"For I am sure that neither death nor life ...
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39 (NRSV)
Memorials
"For I am sure that neither death nor life ...
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39 (NRSV)
All Saints Sunday
On Sunday, November 3, 2024, the St. Paul’s community will celebrate All Saints Sunday.
This is a cherished time in the worship calendar when we honor members of this church who have died in the past year. All Saints Sunday is also a time to recognize the lives of loved ones who have passed away during the past year.
Our special memorial bulletin for All Saints includes photos of members of the church who have joined the saints in heaven, as well as the names of deceased persons who were constituents of the church or close family members of those in our church.
Please click the button here to access the form online to share the name of those loved ones who died between October 15, 2023 and today. Paper forms are available in the Narthex or by mail.
Information must be submitted by October 27, 2024 in order to be included in the Memorial Bulletin.
We are privileged to share one another's burdens, and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones in community. If you are not able to join us in person for worship on November 3, 2024 at 10:30 AM, the service will be livestreamed at stpaulsk.org/worship/worship-at-home
Members Deaths in 2024
In the sections below, we will share information about the beloved saints and members of St. Paul's UMC, who have departed this earth to claim their reward in heaven. When the family provides obituary information or information about funeral or memorial services, that news is also shared here.
Celebrating the Life and Faith of Mr. Gordon Luckett
The funeral service celebrating the life and faith of Mr. Gordon Luckett will livestream from the Sanctuary at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 14, 2024.
Please click the button for the memorial service bulletin.
Mr. Gordon Luckett passed away July 29, 2024, in Melbourne Beach, FL at age 95 after a brief time in hospice. Gordon was born in 1929 and grew up in the Kensington area. He joined St. Paul's as a youth in 1941, and met his future wife Jean as a teenager ushering at the Avalon Theatre in Washington DC. He served in the Air Force in the Korean War and returned to Maryland to work in banking, mortgage and finance, eventually becoming President of Equitable Savings Bank in Wheaton, MD. In recent years he has worshiped with St. Paul's online from his home in Florida where he enjoyed fishing, model trains, and woodworking. His wife Jean passed away in 2018. He is survived by four children (Linda Taylor of Melbourne Beach, FL; Donald Luckett of Silver Spring, MD; Christina Rosenberger and husband, Robert, of Lake Wylie, SC; and Christopher Luckett and wife, Sylvia, of Huntingtown, MD) as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
For the fulll obituary, please click here: https://obits.coxgiffordseawinds.com/obituary/gordon-luckett
Celebrating the life and faith of Mr. Clarence WAldroff
Saturday, July 20, 2024
11:00 AM
Mr. Clarence (Clancy) Waldroff passed away on May 21, 2024, at age 82 following a short stay in hospice care. He is survived by his wife Marybelle. They have been members of St. Paul's UMC since 1968.
A worship service celebrating Clarence's life and faith will be held Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary.
Light refreshments and a time of visitation with the family will be held in the Octagon immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Clarence's memory to the St. Paul's UMC Hunger Ministry, online at stpaulsk.org/giving or by check made out to St. Paul's with "Waldroff - Hunger Minsitry" in the memo line.
Service of Committal for Sarah Boyer Jenkins & JAsper Jenkins
Service of Committal
Saturday, May 11, 2024
11:00 AM
Columbarium & Memorial Garden of St. Paul's
Mrs. Sarah Boyer Jenkins died on May 2, 2023. She was a member of St. Paul's from 1976 until her death at age 95.
Sarah was a renowned and accomplished designer known for her passion and commitment to interior design. The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Washington Chapter, continues to honor her legacy with the chapter's top award, "The Sarah Boyer Jenkins FASID APEX Award," presented in her name. She was active at St. Paul's in the altar guild and oversaw the custom design and construction of many of the altar cloths and paraments in use today. In recent years, she received care for dementia.
Sarah's husband Jasper "Jack" Jenkins preceded her in death, passing away December 1, 2003, due to long-term complications of a cerebral aneurysm he suffered in 1964.
The service of committal will celebrate Sarah and Jasper as their ashes are placed at rest together in the Columbarium at St. Paul's.
Announcing the death of Mrs. Ida DeVierno
Announcing the death of Mrs. Pauline Banyasz
Mrs. Pauline Banyasz passed away on April 13, 2024 at age 88. She was a long-time resident of Kensington and a member of St. Paul's from 1972 until her death.
The family is planning a simple service of committal to take place in the Columbarium and Memorial Garden of St. Paul's UMC. More details will be provided here as arrangements are made.
Announcing the death of
Mr. M. Frank Johnson
A memorial service to celebrate the life and faith of Frank Johnson will be held on Saturday, April 13 at 11:00 AM in the Sanctuary of St. Paul's UMC. A visitation time will follow the service with light refreshments in the Octagon.
