Kenneth G. Edmunds
BALTIMORE – Kenneth Grainger Edmunds, a World War II veteran, retired high school math teacher and long-time owner and operator of an Ocean City rental business, died of heart disease last Thursday at his home Baltimore County at the age of 82.
Edmunds, known as “Big Ed” to many in the resort, owned and operated Ed’s Beach Service in Ocean City since 1972 when he got the rights to the beach rental concession at 71st Street as a summer job for the two oldest of his five sons. Over the next 30-plus years, Edmunds expanded the business with the bright orange beach umbrellas, which have become an iconic symbol of the beach in Ocean City, to a peak several years ago when the company had the rights to dozens of beach parcels.
Through the years, Edmunds’ five sons worked on the stands through high school and college and countless other summer workers became part of his extended family, many of whom lived with the Edmunds family in their Ocean City summer home. He was the father of five boys, but a father figure to dozens of others over the years.
Born in Trenton, N.J. and raised in St. Michaels in Maryland, he earned a degree at the University of Maryland-College Park after serving in the Navy during World War II. He was interred with full military honors.
Edmunds taught mathematics and science in the Anne Arundel, Baltimore City and Baltimore County school systems and retired from Pikesville High School in 1981. After retirement, Edmunds continued to work, actively running the beach rental business in Ocean City. He continued to work even last summer despite his failing health.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, the former Charlotte Bills; five sons, Charles H. Edmunds of Ocean City, William V. Edmunds of Berlin, James L. Edmunds of Glen Arm, Richard G. Edmunds of Phoenix and David B. Edmunds of Lynchburg, Va.; a brother, Thatcher S. Edmunds of Cordova; a sister, Sheila E. Martin of Marriotsville; and 11 grandchildren.
Services were held.
Alice Elizabeth Vincent
BERLIN – Alice Elizabeth Vincent (Nee Shutt) died on Oct. 20, 2007.
She was the beloved wife of the late Wilbur L. Vincent; loving mother of L. Mark Vincent and his wife Janice; cherished grandmother of Laura L. Dalton and her husband, Chuck, David C. Vincent and his wife Debbie and Jennifer L. Metzger; great-grandmother of Amanda, Grant, Andrew, Grace, Diana, Christopher, Matthew and Julia; and devoted sister of Thomas Shutt, Sr. and Laverne Levering.
She and her husband kept a home in Montego Bay for many years. She was the lounge manager at JR’s and hostess at Duffy’s and enjoyed many friends in the area.
In 1988, she was named "Ocean City’s Character of the Year" as she raised the most money for the Ocean City Paramedics Foundation.
Contributions may be made in her memory to: The Ocean City Paramedics Foundation, P.O. Box 3099, Ocean City, Md. 21843.
Leah D. "Bette" Kunath
MYERSTOWN, Pa. – Leah D. "Bette" Kunath, 87, died Friday, Oct. 12, 2007, in her residence at the ECC Retirement Village, Albright Campus, in Myerstown, Pa. where she moved to be closer to her son.
She was the wife of the late Ernest Robert Kunath (1997). She was born in Greenwich, Conn., on Feb. 4, 1920, the daughter of the late James Joseph and Leah Riddell Davidson. She was a proud Reserve Police Officer for the Ocean City Police Department working in Records. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter 567, New York. While in Ocean City, she enjoyed the activities and friendships made at the Ocean City Senior Center.
She is survived by a son, Robert D., husband of Frances G. Kunath, Lebanon, Pa; grandsons, James Daniel Kunath, Crofton, Md., and David Robert Kunath, Horseheads, N.Y.; step-granddaughter, Kate Muir, Annapolis, Md.; step-grandson Matthew A. Tropp, Hershey, Pa.; great-grandsons, Aidan Finn Kunath, Riley James Kunath; step-great-granddaughter, Shelby Statham; and step-great-grandson, Ian Statham.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007, at 1 p.m. from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 22 S. Sixth St., Lebanon, Pa. 17042. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the St. Luke’s Capital Campaign Fund.
James E. Pruitt, Jr.
