Retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. James F. Bowlin Sr., 84, a longtime resident of Jessup and a Pearl Harbor survivor, died of natural causes April 19 at his home. Lt. Cmdr. Bowlin was born Feb. 2, 1924, in Blue Star, Ky.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1940. His 30-year career included surviving severe injuries at the age of 17 aboard the USS California when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He went on to serve in the Pacific arena in the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway.

Following the war he served aboard ship in the Atlantic arena, attended Naval Weather School in New Jersey, then reported for duty in Washington, D.C., where he was involved in the formative years of the National Security Agency. He served as an aerographer’s mate and meteorologist during his naval career and was decorated with the Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation Medal and many other medals and awards. He retired from his last post at the National Security Agency in 1971.

As a civilian, Lt. Cmdr. Bowlin started Bowlin Realty and Bowlin Construction. He built homes from Baltimore to Northern Virginia. He retired in 2005.

He was a member of the Military Officers Association of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

He was known for his work ethic and compassion, and he was devoted to his family. In his retirement, one of his favorite pastimes was seeing the horses at the Laurel Race Course.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Jeanne Mary Hurley Bowlin; two sons, James Bowlin Jr. of Monument, Colo., and John Bowlin of Glen Burnie; two daughters, Nancy Curran of Cape St. Claire and Janet Cassedy of Laurel; one brother, Jack Bowlin of Hackettstown, N.J.; four sisters, Opal Salyer, Norma Worsfold and June Poe, all of Kingsport, Tenn., and Thelma Cline of Dante, Va.; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 11 a.m. July 30 at Arlington National Cemetery.

Irene Cunningham

Irene Wolf Cunningham, 77, of Stevensville, died of pneumonia April 22 at Future Care Chesapeake Nursing Home in Arnold.

The daughter of the late Herbert Wolf and Helen Labuda Wolf, Mrs. Cunningham was born June 22, 1930, in Baltimore, where she graduated in 1948 from The Catholic High School of Baltimore. She then graduated from St. Joseph’s Nursing School in 1951 and began working in nursing in the Baltimore area.

While working for the Army Hospital at Ft. Holabird, she met the base Provost Marshal Lt. Col. Donald H. Cunningham, whom she married in 1963. The couple then moved to Stuttgart, Germany, in 1964. During the next several years they also lived in Brooklyn, N.Y. In 1971 the couple moved to Stevensville.

Mrs. Cunningham entered the real estate business in 1976 and served as president of the Queen Anne’s County Association of Realtors. She retired in the early 1980s.

Following her husband’s death in 1994, Mrs. Cunningham traveled occasionally to Europe and enjoyed her home and family.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Elaine Wolf Paalz, who died in 1981. Surviving are one son, Curtis Cunningham of Queenstown; one stepson Donald H. Cunningham Jr. of Falls Church, Va.; and one grandson.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., 106 Shamrock Road in Chester, where family and friends may call one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be at 10 a.m. May 21 at Arlington National Cemetery, 214 McNair Road.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 26, Stevensville, MD 21666.

Online condolences may be made at www.fhnfuneralhome.com.

Charles Sheckells Jr.

Charles D. Sheckells Jr., 77, a resident of Arnold for 54 years, died April 23 of complication from a stroke at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Mr. Sheckells was born in Baltimore on October 15, 1930, where he was raised. He married his wife, Catherine Sheckells, on June 6, 1952. He served in the Army during the Korean War.

He was a retired machine shop foreman from Ellicott Machine Company. He had also worked as a foreman at Koppers Company.

He was a member of Anne Arundel Fish and Game. He enjoyed trapshooting and gardening.

He was preceded in death by his son, Matthew C. Sheckells.

Survivors include his wife, Catherine A. Sheckells of Arnold; four daughters, Debra A. Brown of Severna Park, Cathy A. Jones of Jacksonville, Fla., Patricia A. Hoey of Glen Burnie and Carrie A. Cribb of York, Pa.; two sisters, Charla Zepp and Janice White, both of Baltimore; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Barranco & Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Online condolences may be made at www.barrancofuneralhome.com.