Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

On Saturday, April 24, 2021; the beloved mother of Maria M. Saporteza. Relatives and friends are invited to Leonides' Life Celebration on Sunday, May 2 from 1 to 4 and 5 to 8 pm at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Monday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Columba Catholic Church,  7800 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745. Interment immediately following the mass at St. Mary's Church of Piscataway Cemetery, 13401 Piscataway Rd., Clinton, MD.

Robert Thomas “Bobby” Merkert, 62, a longtime resident of Severna Park, MD died of sepsis on Saturday, April 24 at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. Born on December 31, 1958 in New Haven, CT to the late Eugene Hayes and Patricia Tighe Merkert, Bobby was a graduate of The University of Maryland, Robert Smith School of Business. His professional career included Vice President, Public Sector  Pure Storage, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Jeskell Systems and Vice President, IBM Systems, Federal. Bobby was a member of Mariners Church, Forked Creek Yacht Club, and a two-time Chartwell Golf and Country Club Champion. Bobby’s wife, his children, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and extended family were the joy of his life. His legacy of kindness, his lighthearted smile, passion for golf, love for the Lord, and his zest for life will always be a part of them. He was an inspiration to so many who knew him and his unassailable spirit encouraged so many to reach for their greatest potential. Bobby is survived by his wife of 37 years, Kathleen Boyd Merkert; his sons, Robert T. Merkert, Jr., Keegan P. Merkert and Andrew T. Merkert; his daughter-in-law Claire V. Merkert, and granddaughter Lila A. Merkert ; his siblings, Maureen Lalley, her husband John, E. Hayes Merkert, his wife Molly, J. Tighe Merkert, his wife Irene, Megan Hoffman, her husband Bob, Patricia Bell, her husband Brad, Tom Merkert, and his wife Stephanie; his in-laws Jack and Cecil Boyd, John and Diana Boyd, Lisa and John McGovern, and Christopher and Beth Boyd, as well as many nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to celebrate Bobby’s life at the Chartwell Golf and Country Club, 1 Chartwell Dr., Severna Park, MD on Saturday, May 22 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Best Day Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Chapter, 567 Auto Center Dr., Watsonville, CA 95076 or online by clicking <a href="https://bestdayfoundation.org/donate/">HERE</a>. Please take a moment and leave a condolence for the family by using the tab on this page.

Shirley was Born in Berwyn Heights Maryland on July 9, 1930 to late Robert Ailes and Alice Lawson. Shirley departed this earthly life onto eternal rest on Friday April 23, 2021, peacefully at INOVA Hospital. 

Shirley married her longtime friend and love, Clarence Junior Dewhirst, on December 3rd 1949 who preceded her in death in December 26, 1974. Shirley was a dedicated mother first and foremost. She treasured her children, and grandchildren, she embraced every moment with them. She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh. She was always involved in her local community and made friends everywhere she went.

Shirley was a member of the Eastern Star Mason in the late 70s, She retired as a school bus driver from Prince Georges County Public Schools. She was active with the Berwyn Heights Senior Center; and was one of the star players on their Wii Bowling league. Shirley volunteered at the Berwyn Heights Presbyterian Church Food Pantry. She spent her summers at Solomon’s Island, with family and friends. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She doted on her family and was happiest when her large brood surrounded her.

Shirley is proceeded in death by her Husband Clarence Junior Dewhirst, and her Son Charles Edgar Dewhirst. Two Sisters, Patricia, and Jean two sister in laws, Janice and Lavern. Shirley is survived by seven children, Patricia Ellen Raum husband John Edward Raum Sr. William Allen Dewhirst, wife Linda Dewhirst, Clarence Robert Dewhirst, Ruth Francis Belsar, Frank David Dewhirst, Roger Glen Dewhirst wife Connie Dewhirst and Kathy Lindsay Nukols huband Bernard.

MARGARET SUSAN EMERY was born on January 4, 1927 in Englewood, New Jersey to Charles E. Emery and Dorothy Gardner Jaynes (Emery). She had one older sister, Dorothy Jaynes Emery. “Peggy Sue,” or “P.S.”, as she was known to most everyone for much of her life, spent most of her childhood in Towson, Maryland and lettered in a number of sports at Towson High School—badminton and basketball being two of them. When the United States entered the war in 1941, her family moved to Quantico where her father, Charles E. Emery re-entered active duty as a Lt. Col. in the Marine Corps as commander of a service battalion. This is where she met Ronald Lee Glendinning, who had graduated from the Naval Academy in 1945 and entered the Marine Corps as a First Lieutenant. They were married at the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis in 1946 and—after the birth of Puddy (1948) and Charlie (1949) at Camp Pendleton, California—the family found themselves back across the country in military housing in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where Ronnie trained in combat at Camp Lejeune and soon shipped off to Korea. (SIDEBAR: This is as good a time as any to remind people—as P.S. always did—that it’s pronounced “luh ZHERN”, not “luh JOON.” Please . . . make her happy . . . say it right.

