Gwynn Simone - Obituary

wynn Elayne Simone, 81, a 25-year resident of Edgewater and previously of Capitol Heights, died August 26 at her home after a 3-year battle with ALS. She was born March 11, 1930 in San Angelo, TX to the late Cecil and Christine Broyles Hibbert. Gwynn was a licensed cosmetologist and worked as a hairdresser at the former Woodward and Lothrop and Hecht Company in Washington, DC. As her family grew, Gwynn stopped working outside the home to devote herself full-time to her husband and children, but continued to serve a steady clientele in her basement salon. She was a member of the Annapolis Church of Christ in Arnold and exercised her deep faith and commitment to serving God through her generosity and other expressions of love. Gwynn was a travel enthusiast and enjoyed visiting other countries including Canada, Germany and Italy. At 16, on a bus trip from Texas to California, she met a sailor who had missed his scheduled bus. Their conversation led to a romance and on June 22, 1947, Gwynn married Ralph M. Simone. For the rest of her life, Gwynn was confident of God’s role in Ralph missing his bus. She also enjoyed quilting; flower arranging; hosting family, friends and acquaintances in her home, especially Naval Academy Midshipmen; and she was a faithful Navy football season ticket holder. Most of all, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren to whom she credited her youthful spirit. She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph, who died in 1994 and a sister, Virginia Lee Hayes. She is survived by two sons, James R. Simone of Waldorf and Steven M. Simone of Edgewater; two daughters, N. Elayne Murray of Edgewater and Susan C. Madden of Harwood; 10 grandchildren, Billy Madden, Sara Inman, Jessica Smith, Melissa Johnson, Michele Murray, Kimberly Farland, and Jason, Michael, Kevin and Ashley Simone. Also survived by 16 great-grandchildren. Friends are invited to Gwynn’s Life Celebration on Wednesday, August 31 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 1 at 10:00 a.m. at Annapolis Church of Christ, 1601 Ritchie Highway, Arnold. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gunsight Cemetery Association, 804 East Dyer Street, Breckenridge, TX 76424. An online guestbook is available for your convenience by accessin the link in the left column.