OBITUARIES | Maryland Gazette (HometownGlenBurnie.com)

Dimitri Adamopoulos, 23, a lifelong resident of Glen Burnie, died June 26.

Mr. Adamopoulos was born Nov. 1, 1984, in Baltimore, to Sharon Adamopoulos of Glen Burnie and the late Apostolos Adamopoulos. He graduated from Glen Burnie High School in 2002.

He worked for Best Buy in inventory while he was in high school.

Mr. Adamopoulos greatly enjoyed grilling, playing soccer, his dog and traveling to Greece.

Survivors include one sister, Kara DeVito of Baltimore; and his grandparents, Dorothy Austin of Florida and Vaso Adamopoulos of Greece.

Services were held yesterday at Singleton Funeral and Cremation Services. Interment is private.

Veronica Burl

Veronica Doris Burl, 86, a recent resident of Pasadena and member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, died June 28 at Baltimore Washington Medical Center after a brief illness.

Mrs. Burl was born Nov. 19, 1921, in Baltimore. She lived in Brooklyn for 54 years prior to moving to Pasadena.

She enjoyed bus trips, attending Mass, singing and dancing.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, James E. Burl.

Survivors include two daughters, Doris V. Burl and Patricia J. Price of Pasadena; and one grandchild.

A Mass of Christian burial was offered yesterday at St. Rose of Lima Church. Interment is in Glen Haven Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Gregory J. Gonce Funeral Home.

Diane Cowger

Diane B. Cowger, 66, a 24-year resident of Pasadena and avid traveler, died of natural causes June 28 at Baltimore Washington Medical Center after a two-year illness.

Mrs. Cowger was born April 15, 1942, in Baltimore, to the late Lawrence Griffiths and Margaret Fousak. She lived in Crownsville before moving to Pasadena.

A homemaker, she enjoyed her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed yard sales, reading and traveling, especially to Hawaii, Mexico, the Bahamas and Las Vegas.

Survivors include her husband of 33 years, Eldon L. Cowger; two sons, Kevin Brickley of Caroline County and Ronald DeMoss of Anne Arundel County; three brothers, Raymond, Wayne and Gary Griffiths, all of Anne Arundel County; one sister, Darlene Deal of Old Town; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at Gonce Funeral Service, 4001 Ritchie Highway in Brooklyn. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. in Glen Haven Memorial Park.

Linda Darpino

Linda Darpino, 57, a 20-year resident of Pasadena and member of the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary for over 10 years, died June 27 at her home.

Mrs. Darpino was born Jan. 18, 1951, in Fredericksburg, Va., to Delores Thomas of Virginia and the late Tommy Thomas.

A homemaker, she enjoyed playing the lottery, Keno and bingo.

She was preceded in death by her husband Michael Darpino.

Survivors include three sons, Joey Jernigan and Michael Darpino Jr. of Pasadena and Marty Darpino of Crumpton; two brothers, Tommy Thomas of Baltimore and Edward Thomas of Tennessee; three sisters, Marie Snow, Bonnie Herndon and Faye Thomas, all of Virginia; six grandchildren; and her former husband, John R. Jernigan of Pasadena.

Family and friends may visit from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Stallings Funeral Home, 3111 Mountain Road in Pasadena.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Gerald Harting

Gerald W. "Jerry" Harting, 72, a 40-year resident of Pasadena and president of his family's 100-year old company, died June 28 at his home.

Mr. Harting was born Feb. 13, 1936, in Baltimore, to the late Charles and Catherine Harting. He lived in Lansdowne prior to moving to Pasadena.

He was president of Harting and Sons Building Supplies Inc., which has been at the same location in Lansdowne since 1908.

Mr. Harting was a member of Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

He enjoyed boating, fishing and eating crabs.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Lorraine M. Harting.

Survivors include two daughters, Sharon Giannotti of Lake Norman, N.C., and Judy Kakuk of Pasadena; one brother, Dennis Harting of Marriottsville; two sisters, Catherine Gilliss of Coconut Creek, Fla., and Anita Kruger of Merritt Island, Fla.,; and two granddaughters.