The memorial service will be livestreamed at 11:00 AM on April 13 from the Sanctuary. (Please click where it says "Watch on YouTube" to open the livestream in a new window and view larger.)
Click the button for a *pdf of the Funeral Bulletin.
Mr. M. Frank Johnson died on March 30, 2024 following a long illness. He joined St. Paul's UMC in 1953 and was active in the choir during his time worshiping in Kensington. He is remembered fondly for his Christmas Eve rendition of I Wonder as I Wander and his musical contributions to various bluegrass bands. In recent years he faithfully engaged with worship remotely from his home in Winchester VA. He is survived by his children and grandchildren, and his partner Bonnie Miller.
Frank will be laid to rest in the Columbarium & Memorial Garden at St. Paul's with a private inurnment and committal.
Service of Committal for Mrs. Becky Little
Mrs. Rebecca Little passed away at the age of 106 on Sunday, January 21, 2024. She had been a member of St. Paul's since 1955 and moved to Oak Park, Illinois in recent years to be closer to her daughter, Linda.
A Service of Committal will be held in the Columbarium at St. Paul's on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Family and friends are invited to attend.
The full obituary is available for viewing here:
https://www.chicagolandcremationoptions.com/obituary/rebecca-little
Celebrating the Life and faith of mR. jIM sMITH, Jr.
The memorial service celebrating the life and faith of Mr. Jim Smith, Jr. will be held on Saturday, February 3 in the Sanctuary at St. Paul's beginning at 12:00 noon. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed and available for viewing here. (To enlarge, please click on "Watch on YouTube".)
The funeral bulletin is available in *pdf format here.
Family and friends are also invited to a reception time immediately following the service. The reception will be held in the event space at the Rock Creek Mansion, 5417 W. Cedar Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in Jim's memory be made to the St. Paul's Hunger Ministry.
Mr. James (Jim) Bigelow Smith Jr. passed away on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at age 83, with his son Jonathan and daughter Alison at his side. Jim was a longtime member of St. Paul's and had been receiving hospice care prior to his passing.
Jim was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, March 9, 1940, the eldest of three children, and graduated from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine in 1962 with degrees in Political Science and French. Jim was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and had his first Active Duty assignment in Germany. He met his future wife, Gail, at his sister’s wedding, and they married a year later on June 17, 1967 in Winchester, MA. Jim and Gail moved to the Washington, DC area shortly afterwards, eventually settling in Kensington, MD and joining St. Paul's UMC in 1982. After earning a master’s degree in French from George Washington University, Jim had a 31-year teaching career as a French and Spanish teacher with the Montgomery County Public Schools. He was also fluent in Latin and German, and tutored numerous students. Additionally, Jim served in the United States Army Reserve for 28 years, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. Jim volunteered as a language tutor, election poll worker, Sunday School teacher, Christmas-tree seller, pancake breakfast cook, and numerous other activities. In retirement, Jim and Gail traveled the world, going on trips with groups from church and on their own to Israel, Jordan, Alaska, Louisiana, Austria, UK, Greece, China, Canada, Italy, Nicaragua, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Romania, Russia, to name a few places. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Gail.
From the family:
"Jim was a dedicated husband, teacher, friend, soldier, and disciple. He greeted people with a smile, cracked a joke, and tried to make everyone laugh. He couldn’t resist a good pun. He saw sunshine on cloudy days. He doled out compliments freely. He let everyone know his gratitude for them, and saw value in every person.
He adored his wife. He thought his children Jon and Alison, and grandchildren Julia, London, Annabelle, and Becca, were the cat’s paw-jamas.
With a deep faith, he prayed for others, volunteered his time, and gave generously.
Thanks for owl you did.
Merci mille fois, Monsieur Smith.
Jim is now fully restored, reunited with his wife, Gail, and making heaven a punnier place."
To read the full obituary, visit https://www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/James-Bigelow-Smith-Jr?obId=30443715#/obituaryInfo
All Saints Sunday
November 5, 2023
On Sunday, November 5, 2023, the St. Paul’s community will celebrate All Saints Sunday.
This is a cherished time in the worship calendar when we honor members of this church who have died in the past year. All Saints Sunday is also a time to recognize the lives of loved ones who have passed away during the year. Our special memorial bulletin for All Saints includes photos of members of the church who have joined the saints in heaven, as well as the names of deceased persons who were constituents of the church or immediate family members of those in our church, so we may share one another's burdens and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones in community.
Click the button to download the Memorial Bulletin
View the worship service, livestreaming from the Sanctuary at 10:30 AM on Sunday, at our Worship At Home page.
