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MERLE F. BUSER
Merle Franklin Buser, 55, Cumberland, died Sunday, April 22, 2007, at his home.
Born May 12, 1951, in Cumberland, he was the son of the late Dr. William H. and Joy E. Buser.
Surviving are his wife, Sally (Schoenbeck) Buser; two sons, Brandon Buser and Garrett Buser; one sister, Chris Raines, Pasadena; one brother, B.J. Buser, Swanton; and one granddaughter.
He was a teacher who taught at Oldtown Elementary, Cresaptown Elementary, Allegany High, Washington Middle, and Braddock Middle schools. He was also coordinator for acceleration and enrichment programs for the Allegany County Board of Education, personnel specialist for the Maryland State Department of Education, and a teacher in Calvert County.
He was a graduate of Frostburg State University, where he also received his master's degree in education and was a member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. He was active in coaching youth league baseball, basketball, soccer, and high school cross country, and had also been active in the church council at Christ Lutheran Church.
At his request, his body has been donated to the Maryland Anatomy Board.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 28, at 2 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, Vocke Road, LaVale, with the Rev. Charles Erzkus officiating.
Memorials can be made to the Christ Lutheran Church Building Fund or in honor of his granddaughter, Paeton Buser.
DORIS V. ARTIS
Doris Virginia Artis, 71, Oakland, died Sunday, June 17, 2007, at her residence.
Born April 17, 1936, in Logan County, W.Va., she was a daughter of the late Hedrick B. and Nellie (McKinney) Artis. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Haggar Artis, and a sister, Francis Elizabeth (Artis) McCoy.
Ms. Artis was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a retired coal miner.
She is survived by her sons, James David Ferrell and wife Brenda, Inez, Ky., and J.B. Chambers and wife Robin, Oakland; five grandchildren, Josh and Ashley Ferrell, and Jonathan, Derek, and Samantha Chambers; one great-grandchild, Avery Ferrell; and one brother, Everett Ray Artis, Beach Creek, W.Va.
At her request her body was cremated.
A private interment will be held in Kentucky.
Newman Funeral Home, Grantsville, was in charge of arrangements.
ESTEL E. BARR
Estel E. Barr, 86, Clarksburg, W.Va., formerly of Elk Garden, W.Va., died Thursday, June 21, 2007, at the Courtland Acres Nursing Home in Thomas, W.Va.
Born Aug. 20, 1920, in St. George, W.Va., he was a son of the late John and Flossie (Warner) Barr. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Irene (Casto) Barr; a son Richard "Ricky" Barr; and three brothers, Virgil, Kenny, and John Jr.
He retired from DNL Coal Company, where he worked as a diesel mechanic. He was an Army veteran of WWII.
He is survived by his brother, Chester Barr, Virginia; and a sister, Mary White, Clarksburg.
Friends were received at the David A. Burdock Funeral Home, Kitzmiller, where a service was held in the chapel on Saturday, June 23, with the Rev. Donald E. Marple officiating.
Interment followed in Potomac Memorial Gardens in Keyser, W.Va.
RICHARD L. BUTTS
Richard Lee Butts, 62, Oakland, died Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at the VA Medical Center in Martinsburg, W.Va.
Born March 18, 1945, in Shalmar, he was a son of the late David Leroy and Norma Eileen (Moon) Butts.
He was a retired truck driver. He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and a past commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter #29.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda Butts, Oakland; four daughters, Kim Friend, Corinth, W.Va, Sue Gnegy and Diane Pysell, both of Oakland, and Robin Tasker, Mtn. Lake Park; one brother, Joe Butts, Oakland; one sister, Betty Hanlin, Pasadena; and three grandchildren.
At his request, his body was cremated.
David A. Burdock Funeral Home, Oakland, was in charge of arrangements.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in his name to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.
WILLIAM C. TRAIL
William Charles Trail, 75, McHenry, and formerly of Arbutus, died Wednesday June 20, 2007, at Garrett County Memorial Hospital in Oakland.
Born Nov. 16, 1931, in Catonsville, he was the only child of the late William H. and Teresa M. (Applebee) Trail.
He was a 3rd Class petty officer in the Navy during the Korean conflict, and he served on the battleship Missouri and the cruiser USS Columbus. He retired after 35 years with Westinghouse.