Family and friends may visit from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Stallings Funeral Home, 3111 Mountain Road in Pasadena.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 110 Ritchie Highway. Interment will be in Glen Haven Memorial Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 110 Ritchie Highway, Pasadena, MD 21122 or Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Catherine Hoffman

Catherine Margaret Hoffman, 93, a 72-year resident of Orchard Beach and a member of the St. Jane Frances Senior Club, died June 27 at her home after a six-month illness.

Mrs. Hoffman was born Sept. 3, 1914, in Baltimore, where she also lived before moving to Orchard Beach.

She was a member of the Riviera Beach Bowling League.

A homemaker, Mrs. Hoffman enjoyed bingo, crocheting, bowling, cards and her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Richard Wiley Hoffman; two sons, Richard W. and Kenneth M. Hoffman; and one sister, Patricia Snyder.

Survivors include one son, Stephen Hoffman of Hurlock; two daughters, Catherine Buck and Helen Sass of Pasadena; one sister, Thelma Lawton of Baltimore; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. today at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church, 8499 Virginia Ave., Pasadena. A procession will begin at 9:30 a.m. from Gregory J. Gonce Funeral Home, 169 Riviera Drive in Pasadena. Interment in Glen Haven Memorial Park will follow at 11:30 a.m.

Samuel Jefferies Jr.

Samuel G. Jefferies Jr., 50, a 17-year resident of Pasadena and a truck driver, died June 26 at his home after an illness lasting several months.

Mr. Jefferies was born Jan. 27, 1958, in Baltimore, to the late Samuel G. Jefferies Sr. and Carol Foy Jefferies Miller. He lived in Dundalk before moving to Pasadena.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, football, car racing and bingo. He also enjoyed mechanics, model building and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife of three years, Crystal L. Bowen Jefferies; two sons, Samuel C. Jefferies III of Pasadena and Tommy Rager of Baltimore; one daughter, Kaitlyn M. Jefferies of Pasadena; one brother, Dale L. Jefferies of Virginia Beach, Va; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Kirkley-Ruddick Funeral Home, 421 Crain Highway S.E. in Glen Burnie. Interment in Glen Haven Memorial Park will immediately follow.

Robert Jones

Robert B. Jones, 75, a 39-year resident of Millersville and an auto worker for General Motors for 32 years, died of natural causes June 27 at his home.

Mr. Jones was born June 5, 1933, in Baltimore.

He served in the Marine Corps from January 1952 to June 1953 during the Korean War. He achieved the rank of sergeant and was decorated with the Silver Star.

He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.

Mr. Jones enjoyed spending time with his family, racing, fishing, crabbing and ice hockey. He also took pride in his vehicles and enjoyed yard work, putt putt golf, dogs and keeping up with current events. He was known as a "people person."

He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Ruth Catherine Jones; and one sister, Hazel Hartman.

Survivors include one son, Robert Blaine Jones of Baltimore; one daughter, Sharon Lynch of Millersville; and two grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Singleton Funeral and Cremation Services, 1 Second Ave, S.W. in Glen Burnie.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the funeral home. Interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Clayton Koehler Jr.

Clayton Howard Koehler Jr, 76, a 36-year resident of Severn and an Air Force veteran, died of natural causes June 26 at his home after a seven-year illness.

Mr. Koehler was born Feb. 9, 1932, in Baltimore, to the late Clayton and Gayle Koehler Sr.. He graduated from Baltimore City High School.

He served in the Air Force for eight years.

He worked for the Social Security Administration for 30 years before he retired. Mr. Koehler enjoyed puzzles and watching John Wayne movies. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Linda J. Koehler; two sons, Scott Koehler of Glen Burnie and Stuart Koehler of Severn; one brother, Ed Hurd of Kingsville; one sister, Gayle Detorie of Baltimore; and three grandchildren.

Services were held Sunday at Singleton Funeral and Cremation Services. Interment is private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Delmont United Methodist Church, 1219 Delmont Road, Severn, MD 21144.

Diana Lang

Diana Miotto Lang, 42, a three-year resident of Ellicott City, formerly of Severn and a homemaker, died June 28 at Gilchrist Hospice Care.

Mrs. Lang was born May 17, 1966, in Washington, D.C. to Albert Miotto of Silver Spring and Angela Miotto of Greenbelt. She graduated from Bowie High School. Before moving to Ellicott City, she lived in Severn for eight years.