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. – James Edward Pruitt, Jr., 69, died Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007 at W. Broward Hospital in Pompano Beach, Fla.
Born in Berlin, he was the son of the late James E. Pruitt, Sr. and Emily Shockley Colebourn. He is survived by two children, Megan Lewis and her husband Stephen of Ocean City, and Jamie C. Pruitt and his wife Miri of Boca Raton, Fla. He was preceded in death by his stepfather, Norman Colebourne.
Pruitt had been a meat department manager with Super Fresh for many years and was a member of the Meat Cutters Union #27. He was a member of the Delaware National Guard Reserves, Ocean City Volunteer Fire Co, O.C. Parks and Recreation Department, founding member of the White Marlin Band Parade and past Exalted Ruler of the Selbyville Elks Lodge.
A graveside memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007 at 11 a.m. at Buckingham Presbyterian Cemetery in Berlin. Donations may be made to the O.C. Rec. Boosters for children in need, 200 125th St. Bayside, Ocean City, Md., 21842. Arrangements are being handled by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.
Larry P. Botorek
BERLIN – Larry P. Botorek, age 81, died Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007 at Berlin Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Berlin.
Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late Lawrence P. And Katherine Neidhardt Botorek.
Botorek was a US Navy Veteran, he was a member of the American Legion and the Elks Club, and a member of St. Matthews by the Sea in Fenwick Island,. He retired as a Hospital Administrator for Baltimore City Hospitals after many years of service.
He is survived by two cousins Donald E. Dodge, Jr. and June Dunn and her husband Robert.
Services were held. Arrangements are by the Burbage Funeral Home.
June Carey McAllister
OCEAN PINES – June Carey McAllister, 71, died Friday, Oct. 19, 2007 at her home in Ocean Pines.
Born in Berlin, she was the daughter of the late Roland Carey and Annie Hastings Carey. She is survived by her husband, Raymond McAllister; sons, Steve Mcallister and his wife Helen of Milford, Del., Randy McAllister and his wife Kim of Berlin, Md.; granddaughters, Michelle McAllister and Taryn McAllister; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
McAllister received her Masters in Education from Salisbury State College. She had worked for the Worcester County Board of Education as a teacher, resource teacher and vice-principal at Buckingham Elementary School and after retirement as a substitute teacher in local elementary schools.
Services were held.
Myrtle H. Donoway
WHALEYVILLE – Myrtle H. Donoway, 99, died Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007 at Coastal Hospice by the Lake.
Born in Lepsic, Del. she was the daughter of the late Joshua B. and Annie M. Wilson Mitchell. She is survived by her sons, Ira W. Hudson and Raymond M. Donoway, both of Whaleyville; a brother, William Tingle of Levanon, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Elsie Mitchell of Lewes, Del.; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ira A. Hudson, in 1935 and her second husband, Raymond J. Donoway, in 1991 and also two sisters and a brother.
Donoway retired as store manager for Candy Kitchen in Ocean City where she had worked for over 30 years. She was a member of Whaleyville United Methodist Church and a member of the United Methodist Women.
Services were held. Donations may be made to Coastal Hospice at the Lake, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21802.
Jerome J. Kalista
OCEAN CITY – Jerome “Jerry” J. Kalista, 82, died on Oct. 11, 2007 in Forest Hill, Md. of complications related to lung disease.
Born in Baltimore, Md., he was raised in the Anneslie area, attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School and graduated from Towson Catholic High School in 1943. He was in the United States Marine Corps serving in World War II. Since moving to Ocean City in 1997, Kalista was active in the First State Detachment Marine Corps League in Ocean View, Del. and also served as treasurer of the Eldorado Condominium Association for 10 years.
He was the beloved husband of the late June Kalista and the late Dorothy Kalista; devoted father of Jerry Kalista, Kathy Widmaier and the late Karen Bierly; and stepfather of Lee Kremer, John Welch, Vicki Wilson and the late Paul Welch. He is survived by a brother, Joseph Kalista, Jr. of Newport News, Va., and a sister, Cecilia Clark of Ocean Pines, Md., 12 grandchildren and one great grandson.
Services were held.