He also carved ducks, built model boats, cut semi precious stones, was a silver smith, wrote a book on wire wrapping, and was an amateur astronomer.
He is survived by his wife, Constance (Burck) Trail, McHenry; and son William H. Trail, Burke, Va.
Friends were received at the David A. Burdock Funeral Home, Oakland, where a service was held on Saturday, June 23, with the Rev. Dr. Donald D. Forrester officiating.
Interment was held in Garrett Memorial Gardens.
DOLLY V. FRIDEL
Dolly V. Fridel, 90, Oakland, died Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at the Oakland Nursing and Rehab Center, Oakland.
Born on June 19, 1917, in Hutton, she was the daughter of the late Emory F. and Mary C. (Piefer) Elliott. She was also preceded in death by two husbands, John W. Trout and Charles Fridel; two daughters, Julia Thompson and Lois King; and two brothers, Rev. Elmer Elliott and Roy Elliott.
She worked as a cook at Garrett County Memorial Hospital, Oakland.
She is survived by two sons, Leroy Trout, Baltimore, and Walter Trout, Glen Burnie.
Friends were received at the Stewart Funeral Home, Oakland, where a service was held on Monday, June 25, with Rev. Gail Hixon officiating.
Interment was in the Underwood Cemetery, Oakland.
DOROTHY R. VLODEK
Dorothy R. Vlodek, 85, Terra Alta, W.Va., died Saturday, June 23, 2007, at her home.
Born on March 20, 1922, in Terra Alta, she was the daughter of the late Dewey and Dorothy B. (McCarty) (Loughlin) Bestwick. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Andrew A. Vlodek, in 1994.
She is survived by three daughters, Dorothy A. Harsh, Frederick, Mary R. Shaffer, Bunker Hill, W.Va., and Nancy K. Baker, Terra Alta; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
Friends were received at the Stewart Funeral Home, Oakland, where a service was held on Wednesday, June 27, with Rev. Kathy Snyder and Rev. Raymond Martin officiating.
Interment was in the Terra Alta Cemetery.
DANIEL BARACH
Daniel Barach, 78, Swanton, formerly of Weirton, W.Va., died Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at Garrett County Memorial Hospital, Oakland.
Born March 13, 1929, in Weirton, he was a son of the late Rose (Tatolovich) and Mike Barach. He was also preceded in death by one brother, George Barach; and one sister, Mildred Plunko.
He was a member of the First Christian Church and the 25 Year Club at Weirton Steel Corporation. He retired after 41 years at Weirton Steel, and worked in the strip steel department of the Hot Mill Reheating Furnace.
He is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Dorothy (Morrison) Barach; two brothers, Milan Barach, Weirton, and Robert Barach, Hallandale, Fla.; two sons, David J. Barach and wife Piper, Canterbury, Conn., and Darin Barach and wife Kathleen, Harrisburg, Pa.; and three grandchildren.
Friends were received at the Steel & Wolfe Funeral Home, Weirton, where a service was held on Saturday, June 23, with Rev. Kevin L. Bowers officiating.
Interment was held in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
MARY A. RICE
Mary A. Rice, 59, Finzel, died on Wednesday, June 20, 2007, following a two-year struggle with cancer, at WMHS Memorial Campus, Cumberland.
Born March 20, 1948, in Oakland, she was the daughter of Nellie (Murphy) Sell, Oakland, and the late Arnold Sell.
She was a homemaker and a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church.
Surviving in addition to her mother are her husband of 41 years, William L. Rice; three daughters, Terry Shumaker, Tracey Loar, and Tonya Deakin, all of Finzel; two sisters, Carolyn Harsh, Aurora, W.Va., and Jo Della Stahl, Oakland; one brother, John Sell, Keyser, W.Va.; three granddaughters; and one grandson.
Friends were received at the Durst Funeral Home, Frostburg, where a service was held on Saturday, June 23, with Fr. Ed Hendricks officiating.
Interment was held in the Finzel Cemetery.
The family requests memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society, 182 Mechanic Street N., Cumberland, MD 21502.
Bertha H. Allen
Sparrows Point native Bertha Helen Allen, 90, died Dec. 5 [2004] at Johns Hopkins Bayview Geriatric Center.