Member Deaths in 2023
In the sections below, we will share information about the beloved saints and members of St. Paul's UMC, who have departed this earth to claim their reward in heaven. When the family provides obituary information or information about funeral or memorial services, that news is also shared here.
CELEBRATING THE LIFE of Mrs. Del MOyer
All family and friends are welcome at a service celebrating the life and faith of Del Moyer. The funeral will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM in the Sanctuary of St. Paul's UMC.
The service will be livestreamed here.
Please note, there will not be a reception at the church following the service.
Mrs. Delphine (Del) Campa Moyer died on Friday, September 15, 2023. Del was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 50 years, Harold Moyer. She is survived by two sons David Paul Campa Moyer (and wife Jill Marie Larson) and John Harold Campa Moyer (and wife Paula Payne Moyer), and four grandsons.
Please click the button to download the funeral bulletin with the order of worship, and enjoy photos and an account of Del's life story, hobbies, family, and achievements.
celebrating the life of Mrs. Margaret Thurlow
Memorial Service
Saturday, December 16, 2023
10:00 AM
Mrs. Margaret Thurlow passed away on Sunday, September 17, 2023, after a brief time in hospice care. She was preceded in death by her husband Jeff and both will be laid to rest in the Columbarium at St. Paul's.
A funeral service celebrating her life and faith will be held in the Sanctuary of St. Paul's on December 16. This service is open to the public and all friends are encouraged to attend. (There will be no reception following the service.)
Celebrating the Life and Faith of Mr. Harold MOYer
Funeral Saturday, June 17, 2023
5:00 PM in the Sanctuary
Harold Dennis Moyer, a retired electrical engineer, data processing manager, inventory control manager, Eagle Scout, husband, father, and grandfather was born in Sellersville, PA on January 2, 1943. He died on June 9, 2023 at age 80.
The funeral service celebrating his life and faith will be held on Saturday, June 17 at 5:00 PM in the Sanctuary of St. Paul's. The livestream will be viewable here.
Guests are invited to a light reception in the Octagon Room immediately following the service.
At St. Paul's, Harold was active for many years in the United Methodist Men’s group, Friendship Club and R.O.M.E.O.’s (Retired Old Men Eating Out). He helped with the annual UMM apple and tree sales and biannual rummage sales, as well as numerous trips to West River for service projects. Pancake Breakfast was a favorite with the Friday trips to Mt. Airy to get sausage and eggs and then the Saturday morning breakfast, frequently cooking alongside both sons and later with grandsons as well.
As a young child, Harold got interested in philately and numismatics (stamp and coin collecting). Harold learned to play the organ and accordion and even custom built his electronic organ with pedals. He was also a dissectologist (someone who puts jigsaw puzzles together). Like his mother, he was a long-time needle-pointer. He stitched thousands of things including an organ bench seat, two and a half sections of communion kneelers for St. Paul’s, and children's toys.
Harold was a lifelong avid scouter; after completing the Cub Scout ranks of Wolf, Bear and Lion he crossed over to Boy Scouts. He earned his Eagle with Troop 61 in Lansdale, PA in 1959. Some of his fondest memories took place at the National Jamboree in Valley Forge in 1964 with over 50,000 of his closest personal fellow scouts.
Harold attended Capital Institute of Technology (CIT) where he earned an Associated degree in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He began a career in the DC area, working on guidance components for the minuteman missile and then moving from Electrical Engineering to Data Processing Manager and finally to an Inventory Control Manager with Foss NIRSystems of Denmark.
Harold is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Delphine Campa Moyer, his two sons David Paul Campa Moyer (and wife Jill Marie Larson) and John Harold Campa Moyer (and wife Paula Payne Moyer), and four grandsons.
To download the full obituary and souvenir program, click the button.
Celebrating the Life and Faith of Mich Kuipers
Micheline Murphy Kuipers, age 85, of Kensington, Maryland, died peacefully at home on Monday, May 29, 2023 following a long illness.
Micheline is survived by her beloved husband of 58 years, Ronald, her sons, John Lloyd and Derek Kuipers (and wife Tracy), stepdaughter Kim Maines, and
stepsons Mitchell Kuipers and Gregory Kuipers (and wife Katherine), along with one brother, 12 loving grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and many friends.
A celebration of Micheline’s life will be held at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Kensington, Maryland on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 11:00 AM. Visitation with family and a light reception will immediately follow the service in the Octagon room.
In lieu of flowers and to honor Micheline’s love for animals, donations may be made in her memory to Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, a nonprofit that has rescued over 12,000 cats and dogs, including Mich and Ron's dog, Higgins.
https://www.luckydoganimalrescue.org/home
or mail to Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, 5159 Langston Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22207
Funeral Service celebrating the life of Lynne Mazella Haverkos
Dr. Lynne Haverkos died unexpectedly on Sunday, May 7, 2023. She is survived by her husband Harry, three children, eight grandchildren, and other beloved family and friends.
