Mary McGeehan

Mary Ellen McGeehan, 83, a resident of Annapolis for 52 years, died March 4 in her home.

Ms. McGeehan was born Feb. 12, 1925, in Hazelton, Pa., and graduated from College Misericordia in Dallas, Pa.

She was a teacher and guidance counselor at Anne Arundel and Charles County public schools for 38 years.

Ms. McGeehan was a member of St. Mary's Church in Annapolis, where she was a Eucharist minister and an adorer at Perpetual Adoration.

She enjoyed running, especially at the Naval Academy seawall.

Survivors include her long-time friend and recent caregiver, Norma Mezick.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 620 N. Bestgate Road.

Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Arrangements are by Taylor Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Church, 109 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis, MD 21401.

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

Weldon Morris

Weldon Murrell Morris, 85, a 59-year resident of Baltimore, died March 4 at Glen Burnie Health and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness.

Mr. Morris was born March 3, 1923, in Rockingham County, Va., to the late Bertha Goyert.

He was a master electrician, working for over 40 years with Argabright and Sons in Baltimore.

He served during World War II with Army Air Corps in the Philippines. He received awards for his service including the Good Conduct Medal and Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Star.

He was a lifetime member of The American Legion.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening, playing pool, collecting tools and doing handyman projects.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Annie L. Morris; and his foster parents, Herman and Ethel Cline.

Survivors include one daughter, Michele Rose of Millersville; four grandsons; and two great-grandsons.

Family and friends may visit from 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Gonce Funeral Service, 4001 Ritchie Highway in Brooklyn.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Interment is in Loudon Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Friends of Kinder Farm Park, 1001 Kinder Farm Park Road, Millersville, MD 21108.

Rhona Murtha

Rhona A. Murtha, 55, of Arnold, died of cancer Feb. 20 in her home after a brief illness.

Mrs. Murtha was born Oct. 16, 1952, in Baltimore to Mary V. Braun of Arnold and the late Paul F. Braun. She attended St. Bernard's Catholic School and Severna Park High School. She moved to Arnold when she was 17 and lived in Severn before returning to Arnold.

She worked at Food Lion in Severna Park as a deli clerk.

She loved to travel with her family and spend time with her family. She enjoyed planting and gardening.

She was a caretaker for her mother and was her mother's best friend. She always put others before herself.

She was preceded in death by her former husband, Victor Murtha; two brothers, Gregory M. and Christopher D. Braun; and one grandson.

Survivors include one daughter, Tricia Murtha of Needmore, Pa.; two brothers, Michael D. Braun of Easton and Paul L. Braun of New Orleans; one sister, Mary Lynn Quinn of Stevensville; and two grandchildren.

A memorial mass will be offered at 1 p.m. Saturday at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 689 Ritchie Highway in Severna Park. Arrangements are by Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Alice Sharps

Alice Geraldine Sharps, 72, of Edgewater and previously of Parole, died March 2 at Anne Arundel Medical Center after a long illness.

Ms. Sharps was born Nov. 23, 1935, in South River. She attended Millswamp School in Edgewater and the former Wiley H. Bates High School.

She began her career as a nursing assistant at Crownsville State Hospital and later worked as a caregiver for the Anne Arundel Department of Aging. She then worked as a home healthcare nurse for numerous families.

She was a member of Hope St. Mark United Methodist Church, where she served as chairman of worship and was a member of the United Methodist Women.

She enjoyed cooking and traveling.

She was preceded in death by one son, Alphonso Spriggs Sr.

Survivors include one son, Terry T. Moreland of Edgewater; one daughter, Tia K. Thomas of Edgewater; three brothers, Charles Sharps of Glen Burnie, Delbert Sharps of Edgewater and Marcel Sharps of Arizona; two sisters, Charlotte Dorsey and Sally Jones of Edgewater; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A Christian wake will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Hope St. Mark United Methodist Church, 3672 Muddy Creek Road in Edgewater. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m.

Interment will be in Chews United Methodist Church Cemetery in Harwood. Arrangements are by Reese and Sons Mortuary.

Robert Sydenstricker

Retired Army Lt. Col. Robert Clayton Sydenstricker, 83, a seven-year resident of Edgewater and formerly of Forest Heights, died of natural causes March 4 in his home.

Lt. Col. Sydenstricker was born Feb. 26, 1925, in Parkersburg, W.Va., and graduated from Parkersburg High School.

He retired from the Army after 28 years of active service.

He enjoyed golfing and fishing.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Carla Sydenstricker.

Survivors include his wife of over 60 years, Pauline F. Sydenstricker; two sons, Mike Sydenstricker of Solon, Ohio, and Jeff Sydenstricker of Edgewater; and two grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater.

Funeral services will be held at noon Monday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Fragile X Foundation, P.O. Box 190488, San Francisco, CA 94119.

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

Albert Van Metre

Albert G. Van Metre Sr., 82, of Arlington, Va., died March 2 in his home.

Mr. Van Metre was born Jan. 24, 1926, in Washington, D.C. He attended the Naval Academy and graduated from George Washington University with a degree in engineering.

He founded the Van Metre Companies in 1955. One of the largest and most successful privately-held diversified real estate companies in the Washington Metropolitan area, the company has built more than 15,000 homes, townhomes, condominiums and apartments, as well as one-half million square feet of community retail and commercial office space.

He was awarded both the Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Finest for Family Living Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Van Metre was an accomplished sailor, having raced his Annapolis-based yacht, Running Tide, to wins in virtually every major yachting event on the East Coast, including the Southern Ocean Racing Circuit and the 1976 Annapolis to Bermuda Race.

He helped found the Hospice Cup Regatta, which raises funds for area non-profit hospices.

He was a member of the Navy Marine Coast Guard Resident Foundation and the Naval Academy Foundation. He served as chair of the Race Committee of the Hospice Cup.

Survivors include his wife, Joan Harmon Van Metre; two sons, Albert G. "Beau" Van Metre Jr. and Thomas Earle Van Metre III; one daughter, Alison Van Metre Paley; three stepsons, Brad and Jeff Gable and Randall Wade Everett III; two stepdaughters, Julie Gable and Whitney Williams; one sister, Evelina Thompson Hoermann; 17 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, 9902 Braddock Road.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Capital Hospice, Inc., 6565 Arlington Blvd., Suite 500, Falls Church, VA 22042, which will go towards the building fund of the Van Metre Campus for Hospice Care.