The end of one war and the beginning of another, was a time of transition. Peggy Sue’s parents bought a small house in downtown Annapolis that served as a kind of “home base” for the rather rigorous planting and transplanting that the military finds necessary for enlisted families. Her father, Charles Emery, had recently founded Emery Advertising in Baltimore and was always glad when the growing family showed up on his doorstep. One such time was for Charlie’s baptism in 1950 just before Ronnie left for Korea. During the time he was away, the family was officially in Jacksonville, but were always glad NOT to be there, preferring, rather, to be in Annapolis with “Gangie” and “Dordo.”

When Ronnie returned from Korea, the Marine Corps moved the family to Portland, Maine where Ronnie’s duties found him at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. Why the family chose to live in Portland (which is 50 miles north) is a complete mystery. One could imagine a desperate scenario: What if someone needed to go to the hospital in Kittery, let’s say for a pregnancy? And what if on the way—while one’s poor wife was in the throes of active labor—one had a flat tire? And what if, while changing that tire, one had to tell one’s wife she had to hitchhike (since who in their right mind would pass by a visibly pregnant woman in pain on the side of the road while her husband banged away with a wrench on a stubborn lugnut?) The answer: no one. P.S. stuck out her thumb and the very next car picked her up and got her to the hospital in the nick of time to welcome Rob (1952) into the world.

During this time in Portland (which really only lasted a little more than a year) it is hard to believe that the family actually lived in three houses: One on Maine Avenue for a short while as they looked for a more “permanent” house on State Street. Then, a third, that Ronnie built (in his spare time) just before the Corps shipped the family back out to Camp Pendleton. The house was in Barstow, California—a cinder block bunker in the middle of the Mojave desert. They had traded the five-foot snow drifts of Maine for blistering sand storms and melting tar dripping off the roof. It was here in Barstow that the family realized that much of their life in the Marine Corps was living out of boxes. This may have been the moment of epiphany when Ronnie and P.S. had “the discussion” about whether or not it’s an excellent idea to try to raise a growing family while remaining an active-duty Marine. Whomever was on which side in that discussion, is lost to the ages. The outcome was that Ronnie decided to leave active duty and take a job as an electrical engineer at Westinghouse in Baltimore. The fact that may have tipped the scales, however, was that P.S. was pregnant with Dolphy (1954). In any case, to celebrate, they decided to camp from Barstow to Annapolis in a leaky and heavily-oiled green umbrella tent.

With the family getting ever larger, and the small house in Annapolis remaining the same size, they needed a bigger house, so in the Spring of 1955, two grandparents, a mother, a father, four children, a dog and an upright Steinway piano moved into a house in Wardour, an area just north of Annapolis on the Severn River. When P.S.’s father, Charles Emery, died in 1957, her mother went to live with her sister, Margaret Reed, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Ronnie and P.S. and four children moved to West Annapolis where Katherine was born (1960). In 1962, Ronnie went to work for NASA at Cape Canaveral and the family followed a year later, moving into a house in Rockledge, Florida on the Indian River. Almost weekly, they watched the rockets take off—first in brilliant silence, but then finishing in a distant low rumble. Sadly it was here that the “differences” between Ronnie and P.S. proved “irreconcilable” and they separated, the family moving back to West Annapolis after just one year.

In 1975, P.S. met and married Philip Fanshawe Clapp and they built a house in Edgewater where they lived for most of the “growing up time” of her 11 grandchildren who decided her new name would be “Mimi.” When Phil died in 1997 she moved into a condo in Edgewater and loved the commotion of holidays as her 11 grandchildren added 17 great-grandchildren to the commotion. 

Mimi loved camping, dabbled as a painter, a potter, a poet, a cook. She gardened like a boss, was a seamstress, a knitter and raised wonderful children. She was a strong believer in Jesus Christ and prayed diligently for her children. She loved holidays and suffered (with joy) to make them magic for everyone. She never did things by half-measures. She was a member of the D.A.R. and The Mayflower Society. She sat with family members (under the guidance and astounding brilliance of the Internet) and traced her lineage through the Livingstons all the way back to Robert the Bruce. Refusing to stop there, she found that her ancestors went all the way back to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, where the Livingstons (then known as “deLeving,” revealing their Hungarian origin) accompanied Queen Margaret in her journey north to the Netherlands. But a storm had other plans and swept the ship to Scotland. Mimi’s love for Scotland was long-standing. She bought Charlie his first bagpipe, Rob his first drum, and sewed kilts for Puddy, Dolphy and Katherine. The inspiration behind the Annapolis Pipe Band happened when she stood up at a PTA meeting and suggested it. She also brought in Sandy Jones, Pipe Major of the Air Force Pipe Band, to ensure the band didn’t embarrass itself when it decided their first-ever competition would be the World Championships at Cowal in Dunoon, Scotland. On that trip in 1969, the entourage numbered eight on an overnight flight to Prestwick. Not having slept a wink on the plane, they landed in the morning, Mimi rented a van and drove the entire group (on the wrong side of the road) across Scotland to Callander. They arrived at their hotel at 8:00 pm. (Note to anyone: Never do this.)

