Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Pearlie McDowell, a long-time resident of Annapolis, died December 1 at Anne Arundel Medical Center. He was 84.
 
Pearlie, known to his friends as "Jack", was born on May 22, 1928 in Raeford, NC where he attended school. He enlisted in the Army and served in Korea, and with peace keeping forces in Germany. He also served as a cook in the Army. After his military service, Jack began working at Bethlehem Steel in Sparrows Point, where he was employed as a steel worker for more than 35 years. After retirement, Jack moved to Millsboro, DE, and enjoyed tending his flower garden, a hobby he continued until his death. He returned to the Annapolis area when he began having health problems and lived in the Gardens of Annapolis. There he met his wife, Barbara McDowell, whom he married on May 27, 2011.
 
Jack was a member of the United Steel Workers of America and attended Broadneck Evangelical Presbyterian Church. He loved animals, had a lifelong passion for cooking, and was a country western movie aficionado, his favorites being John Wayne movies.
 
Friends are invited to Jack's Life Celebration on Friday, December 7 from 11AM until his funeral begins at 12 noon at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. Interment Gardens of Faith Memorial Gardens in Baltimore. Please sign the guestbook and check back for further details.

On Saturday, December 1, 2012; husband of Betty Rothenbecker; loving father of William, Wayne and Wendy Rothenbecker; stepson of Judy Rothenbecker; brother of Ruth Kenny and Sandra Snellings. he is also survived by 6 grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to Chuck's Life Celebration on Saturday, December 8, from 2pm until time of services at 4pm. Interment will be at the discretion of the family. Please leave your thoughts and memories by signing the guestbook located below.

On Friday, November 30, 2012; the beloved husband of Romaine Brown Burnett; also survived by eleven brothers, sisters and a host of other relatives and friends. Family and friends are invited to Tommy's Life Celebration on Friday, December 7 from 5-8pm at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. Services will be held on Saturday, December 8 at 12 noon at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses, 4700 Wheeler Rd., Oxon Hill MD.
 Interment will be private. Please leave your thoughts and memories by signing the guestbook located below

Cecil “CP” Moran, 81, a 6-year resident of Edgewater died November 27 at his home. Born on July 2, 1931 in Washington, DC to the late Cecil P. and Lillian Prather Moran, he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. CP lived in Arlington, VA for many years and retired after a 30-year career with United Airlines. He enjoyed a second career as an Environmental Review Engineer with the Environmental Protection Agency. He was an avid history buff and follower of world politics.
 
CP is survived by three cousins, Bonnie B. Stein of Edgewater, Janet Halvorson of Olathe, KS and Lynn Metz of Centennial, CO.
 
Friends are invited to CP’s Life Celebration on Saturday, December 1, from 11AM until his memorial service begins at 12 noon at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. Interment private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.

On Tuesday, November 27, 2012. Beloved son of Richard and Babette Pickens; brother of Robert Scott Pickens; nephew of Roger and Neil (Catherine) Pickens, Sharon (Roger) Herron and Mary Evelyn Brooks. Friends are invited to R2’s Life Celebration on Monday, December 3, from 6 to 8PM at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Friends of the H.L. Mencken House, P.O. Box 22501, Baltimore, MD 21203.

On Monday November 26, 2012 Shigeko Mori Asher; the beloved wife of Ramsinh Asher. Per Shigeko's request, she will be cremated and her cremains will be sent back to her native Japan for disposition. A link to Donate Life Virginia is listed below along with the guestbook so that you can leave your thoughts and memories.

On Monday, November 26, 2012; the beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, friend and mentor. Mother of 9, grandmother of 15, great-grandmother of 3. Relatives and friends are invited to Bertha's Life Celebration on Saturday, December 1 from 9am until 10am when Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Dominics Catholic Chruch, 630 E. St. S.W., Washington D.C. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Please leave your thoughts and memories by signing the online guestbook below.

(Age 74)
 “Cowboy” “Robbie”
 
Of Temple Hills, MD, on Sunday, November 25, 2012, after a long illness. Born in Detroit, Michigan to Rufus and Ida Robinson. Dear husband of 49 years to Dora L. Robinson; devoted father of Rhonda Joseph and son-in-law Bernard, Carla Young and son-in-law Greg; adored grandfather of Leah Joseph, Bernard “Terence” Joseph, II, Weslie Young, and Chase Young; loving brother of Geraldine Clark of Detroit, Michigan, and Charles Robinson of Las Vegas, Nevada; and many caring relatives and great friends.
 
