Luther M. Harrell

Luther "Luke" Monroe Harrell, of Jessup, formerly of Hampstead, died April 12, 2008, of cardiac arrest, at his residence. He was 89.

He was born April 4, 1919, in Ewart, N.C., to Tennessee M. and Mary Mosley Harrell.

He married Pansy Lucille Fry in 1938.

In 1943, he enlisted in the Maryland National Guard and served as a petty officer for two years, prior to being discharged in 1945. He later re-enlisted.

In 1944, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy as a machinist mate third class and was based aboard three ships, including the USS Maridosa, after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was discharged in 1945. He was awarded a Purple Heart.

Mr. Harrell was a self-employed mechanic who owned his own company, called The Savage Garage, in Savage, for 15 years. He also worked for various contracting construction companies, in Greenbelt, Jessup and Elkridge, including A.G. Parrot Co. He retired in 1980.

Mr. Harrell was predeceased by a son, Carles Harrell.

In addition to his wife of 69 years, he is survived by two daughters and two sons-in-law, Betty and Bob Mitchem, of South Carolina, and Marie M. and Bob Woodworth, of Laurel; three sons and one daughter-in-law, Stan and Jean Harrell, of Ellicott City, Charles "Doc" Harrell, of Jessup, and Bob L. Harrell, of Jessup; two brothers, Lobright Harrell, of Baltimore, and Harlan Harrell, of North Carolina; 20 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services were private. The Rev. Jack Fitzgerald presided.

Interment followed at Crestlawn Memorial Gardens in Marriottsville.

Memorial donations may be made to Professional Healthcare, 3421 Benson Ave., Baltimore, MD 21227.

Joseph W. Redmond

Joseph W. Redmond, of Ellicott City, died April 21, 2008, of natural causes, at the Carroll Hospital Center. He was 93.

He was born March 16, 1915, in Glenelg, to James F. and Ella N. Stover Redmond.

In 1941, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a field wire chief sergeant in Africa, Italy, France, Germany, Ardennes and central Europe during World War II. He was discharged in 1945. For his service, he was awarded both a medal and a bar of the Bronze Star, a Good Conduct medal, an American Defense Service medal and a European African Middle Eastern Service ribbon.

He married Ann Todd in 1946.

Mr. Redmond worked as a custodian for the Howard County Public School System for at least 20 years, prior to retiring in 1980.

He was a member of St. James United Methodist Church in West Friendship.

In addition to his wife of 62 years, he is survived by close friends, Jerry and Carol Fuller, of Winterville, N.C., and Sharon, Ocley and Kari Ann Bujold, of St. Laurent, Canada; a nephew, Sam Redmond, of Maryland.; a niece, Evelyn Thompson, of Ellicott City; as well as other relatives.

Funeral services were held April 24, 2008, at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel, in Sykesville. The Rev. Lori Hoffman Hays presided.

Interment followed at Mt. View Cemetery in Marriottsville.

Suanne M. Felix

Suanne Marie Ristow Felix, of Ellicott City, died April 20, 2008, of lung cancer, at her residence. She was 51.

Born June 25, 1956, in Milwaukee, Wisc., to Robert R. and Beulah M. Ristow, she graduated from a high school in Milwaukee in 1974.

In 1998, she graduated from University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in family studies. Then in 2004, she earned a master's degree in pastorial counseling from Loyola College, in Columbia.

She married Arnold Felix in 1987.

Mrs. Felix worked as a therapist for the Howard County Health Department for the last four years.

She was predeceased by her father, Robert R. Ristow.

In addition to her husband of 21 years, Mrs. Felix is survived by two sons, Tony Matthew Seider, of Charlottesville, Va. and Bradley Allen Seider, of Ellicott City; a daughter, Christina Marie Parker, of Fort Hood, Texas; her mother, Beulah M. Ristow, of Milwaukee; three sisters, Shari Beitz, Judy Sickler and Kim Anderson, all of Wisconsin; and a granddaughter, Veronica Ann Seider, of Charlottesville.

Funeral services were held April 25, 2008, at New Hope Lutheran Church in Columbia. The Rev. Bill Miller-Zurell presided.

Interment followed at Columbia Memorial Park.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Maryland Chapter, 1393 Progress Way, Suite 908, Eldersburg, MD 21784.

Alvin E. Pocklington

Alvin Eugene Pocklington, of Ellicott City, formerly of Lafayette, La., died April 25, 2008, of an acute brain hemorrhage, at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore. He was 74.

Born March 5, 1934, in Baltimore, to Augustus and Mary Butler Pocklington, he graduated from City College High School, in Baltimore, in 1952.

In 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was based in Alaska. He served as a cryptographer, monitoring Russian activity during the Korean conflict. Due to his expertise and leadership, he rapidly advanced to technical sergeant, family members said. He was discharged in 1955.

In addition, he enlisted into the Navy Cadet Pilot program in the late 1950s in Pensacola, Fla., where he excelled in piloting and was selected to become a jet pilot prior to being discharged in the 1960s. Family members said that he excelled in celestial navigation.

From the early 1960s until 1973, he worked as vice president of sales for Parkton Co., a clothing manufacturing company in Baltimore.

He married Dorothy Butcher in 1970.

In the late 1970s, he became a biomedical technician for Harbor View Hospital in Baltimore, where he worked for two years.

He graduated from Howard Community College in 1978 with an associate's degree in biomedical technology. He also attended the University of Maryland for three years, where he studied mathematics and English.

Mr. Pocklington enjoyed skydiving, sailing, skiing and white water rafting. One summer, he worked on the Alaskan railroad, hammering the nails into the tracks, family members recall.

In addition, he enjoyed reading and collected more than 3,000 books on an eclectic assortment of topics.

