CATHERINE E. DWYER
ORLANDO, Fla. - Catherine Elvin Dwyer, 79, a graduate of Frostburg's Beall High in 1936, died in Orlando on Nov. 15, 1998.
Daughter of the assistant plant manager at Celanese Corporation's since-closed Cumberland plant, the former Catherine Davidson Elvin graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1940 and attended graduate school at Columbia University. During the early years of World War II, she taught in Westernport and worked for the Social Security Administration in Cumberland. She was related by marriage to George Legg, former Cumberland mayor.
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, she emigrated at the age of 5 to North America, where her father supervised the construction of plants for Celanese Corporation. After brief residency in Quebec, her family settled in Frostburg. Her father, William J. Elvin, was president of Frostburg's Rotary Club. He, her mother Annie, and her brother George are buried in Frostburg.
In 1943, she married
Frank A. Dwyer, now a retired Army colonel. Their 55-year marriage took them and their children overseas to assignments in Guam, Hawaii, Heidelberg, Germany, and Nuremberg, Germany. Mrs. Dwyer returned to Frostburg for extended periods in the 1940s and 1950s when her husband was posted overseas or while waiting to join him abroad, and her children were baptized at Frostburg's First Presbyterian Church.
An accomplished pianist, Mrs. Dwyer was organist for the choir at First Presbyterian. During her career as a military wife, she was accorded recognition for her work in churches and with children. She was lay representative for U.S. Army Headquarters, Europe, at a convocation of military chaplains in Berchtesgarten, Germany.
Mrs. Dwyer will be buried in Arlington National cemetery. Survivors include her husband; a brother, William Elvin, McLean, Va.; a sister, Mary Simons, Timonium, Md.; three daughters, Catherine Reischmann, Winter Springs, Fla., Mary Rogers, Boca Raton, Fla., and Virginia Leslie, Ellicott City, Md.; two sons, William Dwyer, Woodland Hills, Calif., and Frank Dwyer, Germantown, Md.; and 10 grandchildren.
LOMAN E. BENNETT
LAVALE - Loman Everett Bennett, 89, of LaVale, formerly of Industrial Boulevard, Cumberland, died Monday, Nov. 23, 1998, at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Born Sept. 27, 1909, in Junior, W.Va., he was the son of the late Ora Bruce Bennett and Gertrude (Heffer) Bennett Bibey. He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Leona (Twigg) Bennett.
Mr. Bennett was a former employee of Frantz Grocery and A&P; Stores, Cumberland, Home Beneficial Life Insurance, and retired from People's Life Insurance Company. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, and the Ridgeley V.F.W.
Surviving are one son, John Bruce Bennett and wife, Jennifer, LaVale; one brother, Willard "Bill" Bennett, Essex; two sisters, Edriess Wright, Roanoke, Va., and Dorothy Bean, Wiley Ford, W.Va.
Friends will be received at Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Ave., on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., and on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. There will be no visitation on Thursday.
Funeral services will be conducted at the funeral home on Saturday at 11 a.m. with Fr. Vance Pastorius, O.F.M., Cap. officiating.
Interment will be in Greenmount cemetery, Cumberland.
MARGARET DURST
GRANTSVILLE - Mary Margaret Durst, 86, of 135 Baker Road, Grantsville, died Monday, Oct. 26, 1998, at Goodwill Mennonite Home, Grantsville.
Born Sept. 10, 1912, in Jennings she was a daughter of the late Thomas Tobias and Della Ellen (Wilt) Bittinger. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry C. Durst, on April 29, 1963.
Mrs. Durst was a member of Jennings United Methodist Church, the W.S.C.S., and was a homemaker.
She is survived by a son, Harry K. Durst, Grantsville; two daughters, Karin L. Durst, Grantsville, and Geni H. Sines, Friendsville; a brother, Calvin Bittinger, Grantsville; a sister, Claudia Tressler, Loch Lynn; four grandchildren, Kay Perry, Carol Newman, Michael and Megan Sines; and four great-grandsons, Jason Perry, Geoffrey, Aaron and Cameron Newman.
Friends will be received at the Newman Funeral Homes, P.A., Grantsville, on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Jennings United Methodist Church with Pastor Brenda Shreve officiating. Interment will be in Grantsville cemetery. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to services.
Expressions of sympathy may be directed to either Jennings United Methodist Church or to Hospice of Garrett County.
RICHARD C. BERGER
CUMBERLAND - Richard Charles Berger, 45, of Winchester Road, Cumberland, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 1998, in Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va.
He was born on July 9, 1953, in Hendricks, Minn., the son of Floyd and Eleanor (Grenz) Berger, Medford, Wisc.
Mr. Berger was a member of LaVale United Methodist Church. He was a Supervisor at Bayliner, and was a member of Cresaptown Eagles Aerie #2883.
In addition to his parents he is survived by his wife, Joann (Serreyn) Berger; his mother-and father-in-law, Roy and Audrey Steffes, Ivanhoe, Minn.; two daughters, Jennifer Berger, a Senior at The College of Notre Dame of Maryland, and Megan, a Senior at Allegany High School; two sisters, Janice Todd and husband Sharp, Boise, Idaho, and Beverly Mylin, Portland, Ore.; and two brothers, Larry Berger and wife, Marlis, Holcomb, Wisc., and Ronald Berger and wife, Anna, Portland, Ore.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received in the Hafer Chapel of the Hills Mortuary, 1302 National Highway, LaVale, on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be held in the LaVale United Methodist Church, LaVale, on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Bernadette Ross officiating. Mr. Berger will be taken to the church one hour prior to services.