It was, with a sweet sadness, in the early morning of April 21, 2021, at age 94, Mimi slipped the surly bonds of earth in her own bed. The fact that she could BE in her own bed was due in large part to her caregivers, Darren Baze, Lisa Park and Marta Azorsa. Their care of Mimi over the past several years was a true Godsend! God bless you, Mimi! You have blessed so many beyond measure!

All arrangements for Margaret are private. In lieu of flowers please send a donation to "Martha's Table" by clicking the link <a href="https://marthastable.networkforgood.com/projects/95536-martha-s-table-martha-s-table-expanded-programs-covid-19?utm_source=website&utm_medium=menu&utm_campaign=donatenowbutton">HERE</a>

Online condolences and tributes may be made by using the link on this page.  

Thurmon Benjamin Jones III, age 57, passed away peacefully on April 21st, 2021 surrounded by love and family. His trying battle with cancer magnified the extent of his determined nature in life. He was born January 19, 1964, in Washington, D.C., to Nadine Greene-Pini and Thurman B. Jones Jr. He eloped and married his longtime friend and love, Oluseyi Alegbeleye-Jones who in met in November of 1998. 

Thurmon was a mentor to many, a jack of all trades, and a master of none. His hobbies and interest were boundless from cooking to landscaping, and certainly everything in between. He loved technology, gadgets, music, cars, and mechanics. By far, home improvement and grilling were his favorite. Thurmon was a fixer-upper and always devised a solution to every problem. 

For many years Thurmon worked as an entrepreneur which matched his drive to obtain knowledge and skills. He gave back to the world and his community by helping, guiding, and conversing with others. If someone needed help, Thurmon was the one to lend a hand or a tool. Every act of kindness delighted his heart as he never ceased to offer aid, even to strangers. 

His life was a living example of Ephesians 4:32: “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Thurmon is survived by his loving parents, Nadine Greene-Pini and Thurman B. Jones Jr.; sisters, Heidi (John) and Cheronda (Dwayne); wife, Seyi; children, Thurmon IV (La’Trisha), Tiffany (Jason), Naomi, and Thurmon V; grandchildren, Leila, Ta’Niya, Isaiah, Joshua, Benjamin, Gianna, and Zuri; plus, his many nieces and nephews; Christopher, Jade, John, Jordyn, Dwayne. All of these he loved and touched deeply. 

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Thurmon's life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD on Wednesday, April 28 from 11 am until his funeral service begins at 12 pm.  Interment will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Thurmon’s GoFundMe for medical expenses by visiting the link <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-for-thurmon-in-this-very-difficult-times?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer">HERE</a>

Please take a moment to sign his online guestbook.

Kathleen Alice “Kathy” Giuffreda, 65 a 17-year resident of Wesley Chapel, FL and previously of the Edgewater/Davidsonville area in Maryland, passed away suddenly on April 21, 2021 following an automobile accident.  Born on May 8, 1955 in Annapolis, MD to the late Wheatley and Constance Ward, Kathy graduated from high school and went on to train for a career as a dental assistant.  She was a jokester and enjoyed reading, good music and spending time in Ocean City, MD.  

Kathy is survived by her loving husband of 25 years, Joe Giuffreda; her son, Robbie (Mary Beth) Hall of Pasadena, MD; her daughter, Tammy (Ron) Smith also of Pasadena; one brother, Edward (Kathleen) Ward of Edgewater; two sisters, Virginia (Harry) Gessford of Edgewater and Peggy Chappell of Florida; and five grandchildren: Julianna, Dalton and Lainey Hall and Mathew and Brenden Smith.  

Friends are invited to celebrate Kathy’s life with her family from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, May 3 at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater where Kathy’s funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 4.  Burial will follow at Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville.


Barbara “Bubba” Ann Boyer, 79, passed away April 20, 2021 in Centreville, MD. Barbara is survived by her daughter, Heidi Hiltabidle, son in law Walter Hiltabidle, grandchildren Jack and Greer. She is also survived by her sister Kathleen Riggsbee, niece Mary Ann Sullivan , great niece Teagan Ann Sullivan of Centreville, MD and brother Judd Kendall of Deltona, FL.

Barbara worked for years as a manicurist for several salons in Annapolis and loved her clients. She enjoyed knitting, being tan, baking, sewing, ice cream and shopping (like her daughter and granddaughter!) She was a wonderful grandmother to Jack and Greer.

Barbara loved the water and her ashes will be spread in Queenstown at a later date.

Please take a moment and leave a condolence for the family by using the tab on this page.

Cosette Laslo, nicknamed Cozy or Net over the years, passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Maryland at the age of 94 with her three daughters present at her side.

