Obituaries for Jan. 24

Today's obituaries recognize: William Beall, Lois Brightwell, Aimee Griffin, Elizabeth Hering, Rupert Knowles Jr., Michael Parker, Malvern Pennock, Harold Strohman, George Tolson and Cecil Yancey Sr.

William Beall

William Richard "Bill" Beall, 64, of Crofton, died of cancer Jan. 22 in his home after a year-long illness.

Mr. Beall was born Dec. 12, 1943, in Washington, D.C., to Margaret Beall of Kensington and the late Walter Royce Beall. He graduated from St. John's College High School and attended the University of Maryland.

For the last 27 years he was the owner of a commercial printing company, Trutone Press in Landover.

He was a longtime member of the Community United Methodist Church and the Crofton Country Club. He served on the board of directors of the Printing and Graphics Association Mid-Atlantic.

He enjoyed woodworking, home improvement projects, skiing, golfing and spending as much time with his family and friends as possible.

Survivors include his wife, Susan Rutherford Beall; one daughter, Kim Fitzmaurice of Gambrills; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Community United Methodist Church, 1690 Riedel Road in Crofton. Arrangements are by Beall Funeral Home.

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

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

Lois Brightwell

Lois Griffin Brightwell, 92, of Roanoke, Va., died Jan. 21 at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

She was born July 18, 1915, in Danville, Va.

A longtime member of Grace United Methodist Church, she was a true animal lover. She especially loved dogs and birds. She was also an avid reader.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow C. Brightwell; three brothers, Donald, Eddie and Dick Griffin; and two sisters, Dottie Hayes and Judith Aasheim.

Survivors include two sons, Richard C. Brightwell of Annapolis and Henry W. Brightwell of Queenstown; one daughter, Patricia A. Weaver of Roanoke; one brother, James Ronald Griffin of Roanoke; two sisters, Joan G. Campbell and Gene G. Stout, both of Roanoke; four grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at noon today at Oakey's Funeral Service and Crematory, North Chapel. Interment is in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.

Aimee Griffin

Aimee Lynn Griffin, 29, of Columbia and formerly of Fair Haven, died of natural causes Jan. 19 at Howard County General Hospital.

She was born Jan. 5, 1979, in Silver Spring to Teresa Keegan Griffin of Shady Side and the late David L. Griffin. She graduated from Southern High School.

She enjoyed reading, especially "Harry Potter" and romance novels, playing UNO with her sisters, going to movies, listening to music, especially hip-hop, rap and R&B, and arts and crafts.

Survivors include two sisters, Julie Ann Griffin of Pasadena and Kelly Teresa Griffin of Shady Side.

Family and friends may visit from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 8816 Chesapeake Ave. in North Beach.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the church. Interment is private. Arrangements are by Rausch Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Brain Injury Association of Virginia, Inc., Camp Bruce McCoy, 1506 Willow Lawn Drive, Number 112, Richmond, VA 23230.

Elizabeth Hering

Elizabeth Mary Hering, 90, a resident of Edgewater for 35 years and previously of Hyattsville, died of natural causes Jan. 22 in her son's home in Prince Frederick.

Known as Betty and Bessie, Mrs. Hering was born Nov. 22, 1917, in Ednor.

She worked for Prince George's County Public Schools for 29 years, particularly as the cafeteria manager at Bladensburg Junior High School.

She was a devout Catholic and was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Edgewater.

She was a fitness advocate and baseball fan, and she also loved bowling.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, John H. Hering Sr.; and 14 siblings.

Survivors include two sons, John H. Hering Jr. of Edgewater and Michael Hering of Prince Frederick; three daughters, Lorraine Richardson, Jacqueline Hartman and Mary Stout, all of Edgewater; 11 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Family and friends may join in Mrs. Hering's life celebration from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 515 Loch Haven Road in Edgewater. Interment is in Lakemont Memorial Gardens in Davidsonville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Calvert Hospice, 238 Merrimac Court, P.O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.

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

Rupert Knowles Jr.

Rupert Green "Rup" Knowles Jr., 60, of Churchton, died of a heart attack Jan. 18 at Malcolm Grow Medical Center.

He was born Aug. 17, 1947, in Richmond, Va., to the late Estelle Josephine Giles and Rupert Green Knowles. He received a bachelor's degree from American University.

He retired from the Metropolitan Police Department and the Army Special Forces, where he served as a Sergeant Major; he also graduated from the Army's underwater operations course.

He sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, and he was a member of the Pentagon Sailing Club and the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron.

He enjoyed sailing, hiking and playing tennis.

Survivors include his wife, Delores M. Knowles, whom he married on June 14, 2001; three sons, Justin Knowles of Upper Marlboro, Eric Knowles of Dover, Del., and Ahren Leo of Clarksville, Tenn; one step-daughter, Donielle Caldwell of Raleigh, N.C.; and two grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to Mr. Knowles' life celebration at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel.

Interment is in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.

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

Michael Parker

Michael Branko Parker, 72, a resident of Crofton for 12 years and previously of Bowie, died of cancer Jan. 23 at Mariner Health North Arundel after a six-month illness.

Mr. Parker was born Nov. 29, 1935, in Serbia, and was educated at the Nautical Academy in Yugoslavia.

He worked as a sea captain and sailed the world.

He was a member of St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Church.

