John A. Hartner III, 79, of Woodbine, died June 24, 2009 at his home from complications of progressive supranuclear palsey.

Born Dec. 16, 1929 to the late John A. and Jessie Ward Hartner, he lived in Laurel as a youth, working at Laurel Race Track, selling papers, shining shoes, painting seats in the grandstand and cooling horses. He graduated from Laurel High School. At 16 he joined the Maryland State Guard in active federal service and later joined the National Guard and served during World War II. He was a member of the National Guard 224th Field Artillery Battalion and was very proud to be top sharp shooter in his battalion. He had also been a member of the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad. He was employed with the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission as a construction engineer, retiring in 1976 after 25 years of service. He owned Bottom of the Bay Seafood with Jim Smith for 23 years. He started racing thoroughbred horses in 1988, then bred his own thoroughbred horses.

Mr. Hartner is survived by his wife of 57 years, Edwina (Carr) Hartner; children John Edwin Hartner, of Woodbine, Virginia Cotter, of Henderson, N.C., Debra Fort, of Wildwood, Fla., and Catherine Peacock, of Woodbine; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held July 11 at 11 a.m. at Alberta Gary Memorial United Methodist Church (Guilford Methodist Church), 9405 Guilford Road, in Columbia.

Arrangements were made by Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Ave.

Memorial donations may be made to CurePSP, Executive Plaza III, Suite 906, 11350 McCormick Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21031.

Ernest L. Maness

Ernest Leon Maness, 76, a resident of Laurel for more than 40 years, died June 23, 2009 at his retirement home in Annapolis.

Born Nov. 24, 1932 in Georgia, he was the son of the late Ernest Maness and Bonnie Gailey Maness.

His wife, Barbara Maness, a brother, Bob Maness, a son, Steven Heckert, and a grandson, Darren Delatos, preceded him in death.

Mr. Maness is survived by his daughters, Brenda Delbaggio, of Pennsylvania, Julie Maness Van Alstine, of Galesville, and Rosie Knight, of Glen Burnie; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister Betty Shumake, of California; and brothers Leroy Maness, of Georgia, and Jake Maness, of Massachusetts.

A memorial service was held June 29 at Cross Creek Apostolic Church in Beltsville.

Arrangements were made by Donaldson Funeral Home, 313 Talbott Ave.

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