A funeral service celebrating her life and faith will be held at St. Paul's UMC on Saturday, May 20, 2023.
Viewing and visitation time is 10:00-11:00 AM.
The funeral in the Sanctuary begins at 11:00 AM.
The service will also be livestreamed here:
Click the button for the funeral bulletin.
Immediately following the service, there will be a reception in the Fellowship Hall at St. Paul's.
Burial will follow at Rockville Cemetery (1350 Baltimore Road
Rockville MD, 20851). Family, friends, and guests are welcome to attend.
LYNNE MAZELLA HAVERKOS
Lynne was born in Ravenna, OH, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (double-major in Biology and Chemistry) from Kent State University in 1973, and a Doctoral Degree of Medicine from the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo in 1976, where she found her two true loves: pediatric medicine, and Harry Haverkos. He remembers her as the most vivacious and talented student in their class. A lifelong competitor, she sought him out after he won the medical school’s annual Doubles Ping Pong Tournament and asked him to teach her. This earned him the lifelong nickname ‘Coach’, and they continued to play ping pong, tennis, golf, and bridge together for the next 49 years. Lynne also earned a Master’s in Public Health, and they welcomed three children: Daniel, Kathryn, and Colleen. The family settled in the Washington, DC area in 1984.
Lynne worked in private practice and as a pediatrician at the Frederick Pediatric Center for almost 15 years, before becoming Program Director for the Behavioral Pediatrics and Health Promotion Research program at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). She continued to volunteer with the organization after retirement in 2013. She loved to bake (ideally anything with dark chocolate), read ‘one more book’ to her beloved grandchildren, and explore the world - whether that meant trips to Colonial Williamsburg, Disney World, Italy, or her own garden.
There are no words to express how lucky her surviving family and friends feel to have known and loved her. She will be cherished in their hearts every day until they can be reunited again.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Lynne's memory may be directed to:
● Children’s Hunger Fund: https://childrenshungerfund.org/ (13931 Balboa Blvd. Sylmare, CA 91342)
● Doctors Without Borders: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/ (40 Rector St., 16th Floor, New York, NY 10006)
● UNICEF: https://www.unicefusa.org/ (1775 K St NW #360, Washington, DC 20006)
For the full Obituary text, please visit: https://www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Lynne-Mazella-Haverkos?obId=27920874#/obituaryInfo
Funeral Service celebrating the life of Jan Heins
Mrs. Janet Boller Heins, beloved wife of Jim Heins, passed away at age 89 on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
A service to celebrate Jan's life and faith will be held in the Sanctuary at St. Paul's on Saturday, April 22 at 11:00 AM. All are welcome.
A lunch reception in the Fellowship Hall and time of visiting with the family will follow the service.
After retiring as an art teacher, Jan enjoyed traveling, including snorkeling in the Galapagos, dogsledding in Alaska, rafting through the Grand Canyon, and hiking in New Zealand, among many adventures.
For many years, Jan was a member of St. Paul's UMC Sanctuary Choir and Joyful Ringers bell ensemble, and played violin in the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Jan's memory may be made to the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra (https://msomd.org/support-us/).
Please click the link for the full obituary: https://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Janet-Boller-Heins?obId=27375184#/obituaryInfo
Announcing the death of Mr. Jack Lipscomb
The funeral service celebrating the life and faith of Jack Lipscomb will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 15, 2023 in the Sanctuary of St. Paul's UMC, with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall.
Mr. John "Jack" Lipscomb passed away peacefully at home on Friday, March 3, 2023, at the age of 85 following a long illness. He is survived by his loving wife Martha, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Jack served for many years at St. Paul's in the Joyful Ringer bell ensemble, as a weekday office volunteer, and as the church historian and archivist. He was a lifetime member of the Baltimore-Washington Conference United Methodist Historical Society and had a long-standing interest in history and genealogy.
His 30 year career with IBM involved work with NASA, the Veteran's Administration, the U.S. Air Force's Global Positioning Satellite System, and numerous classified projects. He was also active with the Earthwatch Institute, participating in scientific expeditions studying manatees in Belize, wetland preservations in Spain, and dinosaur digs in Montana, among others.
For the full obituary, visit https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/john-lipscomb-obituary?id=50130486
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Montgomery Hospice, https://montgomeryhospice.org; the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee https://www.elephants.com/; or Children's National Hospital, https://childrensnational.org/giving.