She was predeceased by three brothers and one sister.

Cosette was born March 13, 1927 to Ethan and Mable Sapp on their farm and raised there in Stark, Florida.
After graduation, Cosette obtained a position as a switch board operator with “Ma Bell” and moved to Jacksonville with that company.  She later transferred to Washington DC, where she met the love of her life, William Laslo and settled in Forestville, Maryland where she gave birth to and raised four children, Steven, Tina, Michele and Cyndi.

Cosette later worked for Burlington Coat Factory until she was 84, enjoying meeting and helping people each day.  She moved to Annapolis in 2002, and was cared for by her daughter Michele for her remaining years.
Cosette loved the sun, beach, sunrises, sunsets, plants and flowers, fireworks in Ocean City, pastries in Puerto Rico with her son and daughter in law, ballroom dancing and was an avid reader.  Mostly she loved, and lived for, her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, attending every possible function, birthdays, graduations, etc.  Cosette was thoughtful of her appearance and her wardrobe was classic.
Cosette’s excellent memory allowed her to enjoy sharing detailed stories of experiences and amusements, that spanned several decades, with friends and family.  She still controlled her own finances and paid her own bills.

Cosette is survived by her son, Steven Laslo, three daughters, Tina Fullerton, Michele Hardman and Cyndi Hargrove, grandson Kyle Laslo, granddaughters Chelsea Fullerton and Cierra Hargrove, as well as great grandchildren, Liam Laslo and Lorelei Laslo.

A celebration of life with friends and family will be announced at a later date.

Condolences may be made by using the Memory Wall tab on this page.

Edward L. Schwenk, “Ed”, 76, a resident of Solomons, MD and previously of Calabash, NC passed away on Monday, April 19, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Ed was born on December 26, 1944 in Washington, DC to the late Raymond and Eva Schwenk. During his youth, he was a life-guard, played Varsity Baseball and Football and became a Gold-Glove Boxer. He was a Class of 1963 graduate of Suitland High in Maryland. Sadly, during his junior year, his father passed away and Ed was left to take care of his mother. Shortly after graduating high school, he chose to serve his country proudly in the US Navy so that he could help provide for his mother. During his 8-year service, he flew in multiple missions over Vietnam and was stationed at Naval Air Stations in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Corpus Christi, Texas and Patuxent River, Maryland. Upon completion of his service, he went to work for the Federal Government for over 38 years. He last worked at Fort Meade and retired as a Supervisor for the Environmental Protection Agency.

Ed was an avid golfer and loved watching his beloved Notre Dame football and Washington Redskins. In 1983, he even cheered the Redskins on to victory at the Rose Bowl in Super Bowl XVII. For 0ver 20 years, he was known throughout PG County for coaching woman’s basketball and softball. And at one time, Ed had a brief stint as the JV Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Maryland, College Park. He loved spending time with his family and enjoyed countless hours playing cards, chicken foot, Parcheesi and miniature golf.

Ed is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Ro Schwenk, three sons; Edward Schwenk II of Buckeye, AZ, Jeff Schwenk of York, PA and Ryan Schwenk of Solomons, MD. He leaves behind two daughter-in-laws; Elisa Schwenk and Ashley Schwenk. He is also survived by his seven amazing grandchildren; Paige, Nickolas,
Matthew, Caleb, Taylor, Joshua and Mekyla and 4 great-grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Ed's life on Sunday, April 25, 2021 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037. Inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Please take a moment and leave a condolence for the family by using the tab on this page.

Richard Anthony LaForte, age 63, a five year resident of Port Deposit, MD and formerly of Fort Washington, MD  passed away at his residence on Monday, April 19, 2021 from Coronary Artery Disease.  

Richard was born November 4, 1957 in Perth Amboy, NJ to Michael and Geraldine LaForte. After graduating High School he enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He served his country as an Aircraft Firefighting and Rescue Specialist for seven years including a tour in Japan and a tour in Turkey. He achieved the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. He was honorably discharged in July of 1983. He started a career with the Prince George’s County Fire Department in 1984 as a Fire Technician. He retired after 18 years of service in 2002. His nickname around the Fire Department was “Fred Flintstone”. 

Richard was a former Grand Knight and Deputy Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council #5317. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, playing golf, dominating the world while playing Risk, spending time with his family, playing cards (poker & spades) and drinking Coors Light.  
He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his five children, John L. LaForte of Nottingham, PA, Michael E. LaForte of Ashburn, VA, Richard S. LaForte of Manassas, VA, Kathleen E. Maresch of Waldorf, MD and Michelle F. LaForte of Manassas, VA; his brother, Michael K. LaForte of Bethel, ME ; his grandchildren, Sean M. LaForte of Ashburn, VA  and Guinevere E. Maresch of Waldorf, MD; his former wives, Virginia Stidoms and Suzanne LaForte and many other relatives and friends. 

