Alan Avery - Obituary

lan Joseph Avery, 73, a 20-year resident of Riva, MD and formerly of New Carrollton, MD, died on September 18, 2009 at his residence after a 4-year battle with esophageal cancer. He was born on February 22, 1936 in South Bend, IN to the late Joseph and Roxie Avery, and graduated in 1954 from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, VA. While in high school Alan was president of the choir and a member of the Madrigal singing group. From 1957 to 1959 Alan was a Specialist 4th Class in the U.S. Army and was stationed for a time in Germany. He was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and qualified as a rifle sharpshooter. In 1962 Alan graduated from George Washington University with a B.S. degree. He worked from 1962 to 1964 with the Peace Corps in Washington, DC as a Personnel Officer. From 1964 until his retirement in 1993 he worked at NSA as a Personnel Analyst. After retirement, he began kayaking. With a vision for more launching sites in Anne Arundel County, he led the Chesapeake Paddlers Association, which he joined in 1994, in supporting development of the new site at Homeport Farms. He was a member and active volunteer of the South County Senior Center Advisory Council, member of the Westover Baptist Church and volunteer for the Phoenix Society. He enjoyed ballroom dancing with his wife and participated in exercise and computer classes at the Senior Center. Alan is survived by his wife of 50 years, Shirley Avery, whom he married on August 15, 1959; one son, Steven Avery of Glen Burnie, MD; one daughter, Sharon Darden of Arnold, MD; a brother, Ivan Avery of Cherry Hill, NJ; and two grandsons, Mitchell and Matthew Darden. Friends are invited to a memorial service for Alan on Friday, October 16, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. at the South County Senior Center, 27 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater, MD. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401 or the American Cancer Society, 1041 Route 3 N Bldg. A, Gambrills, MD 21401. Arrangements by the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, Edgewater, MD. Please sign online guest book at the above link.