Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Pietro Santoro, 76, of Upper Marlboro, MD died peacefully on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband of the late Concettina C. Santoro; father of Riccardo, Giovanni, Lucia and Pietro Santoro, Jr.; brother of Attilio Santoro, Antonina Cascio, Carmela Chiedi and the late Agatina Fama, also survived by 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Friends are invited to Pietro’s Life Celebration from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday, March 15 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Funeral service and interment will be private. An online guestbook is available by clicking the tab on this page.

Fred LaVerne Miller, III, a resident of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home previously of Edgewater, MD, passed away on March 10, 2015 at Georgetown University Hospital.

Fred was born on December 31, 1944 in Rittman, Ohio to the late Fred and Marie Miller. He was raised in Philadelphia, PA. He was a United States Marine serving in the Dominican Republic and in Vietnam. He received 5 purple hearts, a Bronze Star and the Distinguished Service Medal.

Fred worked as a Disabled Veterans Representative for the States of Maryland and Ohio and was also a Logistics Engineer for Honeywell. He was a member and SAL officer of the American Legion Post 226, Young Marines for Ft. Meade and a Cub Scout Pack Leader. His interests included trains, coin collecting, playing poker and John Wayne movies. Fred donated much of his time to many charitable causes.

He is survived by his former wife Kathleen R. Miller, two children, Steven and his wife Danette Miller of Prince Frederick and Kelley Miller of Lothian; one brother, William H. Miller of Nampa, Idaho; three grandchildren, Steven and Anna Miller of Prince Frederick and Hailey Johnson of Lothian. Fred is also survived by three brother-in-laws: William, Steven and Brian McDonald and their spouses. Also survived by several nieces and nephews and cousins.

Friends may call on Sunday, March 15 from 2-4PM and 6-8PM until a prayer service begins at 7PM at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater. Interment will be at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville on Monday, March 16 beginning at 1:45PM. A gathering of family and friends at American Legion Post #226 will follow.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Fred’s memory to The Fisher House www.fisherhouse.org. An online guest book is available by visiting the link on this page.

John “Sonny” Willett, a 45 year resident of Edgewater, died on March 10, 2015 at Anne Arundel Medical Center. He was born on September 13, 1939 in Washington, DC to the late James H. and Maybelle Jones-Hash. Sonny graduated from Northwestern High School and retired from Steamfitters Local 602 in Washington, DC in 1996. John was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Commodore Mayo and the Elks Lodge 1778 Riverdale. He was a “Jack of all trades.” Sonny could build or fix anything and was always tinkering around the house. He enjoyed cars, boating, water skiing and his wife’s cooking. Sonny was instrumental in organizing the annual Rhodes River Community Fireworks and was willing to help however he could. John was preceded in death by his sister Johanna Insley. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie L. Willett, whom he married on August 27, 1966, two nieces, Linda Lee Lewis and Theresa E. Locke and one nephew, Donald R. Insley. Friends are invited to Sonny’s Life Celebration on Friday, March 13 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9pm at George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD where services will be held on Saturday, March 14 at 1:30pm. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to St. Andrew the Fisherman Episcopal Church, PO Box 175, Mayo, MD 21106. An online guestbook is available by visiting the link on this page.

On Monday March 9, 2015; the beloved husband of the late Elizabeth A. Seganish; father of Michael Seganish, Mary Ann Vogel, Julie Gleitsmann and the late Karen L. Layton; father-in-law of Nancy, Mike, Warren and Danny; also survived by nine grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A graveside service with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on October 27,2015 at 1pm. If you plan to attend please arrive at the administration building by 12:15.

Ida Marie DiValentin, 94, of Annapolis, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2015 at the Heritage Harbour Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Born on December 29, 1920 in San Jose, CA, Ida moved with her parents to the Washington, DC area in 1932. In 1938, she began working as an elevator operator at the National Press Building in Washington where, for the next two years, she encountered many dignitaries. Her favorite was First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt with whom Ida would chat regularly on the ride to Mrs. Roosevelt’s many functions. Ida changed careers in 1940 when she married Anthony “Tony” DiValentin and devoted herself full-time to supporting and providing a comfortable home for her husband and their three children. 