In 1988, he joined the Mensa Society, the members of which have an IQ in the top 2 percent of the population.

He and his wife delivered meals for Meals on Wheels in Howard County for a year and half.

Mr. Pocklington was predeceased by a sister, Shirley Lowe.

In addition to his wife of 37 years, he is survived by a sister, Joyce Lewis, of Alexandria, Va.; two brother- and two sisters-in-laws, Bob and Pat Hebert and Bill and Paulette Butcher, all of Lafayette; and many other relatives.

A memorial service was held April 29, 2008, at Harry Witzke Funeral Home in Ellicott City.

Interment will occur at Arlington Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department, Station 2, 4150 Montgomery Road, Ellicott City, MD 21043.

George W. Higgs

George William Higgs, of Ellicott City, died April 20, 2008, at his residence. He was 59.

He was born Nov. 24, 1948, in Daniels, to Elwood and Nellie Raines Higgs.

Mr. Higgs worked as a carpenter for CRS Construction in Columbia for 40 years.

Family members recall that he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, as well as horse racing, fishing and hunting.

He was predeceased by his parents.

Mr. Higgs is survived by his partner, Deborah Jenkins, of Ellicott City; four sons, Bobby Allen Higgs, of Tennessee, Jeremy Higgs, of Columbia, Jacob Higgs, of Columbia, and J.D. Pendleton, of Cooksville; two stepdaughters, Lynda and Jennifer Jenkins, both of Ellicott City; three brothers, Woody Higgs, of Baltimore, Michael Higgs, of Severn, and Larry Higgs, of Georgia; five sisters, Dorothy Bentley, of Maryland, Barbara Boring, of Ellicott City, Ruthie Terry, of Clarksville, Brenda Kibler, of Woodstock, Va., and Janice Dees, of Maryland; a grandchild, Cole Higgs, of Virginia; and two step-grandchildren, Wyatt and Dakota Jenkins, both of Ellicott City.

Funeral services were held April 25, 2008, at Haight Funeral Home & Chapel in Sykesville.

Interment followed at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Marriottsville.

Douglas S. Spear

Douglas Stuart Spear, of Ellicott City, died April 23, 2008, due to metastatic colon cancer, at Howard County General Hospital. He was 68.

Born April 30, 1939, in Baltimore, to Edwin Hanley and Lottie Tyler Spear, he graduated from Severn School, an independent college preparatory, in Severna Park in 1957.

He later graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in business.

He married Elizabeth Ruark in 1979.

Mr. Spear worked as a controller for Westinghouse Electric Corp., in Linthicum. He retired in the early 1990s.

He was a member of Habitat for Humanity in Baltimore City for five years and Bethany United Methodist Church in Ellicott City for 10 years, during which time he served on the church's board of trustees in the finance committee.

Mr. Spear served as a volunteer tax preparer for AARP in Howard County for the last 10 years.

Family members recall that he enjoyed traveling with his wife.

He was predeceased by his parents, Edwin Hanley and Lottie Tyler Spear.

In addition to his wife of 29 years, Mr. Spear is survived by four sons, Douglas Stuart Spear Jr., of Glen Burnie, Stephen Hanley Spear, of Cockeysville, Erik Lee Barnes, of Santa Monica, Calif. and Jesse Carville Barnes, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a brother, Richard Tyler Spear, of Plano, Texas; two nieces; and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services were held April 26, 2008, at Bethany United Methodist Church in Ellicott City. The Rev. David Simpson presided.

Interment followed at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Marriottsville.

Memorial donations may be made to: Bethany United Methodist Church, 2875 Bethany Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21042 or to: American Cancer Society, 1100 Ireland Way, Suite 300, Birmingham AL 35205.

Hugh Burgess

Hugh Burgess, of Ellicott City, died April 25, 2008, at Ellicott City Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was 78.

Born Sept. 14, 1929, in Ellicott City, to Lionel and Lenna Baker Burgess, he was a seventh-generation Howard Countian.

He graduated from Ellicott City High School in 1946.

In 1949, he graduated from Western Maryland College with an Bachelor of Arts degree in biology, chemistry and mathematics. During his college career, he was a member of the school's football team and boxing team.

He married Doris Royer in 1949.

Then, in 1963, he graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law, with a juris doctor degree.

Mr. Burgess invented Caucus, an educational board game on government and politics in 1964, family members said.

From the 1960s until 1998, he worked as a sales representative for Burgess and Burgess Insurance, a family company located in Ellicott City, operated by his grandfather. The company has since closed.

He also worked as an analytical and research chemist for Armco Steel, in Baltimore, and the Donut Corporation of America, now called Wilkens-Rogers Inc., in Ellicott City.

Mr. Burgess began his career as an attorney in 1964, when he opened his own firm called Hugh Burgess, Attorney at Law. He retired in 2004, after 40 years.

He was a member of the Ellicott City Kiwanis Club for 51 years, for which he served as president in 1966 and lieutenant governor in 1968; a member of the House of Delegates in Howard County from 1967 to 1982, for which he served on the Ways and Means Committee, the Committee for Environmental Matters; and was a former commissioner for the Little League of Howard County.

Family members recall that he enjoyed reading about Civil War, U.S. and world history, as well as playing golf, gardening and writing poetry.

In addition to his wife of 59 years, Mr. Burgess is survived by three daughters, Sandra Funke, Deborah West and Holly Burgess, all of Ellicott City; two sons, Stephan Burgess, of Ellicott City, and Reid Burgess, of Parkton; a brother, Lionel Burgess Jr., of Catonsville; an uncle; four aunts; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many relatives.

Funeral services are slated for May 9, 2008, 2 p.m., at First Lutheran Church, 3604 Chatham Road, Ellicott City.

Memorial donations may be made to Howard County Library, Bequest Fund, Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042.

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