Obituaries for September 16

Tuesday's obituaries recognize: Evelyn Gass, William Giles Jr., Mason Herbert, Robert LaPorte, Ellen Owens, Joseph Sterling and Glenn Swann

Evelyn Gass

Evelyn Kansler Gass, 95, a resident of Severna Park for 58 years, died of natural causes Sept. 11 at Sunrise Assisted Living.

Mrs. Gass was born June 24, 1913, in Baltimore, where she was raised.

She was a retired primary school teacher, and taught at Folger McKinsey and Benfield elementary schools in Severna Park.

She enjoyed sailing, spending summers in Ocean City, walking her dog, baking cookies, gardening, and corresponding with friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Talbott Gass; and one son, Stefan Gass.

Survivors include one daughter, Lynn Zimmers of Fenwick Island, Del.; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, 611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. in Severna Park.

A reception will be held at Linstead Beach following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 8501 LaSalle Road, Suite 106, Towson, MD 21286.

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

William Giles Jr.

William Walker "Bill" Giles Jr., 87, of Sanford, Fla., and previously of Annapolis, died of cancer Sept. 7.

Mr. Giles was born Nov. 21, 1920, in Howardsville, Va., to the late William Walker and Josephine Gertrude Fields Giles.

During World War II, he served as a submariner in the Navy from 1944 through 1946, deploying on several submarines.

He was a member of the Elks, the American Legion and the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. He was a Third Degree Master Mason.

He loved Western art and was a fan of Ansel Adams and Bill Bender. While living in California in 1972, he served as "sheriff" of The Westerners, San Diego Corral.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Pauline Giles; his second wife, Rosa Giles; one brother; and three sisters.

Survivors include one son, William Giles III of Annapolis; one daughter, Pauline "Dotty" Crothers of California; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were private, by Collison Family Funeral Homes and Crematory in Sanford.

Mason Herbert

Retired Air Force Sgt. Mason Calvin Herbert, 72, of Blytheville, Ark., and formerly of Annapolis, died Sept. 11 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., after a brief illness.

Sgt. Herbert was born Dec. 27, 1935, in Calvert County to the late Bishop Calvin E. and Emma Green Herbert. He graduated from Parole Elementary School in Annapolis and the former Wiley H. Bates High School.

He served in the Air Force for 30 years, including service in both the Vietnam and Korean wars.

He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Air Force Sergeants Association and formerly of the Masons. He served as a deacon at New St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Jean Herbert; one daughter, Janice Wilkins; one brother, Elijah Herbert of Arnold; and one sister, Audrey Matthews.

Survivors include two sons, Mason Calvin Herbert of Washington, D.C., and Dewayne Andrew Herbert of Blytheville; three daughters, Judy Lynn Rhodes of Dallas, Texas, Jackie Lynn Jeter of Largo and Jonie Marie Bolden of Blytheville; two brothers, Raymond Herbert of Crownsville and Oscar Herbert of Shady Side; three sisters, Elsie Larkins of Annapolis, Eileen Baltimore of Pasadena, and Carolyn James of Arnold; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

A Christian wake will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Wilson's Funeral Home, 1020 S. Division St. in Blytheville. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at New St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Blytheville.

Robert LaPorte

Robert John LaPorte, 87, of Severna Park, died of pancreatic cancer Sept. 13 in his home after a brief illness.

Mr. LaPorte was born March 19, 1921, in Schenectady, N.Y., and was raised in Philadelphia. He graduated from Drexel University in 1947, and earned a master's degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

He served in the Air Force during World War II.

He retired in 1989 from W.R. Grace Co., Davison Chemical Division, where he had worked as a chemical engineer.

He was a member and past commander of the Annapolis Sail and Power Squadron.

He enjoyed photography, gardening, opera, celestial navigation, and travel and volunteered at the Jug Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Christine Nightingale, who died in 1966.

Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Lillian M. Martin LaPorte; one son, Bruce Chambliss of Stevensville; four daughters, Linda Duvall of Herndon, Va., Marie Tuthill of San Diego, Marty Chambliss of Los Angeles and Ginni Watson of Pasadena; one brother, Dick LaPorte of Northern Virginia; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 26 at Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Sept. 27 at St.Martin's-in-the-Field Episcopal Church, 375 Benfield Road in Severna Park. Interment will be in the church memorial garden.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Annapolis Sail and Power Squadron, payable to "Henry Sweet Fund Educational Trust," 475 Windrow Clusters Drive, Moorestown, NJ 08057; St. Martin's-in-the-Field Episcopal Church, Pipe Organ Fund, 375 Benfield Road, Severna Park, MD 21146; or to Friends of Jug Bay, P.O. Box 6218, Annapolis, MD 21401.

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

Ellen Owens

Ellen Marie Owens, 74, of Edgewater since 1957, died Sept. 13 in her son's home.

Mrs. Owens was born Aug. 1, 1934, in Owings to the late Clarence and Sadie Catterton Marselas. She attended Calvert County public schools and graduated from Garfield Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.

She was a registered nurse at Anne Arundel Medical Center from 1957 to 1975.

She was of the Methodist faith. She enjoyed bowling, reading and spending time with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 21 years, Donald Lee Owens; and six brothers, Melvin, Herbert, Alfred, Stanley, Harold and Alton Marselas.

Survivors include three sons, Michael L. Owens of Dunkirk, Stephen C. Owens of Edgewater and John D. Owens of Severn; two daughters, Donna O. Dehn of Annapolis and Joyce L. Owens of Lothian; one sister, Ruby E. King of Dunkirk; and eight grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Rausch Funeral Home, 8325 Mt. Harmony Lane in Owings. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Southern Memorial Gardens in Dunkirk.

Memorial contributions may be made to Calvert Hospice, P.O. Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.

Joseph Sterling

Joseph V. "Van" Sterling, 86, a resident of Heritage Harbour in Annapolis for eight years, died of Parkinson's disease Sept. 11 at Heart Homes in Linthicum after an illness lasting 19 years.

Mr. Sterling was born Sept. 9, 1922, in Baltimore to the late Ivan W. and Emma Schilling Sterling. He graduated from Mount St. Joseph High School and Loyola College in Maryland, and earned his master's degree from George Washington University.

He served in the Army.

He worked as a sales manager for the IBM Corp. for 32 years.

His hobbies included restoring old cars and art.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, Jo Ann and Karen Sterling.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Eleanor Jane Heise Sterling.

A celebration of his life will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. tomorrow at Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road in Edgewater. Interment will be private.

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

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

Glenn Swann

Glenn Charles Swann, 26, of Grasonville died of injuries sustained in an automobile accident Sept. 14 in Queenstown.

Mr. Swann was born Oct. 2, 1981, in Easton to Palmer Davis Swann of Grasonville and Linda Jane Thomas of Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada. He attended Queen Anne's County High School.

He enjoyed motorcycles and working on dirt bikes, country and gospel music and making people laugh.

Survivors include one brother, Robert James Swann Sr. of Grasonville; three sisters, Tammy Lynn Koski of York, Pa., Katie Melinda Swann of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and his twin sister, Tiffany Agnes Eggers of Queenstown.

A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. today at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, 106 Shamrock Road in Chester. Friends and family may visit one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Glenn C. Swann IFF, care of Bank of America, 114 Shopping Center Road, Stevensville, MD 21666.

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