Carl served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1965. He received an honorable discharge and immediately began a new career with the U.S. Postal Service in Washington, DC. Carl discovered his passion for negotiating fair labor practices on behalf of postal employees after joining the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) AFL-CIO. He served successfully for two terms as the elected President of the Nation’s Capital/Southern MD Area Local. Carl was a well-respected union official and arbitration advocate who fought fearlessly for postal employees. He retired in 1994. In his spare time, Carl loved fishing, boating, and gardening, but enjoyed nothing better than family gatherings and spending time with his grandchildren.
 

Relatives and friends are invited to Carl Henry's Life Celebration on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 from 10am until time of services at 11am at From the Heart Church Ministries, 4949 Allentown Road, Suitland, MD 20746. Interment Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham, MD.

On Saturday, November 24, 2012; the beloved wife of the late Edwin Smith, Sr.; mother of Edwin Smith, Jr. and Mary Anne Smith. Mass of Christian burial will be offered on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 11:00am at St. Columba Catholic Church, 7800 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. Entombment Resurrection Cemetery. Please leave your thoughts and memories by signing the guestbook located above.

John E. Grooms, 79, a residence of Piney Point MD died November 23, at Civista Hospital LaPlata MD. Born February 24, 1933 in Philadelphia PA to the late Samuel and Katherine Miller Grooms, he served in the U.S. Marines Corp for three years and reached the rank of Sergeant. John worked for over 40 years for United Airlines, and was a member of Oxon Hill High School Class of 1952.
 
John is survived by his wife Shirley, stepson Chris Simonetta and two grandchildren Alexis and Joseph Simonetta, brother of William K., Richard H. Grooms And the late Samuel M. Grooms Jr.,and Nancy Grooms Robey.
 
Family and Friends are invited to John's Life Celebration on Monday, December 3, from 2-4 and 6-8pm at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon Hill MD, where services will be held on Tuesday December 4, at 11:30am. Interment Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Cheltenham MD.

Carroll "Governor" Winterson Hardesty, Sr., 81, a lifelong resident of Edgewater, MD died at Anne Arundel Medical Center on November 23, 2012.
 
Born December 27, 1930 to the late Marvin Dixon and Ella Dawson Hardesty, Carroll attended Anne Arundel County schools. Carroll was co owner of C.W. Hardesty Custom Builders since 1973; building hundreds of homes throughout Anne Arundel and Queen Anne's County. He was a skilled carpenter and taught many apprentices in the carpentry trade, including his four sons and grandsons. Carroll enjoyed crabbing, boating, sporty cars and he loved spending time with his family and grandchildren. Carroll never retired and considered working one of his hobbies.
 
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Leona V. Dove Hardesty, whom died on November 5, 1999; two siblings, Marvin Jack Hardesty and Georgetta Monroe; and grandson, Mark Hardesty, Jr.
 
Carroll is survived by his four sons, Carroll Hardesty, Jr. and his wife, Cynthia of Stevensville, Dale W. Hardesty of Edgewater, Mark Hardesty of Stevensville and Christopher L. Hardesty of Annapolis; two siblings, Joy Rolen of Edgewater and Margaret Turner of Chester; six grandchildren, Steven H., Greg D., Stephanie, Jennifer, Taylor and Belinda Hardesty; and 9 great-grandchildren.
 
Friends are invited to Carroll's Life Celebration on Wednesday, November 28 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, where a funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 29 at 11am. Interment Lakemont Memorial Gardens.