He enjoyed music.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Vivian Y. Parker; two daughters, Marina Parker and Irena Delong of Crofton; one brother, James B. Parker of Silver Spring; one sister, Yasmina McNew of Owings; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Grave side services will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Rock Creek Cemetery at Rock Creek Road and Webster St. N.W. in Washington, D.C. Arrangements are by Beall Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke Serbian Orthodox Church, 10660 River Road, Potomac, MD 20854.

Malvern Pennock

Malvern B. Pennock, 96, of Westminster at Lake Ridge and previously a resident for over 65 years of Arlington, Va., died of complications from heart failure and a recent stroke Jan. 20 at Westminster Health Center.

Mr. Pennock was born Oct. 15, 1911, in Christiana, Pa. He attended the Pennsylvania State University and received a bachelor's degree in architecture.

He was a registered architect in the state of Virginia. He worked during World War II for the Navy Department's Bureau of Yards and Docks. Later, he accepted a job with the Department of the Army, National Guard Bureau, where he worked until retiring in 1971 as the chief of the Construction Branch of the Installation Division. He had over 34 years of government service.

Mr. Pennock was a Free Mason of Columbia Lodge No. 285 for over 60 years. He was a long-standing member of the Clarendon United Methodist Church in Arlington, where he was called on to repair the stained glass windows at his church. He was skilled at making leaded glass ornaments for Christmas and other special occasions.

He was an enthusiastic golfer and avid reader. He and his wife traveled around the country, Canada and Europe during his retirement.

He traced his ancestry back to the late 17th century, to Christopher Pennock who received a land grant through William Penn. The estate house built on this land was completed in 1738 and was called Primitive Hall, now located in Chester County, Pa. The Primitive Hall Foundation supports the house and grounds.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Clauda Maye Todd and Frances Romaine Eby.

Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Dorothy Virginia Pennock; one son, Michael B. Pennock of Millersville; one daughter, Bona L. Turner of Newport News, Va.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060 or to Clarendon United Methodist Church, 606 N Irving St., Arlington, VA 22201.

Harold Strohman

Harold Arthur Strohman, 91, of Severna Park, died of congestive heart failure Jan. 22 in his home.

Mr. Strohman was born Oct. 13, 1916, in Lebanon, Pa., to the late Arthur Harry and Carrie B. Long Strohman. He graduated from Lebanon High School in 1933, from Mercersburg Academy in 1935, and earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Lehigh University in 1939.

He worked for Babcock and Wilcox, a steam boiler manufacturer, until 1940 when he was called into active duty. After he returned, he worked for Baldwin Locomotive in Eddy Stone, Pa., and New York City. He also worked for Cummins Engine Co. in New York City, Harrisburg, Pa., and in Baltimore, where he worked in distributor organization of diesel engines until his retirement in 1978.

He served in the army, beginning as a second lieutenant and achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served in Ordnance Companies in the United States and in the Hawaiian Ordnance Depot in Hawaii until end of World War II.

He was a member of the Eagles Aerie 2482 in Severna Park and the Millersville 55+ Club. He attended St. Martins in-the-Field in Severna Park, where he served as a Boy Scout committee member. In college he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and the PiTau Signa Fraternity.

He enjoyed golf, reading, sports, lacrosse, playing bridge and music. He played the clarinet.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Hilda Groh White, whom he married in 1948.

Survivors include one step-son, Richard Brighton White of Fairfield, Pa.; his long-time companion, Laura Lewis of Severna Park; two grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Family and friends may visit from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, VA 23058 or to the Hospice of the Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401.

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

George Tolson

George Francis Tolson, 82, a resident of Annapolis for 40 years and previously of St. Mary's County, died of natural causes Jan. 18 at Washington Adventist Hospital.

Mr. Tolson was born Oct. 5, 1925, in Charlotte Hall and was educated in St. Mary's County.

He worked as a heavy equipment operator for various construction companies, as well as a taxi driver in Annapolis.

He served as a coxswain SV6 in the Navy.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Annapolis.

An avid baseball fan, he also enjoyed fishing and gardening.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rose V. Tolson.

Survivors include one daughter, Diana V. Fisher of Annapolis; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

A Christian wake will begin at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at First Baptist Church, 31 West Washington St., where a funeral service will follow at 11 a.m.

Interment will be in the Maryland Veterans Cemetery in Crownsville. Arrangements are by Reese and Sons Mortuary.

Cecil Yancey Sr.

Cecil Ray Yancey Sr., 89, of Annapolis died Jan. 21 in his home.

Mr. Yancey was born July 30, 1918, in Sperryville, Va., to the late Mattie Bell Yancey.

For many years he enjoyed mastering the craft of woodworking and left his family with many handmade treasures.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria Louise Yancey Vestal; one son, Richard Yancey; and one brother.

Survivors include three sons, Cecil R. Yancey Jr. of Arlington, Va., and James E. and John M. Yancey of Annapolis; three daughters, Linda L. Croushorn of Pamplin, Va., Joan M. Arnold of Augusta, W.Va., and Cecilia A. Miller of Annapolis; two step-brothers, Marshall Vestal of Annapolis and Steve Furr; two step-sisters, Donna Vestal and Gloria Furr; nine grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit from 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Cremation and Funeral Care, 814 Bestgate Road.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Andrew by the Bay Catholic Church, 701 College Parkway. Interment will be in the Chesterfield Cemetery in Centerville.

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