In the 1950s, the DiValentins relocated to Raleigh, NC where Ida was actively involved as the secretary for the Cathedral Latin Elementary and High School PTA, and in the church’s altar society, until the family relocated to Virginia in 1963. In 1980, after moving to Atlantic City, NJ, Ida went to work for Spencer Gifts, where she began as a packer and then proudly accepted a promotion to sorter until 1988 when she decided to enjoy retired life.

Ida enjoyed cooking Italian dishes, playing bingo, watching cooking shows and Lawrence Welk. She especially loved dancing with her beloved husband. Her passion was her family and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ida was preceded in death by her husband, Tony, who died in 1977. She is survived by two sons, Col. (Ret.) Anthony (Kathleen) DiValentin of Knoxville, TN and Dr. Robert (Marybeth) DiValentin of Vienna, VA; her daughter, Marie (Darian) Pringle of West River, MD; five grandchildren, Anthony DiValentin, Kristin Ennis, Laurin Deese, Catherine Daniels and Michael DiValentin; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 10am until a Memorial Mass will be offered at 11am on Thursday, March 12 at St. Mark Catholic Church, 9970 Vale Road, Vienna, VA. Inurnment will follow at Fairfax Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Anne Arundel Medical Center, 2001 Medical Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401 or The Healing NET Foundation, 817 3rd Ave. N #306, Nashville, TN 37201 at www.thehealingnet.org.

An online guestbook is available by visiting the link on this page.

He died on Monday, March 9, 2015. Carl's US Air Force career spanned 32 years; he was a POW and survived the Bataan Death March. The beloved husband of Anna G. Roy; father of Carl W. (Sandra) Roy II and the late Linda Ann Robinson and Gail Marie Delozier; son of the late Ernest and Clara Roy; brother of Dale and Lewis (Mary) Roy and the late Maxine Myers, Kenneth, Charles and Delmas Roy; grandfather of Paul (Shannon) Robinson, Kyndle (Mario) Quinones, Shannon and Jason Delozier; great-grandfather of Wyatt and Tatum Robinson, Myles and Kylen Quinones, Vincent, Justin and Jaxon Delozier; step-grandfather of Joseph (Kim) Van Dalsum, Jr. and Tammy (Danny) Bennett; step-great-grandfather of Auggie and Chloe Van Dalsum and Nathan Newlove. Relatives and friends are invited to Carl's Celebration of Life on Monday, March 16 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD where services will be held on Tuesday, March 17 at 11 a.m. INTERMENT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY WITH FULL MILITARY HONORS ON THURSDAY, JULY 23, 2015 AT 3 P.M. PLEASE MEET AT THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING NO LATER THAN 2:15 P.M. WITH ONES' OWN TRANSPORTATION.

Philip Howard Bunch, Sr., 83, a resident of Maryland for sixty years, died on Monday, March 9 at the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis. Born on December 9, 1931 in Lynchburg, VA to the late William and Stella Bunch, Philip retired after having worked with the Continental Baking Co. for more than thirty-five years. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1949-54 and received the Korean War Service Medal. He was a member of the Senior Olympics softball team, was an avid world traveler and enjoyed fishing, model building, flying kites on the beach. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death in 1989 by his wife, Barbara Bunch, whom he married in August of 1958 and a sister, Freda Bosserman. He is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Phillips and his son, Philip Bunch, Jr.; two brothers, Fred and Pete Bunch; a sister, Mary Boyd Logan; four grandchildren, Bryce and Tori Bunch, Amy Jones and Kathryn Phillips, he is also survived by two great-grandchildren. Friends are invited to Philip’s Life Celebration from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm on Friday at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD where his funeral service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, March 14. Interment will follow at Ft. Lincoln Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Cancer Research Institute, 55 Broadway, New York, NY 10006 (cancerresearch.org) An online guestbook is available by visiting the link on this page.

Cecilia Gay Cook, 78, a twenty-three year resident of Annapolis and formerly of College Park, MD, died on March 8, 2015 at her residence. Born in Pomona, CA on June 26, 1936, Gay worked with FedEx for thirty years. She was a member of the Methodist church and loved animals. She worked at a veterinary hospital and raised Arabian horses. Gay was enthusiastic, always willing to help others and will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her husband, Morley Cook, whom she married on March 4, 1971; her children, David and Michael Blackwell and Susan Williams, she is also survived by six grandchildren. Funeral service will begin at 2:00 pm on Thursday, March 12 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Interment will be private. An online guestbook is available by clicking on the tab on this page.