Relatives and friends are invited to Richard’s Life Celebration on Friday, May 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745. A graveside service with military honors will be held on Saturday, May 8th at 12 noon at Highview Memorial Gardens, 
3433 Fallston Rd., Fallston, MD 21047.  Memorial Contributions may be made to the Semper Fi Fund, seperfifund.org	


Daniel L. Gray, "Danny", 76, a 28-year resident of Glen Burnie and previously of Edgewater, MD, died on April 16, 2021 at the Mandrin Inpatient Care Center in Harwood, MD from heart failure following a long illness. Born October 20, 1944, in Washington, DC to the late Elise May (Halley) Gray Nacke and George Dale Gray, he worked at Silver Hill Sand & Gravel from 1969 to 1999 and Safeway from 1994 to 2012. Danny served his country in the U.S. Navy from October 31, 1961, to February 18, 1966, on board the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42). He was a longtime member of American Legion Post 248 in Temple Hills and Post 226 in Mayo. Danny enjoyed doing word searches, playing Wii, and swimming with his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Barbara Gray; five children, Daniel Gray of Seattle, WA, Amanda Ryan of Pasadena, MD, Dianne Gray of Florida, Vickie Hood of Pennsylvania, and Anita Hohman also of Pennsylvania; two sisters, Eleanora Musgrove of Frankfurt, DE and Cecelia Rinehart of Mayo, MD; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Danny's life on Saturday, May 15, at 1 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where Danny was a longtime member, 409 5th Ave SE, Glen Burnie, MD. Interment private. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 90 Ritchie Hwy., Pasadena, MD 21122. Please leave a condolence for the family by signing the guestbook at the link on the left side of this page.

Diane Hatley, 73, a resident of Harwood, MD and previously of District Heights, MD, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2021.  Diane was born on June 17, 1947 in Lincoln, Nebraska and her family moved to District Heights, MD in 1949.  Diane graduated from LaReine High School in Suitland, MD in 1965.   From there she attended the Washington School for Secretaries in Washington, DC.  After a three-year courtship, she married Bruce Hatley in 1968, and they settled in District Heights, MD.  She worked several years at NASA headquarters in Washington, DC and then resigned to be at home to raise her family.

Diane and Bruce moved to Harwood in 1996.   Diane was an active member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville, MD where she served as an Extraordinary Minister for Holy Communion and volunteered in the parish’s adult Scripture study and faith enrichment programs.  In addition, Diane was a youth catechist for their Vacation Bible School.

Diane was a wonderful painter and loved arts and crafts.

Diane suffered two strokes in 2011 and remained in Genesis Spa Creek long term care facility in Annapolis, MD until her passing on April 15.

Diane was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Jane Scott, and her sons James Brian Hatley and John Bruce Hatley, Jr.  She is survived by her husband Bruce Hatley and five children: John Hatley and wife Martina, Dawn Kirk and husband Paul, Steven Hatley and wife Casei, Sean Hatley, and Jimmy Hatley.  She is also survived by her six grandchildren:  Patricia, Kylie, William, Erin, Stella, and Paislee; and four siblings: James Scott, Paula Felt, Jennifer Mathews and Regina Piazza.

Friends are invited to celebrate Diane’s life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Tuesday, April 20 from 4 to 7pm.  Mass of Christian Burial and interment will be private.
 
Condolences may be offered using the Memory Wall tab on this page.

Roselee Hinkle Blowe, 86, of Riverton WV passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home in Edgewater, MD on April 15, 2021 surrounded by family. 

Roselee was born November 2, 1934 in Riverton, West Virginia daughter of Roy and Ruby (George) Hinkle.

She was a strong and loving mother and grandmother.
She loved being with her children and grandchildren. Her hobbies included, NASCAR racing, football, hunting, cooking, gardening, and making jewelry. She enjoyed caring for the family farm in Riverton, West Virginia.

She is survived by her children, Donna Griffith (Bill) of Edgewater, MD. Vicki Thiel (Claude) of Port Charlotte, FL. Edie Squires, Eddie Blowe (Denise), Roselee Blowe all of Edgewater, MD. Daughter in law Carolyn Blowe of Lexington, SC and daughter Patti Davis of Port Charlotte, FL. She was affectionately known as Grandma Sugar to her ten grandchildren, Chad, Candy, Michael, Tommy, Jenny, Nicki, Deaven, Kasey, Kyle, and Ashely. Eleven great grandchildren, Drew, Madison, Breana Rose, Kailyn, Victor, Liam, Evie, Noah, Caleb, Sawyer, and peanut Hanks.

Roselee is also survived by her brothers Glen (Bud) Hinkle of Olney, MD, and William (Bill) Hinkle of Petersburg, WV.

She was predeceased by her husband Wm Thomas Blowe Jr. and Kent Lightner. Also, her son Wm Thomas (Tom) Blowe III. 

