Arthur Thomas Cropper Davis
OCEAN CITY – Arthur Thomas Cropper Davis passed away at his home on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007. He was surrounded by family and friends with a view of the Ocean City skyline that he loved and dedicated himself to for his 79 years.
Davis was a third-generation Ocean City native and was born in the Tarry-A-While Guesthouse on Dorchester Street on July 1, 1928. He was the son of the late Violet Cropper and Arthur Clifton Davis.
Davis graduated from Ocean City High School and attended Mercersburg Academy before receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va., in 1951. He began working at the Bank of Ocean City in 1953 as a teller and rose to the position of president in 1973. He served as president until his retirement in 1995. He continued to serve on the Board of Directors until his death.
Davis was an active member of the community. He was a lifetime member of the Atlantic United Methodist Church. In 1979, he was honored as Ocean City’s first recipient of the Annual Outstanding Citizen Award for community service. He was the first Gold Badge member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, where he served as Captain of Engine Eight, president, assistant chief, and board member. He was also a member of the Ocean City Lions Club, where he held offices including president, member of Board of Directors and was the first life member. He was chair of the town of Ocean City’s Pension Trustees, a charter member of the Downtown Improvement Association and the Ocean City Development Corporation. He served on many other boards and committees, such as, the Zoning Appeals Board, Charter Revision Committee, Ocean City Youth Commission, Height Study Committees and on the board of the Ocean City Life Saving Museum.
He took part in numerous volunteer projects including, serving as a Cub Master for Ocean City Cub Scouts, a tradition his grandsons are proud to carry on. He enjoyed golf with his friends in the "Friday Night Golfers" group.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Janice K. Davis; sons, Steven C. Davis, and his wife, Wendy, of Columbia, Md., Kenneth Arthur Davis, and his wife, Lisa Spicer, of Fruitland; daughter, Sandra Davis Hurley, and her husband, Jeff, of Ocean City; eight grandchildren, Amanda Lee and Sarah Lyn Hurley, Benjamin Arthur and Abigail Lee Davis, Leslie Anne Hurley, Garrett Thomas and Nathan McAllister Spicer-Davis and Trent Maynard Davis; his sister, Joyce Davis Harrison of Ocean City; nephews and nieces, Malcolm Dale Timmons, Jr., Cathy Timmons Morris, Terry Timmons Row, and Jo Ellen West; and a sister and brother-in-law, Bobbie and Ronald Lepson.
He was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Harry Harrison.
A funeral service will be held Friday at the Atlantic United Methodist Church, Ocean City, where friends may visit the family at 2 p.m., followed by a service at 3 p.m. A reception is planned afterward at the fire station at 15th Street.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Atlantic General Hospital, 9733 Healthway Drive, Berlin, Md. 21811, or to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733 Salisbury, Md. 21802-1733.
Arrangements are being handled by the Burbage Funeral Home, Berlin.
Paula Anne Nowatski
BERLIN – Paula Anne Nowatski, 63, of Prince Frederick passed away Sept. 19, 2007 at Calvert Memorial Hospital.
Born Feb. 12, 1944 in Washington, D.C. to the late Paul and Thelma Maeder, she was educated in Montgomery County Schools and Blessed Sacrament Parish. A graduate of Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, she relocated to Rose Haven, Anne Arundel County with her parents. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she became a licensed cosmetologist and a full-time mother to her daughter, Joanne. She worked part-time as a bartender for many local businesses, including Stalling Williams Post 206 where she had been an auxiliary member for 29 years. She took up residency in Ocean City for a few years before returning to the Western Shore to settle in Prince Frederick.
Her passions were family, animals and gardening. She treasured her many friends and valued each and every friendship along the way.
Survivors include her daughter, Joanne Nowatski; sister, Vicki Wilson; a niece Lucy Franklin; and a nephew, Paul Wilson.
Because of her generous giving nature and wanting to help others, she requested her body be made available for medical education and research to the Maryland Anatomy Board. Remember her in your own personal way, memorial private. She asked that donations be made to your local Humane Society.
Robert B. Adair
OCEAN PINES – Robert B. Adair, 69, died Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007 at Atlantic General Hospital while surrounded by his family. He was 69 years old. Even in his final hours, he inspired others with his strength and dignity while fighting the devastating effects of ALS.
Born in Philadelphia, the son of Benjamin F. and Anna Lindsay Adair. He graduated from LaSalle College and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. He retired as a Colonel in 1987. He received a Masters Degree from Niagara University and is a graduate of the Army War College. He taught the Untied States Air Force Academy and served two tours in Vietnam. Following retirement he helped start MPRI, taught at Wor-Wic Community College and helped launch The Courier as its first editor.
He married Mary Novak in 1960. They moved to Ocean Pines in 1989. He is survived by his wife and their four children, Nancy Smith and her husband Chris, Robert Adair, Jr., Susan E. Bertino and her husband Chip, and James M. Adair and his wife Kimberlee. There are 10 grandchildren, Rebecca Soles and her husband Timothy, Kyle, Meghan and Craig Smith, Caden, Matthew and Nicholas Bertino, and Brianna, Jonathan and Rachel Adair.
He was devoted to his family. He enjoyed cooking, fishing, golfing, woodworking, reading and watching John Wayne movies. He was a respected member of the community.
A viewing will be held Friday, Oct. 19 from 6-8 p.m. at Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. A funeral service will be held at St. John Neumann Catholic Church on Saturday, Oct. 20 at noon with a viewing preceding at 11 a.m. Interment with full military honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 20, 2007 at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the ALS Assoc. DC/MD/VA Chapter at 7507 Standish Place, Rockville, Md. 20855.
Joanne C. Bachman
OCEAN CITY – Joanne C. Bachman, 70, of Ocean City and formerly a 28-year resident of Bel Air, died Monday, Oct. 15, 2007 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.
Born July 14, 1937 in South Philadelphia, Pa., she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Marie (nee) Cinquini DiArenzo.
She was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Ocean City.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years Frederick Bachman of Ocean City; five children, Keith Bachman and his wife Connie of Irmo, S.C., Kathleen Weaver and her husband Darin of Bel Air, Md., Joseph Bachman and his wife Jody of Columbia, Md., Deborah Budnick and her husband David of Indian Trail, N.C., and Frederick Bachman, Jr. of Boca Raton, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Ocean City. Entombment will be held at 3:30 p.m. in Bel Air Memorial Gardens. Friends may call Thursday evening from 5-7 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Worcester County Humane Society, Eaglesnest Road, Ocean City, Md. 21842.
Arrangements are being handled by the staff of Bounds Funeral Home in Salisbury.