Obituary

BERLIN — Phyllis Clara East, long time Executive Secretary to the General Manager and Board of Directors of Ocean Pines, passed away at her home on Wednesday, April 4.  She was 72 years old.  Born in Chateauguay, N.Y., East was the youngest of 12 children born to the late Felix Tavernier and Clara A. Santimore Tavernier. She met her husband, James W. East, in 1962 and they married the same year. In 1980 the couple and their four children moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  East was a member of the Berlin/Ocean City Moose Lodge and the American Legion Post #123 Women’s Auxiliary.  She enjoyed reading, camping at Sandy Hill Campground and spending time with her family and friends.  She is survived by her husband of 49 years, James W. East; her children, Theresa (Philip) Marlowe, Kathleen East, Denise (Chad) Schillaci, James “Jay” East, James (Nicole) Blanc and Dan Kerstetter; her grandchildren, Lou Davis, Alyssa Moshili, Bryant Eas...

BERLIN — Edwin Barringer Goodridge, age 92, died Tuesday, April 3, at the Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.  Born in Batavia, N.Y., he was the son of the late Albert Monroe Goodridge and Leona V. Breese Goodridge. He was preceded in death by his wife Helen Aberle Goodridge. He is survived by his daughters; Janet T. Owens and her husband Bill of Berlin, Cynthia J. Gulledge and her husband Ron of Rockingham, NC, Katherine “Kitty” E. Roma of Mendham, N.J., and sons; Edwin “Barry” Barringer Goodridge and his wife Nanette of Los Angeles, Calif. and Jeffery A. Goodridge of Ashville, N.C. There are 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 4 nieces. Goodridge was a WWII Army Veteran. He had worked for Prudential Mortgage and Loan Company for 40 years, retiring as Regional Vice President of Real Estate Operations in Washington, DC in 1979. He was a member of; Whatcoat United Methodist Church in Snow Hill, American Legion Post #67 in Snow Hill, V...

OCEAN CITY — Courtland “Skip” Townsend, 72, of Ocean City, formerly of Montgomery County, died Saturday, April 7. He was a trial lawyer for 46 years, and practiced for 20 years in Worcester County. He was known for his courtroom skill and sense of humor.  He attended Randolph Macon Military Academy, was in the Marine Corps Reserves for over 3 years until being medically discharged, got his law degree in 1966 at American University in Washington, D.C., and was admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1970. He was a Panel member of the Attorney Grievance Commission from 1984 to 2012; won the Chair Award of the Year for the Criminal Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association; was Chair of the Maryland State Bar Ethics Committee for the last three years; has over 23 reported Appellate Opinions both State and Federal, and has been listed as a Preeminent Lawyer since 1993 with Martindale-Hubbell.   He was a lecturer for the Montgomery County Police Academ...

BERLIN — David Lee Coiner, age 52, died Friday, April 6 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of Ruth Bumgarner Dudley and the late Stephen Coiner.   Coiner enjoyed reading, and traveling. He was a people person who loved life.   Along with his mother he is survived by his daughter, Leighann Corner and her fiancé John Pinner; three brothers, Charles, John and James Coiner; two grandchildren, John and Ryan Pinner; and several nephews, cousins and a host of friends.  He was preceded in death by his brothers, Greg and Thomas Coiner and his step-father, Frank Dudley.  Services and interment will be private.  Arrangements are being handled by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. 

OCEAN PINES — Elva Irene Zenk, age 88, went to her rest Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at her home in Ocean Pines. Born in Turtle Creek, Pa. she was the daughter of the late Edwin O. Kerr and Mary Craig Kerr. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Herman Albert Zenk, Jr., her loving family and many good friends.  Zenk was a United States Navy Veteran.  As a resident of the Eastern Shore for 26 years, she delighted in her life as a loving and caring wife, mother and grandmother. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802.  Arrangements are being handled by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. 