Services will be held on Monday April 19, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Basagic Funeral Home in Franklin, WV followed by a graveside service in North Fork Cemetery in Riverton, WV.

Memorial contributions in Roselee’s name may be made to St. Jude Hospital at <a href="https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html">stjude.org</a>

Please leave a condolence for the family by signing the guestbook at the link on the left side of this page.


Louise C. Dunlap, a passionate environmentalist renowned for her focus on energy development, coal mining practices and their effects on the environment died Thursday, April 15.   She was 75. Dunlap passed away of acute myeloid leukemia peacefully with family by her side.

Dunlap spent a lifetime advocating for the hard-hit communities affected by the harmful practices of the coal mining industry. Working to secure legislation from 1971 to 1977, her steadfast efforts led to the enactment of the Surface Mine Control & Reclamation Act of 1977, SMCRA. Colleagues said that she led one of most effective campaigns in the history of the U.S. environmental movement: the seven-year national citizens' effort to enact federal legislation requiring the coal industry to protect valuable farmlands, streams and wetlands and to reclaim all surface mined lands. At the bill signing ceremony in the White House Rose Garden, President
Carter praised Dunlap as "persistent in the face of adversity and disappointment," the Associated Press reported at the time. Her tenacious nature made persistence the ultimate compliment.

During that same period, she co-founded and became President of the Environmental Policy Institute and the Environmental Policy Center in 1972, and which under her leadership, grew into the largest public-interest environmental lobbying organization in Washington. She was the first woman to become chief executive of a major U. S. national environmental organization.

In 1976, she married fellow environmentalist Joe Browder, known for his work to protect the Florida Everglades. Thereafter, she and Browder, an alumnus of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior, founded Dunlap & Browder, Inc., an environmental consulting firm with an international clientele. Joe Browder was both her beloved husband and partner, a mutually successful enterprise. Browder died in 2016.

Over the course of her career, Dunlap would serve on the boards of the League of Conservation Voters, the Clean Water Fund, Scenic America, the Environmental Policy Institute and the National Clean Air Coalition, while holding posts with the National Parks Conservation Association and Friends of the Earth, where she focused on legislative issues including energy efficiency and climate.

Most recently, Dunlap was working on the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) statute's next reauthorization in the weeks before her death. She also has been a central figure in the Alternative Fuels element of the Clean Air Act reauthorization.

Environmentalists who knew Dunlap have suggested that Congress pay tribute to Dunlap by renaming the AML reauthorization in her honor. The Interior Department highlighted Dunlap's work in 2016, when the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement awarded her the Environment, Community, Humanity, Ownership Award. Pennsylvania Rep. Matt Cartwright
(D) and Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) praised Dunlap as "an inspiring force."

Daughter of generational Lancaster, PA residents James Cecil Dunlap, former President of the Lancaster Livestock Exchange, and Anne Louise Reist, civic activist and Duke University alumna, Dunlap followed in her mother's path by attending Duke University herself where she graduated in 1968. A devout Duke alumna, Dunlap served as a Member of the Advisory Board of Duke's Nicholas School of the Environment as well as on the board of The University Council of Women's Studies. She never missed an opportunity to find herself in Durham.   There she forged many meaningful and life-long friendships and was thrilled when her step-granddaughter, Elizabeth Browder, became a third generation Duke graduate. One of her greatest pleasures was mentoring fresh Duke graduates in the Washington, DC area.

An eternal optimist, Dunlap was deeply committed to her work until the very end. She was fervent in her convictions on behalf of both people and the environment. A naturalist at heart, she adored her home overlooking the Chesapeake Bay and was deeply in-tune with the nature that surrounded her there. She relished the sounds of the whistling swans and barn owls. An avid collector, she had a passion for folk art, decoys, gardening and all things beautiful. She was renowned for enchanting family and friends with exquisitely wrapped gifts and always looked forward to holidays spent together. She was a master at painting Easter eggs (Hinkle's Dye a must) and delighted in hiding them in the most obscure of places, creating a sense of magic and adventure for her great nieces and nephews.   She will be remembered for her endlessly positive outlook, generosity of spirit, endurance, humor and a fierce sense of independence. Always with a twinkle in her eye, she had the most genuine of hearts, and she savored time spent with her family, wonderful neighbors and friends.

Dunlap is survived by her sister Constance Dunlap Santarelli and brother-in-law Donald E. Santarelli, Alexandria, VA; niece Louisa Santarelli Koplan, Los Angeles; nephew Alessandro "Sam" Santarelli, Owings Mills, MD; step-children, Monte Browder, Davie, FL; Ron Browder, Jacksonville, FL; and many beloved step-grandchildren and great nieces and nephews.

Gifts in memory of Louise Dunlap may be directed to support Dr. Amy DeZern's research at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Please make checks payable to Johns Hopkins University. 
Gifts may be mailed with a memo indicating that this gift is in memory of Louise Dunlap to the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, PO Box 17029, Baltimore, MD 21297-1029.

