Obituaries
Marion B. Houser
Marion B. Houser, 85, passed on Monday, May 15, 2017, of La Plata, MD, devoted wife of Samuel L. Houser for 52 years and beloved mother to Jimmy, Steve, John and Cathy. Loving grandmother to 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Daughter of Edward and Lena Disney. Marion retired from Giant Food after being selected as the first woman to attend Management training and performing as a grocery manager for 34 years.
Some of Marion’s hobbies included counted-cross stitch, working in the yard, and playing the piano. Marion was an active member of the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and was a member and president of Sarah’s Circle and participated in the church choir. She volunteered countless hours to Meals on Wheels, American Red Cross Blood Drives and several church activities.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 19 at the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 27108 Mt. Zion Church Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. The gathering will begin at 10 a.m. with the memorial service beginning at 11 a.m. with lunch to follow the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations in Marion’s name to either the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Sarah’s Circle or to the Hospice House of Waldorf.
James Austin Warder
James Austin Warder, 95, passed away peacefully at Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral, Florida, on May 8, 2017. He was born Jan. 3, 1922, to the late Annie Belle (Bowie) and Harry Irving Warder of Marbury, Md. He was the seventh of ten children, and their last living child. He was a 1939 graduate of Lackey High School in Indian Head, Md.
He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Lydia Rebecca (Eastburn) Warder; his grandson, James (Jimmy) Reed Turner Sr.; grandsons: James (Jim) Reed Turner Jr. and Anthony (Tony) Filmore Turner; also, his brothers: Harold, Wilson, Aubrey, Sonny; and sisters: Irma, Marguerite, Teenie, Mary Rosalee, and Gloria.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Sandra Benson (born on his 21st birthday), and her husband Ray; granddaughter, Terry (Turner) Sherman, and husband John; grandchildren: Christopher; Ryan (wife Alex); Collin Sherman; and great-granddaughter, Alexis Turner. He will also be missed by many nieces and nephews of the large Warder family, and members of the Eastburn family.
Austin was very proud of his military service as a Seabee. After World War II began, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 20. He spent 27 months in the South Pacific on the American Samoan Islands, with Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit #506, building airplane runways and roads, and a hospital and barracks for the wounded and sick. Following Honorable Discharge from the Navy once the war ended, Austin found employment at the Naval Powder Factory in Indian Head. He worked his way up the ladder to become a Director of the Public Works Department for the (renamed) Naval Ordinance Station.
When Austin and Lydia each had acquired 35 years of government service, they retired to Cape Coral, where they spent many happy years of golfing, boating, gardening, traveling with friends and family, and enjoying the warm climate. They moved from their home to Gulf Coast Village in 2004. Austin and Lydia had been married for 67 years when Lydia passed away in 2009.
Austin was a thoughtful, devoted, honest man who was admired by many. He loved nothing more than spending time with family, and his love for his family was clear to all who knew him. He had a keen sense of humor, and a love of music. He and Lydia were Washington Redskins fans, and held season tickets on the 50 yard line for many years before retiring to Florida.
The family thanks and appreciates the love and compassion provided by the caregivers of Gulf Coast Village, GCV Home Health Care, and Hope Hospice.
A funeral service will be held in the Coral Ridge Funeral Home and Cemetery Chapel on May 20, at 11:30 a.m., with visitation from 10-11:30. Interment will follow the service, at graveside, with Military Honors.
Please visit www.coralridgefuneralhome.com to share in his Life Story and to leave thoughts and memories for his family.
Patricia Anne Paulk
Patricia Anne “Nana” Paulk, 82, of Hughesville, MD, died May 15, 2017 in La Plata. Patricia was a graduate of Anacostia High School where she helped design the Indian mascot. Following high school, she worked as a draftsman for C&P Telephone Company. She played and coached baseball with her son. She was a long time volunteer with Meals-On-Wheels and was known as a loving grandmother and friend.
Daughter of the late George Walter Clark Jr. and the late Sarah Julia McRar y Clark. Also predeceased by her husband, Artie F. Paulk Jr.; late brother, Richard E. Anderson; and her late sister, Barbara L. Owens. She is survived by her son, Douglas M. Paulk and her daughter-inlaw Laura; two granddaughters: Whitney Paulk; Meagan Paulk and her husband Dustin Morris.
Friends received on Saturday, May 20, from 10:30 a.m. until service time at 12 Noon at Raymond Funeral Service, P.A., La Plata, MD.
Memorials in Patricia’s name are asked to Humane Society of Charles County or Meals-On-Wheels. A guestbook is available online at:www. raymond funeral service. com
Jill J. Kidwell
Jill J. Kidwell, 70, of Hyattsville, MD, died surrounded by family on April 29, 2017. She was born on Feb. 5, 1947 in D.C., of the late Louis and Evelyn Bayly.
She is also preceded in death by her son, Justin Barnes Jr. Survived by her children: Larry Barnes and Joyce and Johnny Boling; three sisters: Virginia Evans, Lou and Ernest Strawderman, Arlene and Allan Edelen; granddaughters: Jackie, Caitie, Lauren; grandson, John; great grand kids: Camille and Trey; God-children: Angela, Ryan, and Crystal.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, May 19 at Peace Lutheran Church in Waldorf.
Donations may be sent to Peace Lutheran Church’s food pantry.
Gordon Lee Thurston
On May 15, 2017, Gordon Lee Thurston, 60, peacefully passed away at his home in La Plata, MD from leukemia.
He was the only son of Gordon Thurston and Shirley (Thurston) Vermillion.
He is survived by his four sisters: Virginia Poe (brother-in-law Randy); Barbara Thurston; Lottie Gray (brotherin-law Steve); and Susan Thurston. He was loved by his three nieces and one nephew: Tina (husband John); Chrissy; Courtney (husband Bryan); Tyler; one great niece, Brittney; and one great nephew, Austin.
Gordon will be remembered for his love of all animals, rock-n-roll music, the Rolling Stones, and his many trips to the beach, especially Ocean City, MD. The family is planning a private service. A guestbook is available online atwww. raymond funeral s er vice.com.
Barbara Jean Wright Griffin
Barbara Jean Wright Griffin, 78, was born May 27, 1938 in Washington, DC, passed away on May 13, 2017 at her residence in Stevensville, formerly of Charles County, MD, to Gertude Carpenter Wright McWilliams and Shurbey A. Wright, both deceased, of Indian Head, MD.
After graduating from Lackey High School in 1956, Barbara Jean attended the University of Mar yland, graduating with a degree in Education. She taught first grade in Prince Georges County. Following her teaching career, Barbara Jean became the Director of the Southern Maryland Room at the College of Southern Maryland and then went on to serve as the Executive Director of the Licensed Beverage Association of Maryland.
Barbara Jean is survived by her husband of 31 years, Earl Griffin; younger sister, Judy Wright Huber; nephew, Brent Huber and wife Laura, and children Alex and Nicole; niece Lora Huber and husband Scott Rosado and son Noah; nephew, Shurbey Huber and wife Jennifer and children Zoey Huber and Liam and Madison Overby.
Barbara was an avid golfer and holds the hole-in-one record at Cove Creek Club, Stevensville, MD, with six. She maintained homes in both Stevensville, MD, and Hobe Sound, Florida.
Ser vices were held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Queenstown, MD.
Memorial contributions may be made to: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, De Cesaris Cancer Institute, Annapolis, MD, and Friendship House, College of Southern Maryland, La Plata, MD.