Announcing the death of Amy L. Smith
A memorial service to celebrate the life and faith of Mrs. Amy L. Smith will be held on Saturday, January 28 in the Sanctuary at St. Paul's beginning at 12:00 noon.
The funeral will be livestreamed here at 12:00.
Click the button for the memorial bulletin, with photos, obituary, and family remembrances. Please be patient while the file loads on your device.
Amy resided at Kent Street in Kensington, and passed away on November 18, 2022. She was 88 years old and had been a member of St. Paul's since 1974. She is survived by her daughter Didtra and beloved family and friends.
Among Amy's achievements, she served six years as the President of Alpha Pi Chi, a national sorority. To view their memorial slideshow, visit https://alphapichi.org/
Member Deaths in 2022
In the sections below, we recognize and remember those beloved members and family members of St. Paul's who, during the year 2022, have passed from this life and entered into their eternal rest.
We celebrate their lives and their faith, and hold their loved ones in our prayers.
We endeavor to update this page as new information becomes known to us, but please feel free to contact the church office or the pastors if you have questions.
All Saints Sunday
November 6, 2022
Sunday, November 6, 2022 is All Saints Sunday, the day we gather to remember and celebrate the lives of those who have gone from this earth to their heavenly home.
We have prepared a special memorial bulletin. Members of St. Paul's who have passed away between November 1, 2021 and October 31, 2022 have been featured with photographs when possible. The names of family members who have died within this past year are listed in alphabetical order, so we may share one another's burdens and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones in community.
Click the button for the *pdf version of the All Saints Sunday special memorial bulletin.
Announcing the death of Bob Fowler
Robert “Bob” Fowler of Rockville, MD passed away on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. He would have celebrated his 83rd birthday on December 24. Bob was the beloved husband of St. Paul's member Nancy L. Fowler.
Visitation will be held at Collins Funeral Home at 500 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD (Valet Parking), Monday December 19, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, with Funeral Services to follow at 1:00 pm. Interment at Parklawn Memorial Park.
For more information, visit https://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Robert-Bob-Fowler?obId=26661338#/obituaryInfo
Memorial service for
Jim Hitchcock
Jim Hitchcock passed away on the night of November 6, 2022. He was a beloved grandfather, father, husband, and friend during his 82 years of life.
A memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s UMC at 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 19, 2022. At 1:30 PM, a time of visitation will be held at the church prior to the service. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to The American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, or the United Services Organization.
Jim was a proud Navy veteran. He served his country for 22 years and lived in many places around the country and the world. He was an avid social entertainer and an amazing friend to all who knew him. When Jim wasn't working as a government contractor, he was actively involved in Stephen Ministries, attending church events and dinners, making his homemade cards, or playing his favorite game, Screwed Up Rummy. He is survived by his loving wife, Beth, his two sons: Jim Hitchcock and his wife, Ann Hermann Hitchcock; and Steve Hitchcock and his wife, Kate Fernstrom, plus many other family and close friends.
For the full obituary, visit: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/26350180/james-oran-jim-hitchcock
Funeral Sevice for Marianne Blankenship
On Tuesday, October 11, 2022, St. Paul's member Marianne Elizabeth Blankenship passed away after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul's on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at 11:00 AM. The livestream can be viewed here:
In lieu of flowers, the family suggestions donations be made in Marianne's memory to the American Parkinson Disease Association: https://www.apdaparkinson.org/1907d3l/
Daughter of Lee Owen and Frances Owen, Mrs. Blankenship is survived by her sons Barry Blankenship of Silver Spring, MD, Scott Blankenship and wife Reagan of Silver Spring, MD, and Steven Blankenship and wife Jennifer of Brookeville, MD, and extended family. Mrs. Blankenship was predeceased by her husband, Franklin D. Blankenship, and daughter, Nancy Blankenship.
Born and raised in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania, Marianne was a dedicated and loving wife and mother. She loved Sunday rides, visiting her parent’s farm in Pennsylvania, trips to Ocean City, watching her daughter compete in local beauty pageants, and traveling to new and exciting destinations.
The full obituary can be found at: https://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Marianne-Elizabeth-Blankenship?obId=26197179#/obituaryInfo
Gail Smith
St. Paul's is saddened to announce that Gail Smith, wife of Jim Smith and mother of Jonathan Smith and Alison Seddon, passed away peacefully during the evening of September 6, 2022, surrounded by family.
The funeral service will be held in the Sanctuary at St. Paul's UMC on Saturday, September 17 at 11:00 AM. The funeral will also be shared by livesteam - click below to view the video feed.
Following the funeral, the family will greet friends at the home of Jonathan Smith. More information is available in the funeral bulletin.
To open the *pdf of the funeral bulletin, click the button.