Gifts in memory of Louise Dunlap may also be made to the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds at 9697 Loop Road, Alexandria, PA 16611, attention John Dawes.

The family looks forward to celebrating her life in the near future.


Alvin Ray Espartero, 55, of Gambrills, Maryland died on April 13, 2021. His loss was unexpected, and the family is deeply saddened.

Al was born on May 18, 1965 to Manuel and Corazon Espartero in Washington D.C. Al attended Friendly High School in Fort Washington, MD and was passionate about soccer, the Washington football team, and most of all his friends and family. After graduating high school, Al attended Boston University and finished his Bachelor of Science in Finance at Northeastern University in Boston Massachusetts. He then furthered his career as an IT consultant where he enjoyed traveling throughout the United States for 20+ years. Some of the companies he worked for included Deloitte, KPMG, and PWC. Most recently he especially enjoyed watching golf, football, and hockey. He also loved to watch all his nieces and nephews play in their soccer games.

Anyone who knew him, knew that he was loving, caring, kind and giving. He had an immense passion for his family and was always a source of positivity. Al’s family and friends will miss him more than words can say. He leaves his two parents, Manuel and Corazon Espartero, his sister Arlene Joyner (James Joyner), his brother Arnie Espartero, and his nieces and nephews Cheyenne Joyner, Justin Espartero, Patrick Joyner, Nico Espartero, and Josie Joyner.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alvin's Memorial Fund.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-alvin-espartero">https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-loving-memory-of-alvin-espartero</a>



Jean Stump Garber, age 86, passed away on April 13, 2021.  She was in residence at Heart Homes of Annapolis where she lived for almost 4 years.  She had previously resided in Cocoa, FL with her husband Mike, before he passed away in March 2014.

Jean was born on 3 August 1934 in Copen, West Virginia.  After graduating from high school in 1953, she moved to Washington D.C. where she worked for the FBI.  While there she met and married Michael J. Garber Jr., who was stationed at Bolling AFB.  Their first child, Michael J. Garber III was born at Bolling.  After their first move to Plattsburgh, NY, their second child, Jean M. Garber, was born.  

When Mike retired from the USAF in 1966, the family moved to Phoenixville, PA, where Jean worked at Valley Forge General Hospital as a telecommunications specialist until the hospital closed in 1974.  The couple moved to Williamstown, PA and both worked at Fort Indiantown Gap.  Jean became a telecommunications supervisor and finally retired from the Federal Government after 34 years of dedicated service to the nation. In 1996, she purchased the home in Cocoa, FL, which became their retirement home in 2012 upon leaving Pennsylvania.
Jean was a highly active member of her church, Sacred Heart.  A eucharistic minister, she looked forward to visiting and offering communion to the sick of the parish.  As a member of the Sacred Heart women’s club, Jean helped organize many parties and fundraisers.  She also worked in their thrift store for several years. 
Jean loved to shop for herself and for others.  She was very generous and helped many people.  She was the consummate bargain hunter and often bragged about how little she spent on her great finds.  Her family and friends benefited from her frugal stewardship.  

Jean also loved to travel. She and Mike travelled to Europe when their grandson Michael was born.  She visited Japan to see niece Lisa Rhody. She took trips to Hawaii, crossed the country several times with friends, ventured down to Key West with her sisters and sailed on several cruises to the Caribbean and Bermuda.  

Beloved by friends and family, Jean frequently exchanged cards and letters with them. She always had a phone in her hand and loved chatting with friends and family members.  She adored her grandkids and delighted in spending time with them.

She is survived by her son, Michael Garber III, his wife Patricia, of Mechanicsville, Maryland, and their sons Michael Garber IV, of Washington DC and Christopher, of Irvine, California; her daughter Jeanie Borowski, her husband Tim and their daughter, Cara, all who live in Oviedo, Florida.  Jean’s twin brother Eugene preceded her in death in 2002.  She is survived by her sisters, Corene Carey of Huntington, West Virginia and Irene White of Weston, West Virginia.  

Jean will be interred with her husband Mike at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. 

May she find rest and comfort in the arms of her savior, Jesus Christ.

In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted for the people of St. Vincent in the Virgin Islands. 
Donations can be sent to: Father Paul Borowski, 3112 7th street NE, Washington, DC 20017 (100% of the donations will go to the people of St. Vincent). Please make all checks payable to: The Redemptorists and make SVG in the memo line.


Funeral service will be held at Chesapeake Christian Fellowship, 377 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD on Friday, April 16 at 11 am. Interment will follow at Davidsonville United Methodist Church Cemetery in Davidsonville, MD. Condolences may be made by using the tab on this page.

Robert Roy Bold, “Bob”, 75, a resident of Chester, MD and previously of Davidsonville, passed away on April 12, 2021 in Easton, MD.