Additional viewing and services will be conducted in Lake Benton, Minn. Interment will be in Memorial Hill cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mr. Berger to the LaVale United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 565 National Highway, LaVale, MD 21502.
Pallbearers will be Steve Shockey, Michael "Mickey" Growden, Mark Corwell, Todd Lau, Jim Gilbert Sr., William "Bubby" Horn, Steve Nixon and Cecil Fields. Honorary pallbearers will be Kurt Tomlinson, Larry Kenney, Jay Hall, Ken Deetz, Richard Irons and Junior Moreland.
IONA V. DURST
ORLANDO, Fla. - Iona V. Durst, 80, of 5505 Hernandes Drive, Orlando, passed away in the comfort of her own home on Friday, Nov. 20, 1998, after a long illness.
Born Sept. 9, 1918, in Sutton, Garrett County, Md., she was the daughter of the late Louis F. and Clara L. (Crowe) Coleman. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her second husband, John L. Durst, in 1970; and one grandson, Rick Myers, in 1984.
She was a homemaker, and a bookkeeper for Neilson Lumber Co., Frostburg, Md. She was a member of the Frostburg Church of the Brethren, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, St. Paul's Naomi Circle, Ocoee, Fla., and Crystal Cathedral Ministries, Garden Grove, Calif.
She was a member of AARP Chapter 8, Orlando; Ladies Auxiliary Fraternal Order of Eagles 1273, Women of the Moose Chapter 221, Ladies of the Elks Lodge 470, and Farrady Unit 24 American Legion Auxiliary, all of Frostburg; and VFW 6025 Old Rail Post, Mount Savage, Ladies Auxiliary.
Surviving are her longtime friend and companion, Raymond "Chief" Rabanus, Orlando; two daughters, Kaye Myers and husband Jim, Frostburg, Virginia "Ginger" Kamauff and husband Bob, Ocoee; one son, Russell "Rocky" Keister Jr. and wife Judy, Portland, Ore.; two brothers, Hubert Coleman, Ridgeley, W.Va., and Ronald Coleman, Hagerstown, Md.; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Durst Funeral Home, 57 Frost Ave., Frostburg, on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
A memorial service will be conducted at the funeral home on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. by Farrady Unit 24 American Legion Ladies Auxiliary.
Services will be conducted at the funeral home on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Richard Riley officiating.
Interment will be in the Frostburg Memorial Park.
EARL EDWIN CLITES
CUMBERLAND - Earl Edwin Clites, 79, of Cumberland, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 26, 1998, at Memorial Hospital.
Born May 3, 1918, in Cumberland, he was the son of the late William and Ida Pearl (Logdson) Clites. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Ruby Jane Clites, on June 27, 1993.
Mr. Clites was a World War II veteran and served 27 years as an operating engineer for Cumberland Contractors. He pioneered, with his wife, the Lake Gordon Assembly of God Church, and served on the board of trustees. He was very loving, devoted and faithful to his Lord and Family.
Surviving are one son, Mark E. Clites, and wife, Pamela J. (Lease); one daughter, Diane L. Clites See and husband, Harold L.; five grandchildren, Samantha Jane Clites, Crystal Ann Clites, Michelle Anderson, Sandra Plummer, Thomas L. Murphy; and eight great-grandchildren, all of Cumberland; two brothers, Bill Clites and Clarence Clites, both of York, Pa.; one sister, Eva Boorhees and husband, Jim, Cumberland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Ave., on Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be conducted at Lake Gordon Assembly of God Church on Sunday at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Bernard A. Yost officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park.
RICHARD C. BERGER
CUMBERLAND - Richard Charles Berger, 45, of Winchester Road, Cumberland, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 1998, in Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va.
He was born on July 9, 1953, in Hendricks, Minn., the son of Floyd and Eleanor (Grenz) Berger, Medford, Wisc.
Mr. Berger was a member of LaVale United Methodist Church. He was a Supervisor at Bayliner, and was a member of Cresaptown Eagles Aerie #2883.
In addition to his parents he is survived by his wife, Joann (Serreyn) Berger; his mother-and father-in-law, Roy and Audrey Steffes, Ivanhoe, Minn.; two daughters, Jennifer Berger, a Senior at The College of Notre Dame of Maryland, and Megan, a Senior at Allegany High School; two sisters, Janice Todd and husband Sharp, Boise, Idaho, and Beverly Mylin, Portland, Ore.; and two brothers, Larry Berger and wife, Marlis, Lake Benton, Minn., and Ronald Berger and wife, Anna, Holcomb, Wisc.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Friends were received in the Hafer Chapel of the Hills Mortuary, 1302 National Highway, LaVale, on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will be held in the LaVale United Methodist Church, LaVale, on Wednesday at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Bernadette Ross officiating. Mr. Berger will be taken to the church one hour prior to services.
Additional viewing and services will be conducted in Lake Benton, Minn. Interment will be in Memorial Hill cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Mr. Berger to the LaVale United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 565 National Highway, LaVale, MD 21502.
Pallbearers will be Steve Shockey, Michael "Mickey" Growden, Mark Corwell, Todd Lau, Jim Gilbert Sr., William "Bubby" Horn, Steve Nixon and Cecil Fields. Honorary pallbearers will be Curt Tomlinson, Larry Kenney, Jay Hall, Ken Deetz, Richard Irons, Junior Moreland and Jeff Shaffer.