Gail was born in Massachusetts in 1943, lived in several places in New England, and moved to Maryland after her marriage to Jim Smith. She was an accomplished seamstress, an avid gardener, a cat lover, and an active volunteer in the school library and PTA. She also enjoyed an 18 year career in the cosmetics department of Nordstrom and served as caregiver for numerous beloved family members.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to Alley Cat Allies or the National Zoo.
For the full obituary, please click here:
https://www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Gail-Nickerson-Smith-?obId=25850819
Dr. Nathalie Valette-Silver
Early Monday morning June 27, 2022, St. Paul's member and accomplished scientist Nathalie Silver transitioned from this life to eternity.
Nathalie's daughter Karen hosted a “shivah-like” gathering on Friday, July 1, at Nathalie’s home to celebrate her life.
A memorial service will be held August 6 at 10:00 AM in the Sanctuary at St. Paul's UMC. After the service, family and friends will reconvene at 12:00 noon at Swains Lock in Potomac for a walk to Nathalie’s favorite spot along the C&O Canal.
She was born on August 12, 1941 in France. She was raised and educated in Paris, and spent her summers at her grandparents’ home in Sète, where she continued to bring her family until 2021. Nathalie was the first person in her family to attend college and received her undergraduate and 3 Masters degrees from the Sorbonne Université in Paris. She taught Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Sciences in Paris, Montpelllier and Perpignan before receiving her PhD in Marine Geochemistry & Submarine Hydrothermal Systems. Her doctoral research took her all over the world, including Vulcano, Pozzuoli, Santorini and the Red Sea. She moved to the United States in the late 1970’s for a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Riverside and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where she met her late husband, Dr. Paul G. Silver. They were married in 1980, and had two children – Karen M. Stone (born in 1985) and Celine M. Silver (born in 1987, deceased in 2009). Nathalie worked for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for over 30 years in a variety of roles. Throughout her career she focused on the advancement of women in science, and mentorship and leadership for new and upcoming scientists. She was an avid traveler, reader and artist. She enjoyed long bike rides on the C&O canal, beach combing for unique sea shells, open ocean swimming and body surfing. Nathalie spent many of her weekends painting landscapes, animals, and scenes of fishing towns.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Ocean Conservancy, in her honor https://oceanconservancy.org/
For the full obituary, visit https://www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Nathalie-Josette-Valette-Silver?obId=25272792
Funeral arrangements for
C. Wayne Thompson
Mr. Clifford Wayne Thompson passed away at age 75 at home on Sunday evening, May 15, 2022.
Wayne was a "heritage member" of our church, having joined St. Paul's in membership in 1969. He served in a number of roles here, including as an usher for worship. He loved Washington-area sports teams, singing sea chanties, sailing, and volunteering at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime museum. The full obituary can be found here:
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/clifford-thompson-obituary?id=34908092
The funeral service celebrating Wayne's life and faith will be held in the Sanctuary at St. Paul's UMC on Wednesday, May 25 at 11:00 AM. All are welcome to attend. Interment will follow at 1:30 PM at Forest Oak cemetery (N Frederick Ave, Gaithersburg, MD 20877).
Announcing the Death of Sylvia Correa
Ms. Sylvia Correa passed away Sunday, May 15 during her stay at the Carriage Hill rehabilitation facility. She is survived by her daughter, Denise Toomer. The family is in the process of planning a private memorial service in June, to be held at a family residence.
Beverley Jean Buckingham
We extend our sincere condolences to Rev. Rick Buckingham, long-time former Youth Pastor at St. Paul's, on the unexpected passing of his mother, Mrs. Beverley Jean Buckingham, of Catonsville MD on Sunday, May 1, 2022. She was age 92.
Funeral services are open to the public and will be held at Catonsville UMC on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 11:00 AM.
Catonsville UMC
6 Melvin Ave, Catonsville, MD 21228
410-747-1886
office@catonsvilleumc.org
Cards may be sent to Rick's home address; please see the Congregational Care list or email the church office for more information.
The family will arrange a private inurnment in the St. Paul's columbarium at a later date.
Betty Lu Long
Betty Lu Gilleland Long, age 92, passed away peacefully and surrounded by her family on April 16, 2022. During her time at St. Paul's, she sang soprano in the Sanctuary Choir. The family plans a private burial in Statesville, North Carolina later this summer. To read the full obituary, click here:
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/betty-lu-long-obituary?id=34971520
Margie Wood
We announce the sad news that Mrs. Margie Wood, a long-time friend of St. Paul's, passed away on March 7, 2022 at age 98.
Funeral services will be held in-person at Chevy Chase Presbyterian on Friday, May 6 at 11:00 AM with light refreshments to follow. All are welcome.
Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church
One Chevy Chase Circle, Washington DC 20015
For questions, please contact 202-363-2202, office@chevychasepc.org, or visit their website: https://www.chevychasepc.org
The funeral will also be shared over Zoom using this link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83179114222?pwd=UnhZUUpsN2VPdmkwR3NyQ2kzNmN5Zz09
Margie was active for many years with the coffee hour ministry at St. Paul's along with her daughter Peggy Wardell. Margie is also survived by her son Bob, her grandson and great-grandsons. Margie's obituary can be read in full at https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/margie-wood-obituary?id=33832110.
Jeff Thurlow
We announce the sad news that Mr. Jeff Thurlow passed away at age 79 on Sunday, February 6, 2022 after a brief hospitalization. He is survived by his loving wife Margaret.
A service celebrating Jeff's life and faith was held Thursday, February 17 in the Sanctuary of St. Paul's UMC at 1:00 in the afternoon. He will be laid to rest in the church's Columbarium and Memorial Garden.
May Oliveri
With sadness we announce Mrs. May Oliveri passed away on January 10, 2022 at age 97.
The funeral service was held at the end of January by private arrangement. Condolences may be directed to May's sons William (Bill) or Warren (Bucky) Oliveri; please contact the church office for mailing addresses.
Member deaths in 2021
In the sections below, we recognize and remember those beloved members and family members of St. Paul's who, during the year 2021, passed from this life and entered into their eternal rest.
All Saints Sunday
All Saints Sunday is a cherished time in the worship calendar when we honor members of this church who have died in the past year. All Saints Sunday is also a time to recognize the lives of loved ones who have passed away.
On November 7, 2021, we will celebrate the saints in Christ who have finished their courses in faith and who now rest from their labors. We have gathered photos of St. Paul's members, and the names of family and constituents, who have gone to their reward in heaven between November 1, 2020 and October 31, 2021.
The special Memorials booklet is available for download here:
Memorial Service for Clem & AdDa Clark
A memorial service honoring the lives of Clem & Adda Clark will be held on Saturday, October 30.
Mrs. Adda Clark passed away on February 28, 2021. She was age 93.
Mr. Clem Clark, her beloved husband, followed her in death on March 6, 2021, having stated that he wanted to be with Adda. He was 102.
The memorial service on October 30 will be at Brookside Gardens at 11:00 AM. To attend, please RSVP to daughter Linda Barrett. Contact the church office for Linda's person email address or consult the worship bulletin for October 24. Inurnment will follow at Parklawn.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Brookside Gardens, where Adda & Clem had their first date and visited often. (https://montgomeryparksfoundation.org/donate-to-parks/).
A memorial service celebrating the lives of Adda and Clem will be arranged at a future date.
For a more complete obituary notice for Adda, please visit:
https://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Adda-Clark?obId=20144538
Announcing the death of Debbie Hippchen
Debbie Hippchen passed away on September 10, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. She was able to pass quietly at home, with her family by her side, which was her great wish.
Debbie requested there be no memorial or funeral service, and her niece Jaika Stone is honoring her aunt's wishes. Those who wish to send condolences may contact the church office (stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org) for Jaika's email address.
Announcing the Death of Jean Trumbo
Mrs. Jean Trumbo died September 7, 2021, after a brief time of illness.
The funeral service will be held at St. Paul's UMC on Saturday, September 11 at 11:30 AM, followed immediately by a service of committal and inurnment at Parklawn Cemetery. Friends are invited to attend.
Jean was a beloved member of St. Paul's Sanctuary Choir for many years and was active in the women's circle. She is survived by her son James (Jim) Trumbo, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her son John Trumbo and husband James T. Trumbo.
Announcing the Death of Beatrice McKinley
Beatrice Bartlett McKinley (age 90), passed away peacefully on April 17, 2021. Bea was born on May 30, 1930 in Washington, DC, and was a lifelong resident of Maryland before moving to Reno, Nevada in 2018 to be near one of her daughters. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who loved her home and family. She enjoyed a successful 21-year career at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, while raising her daughters as a single mother.
Bea is survived by her sister Jeanne Matthews of Salinas CA; her four daughters with first husband Charles H. Benson: Jean Bernstein of Burlington, VT; Mary Benson of Reno, NV; Sara Benson of Boulder, CO; Suzanne Benson of Leavenworth WA; stepdaughter Amy Kefauver of Damariscotta, ME, stepson John McKinley III of Aptos, CA; 8 grandchildren and 2 great granddaughters. Bea was married to the late John Douglas McKinley Jr. for 40 years.
At this time, St. Paul's does not have any information regarding funeral or memorial arrangements.