Survivors include her husband, Matthew E. Lang; three sons, Garrett, Aidan and Carson Lang of Ellicott City; one daughter, Bridget Lang of Ellicott City; one brother, Steve Miotto; and three sisters, Lisa, Ginina and Andrea Miotto.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, 9325 Presbyterian Circle, in Ellicott City. Interment in St. John's Cemetery in Ellicott City will follow at 11:30 a.m.

Arrangements are by Harry H. Witzke's Family Funeral Home Inc.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Diana and Matthew Lang Family Fund, 501 Windy Knolls Court, Millersville, MD 21108, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, 200 E. Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286 or Gilchrist Hospice Care, 555 Towsontown Blvd., Towson, MD 21204

Joseph McCann

Joseph F. McCann, 88, a resident of Glen Burnie for many years and warehouse manager, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease June 28 at Crofton Convalescent Center after a seven-year illness.

Mr. McCann was born Feb. 19, 1920, in Philadelphia, to the late James and Anna McCann.

He was a member of the Glen Burnie Moose Lodge.

Mr. McCann enjoyed dancing.

He was preceded in death by two brothers; and six sisters.

Survivors include three sons, Joseph J. McCann of Milfold, Del., James J. McCann of Crownsville and Patrick M. McCann of Baltimore; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 7436 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. in Glen Burnie. Interment will be in Glen Haven Memorial Park. Arrangements are by Singleton Funeral and Cremation Services.

Kristine Moore

Kristine Moore, 49, an 11-year resident of Pasadena and a doctor's office manager at Mercy Hospital, died suddenly June 26 at Baltimore Washington Medical Center of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

Mrs. Moore was born Nov. 26, 1958, in Baltimore, to Guy and Irene Zimmerman of South Baltimore. She attended grade school at St. Mary Star of the Sea, then graduated in 1976 from Southern High School.

For 18 years, she was Dr. Mehtap A. Aygun's office manager at the hospital.

Mrs. Moore was a member of the Maryland Contractors and Realtors associations.

She enjoyed gardening, politics, helping those in need and her family.

She was preceded in death by one son, Andrew T. Moore.

Survivors include her husband of 25 years, Victor E. Moore; three sons, Victor A., Jordan G. and Joseph T. Moore, all of Pasadena; one daughter, Annie I. Moore of Pasadena; one brother, Brian Zimmerman of South Baltimore; one sister, Kathryn Williams of Glen Burnie; and one grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Lake Shore Baptist Church, 4613 Mountain Road in Pasadena. Interment in Glen Haven Memorial Park will follow at 1:30 p.m. Arrangements are by McCully-Polyniak Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Joseph and Annie Moore Educational Fund, c/o M&T Bank, Severna Park Branch, 576 Ritchie Highway Severna Park, MD 21146.

Melissa Serp

Melissa R. Serp, 28, a lifelong resident of Pasadena who attended Jenkins Memorial Church, died June 23.

Ms. Serp was born March 28, 1980, in Baltimore, the daughter of Deborah Heinecke of Pasadena.

She was a management trainee and food server.

Ms. Serp enjoyed horseback riding.

Survivors include her fiance, Trevor Stanley of Pasadena; her stepfather, William Heinecke of Pasadena; one daughter, Amaiah Dieter of Elkton; two sisters, Danielle Serp of Baltimore and Alexandra Serp of Pasadena; and her grandmothers, Shirley Wilkinson and Dorothy Serp.

Funeral services were held Monday at Stallings Funeral Home. Interment is in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Margaret Shaffer

Margaret P. Shaffer, 88, a three-year resident of Pasadena who enjoyed cooking for her family, died June 29.

Mrs. Shaffer was born Dec. 3, 1919, in Pennsylvania, to the late Ada P. White and John M. Jamieson. She previously lived in Flintstone for 25 years and Anne Arundel County for 33 years.

A homemaker, she also enjoyed crafts, sewing and crocheting.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee E. Shaffer; one brother, Dave Jamieson; and two sisters, Kathleen Jackson and June Raubaudh.