Alice Price Fioramonti, 87, of the Heritage Harbour Community in Annapolis, Md. and formerly of Oxon Hill, Md. died on November 23, 2012. She was born May 15, 1925 in Seven Springs, NC and graduated from Piney Grove HS in 1942. During WWII she went to DC to work for FHA where she met and married Adam Anthony Fioramonti in 1944. She was a leader of the Cub Scouts, Blue Birds, Camp Fire Girls, OHVFD Ladies Aux and Majorettes. She worked for PG County Schools for 21 years first as bus driver then as Lot Foreman. She was preceded in death by her husband (1992); parents Alice and Benajah Price, brothers, Milford, Russell, Norwood and Jackson; and her Aunt Mary and Uncle Grainger Barwick whom she called Mama and Daddy (her mother died in childbirth, they raised Alice as their own), their children Maude Griffey, Morris , Margaret Andrews, Alma Moore, Annie Lee, Arthur and Gordon. She leaves two sisters-in-law and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by her son Arthur (Christine), daughters Annette F. Hall (Peter), Nancy F. Matteson (Silas); grandchildren Mark Fioramonti, David and Michael Hall, Elizabeth Jones, DDS (Richard), Kathryn and Kristin Matteson. Family and friends are invited to visit from 2 to 5 pm on Friday, November 30 at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd, Edgewater, MD 21037 and on Saturday, December 1 from 9:30 to 10:30 am at South Shore Baptist Church, 725 Herald Harbor Rd, Crownsville, MD 21032. Funeral service at the church at 10:30 am followed by a burial at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland, MD. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 850 Sligo Ave, #800, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or to your favorite charity. An online guestbook is available by clicking the link above.

Edna L. Archer was born on January 16, 1921 in Georgetown, Guyana. She was one of seven children born to the late Maud Mandeville and Edward Featherstone. She departed this life as peacefully as she lived on November 23, 2012 with the everlasting love and deep admiration of the family she leaves behind.

Affectionately known as “Auntie” to her family and friends, she grew up in Guyana and for a short while in Barbados, following the deaths of her parents when she was a very young girl. She remained close to her brothers and sisters, Jack, George, Edward McDonald, Elsie, Doris and May, despite their separations. As a young woman in Guyana, she learned to sew, a skill that she generously shared with family and friends in need of a special outfit or a simple alteration. 

She shared a special relationship with her older brother, Donald, whom everyone knew as “Poppa.” She and her sister May lived with Poppa and his young family after their parents’ death and developed a very close and loving relationship with his children David, Sheila, Barbara, Desmond, Shirley, Esther, Brindsley and Joycelyn. Their closeness continued throughout her lifetime.

She often told the story of meeting Alphanso “Boise” Archer at a local dance and the two of them becoming constant companions. They married and had five children—Orin, Lennox, Ron, Andre and Donna. In January 1970, she moved her family to the United States in search of a better life and to be with her relatives who had settled in Washington, D.C. 

She soon became a reliable fixture in her neighborhood and was entrusted with the care of neighborhood children who fell in love with her and the devoted care she provided. She was hired as a seamstress at the downtown Woodward & Lothrop’s Department Store and retired from that position in the 1980s. In retirement, she stayed busy sewing for her family and friends and babysitting whenever her services were needed.

She was an exceptionally kind woman who lived a life of prayer and always enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. She loved life and her family dearly, and drew great delight and comfort in family gatherings. She loved to read her bible, watch televangelist Joel Osteen, golf tournaments involving Tiger Woods, and her TV game shows. She also liked listening to opera music; eating fresh seafood, dressing up with a hat and scarf, and taking long car rides on the open road. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Andre; her husband, “Boise;” her brothers, Jack, George, and Poppa Featherstone; sisters, Doris Hewitt, and Elsie Clarke. She is survived by three sons, Orin (Vickie), Lennox (Janet), Ron; a daughter, Donna; her sister, May Featherstone; May's sons Gregory and Desmond Sumner; sister-in-law Olga Featherstone; a brother-in-law, Sidney Archer; five grandchildren, Tony, Trevor, Andre, Angel, and Daniel, a great granddaughter, Kindle, nine great grand children, three great-great grandchildren; and host of nieces, nephews and other family and friends. 


Relatives and friends are invited to Edna's Life Celebration at Mt. Calvary Catholic Church, 6700 Marlboro Pike, Forestville, MD on Monday, December 3, 2012 from 10am until Mass of Christian Burial at 11am. Interment Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, 4001 Suitland Rd., Suitland, MD. Please leave your thoughts and memories by signing the guestbook above.