Born at home on H Street in Sparrows Point, the former Bertha Pasek, the oldest of six children, was 11 years old when her family moved to Graceland Park and only 12 when she went to work at Lever Brothers. She also worked at Crosse & Blackwell for two years before marrying C. Howard Allen on April 21, 1932, and becoming a full-time homemaker.
They lived in Highlandtown for the first 20 years of their 60-year marriage before moving to Eastbrook Avenue in Eastwood. After her husband died in 1992, she moved to Essex to live with her daughter, Beverly Baron.
When her children were teen-agers, Mrs. Allen went to work for Bendix Corp., retiring after about 20 years.
She belonged to Dundalk AARP Chapter 880 and had been a longtime member of Our Lady of Fatima Church.
In addition to her daughter, she is survived by sons Michael Allen of New Jersey and Charles H. Allen Jr. of Eastwood, sisters Margaret Grammer and Rosemary Pasek, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A brother, Frank A. Pasek, and two sisters, Mildred Meachum and Helen Moore, also predeceased her.
A Mass of Christian burial on Dec. 9 at Our Lady of Fatima Church was followed by interment at Gardens of Faith Cemetery.
Regina M. Roberts
Regina Marie Roberts, 73, died Dec. 19 [2004] at her daughter's home in Berkshire.
Born Sept. 16, 1931, in Baltimore, the former Regina Oberle attended St. Elizabeth's School and had been a member of St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church. Years ago, she worked at Dundalk Marine Terminal.
She lived in East Baltimore until 2003, when she became a widow and moved to her daughter's home on Old North Point Road.
Devoted to her grandchildren, she also enjoyed playing bingo, especially at the United Steelworkers of America hall.
Predeceased on Nov. 18, 2003, by her husband, Vincent L. Roberts, she is survived by seven children, Joseph Aleusia, Charles Hogarth, Cecelia Port, Regina Kolacz and Patrick, Paul and Vincent Roberts Jr., brother George Oberle, sisters Margaret Rickick and Mary Oberle, 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Services were held Dec. 22 at Duda-Ruck Funeral Home. Interment followed at Holly Hill Memorial Gardens.
Alice L. Thurston
Plaza Drive homemaker Alice Lee Thurston died Dec. 2 [2004] at age 92.
Born Feb. 9, 1912, in Louisa, Va., the former Alice Simms and her husband lived near Sparrows Point for many years.
Mrs. Thurston enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family.
Predeceased in 1967 by her husband, Roy J. Thurston, she is survived by sons Gerald "Joe" Thurston and E. Ray Thurston, daughters Peggy Campbell and Ida Gray Evans, brother Hardin Simms, sister Lorraine Leake, 19 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren. She also was predeceased by four children, Patsy Ann, James E., C. Stuart and Jack P. Thurston.
Services were held Dec. 6 at Connelly Funeral Home. Interment followed at Oak Lawn Cemetery.
Estelle M. Zapora
Estelle Marie Zapora (nee Roberts), 81, a lifelong member of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, died Nov. 22 [2004] at Stella Maris Hospice.
A Gray Manor homemaker for 52 years, Mrs. Zapora devoted her life to taking care of her family and her home.
She was born and raised in Baltimore and was a graduate of Mergenthaler Vocational High School. In high school, she developed a love for sewing, a skill she enjoyed throughout her life. Years ago, one of her favorite pastimes was making clothes for her children and herself.
After high school, she worked briefly for a Baltimore clothing manufacturer. During World War II, she worked at Glenn L. Martin.
As a member of Edgemere Senior Center and the Edgemere Merrymakers, she especially enjoyed taking day trips, playing bingo and socializing.
After her husband retired from a long career with the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, they vacationed from Nova Scotia to the Florida Keys, enjoying the outdoors, the water and the seafood.
She is survived by three children, Maxine Marie Lovellette of Bracey, Va., Mary Lynn Myers of Aberdeen and Robert Lee Zapora of Baltimore, brother Owen Bernard Roberts, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Max Zapora, and a brother, Joseph Roberts.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Nov. 24 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Interment followed at Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery.
Contributions may be made in her memory to Stella Maris Hospice, 2300 Dulaney Valley Road, Timonium, MD 21093.