Survivors include two sons, Theodore Shaffer of Pasadena and Russell Shaffer of Keyser, W.Va.; one daughter, Margaret Huntzinger of Glen Burnie; one brother, John Jamieson of Florida; one sister, Anna Marie Poblette of Bel Air; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Stallings Funeral Home, 3111 Mountain Road in Pasadena. Visitation will begin at noon. Interment will be in Meadowridge Memorial Park.

Matthew Thierer

Matthew J. Thierer, 53, of Ellicott City, formerly of Linthicum and a lifelong nurseryman, died of a heart attack June 24 at Howard County General Hospital.

Mr. Thierer was born July 15, 1954, in Stuttgart, Germany, to Catherine Baltus Thierer of Linthicum Heights and the late Lt. Col. Kenneth Thierer. He attended schools in Berlin, Germany, and Monterey, Calif., before moving to Linthicum in 1964. In 1972, he graduated from Mount St. Joseph High School, then earned his bachelor's degree in engineering science from Loyola College in 1976.

His career as a nurseryman had its start at the age of 15 when he sold produce and flowers along Ritchie Highway for J&K Produce in Glen Burnie, and continued to do so while he attended college. After graduating from college, he became a partner at Garland's Garden Center in Catonsville, transforming it from a street-side enterprise into a million-dollar operation and garden center, and seeing it through a fire that destroyed the building before Thanksgiving of 1983. He would later work for Valley View Farms, where he was sales manager at the time of his death.

Mr. Thierer was active in his children's sports activities as well as with Boy Scouts, serving as a den leader for Pack 361 and a volunteer for Troop 944. He also was a communicant of St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church in Ellicott City.

Survivors include his wife of 22 years, the Denise Grabowski Thierer; two sons, Christopher M. and Timothy P. Thierer of Ellicott City; one daughter, Julie M. Thierer of Ellicott City; four brothers, Kenneth P. Thierer of Glen Burnie, Andrew P. Thierer of Ellicott City, George J. Thierer of Bel Air and James Thierer of Towson; and two sisters, Mary K. Thierer of Marriottsville and Barbara Nypaver of Middle River.

A Mass of Christian burial was offered Saturday at St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church. Interment is in St. John's Cemetery. Arrangements are by Harry H. Witzke's Family Funeral Home.

Thomas Wellham

Thomas J. Wellham, 89, a 60-year resident of Linthicum and World War II veteran, died of natural causes June 29 at Baltimore Washington Medical Center.

Mr. Wellham was born April 27, 1919, in Baltimore. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Loyola College.

He served in the Army during World War II and achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Mr. Wellham was an auditor for the State of Maryland Comptroller's office for 38 years. After that, he ran a small-engine repair shop.

He was a member of the Army Reserve Officers' Club and St. Philip Neri Catholic Church.

He enjoyed small-engine repair.

Survivors include two brothers, William Wellham of Linthicum and John Wellham of Ellicott City; and three sisters Mary and Frances Wellham and Marjorie Bavis of Linthicum.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 9 a.m. today at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 6405 S. Orchard Road in Linthicum. Interment will be in Loudon Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Singleton Funeral and Cremation Services.

Christine Westcott

Christine Mary Westcott, 86, a 55-year resident of Riviera Beach who worked for the National Biscuit Co. in the 1940s, died June 29 at her home after a two-year illness.

Mrs. Westcott was born Jan. 31, 1922, in Baltimore. She lived in South Baltimore before moving to Pasadena.

She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 53 years, Robert B. Westcott; and one brother, Thomas Fisher.

Survivors include one son, Robert T. Westcott of Orchard Beach; one daughter, Susan M. Harmon of Baltimore; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Gregory J. Gonce Funeral Home, 169 Riviera Drive, Pasadena. Interment in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville will follow at 2:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Hope Upton

Hope Marie Upton, 7, of Woodstock and a student at Calvary Chapel Christian Academy, died June 29 at Northwest Hospital of injuries sustained after being struck by a van.

Family and friends may visit from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Daugherty Family Funeral Home, 2601 Mountain Road in Pasadena.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Heritage Community Church, 8146 Quarterfield Road in Severn.

Richard Beatty

Richard H. Beatty, 76, of McSherrystown, Pa., and formerly of Anne Arundel County, died June 30 at York Hospital.

Family and friends may visit from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Murphy Funeral Home, Inc., 501 Ridge Ave, McSherrystown, Pa.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.