Dr. Nicholas Pericles Moutsos, 81, a forty-one year resident of Crofton, MD, passed away on Thursday, November 22, 2012 at home surrounded by his loving family.
 Born in Athens, Greece on October 3, 1931, Nicholas served in the Greek Army as a doctor and moved to the United States in 1960 to complete his medical residency. He practiced medicine as an internist in Glen Burnie, MD for over 30 years until he retired and has been a member of Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church for the last 40 years.
 Nicholas is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Cleopatra N. Moutsos; one daughter, Sue Warren of Crofton MD; one son, Pericles N. Moutsos and his wife, Mary of Crofton MD; four grandsons, Charles R. Warren, III, Nicholas A. Warren, Nicholas P. Moutsos and James Moutsos and one sister, Demetra T. Kitsoulis of Chevy Chase, MD.
 Friends are invited to celebrate Nicholas' Life on Sunday, November 25 from 4 to 8 pm at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD. Funeral service will be held on Monday, November 26 at 11 am at Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2747 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD. Interment St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Relatives and friends are invited to Elizabeth's Life Celebration on Saturday, December 1, 2012 from 10am until Mass of Christian Burial at 11am at Mount Calvary Catholic Church, 6700 Marlboro Pike, District Heights, MD 20747. Interment will take place in Awka, Anambra, Nigeria at a later date.

Samuel "Sam" T. Wood, a resident of Riva, MD since 1992 and previously of Dunkirk, MD and Silver Hill, MD died at Anne Arundel Medical Center on November 20, 2012.
 
Born January 20, 1933 in Silver Hill, MD, Sam founded the Samuel T. Wood Company in 1952, which started as a contracting firm and grew in real estate development and investment. Sam was the developer of the World Weather Building and Central Wood Car Wash. He also possesses a tool patent and a mechanical patent. His memberships include Grace Brethren Church of Calvert County, the Elks Club and the South Gate Lions Club. Sam enjoyed fishing, traveling and working with heavy equipment.
 
He was preceded in death by 8 siblings.
 
Sam is survived by his wife, Maureen Wood; four children, Sue Ann Wood of Mt. Juliet, TN, Yvonne Earp Jenkins of Riva, MD, Paul Earp of Dunkirk, MD and Philip Earp of Gambrills, MD; five siblings, William C. Wood of Annapolis, MD, Walter E. Wood of Clinton, MD, Rose Marie Long of Clinton, MD, Evelyn M. Larson of Friendship, MD and Mildred L. Taylor of Kansas, MO; and four grandchildren, Luke T. and Olivia Rae Jenkins and Benton P. and Dylan S. Earp.
 
Friends are invited to Sam's Life Celebration on Monday, November 26 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8pm at Grace Brethren Church of Calvert County, 9870 Old Solomons Island Road, Owings, MD and on Tuesday, November 27 from 10am until time of funeral service at 11am. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Grace Brethren Church of Calvert County or the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America - MD, Greater DC Chapter, 1498 Reisterstown Road, Suite 324, Baltimore, MD 21208.

E. Gordon Hamilton, 78, of Edgewater, MD passed away Monday, November 19, 2012, peacefully after a short illness.
 
Visitation will be held at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD on Saturday, November 24 from 6 to 8pm and on Sunday, November 25 from 10am until time of memorial service at 11am. Interment will be done later in a private service.
 
Gordon was born in Philadelphia, PA on February 6, 1934, grew up in Arlington, VA, lived in Meriden, CT, Baltimore, MD and Fairfax, VA. He attended Nellie Custis School, St. Stephen's School, and graduated from George Washington High School, 1950. He continued his education and received a Bachelor's degree in English from Wesleyan University, in Middleton, CT, in 1955.
 
Gordon married Mary Louise Kramer on September 10, 1955, they were married for 57 years.
 
Gordon worked as an Insurance Account Executive in Group Employee Health Benefit Plans at CIGNA Insurance Company (formerly Connecticut General Life Insurance Company) in the Baltimore-Washington Office for most of his 42 year career. He was an enthusiastic boater and community volunteer.
 
Gordon is survived by his wife Mary Lou; his three children J. Mark (Carie) of California; Patricia (David) Swasko of Wisconsin; G. Christopher (Barbara) of Virginia; his grandchildren Justin, Abbey, and Noah; his step grandchildren Bradley and Connor; his brother G. Roger (Karen) of Oregon; his nieces and nephews; and the rest of his family and friends.
 