OCEAN CITY — Francis Xavier Snoots, “Frank”, age 48, died Thursday, March 29 at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin. Born in Washington, D.C. he is the son of Lawrence E. Snoots and Margaret Hagerhorst Snoots. Along with his parents he is survived by his brother, Lawrence E. Snoots, III, “Cory” of St. Petersburg, Fla; his sister, Teresa “Terry” Lanham and her husband David of Edmond, Okla.; and several nieces and nephews. Snoots had attended St. Andrews Catholic Church in Ocean City. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.  Arrangements are being handled by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. 

BERLIN — Polly Lee Phillips, age 89, died Monday, April 2, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin. Born in Salisbury, she was the daughter of the late Lee Insley and Pauline White Insley Purnell. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, William P. “Bill” Phillips, Sr. and her daughter, Susan P. DeGroft and her husband George of Berlin. She was preceded in death by her sons, William P. Phillips, Jr. and L. Richard Phillips.  She is also survived by her grandchildren, Dr. David Phillips Smack, Christopher Cordrey Smack, Elizabeth Insley Smack Davis, George William DeGroft, III and Heather Arters; and her great grandchildren, Caleb P. Smack, Abigail P. Smack, Christopher C. Smack, II, Thomas H. Davis, V, Hannah A. Davis, George W. DeGroft, IV, Meghan Arters, Matthew Arters and James Arters. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Jane Purnell. Phillips had worked for many years as a teacher and librarian with the Sussex County Board of Education. She was a ...

WHALEYVILLE — Nelson William “Bill” Chester, Jr., age 57, died Thursday, March 22, at his home. Born in Essex, he was the son of the late Nelson William Chester, Sr. and Gertrude Gorham.  He is survived by his wife Patricia Chester.  Chester was a graduate of Deep Creek Jr. High School. He was the owner of Chester Jr. Farm along with his wife and had also worked for the Sanitation Dept. of Baltimore County, World Wind Car Wash, Backriver Exxon Station and Backriver Supply Co.  He was a member of Whaleyville Methodist Church, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Farm Bureau, Chincoteague Pony and Horse Association, International and National Goat Association, and AMSA. Chester loved God, nature, people and loved his wife dearly.  Along with his wife he is survived by two step-sons, Thomas Shockley Cropper, Jr.  and his wife Tina of Hebron and Robert “Craig” Cropper and his wife Tammy of Powellville; a step-daughter, Virginia Jane “Gi...

BISHOPVILLE — Gladys Bishop Pecore, age 84, died Wednesday, March 21 at the Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Born in Showell she was the daughter of the late John Edward Bishop and Carrie Mildred Bishop. She was preceded in death by her husband, Augustine Maurice Pecore in 1983. She is survived by her children, Michael Edward McCabe of Bishopville and Patricia Bowden Feeheley and her beloved companion, Robert Stipe both of Selbyville. Also surviving is a grandson, Michael Thomas Bowden and a great-granddaughter, Kerry Lynn Bowden.  Her sister, Dorothy V. Moore and nephew, Timothy F. Moore of Bishopville also survive. Pecore was a graduate of Buckingham High School, Class of 1944. She had worked as a receptionist for Dr. Frank Townsend, Dr. Armand Hall, and Dr. Richard Peoples.  She had also worked as an accounts receivable clerk for the Ocean Pines Association. She loved Cotillion dancing and singing with the Sweet Adeline’s in her earlier years as well...

OCEAN CITY — Nicholas Ryan Townsend, age 23, died unexpectedly on March 17. Born in Chester, Pa., he was the son of Norman Townsend and Cheryl A. Van der Slice. Townsend had worked as a line cook for Terra in Philadelphia.  Along with his parents he is survived by his grandmother, Beverly Parsons; his step-father, Chris Van der Slice; two brothers, Christopher A. Townsend and his wife Ayn and Tony J. Townsend; a sister, Brittaney Bree and her husband James; two nieces, Minah and Arcadia; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of friends.