Catherine V. Higdon, 97, of Virginia Beach passed away peacefully on March 8, 2015. Born in Washington D.C., she was a graduate of McKinley Technical High School. She was preceded in death by her mother, Katie M. Crown Burrows, father, George O. Crown, and husband of 61 years, Ralph V. Higdon, Sr. She is survived by her daughter Carol H. Tiedemann and her husband Hollie of Virginia Beach, VA, son Ralph V. Higdon, Jr. and his wife Margaret of Edgewater, MD, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Friends may call from 12:00pm until her memorial service begins at 1:00pm on Saturday, March 21 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Interment will follow at Lakemont Memorial Gardens, 900 West Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD. Catherine was a resident of Edgewater Md. for 32 years. She belonged to Mayo United Methodist Church and the Mayo homemakers club. Catherine will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, compassion, and the love and devotion she showed to her family and many friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Francis Asbury United Methodist Church, 1871 Great Neck Rd., Virginia Beach, VA, 23454. Online guestbook is available by clicking the tab on this page.

Friends may call on Thursday from 6 to 8pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, March 11, 2016 at 10am at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD. Interment will follow at Fairfax Memorial Park, Fairfax, VA. Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities, 320 Cathedral Street Baltimore, MD 21201 . 

A complete obituary will be available soon. Please take a moment and sign the guest book at the link above.

Robert Edward Mittelstetter, Sr.

Robert E. Mittelstetter, Sr., “Big Bob”, 52, a resident of Edgewater and previously of Bladensburg, MD, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, March 7, 2015.
He was born on August 19, 1962, in Cheverly, MD, and served in the United States Navy. Bobby was an avid Redskins fan and most enjoyed spending time with his family and loved ones. Bobby’s amazing smile and sparkling eyes shined brightly throughout his five-year battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Bobby was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth J. Mittelstetter, Sr. and his sister, Deborah Seay. He is survived by his loving wife, Joan B. W. Mittelstetter; three children, Ashley Williams, Amber Mittelstetter, Robert Mittelstetter, Jr.; three stepchildren, Kenneth Woodyard, Timothy Woodyard, Nathan Spadaro; his mother, Margaret Compton; his eldest sister, Michele; youngest siblings, Kenneth J. Mittelstetter, Jr. and Kathleen Cullins; five granddaughters, Lexi, Skylar, Tatum, Kammi, Kyra; and four grandsons, Cameron, Devin, Avery and Jaxon.
A memorial gathering and celebration of Bobby’s life will be held Wednesday, March 11 beginning at 5 PM with a prayer service and family remarks at 7 PM at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 AM on Thursday, March 12 at St. Hugh of Grenoble Catholic Church, 135 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD. Burial will follow at Fort Lincoln Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the ALS Association, 7507 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855.

All services and arrangements are private

William R. Swann, "Dick", a resident of Annapolis, MD and previously of St. Mary's County, was at his home when he went to be with the Lord on March 5, 2015.
 
Born October 3, 1925 in Leonardtown, MD, he graduated from Margaret Brent High School. Dick worked for the Government Printing Office for 34 years; mostly on Capitol Hill. He was a member of Riverdale Baptist Church and Riva Trace Baptist Church. Dick was a gentleman who enjoyed taking care of his wife and family. He was kind, generous and loved by everyone.
 
Dick was preceded in death by his first wife, Eloise Swann in 1989.
 
He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Lois (Freeman) Swann; three step-daughters, Donna Berlage , Karen Freeman Kalnmals and Katherine Freeman Johnson; one sister, Ruth Farr; seven grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
 
Friends are invited to Dick's Life Celebration on Monday, March 9 from 12pm until the time his funeral service begins at 2pm at Riva Trace Baptist Church, 475 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD. Interment will be held on Tuesday at 1pm at Huffs Union Church Cemetery, 540 Conrad Road, Alburtis, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Margaret Brent Alumni Association (a scholarship fund in honor of Dick's sister, Hope Swann) at 216 Rosalie Way, Leonardtown, MD 20650. An online guestbook is available using the link above.