Gordon is preceded in death by his parents, Edwin C. and Elsie B. (Boehme) Hamilton.
 
His family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations are sent to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 4002018, Des Moines, IA 50340-2018.

Died from cancer on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at the Washington Hospital Center; the beloved husband of Betty Jean Aspelin; cherished father of Kurt D. (Kimberly) Aspelin and Lori J. (Charles) Shilling; grandfather of Brett and Daniel Shilling; step-grandfather of Justin and Courtney Gamble. He was the oldest of five siblings survived by his brother and sister Bruce Aspelin and Jean Wendland and also survived by numerous neices, nephews and other relatives and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to Arnold's Life Celebration on Thursday, November 29 from 2-4 and 7-9pm at the GEORGE P. KALAS FUNERAL HOME, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 30 at 11am at Grace Lutheran Church, 10928 Indian Head Highway, Ft. Washington, MD. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. Please leave your thoughts and memories by signing the guestbook located to your bottom left.

Elias "Louie" Keshes, 82, of Annapolis, died Saturday, November 17 at Washington Hospital Center. He was born in Karavas, Cyprus on July 30, 1930, where he attended school and two years of college before coming to the United States in 1952. He made a career in the dairy industry, working for 16 years as a milkman for Greenspring Dairy, and later as a milk inspector with Embassy Dairy, which was owned by the Southland Corporation. Louie retired in 1993.
 
He was an avid flower and vegetable gardener. He was one of the original members of Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church and past president of the Greek school. Louie was known for his warm hospitality, always opening his home to visitors from his home country of Cyprus.
 
He is preceded in death by his brother, Dimitrakis Kishis.
 
Louie is survived by his wife of 56 years, Demetra; two daughters, Chrystallo Trachy and her husband Tom of Newark, DE and Sevaste Elias-Patchett of Annapolis; a brother, Costa Kishis of Cyprus; four grandchildren, Christopher Thomas Trachy, Andrew Robert Trachy, and Demetra Eliatha Trachy, all of Newark, DE, and Ana Veronica Phillips of Annapolis; and a host of loving nieces and nephews.
 
Friends are invited to Louie's Life Celebration from 6 to 8pm on Tuesday November 20 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater. His funeral service will be held at 11am on Wednesday November 21 at Ss. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 2747 Riva Road, Annapolis. Interment St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058-5216.

Arrangements are incomplete for James Dennison who died Friday, November 16 at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Please check back later for details. In the meantime, feel free to sign the online guestbook using the link on this page.

JOHN R. HIGGS (80)
 
On November 16, 2012, died peacefully at home in Owings, MD with loving family at his side. Born April 19, 1932 in Washington, DC, John, the youngest of seven children of the late Thomas and Anna (Colvin) Higgs, was preceded in death by his six siblings. He served honorably in the US Army from 1952-1954 and was a 26-year member of the American Legion, Stallings-Williams Post 206. He was a mechanic in the elevator construction industry and retired in June 1992 as a member of the IUEC, Local #10. After his Army service John met and fell in love with Hilma (Penny) Larson; they married May 3, 1957. A loving and devoted husband and father, his beloved Penny preceded him in death after 42 years of marriage. Their five children, John Jr., Donald, Thomas, Mary and Anne, and ten grandchildren survive him. All will lovingly cherish and miss him. Friends and relatives may call on Sunday, November 25, from 2-4pm and 6-8pm, at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, where a funeral service will be held Monday, November 26, at 11:30am. Interment Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Crownsville, MD. Memorial donations can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation (www.michaeljfox.org) and/or Calvert Hospice (www.calverthospice.org).

Obituaries

Pearlie McDowell

Charles Rothenbecker

Tommy Burnett

Joan Hechler

Cecil Moran

Richard Pickens

Shigeko Asher

Bertha Johnson

Carl Robinson

Raymond Melago

Anne Smith

John Grooms

Carroll Hardesty

Alice Fioramonti

Edna Archer

Nicholas Moutsos

Elizabeth Offodile

Margaret Buchheister

Samuel Wood

E. Hamilton

Arnold Ph.D

Elias Keshes

James Dennison

John Higgs