bronx, New York. Born on Oct. 8, 1918 in New York City, he was the son of the late Gaetano and Caroline Riccio. Mr. Riccio was a butcher. Surviving in addition to his wife are daughter Monique Allia of Damascus, son Carmine F. Riccio Jr. of the Bronx, New York, stepsons Joseph Yordan of Arizona and Rafael Yordan of Texas; grandchildren Frank Allia III, Vincent Allia, Janice Riccio, Marcus Riccio, Jeremy Ferretti and Christine Ferretti; sister-in-law Ida Goldstein and one niece, Assunta Priore. A daughter, Desiree Ferretti, preceded Mr. Riccio in death. Interment will be held in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. Those desiring to attend should assemble at the cemetery administration building by 12:30 p.m. Arrangements by the Olin L. Molesworth P.A. Funeral Home, Damascus. Barbara A. Frost Barbara A. Frost, a longtime Maryland civic activist, Democratic party campaign worker, and community leader of Garrett Park, died Aug. 29, 2003, of cancer at Casey House Hospice in Rockville. She was 62. At the time of her death, Mrs. Frost was a member of the Maryland Property Tax Assessment Appeals Board, having recently been reappointed to a second five-year term. Throughout the late 1980s and much of the 1990s, Mrs. Frost held several leadership posts in the Maryland Municipal League, an organization composed of the state's cities, towns and townships. Mrs. Frost was a resident of Garrett Park, and served as a member of the Town Council for 14 years, starting in 1981. During that period, she was a leading figure in many aspects of town life, and her positions with the league allowed her to bring many issues of town concern to the attention of other municipal and state officials. She also devoted a large amount of time and effort over the years to the Volunteer Arts Council of Montgomery County, and received the "Angel of the Arts Award" from the Arts Council and the county executive in December 1998. A native of Alexandria, Va., Mrs. Frost was born on Nov. 20, 1940, as Barbara A. Hughes, and graduated from Alexandria's George Washington High School in 1959. After 10 years in research and office management with the Central Intelligence Agency, she met and married Robert M. Frost, the founder and president of the Clarksburg landscaping firm, Green Gardens, in March 1971 and moved to Garrett Park, living in the same house in which Mr. Frost grew up. He died in 1990. Mrs. Frost is survived by a daughter, Pamela Frost and her husband Vince Ruble of Alexandria, Va.; and one grandchild. Arrangements were handled by Pumphrey's Funeral Home in Bethesda. A memorial service will be held from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Garrett Park Town Hall, 10814 Kenilworth Ave. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Betsy White Emergency Loan Fund, c/o Town of Garrett Park, P.O. Box 84, Garrett Park, MD 20896. Mr. Richard G. Cover Sr. Mr. Richard G. Cover Sr., 70, a resident of Montgomery County for over 70 years, died Sunday, Sept. 7 at Asbury Methodist Home, Wilson Health Care Center, Gaithersburg. He had congestive heart failure. Born Feb. 22, 1930 in Washington, D.C., he was the son of the late Frank and Anna Cover. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Pauline Cover, Asbury Methodist Home; three daughters: Kathleen Compher and Gary, Frederick; Laura Smallwood and Gary, Haymarket, Va.; Kathryn Janiga and Tony, Eldersburg, Md.; three sons: Richard Cover Jr. and Amy, Gaithersburg; Lawrence Cover and Betsy Ehrlich, and Frederick; James Cover and Brenda, Haymarket; 12 grandchildren and one great- grandchild. Mr. Cover attended Gonzaga High School. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland. He worked for 30 years for the Department of the Interior, retiring as the chief of the concessions branch. He served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and the Air National Guard of the District of Columbia as an aircraft mechanic from 1950 to 1953. Viewing was held at the DeVol Funeral Home, 10 East Deer Park Drive, Gaithersburg, 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 11. Funeral mass at St. Mary's Church of Rockville, 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 12. Burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Aspen Hill. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Church of Rockville, Building Fund, 600 Viers Mill Road, Rockville, Md. Arrangements by DeVol Funeral Home of Gaithersburg. *****Sep. 26, 2003***** James Allen Harrell James Allen Harrell, 64, of Silver Spring died Sept. 6, 2003, in his home of pancreatic cancer. He had been a federal health and child welfare advocate in Washington D.C., for Health and Human Services and was the United Methodist chaplain at University of Maryland, College Park. More recently, he was a consultant for the Center for Study of Social Policy and actively involved as a leader in the Church of the Epiphany (Anglican/Episcopal). Mr. Harrell is survived by his wife, Marion C. Harrell, and two children, Samuel and Molly. Previous marriages to Sharon A. Harrell and Sarah K. Madden ended in divorce. He is also survived by his mother, Frances A. Harrell; two brothers, Dr. Henry L. Harrell Jr. and Dr. Frank W. Harrell; three sisters, Elaine McConnaughhay, Martha Chumbler and Susan H. Robinson; and extended family and friends. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Friday at the Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW, Washington, D.C.. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Harrell's name may be made to the Church of the Epiphany's Welcome Table Program, which provides breakfast and counseling to the homeless and working poor in downtown Washington, or to Children's Defense Fund at www.childrensdefense.org. Florence D. Rich Florence Davis Rich, 86, of Chevy Chase died Aug. 27, 2003, at Casey House in Rockville after a long illness. Born April 20, 1917, in Philadelphia, Pa., she was the wife of Seymour Rich for 64 years. Mrs. Rich grew up in Atlantic City. She graduated from high school in 1933, and moved to Washington, D.C. She modeled at Palia Royal Department Store, sat for portrait artists, posed in newspaper advertising for The Washington Gas Co., and appeared in The Washington Post in outdoor photo shoots at Rawlins Park. During World War II, Mrs. Rich was active in B'nai B'rith, where she organized and ran entertainment for disabled veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital. From 1936 to 1994, Mrs. Rich worked with her husband as a hostess and helped run the family restaurant businesses throughout the Washington, D.C. region. Survivors, in addition to her husband, include a son, Ronald J. Rich of Gaithersburg; a daughter, Jacqueline Hausler and her husband Gene of Urbana; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Services were held at The Washington Hebrew Congregation, and burial is in the Judean Memorial Gardens, Rockville. Arrangements were handled by Edward Sagel Funeral Home, Rockville. Marjorie S. Thomason Marjorie Story Thomason, 77, of Chevy Chase died Sept. 14, 2003, at her home. Born April 17, 1926, in Asbury Park, N.J., she was the daughter of J. Howard and Helen Shepard Story. She was the wife of Robert A. Thomason for 57 years. Mrs. Thomason graduated from Asbury Park High School in 1944 and volunteered at Park School in Brooklandville, Md. She was an active volunteer in Head Start and Mental Health programs in Baltimore from 1956 to 1967 and co-founded Lambert's Cove Inn on the island of Martha's Vineyard. In addition to her husband, she is survived by five children, James S. Thomason of Fairfax, Diane M. Thomason of Chevy Chase, Anne Cavanagh of Bethesda, and Peter A. Thomason and John S. Thomason of Ypsilanti, Mich.; one sister, Marcia Braman, of Baltimore; 15 grandchildren; and three great- grandchildren. Pumphrey's Bethesda-Chevy Chase Funeral Home handled the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Park School, 2425 Old Court Road, Brooklandville, MD 21022. Geri N. Gwyn Mrs. Geri Newcomb Gwyn, 67, of Gaithersburg died of liver disease on Wednesday, Sept.17, at Georgetown University Hospital. Born September 30, 1935 in New York, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Thomas G. Newcomb and Alma F. Merte. She was the wife of Keith M. Gwyn for 42 years. Mrs. Gwyn was an active member of First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg for 26 years. Survivors in addition to her husband include four children, Cheryl Ryan of Mt. Airy, Lisa Paar of Mt. Airy, David Gwyn of Potomac, and Kristi Lightsey of Damascus, and ten grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg, 200 W. Diamond Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. 20877. Burial will be private. Memorial contributions may be made "In memory of Geri Gwyn" to First Baptist Church of Gaithersburg. Arrangements were made by DeVol Funeral Home, Gaithersburg. Paul M. Utterback Mr. Paul Miles Utterback, 56, of Montgomery Village died Sept. 14, in Ocean City, Md. Born November 25, 1946 in Ohio, he was the son of the late Rufus H. and Margie Marlow Utterback. He was the husband of Teresa Utterback for 29 years. Mr. Utterback was a Viet Nam War veteran. He held a bachelor's degree in engineering and was a cabinetmaker. He was a member of Epworth United Methodist Church, the Boy Scouts Business Networking Inc. and Team in Training. Survivors in addition to his wife include two sons, Joshua Utterback of Ashburn, Va. and Phillip Utterback of Montgomery Village, two sisters, Margene Whitterberg of Columbus, Ohio and Kris Utterback of Laramie, Wyo., and one grandchild. A memorial service was held last week at Epworth United Methodist Church. Memorial donations may be made to Hearts & Hand, Inc., c/o Epworth United Methodist Church, 9008 Rosemont Ave., Gaithersburg, Md. 20877 or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of the National Capitol Area, 5845 Richmond Highway, #630, Alexandria, Va. 22303. Arrangements were made by DeVol Funeral Home, Gaithersburg. Howard W. Marrow Jr. Howard William Marrow Jr., 82, of Germantown, died Sept. 15, 2003, at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville. Born Oct. 15, 1920, in Maryland, he was a son of the late Howard William and Lillian King Marrow. He was the husband of Ellen Fletcher Marrow. Mr. Marrow was a graduate of Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 until 1945. He received the Presidential Unit Citation to Anti-Submarine Task Group Twenty-Two Point Three for his duty on the U.S.S. Flaherty. Mr. Marrow was a brick mason. He had attended the Baptist Church. He liked to garden, crochet, travel and baby-sit. He also liked to attend his ship reunions. He was a Redskins fan. Besides his wife he is survived by three sisters: Muriel Adams of Hyattsville, Marguerite Thompson of Olney and Beverly M. McKay of Montgomery Village. He was predeceased by three brothers: James, Eugene and Harry Marrow. Funeral services were held Thursday at the Muriel H. Barber Funeral Home in Laytonsville. Burial was at Forest Oak Cemetery in Gaithersburg. Contributions may be made to a charity of choice. Fay G. Blue Fay Grace Blue, 69, of Derwood died Sept. 20, 2003, at her home. Born Jan. 27, 1934, in Brooklyn, N.Y., she was a daughter of the late Mohammed Mustafa and Dina Guerra. She was the wife of James C. Blue for 48 years. In addition to her husband, she is survived by five children, James J. Blue, Robert K. Blue and wife Chrys, Janice Hanson Blue and Laura D. Blue; one sister, Lilian Napolitano of Passaic, N.J.; and six grandchildren. A funeral service will be held this morning at 10:30 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 6701 Muncaster Mill Road in Derwood. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Aspen Hill. Arrangements were made by DeVol Funeral Home in Gaithersburg. Catharine Cook Davies Catharine Cook Davies, 101, died Sept. 11, 2003. She was born of the late Dr. George Earle Cook and Mary Constantia Abert Cook on Feb. 8, 1902, on the second floor of a wood frame house in Montgomery County. She was a direct descendant of Benjamin Franklin through her mother's ancestry. Her home growing up was a 123-acre farm affectionately known as "Pig Park" (Bonnie Brae). Kitty, as she preferred to be called, had four sisters and two brothers. Horse-drawn carriages were the usual mode of transportation when she was a child. In 1905 her father brought home a Stanley Steamer automobile, introducing the mechanical age to the growing family. Mrs. Davies grew up and went to school in Sandy Spring. During that time she saw Prohibition come and go, the sinking of the Titanic, women's suffrage, the Great War of 1914-1918, the stock market crash of 1929 and World War II. After college she worked as an elementary school teacher in grades one through three. She married Gardiner Roger Harvey in Nutley, N.J., in 1932. Living in Morristown, N.J., during the Depression era, she made perfume and facial cream to sell. Sales were primarily by word of mouth. Just before World War II she moved to Falls Church, Va., with her husband and 1-year-old son. Her husband died and she was a widow for a number of years, eventually marrying Col. John M. Davies. They shared 15 years together. Her intellectual heart remained with flowers, which she started growing when she was a child. Though she began with petunias, in later years she took to roses, growing 85 plants in front of her home. By then African violets had taken over the inside of her home as well, so she was never without the beauty of flowers. Mrs. Davies is survived by her son, G. Roger Harvey, and his wife Mandy Harvey of Concord, N.C.; two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter; and a sister, Ellen Blair Kinley of Philadelphia. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle, N.C., was in charge of arrangements. Dixie D. Sullivan Dixie Dee (Granzow) Sullivan, 81, of Monrovia, formerly of Rockville, died Sept. 20, 2003, at Glade Valley Nursing Center in Walkersville. Born Feb. 17, 1922, in Missouri, she was a daughter of the late Frank W. and Mary Elizabeth Cook Lendhardt. Mrs. Sullivan served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. She lived in Rockville for almost 30 years and worked as office manager for Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville. She moved to Lake of the Woods, Va., after retirement. Survivors include three children, John Fuggiano and wife Vicky of New Bern, N.C., Marie Bamford and husband Dick of Alexandria, Va., and Bob Burke and wife Kathy of Monrovia; and six grandchildren and one great-grandson. A funeral service was held Sept. 23 at Wesley Grove United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg. The Rev. Nina G. Hacker officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wesley Grove United Methodist Church, 23640 Woodfield Road, Gaithersburg, Md. 20882. Arrangements were made by Olin L. Molesworth Funeral Home in Damascus. Thomas J. Westerheide Thomas J. Westerheide, 53, of Potomac died Sept. 19, 2003. Born Feb. 20, 1950, in Detroit, Mich., he was a son of Francis X. and Caryl Westerheide. Mr. Westerheide graduated from Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., in 1968 and from Marquette University in 1972. He continued with his graduate studies at Marquette in 1973 and 1974. Mr. Westerheide worked as a manager at Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Company, Milwaukee, Wisc. He was president and chief operating officer of General Electric Mortgage Securities Corporation in Raleigh, N.C., and senior vice president of First Nationwide Mortgage Corporation and California Federal Bank in Frederick, Md. He was recently employed as senior vice president of CitiMortgage in Frederick, Md. In addition to his wife, Linda "Brookie" Beatty Westerheide of Potomac, he is survived by his father, Francis X. Westerheide of Michigan; one sister, Sally A. Westerheide of Michigan; two brothers, Richard J. Westerheide and his wife Suzanne of Ohio, and John Westerheide of Michigan; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his mother, Caryl Westerheide, and a sister, Mary E. Westerheide. Arrangements were made by Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors, Clawson, Mich. Memorial donations may be made to Magis: The Campaign for Marquette, 707 Building 111, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, Wisc. 53201-1881.