William “Bill” Jacob Painter, a 9-year resident of Harwood, died on March 4, 2015 at his home. He was 70.
 
Born April 18, 1944 in New York to the late William and Charlotte Painter, Bill graduated from American University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Bill was the owner and CPA of the Painter Financial Group. He served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War. Bill was an active member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Deale and enjoyed gardening and traveling. He also loved all Baltimore and Washington Sports.
 
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Todd William Painter.
 
Bill is survived by his wife of 47 years, Linda; two sons, William Thomas Painter of Dunkirk, MD and Troy William Painter of Shady Side, MD; three daughter-in-laws, Karen, Marina and Rachel Painter; one sister, Jeanne Steffan of Rockville, MD; and six grandchildren, William Jackson, William Zachary, Emma, Lexi, Sasha and Sonya Painter.
 
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 14 at 2pm at Riva Trace Baptist Church, 475 West Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD. A Celebration of Bill's life will be held immediately following the service at the Deale Elks Lodge, 6022 Drum Point Road, Deale, MD. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lynch Syndrome International, P.O. Box 19, Madison, CT 06443 or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude's Place, Memphis, TN 38105. 

An online guestbook is available by visiting the link on this page.

John F. (Jack) Thompson
 Former McGraw Hill Executive 

John F. Thompson, (Jack), 83, died Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at Anne Arundel Medical Center. He was the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the McGraw Hill Continuing Education Center in Washington, D.C. and Beltsville, Md.
 
Mr. Thompson was a lifelong resident of the Silver Spring -Wheaton area before his retirement to Edgewater, Md. in 1989. He attended St. John's College High School in D.C. and earned his MBA from Loyola College of Baltimore. He served 4 years in the USAF and was voted Outstanding Serviceman of the Year while at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
 
After his discharge in 1955, he joined the National Radio Institute (NRI) in D.C. which later became the McGraw Hill Continuing Education Center. He held several executive positions with the Center including Director of Advertising, Vice President for Marketing, Executive Vice President, and served as its'
 President and Chief Executive Officer from 1973 until he left in 1984 to start his own consulting business.
 
He was also very active in the Distance Education and Training Council in D.C. serving as its' President in 1971-73 then as Vice Chairman of its' Accrediting Commission for 6 years. Mr. Thompson was a certified volunteer accrediting examiner for the Commission and served as an examiner for more than 50 private schools seeking accreditation or re¬accreditation. He was twice awarded the Council's Distinguished Service Award.
 
Mr. Thompson was a past director of the Washington Mail Advertising Club, a former member and Chancellor of the Wheaton-Glenmont Knights of Columbus Council 5567, the Wheaton Kiwanis Club, the Cummins -Behlke American Legion Post, and was a past member of the Annapolis Elks Lodge No. 622.
 
He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville, Md. 

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Virginia G. Thompson; four children, Ralph L. Thompson of Edgewater, Md., Karen A. Thompson of Cockeysville, Md., Russell F. Thompson of Gaithersburg, Md. and Robert J. Thompson, Shelby, N.C.; nine grandchildren; and one sister, Susan T. Knight of Shelby, 
N.C. 

Friends may call at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm. A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday, March 12 at 11am at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W. Central Ave. Davidsonville, MD. Interment at Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville, MD. will follow the mass, and a reception will be held from 2 to 4 at the Elks Lodge, 2 Pythian Dr., Edgewater, MD 21037. In lieu of flowers his desire would be to have donations sent to Catholic Charities USA, P.O. Box 17066, Baltimore, MD 21297.

On Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at the Sacred Heart Home in Hyattsville, MD. He was born on May 11, 1918 in New York, NY to the late William Augustine and Louise Cecilia Teufel Wallace. Fr .Wallace was a member of St. Joseph Province, Dominican Order. He was a professor of philosophy at the Catholic University of America and an authority on the Philosophy of Science. During WWII he served in the Pacific Theatre from 1941-46 and retired from the reserves as a Lt. Cmdr. Office of the Dead will be held on Friday, March 6 at 7p.m. at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 630 E St.,SW, Washington, DC where a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday, March 7 at 10:30a.m. Interment Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Otis Lee Johnston
 
Otis Lee Johnston, 49, a resident of Arnold, passed away at his home on Tuesday, March 3, 2015.
 Otis was born on April 10, 1965 in Ft. Bragg, N.C., to Betty J. and the late Carl G. Johnston
 Otis graduated from St. James Prep School, where he was a standout football player. He also attended Pembrooke State College. He worked for 84 Lumber, Home Depot and was a member of the Moose Lodge. An avid Dallas Cowboys and Elvis Presley fan, he also enjoyed playing football and golfing.
 
In addition to his mother, Betty Johnston and stepfather, Jim Gottwald, he is survived by his two daughters, Caroline Elizabeth and Carly Grace Johnston, his former wife Rebecca Johnston, two brothers, Raymond and Donald Johnston, two step-brothers, James and Fritz Gottwald and stepsister, Christy Keller. 

Friends and family may call on Saturday, March 7, from 10am until a memorial service will begin at 11am at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be mailed to Betty Johnston, 135 Shenandoah Dr, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 for deposit to Caroline and Carly’s college funds.

Judy Burgoyne, 77, of Annapolis, MD passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. Judy was a loving mother and grandmother. She is survived by her daughters, Janet Douberly and Janice Ambrose; and her grandchildren, Shannon Ambrose, Joshua, Jeremiah and James Batucan, and Angel Douberly.

Family and friends may visit on Friday, March 6, beginning at 9am at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10am. Interment will follow at Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1041 MD Route 3 North, Gambrills, MD 21054. An online guestbook is available by accessing the link above.

Lowell Stacey Broderick, 48, a resident of the Davidsonville/Harwood area for the last 16 years, died on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at his home. 

Born January 6, 1967, Lowell was the owner of a tile and granite fabrication shop. He enjoyed cooking, entertaining and many outdoor activities including hunting, crabbing and exploring nature. Lowell was also an animal lover; owning horses, llamas, miniature donkeys, chickens, dogs and cats. He will always be remembered as a great story teller.
 
Lowell was the very loving and proud father of Emily; brother of Steven, Edmund, Leigh and Mark; uncle of John, Thomas and Joseph. He is also survived by his step-mother, Joan Broderick. He was preceded in death by his mother, Catherine Broderick in 1991 and his father, John Broderick in 2013.
 
Friends may call at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD on Sunday from 2 to 5pm, where a funeral service will be held at 11am on Monday, March 9 – An interment with family and close friends will be held at Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville, MD.

On Tuesday, March 3, 2015, the beloved wife of John E. Hohn; mother of Charles E. (Lori) Hohn, Susan L. (Steve Pultz) Marx and Christine H. (Derek) Lee; sister of Carol Collins and Thomas Ogden; grandmother of R. Wallace,Grace, Garrett and Amelia Lee, Hannah and Nicholas Hohn; great-grandmother of Andrew and Grant Wallace. Friends may call at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 5203 St. Barnabas Rd., Temple Hills, MD on Saturday, March 7 from 10am until funeral services at 11am. Interment church cemetery. Contributions may be made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church.

Shirley J. Downey, 87, died on March 3, 2015. She was born on June 30, 1927 to the late Walter Rowe and the late Peggy Jacobs. She retired from PEPCO after 35 years of faithful employment. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Brian Downey; three siblings, Thelma Dempsey, Gus Rowe and David Rowe. She is survived by two nephews, Michael and Marty Dempsey and other family and friends. All services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to DELTA Rescue, PO Box 9, Glendale, CA 91209. An online guestbook is available by clicking the link above.

A Memorial Service will be offered on Saturday, March 7 from 2pm until time of her funeral service at 3pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD. Interment private.

Obituaries

Pietro Santoro

Fred Miller

Peter Caperton

John Willett

June Spradlin

William Seganish

Ida DiValentin

Carl Roy

Philip Bunch

Gay Cook

Catherine Higdon

Alice Bottone

Robert Sr

John Conley

William Swann

William Painter

John Thompson

William O.P.

Otis Johnston

Judith Burgoyne

Lowell Broderick

Patricia Hohn

Shirley Downey

Penny Slattery