Bob was born on July 29, 1945 in Washington, DC to the late Edgar and Mary Bold. He served his country proudly in the US Army. He worked as a manager for Verizon for 38 years. He was a member of the Davidsonville Ruritan, the American Legion and a member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Annapolis.

In addition to his parents, Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Ethel R. Bold in 2020.

He is survived by his children, Sharon Bold Merkel and her husband Kenneth, and Daniel Alan Bold and his wife Heather, and one granddaughter, Rebecca Ann Merkel.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Bob's life on Friday, April 16, 2021 at 10am at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037. Interment will be private.

Please take a moment to leave a condolence for the family by using the tab on this page.

Maryellen Buler, age 77, passed away on Sunday, April 11. 2021 in Wheaton, MD. 

She was born on July 3, 1943 in Washington, DC to Edward and Viola Combs. 

She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her beloved husband, Charles Edward Buler; her sister, Barbara Vaught; her sister-in-law, Margaret Rogers; her niece, Mary Rogers and her other relatives and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Life Celebration on Tuesday, April 20 from 12 noon until the start of her funeral at 1 p.m. at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY,  6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745. Interment Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, MD. 



On Sunday, April 11, 2021; the beloved wife of the late Joseph W. Harley, Sr.; mother of Joseph W. (Carline) Harley, Jr. and the late Linda Ann Harley; grandmother of Michael D. Butler, Joseph T. Harley, Anthony Dean and LaToya D. Harley. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, eight siblings, many other relatives and friends. 

Relatives and friends are invited to Honey's Life Celebration on Thursday, April 22, 2021 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1717 Ritchie Rd, District Heights, MD 20747 from 10 a.m. until the start of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton, MD immediately following Mass. 


On April 11th, 2021, Kelvin Leon Lytes at 63 years old, known as “Big K” transitioned from this earth into eternal rest.  He was born on November 25th, 1957. He is survived by his daughters Chesha L Hale, Jean Fluellyn , his grandchild Jarvis Monroe, his sisters Demetria Holloway, Annette Pitts, and his brothers, Jeffrey Holloway, Terrance Holloway, brother-in-law Roland Pitts, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. He is preceded in death by his mother Essie Mae Stewart, his father Roosevelt Lytes.

Kelvin grew up in SE Washington DC. He loved football, especially, the Washington Redskins. He loved music very much. His favorites groups were Earth Wind & Fire, Isley Brothers, Kool & The Gang, and he loved the song “Butterflies” by Michael Jackson as well.  He was fun loving, very creative, love to sing, love to be outside, love to play horses, enjoyed laughter and hanging out with his buddies.  

He will be greatly missed.


Marie Baker, beloved daughter, sister, aunt and friend passed away with her family by her side on Saturday April 10, 2021. 

She is survived by her siblings, Bern (Cathy) Kulp, John (Kris) Kulp, Liz (Marc) Stokes, Matthew Kulp, Karen Kulp, Andrew (Dina) Kulp; nieces and nephews, Trey, Kari, Christina, Rebecca, Jennifer, Rosemary, Greg, Matthew James, Bethanie, Raulen (Nornee), Kayleigh, Matthew Joseph, Grace Marie, Christopher and Benjamin; great nephews, Troy, Andrew, Emmett, Jacob, Hayes, Luke and Noah.  Preceded in death were her loving parents Bernard and Ruth Ann Kulp and her brothers Francis Peter and James Gerard Kulp.

Marie was born on March 12, 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  She grew up in Springfield, Ohio, and enjoyed spending time with her cousins, the Reynolds and Littles, forming lifelong friendships. The family moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida and then Fort Washington, Maryland.  She was a long-time resident of Linthicum Heights, Maryland at the time of her passing.

She was a classically trained pianist and played accompaniment for local musical dinner theater.  She lived in New York for many years and later earned her law degree at the American University. Marie loved playing the piano and singing, loved watching the classics and musicals and celebrating the holidays with her family, especially Halloween.   

Marie (Aunt ReRe) was the favorite aunt to her ‘darling’ nieces and nephews welcoming them to her house for cookouts, giant water slide parties, movie sleepovers with all the best snacks.  She was their biggest fan attending concerts, sporting events, dance recitals and later weddings and baby showers. 
 	

Friends are invited to celebrate Marie's life at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Friday, April 16 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm, with a prayer service beginning at 7 pm. Condolences may be made by using the tab on this page.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Melanoma Research Alliance - https://give.curemelanoma.org/.


Obituaries

Leonides Saporteza

Robert Merkert

Shirley Dewhirst

Margaret Clapp

Thurmon Jones

Kathleen Giuffreda

Barbara Boyer

Cosette Laslo

Charlie Thames

Edward Schwenk

Richard LaForte

Daniel Gray

Diane Hatley

Roselee Blowe

Louise Dunlap

Allen Carroll

Alvin Espartero

Jean Garber

Charles Pearl

Robert Bold

Maryellen Buler

Juanita Harley

Kelvin Lytes

Marie Baker