The full obituary from the Reno Journal-Gazette can be found at this link:
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/rgj/name/beatrice-mckinley-obituary?pid=198408133
A celebration of the life of Nellie Longsworth
March 29, 1933 - March 1, 2021
A service celebrating the life of Nellie Longsworth will be held at St. Paul's UMC on Monday, June 21, 2021. The livestream is available by clicking below; the service begins at 11:00 AM.
Please click the video here to view the service.
Ms. Longsworth passed away at the age of 87, leaving behind her beloved children Jennifer, Jeff, and Mark, and their families. Over a 30 year career in historic preservation and preservation activism, she earned top awards in her field, lobbied successfully for federal laws, policies, and programs that prioritized historic preservation, mentored numerous future leaders, and taught at institutions like Columbia, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and George Washington University.
Click the button below to open the *pdf prepared by the family to celebrate Nellie's life.
Celebration of Life Tribute - Nellie Longsworth
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions to Preservation Action be made in her honor: https://preservationaction.org/
Announcing the death of catherine Price
Catherine Price, a member of St. Paul's UMC since 1958, died on April 22, 2021 at the age of 90. She was preceded in death by her husband Alvie S. Price, Sr.
Details of arrangements are still being determined. The family will be served by Pumphrey's Funeral Home in Rockville MD with a private funeral and interment at Parklawn cemetery scheduled for May 4.
The full obituary is available at: https://www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Catherine-Lee-Price?obId=20917386#/obituaryInfo
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation: https://t2t.org/
Announcing the death of Frank Blankenship
Mr. Frank Blankenship passed away on April 19, 2021 at the age of 83 after a battle with terminal cancer and brief time in hospice care. He is survived by his wife Marianne and their sons Barry, Scott, and Steven, and their wives and children. He was predeceased by his daughter Nancy.
Mr. Blankenship was born in Burnsville, North Carolina, and served in the U.S. Marine Corp. 1956-1958. After business school and a move to Maryland, he became vice president of State National Bank in Kensington and then ran his own home improvement company, working on many low-income housing projects to assist those struggling in the community, and hiring workers who deserved a second chance from the Montgomery County Pre-Release Unit to work with his company.
The funeral service will be held at St. Paul's on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 11:00 AM and is open to the public with covid-related protocols in place, including wearing masks and physical distancing. For those who cannot attend in-person, the funeral will be live-streamed HERE.
Frank will be laid to rest in the columbarium and memorial garden at St. Paul's UMC in a private inurnment.
The full obituary along with a memorial slide show is available here:
https://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Franklin-Delano-Blankenship?obId=21006441
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/
Announcing the death of holly watkins
Holly Watkins, wife of Jerry Watkins, passed away peacefully late Sunday afternoon, April 18, in hospice at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington DC.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions the Memorial Service will be private. Family and friends are welcome to attend a brief Graveside Service at Parklawn Memorial Park (12899 Veirs Mill Road, Rockville, MD, 20853), on Thursday, April 29 at 12:15 PM. Drive directly to the front entrance. Rev. Kate Mackereth Fulton will officiate.
To view the photo tribute and full obituary, visit the Collins Funeral Home website:
https://www.collinsfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Holly--Jean-Watkins?obId=20872619#/obituaryInfo
Please click "Read More" to open the full obituary and find the slideshow.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html
Announcing the death of George Simmons
We share the sad news that Mr. George Wilfred "Will" Simmons passed away on Monday, April 5, 2021 at age 91. George and his wife Betty Simmons joined St. Paul's in the 1950s and served this community faithfully for many decades.
He leaves behind two sons, Bruce and Brent, three grandchildren, and other beloved family members. He is remembered for his travels from Maine to Florida, annual family trips to the beach, his love of fishing, hunting, crabbing, and gardening, and his work with the Beach Erosion division of the Coastal Engineering Research Center of the Army Corps of Engineers.
No funeral or memorial service is planned at this time. His ashes will be placed to rest in the Columbarium at St. Paul's alongside his wife Betty.
The full obituary may be viewed online at https://www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/George--Simmons-?obId=20775074#/obituaryInfo
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Memorials fund of St. Paul's UMC.
Announcing the death of Elaine Neidecker
St. Paul's shares the sad news that Elaine Neidecker passed away unexpectedly on the morning of March 25, 2021 at age 84 after a battle with cancer. She was a treasured member of St. Paul's and leaves behind her husband Bob Neidecker and beloved children and grandchildren.
The funeral service was held on April 1 at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary of St. Paul's UMC.
Click HERE to download the funeral bulletin. All are welcome to view the service through the livestream here:
For the full obituary, please click HERE.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Make-a-Wish foundation.
Announcing the death of
Sue Roberts
Mrs. Susannah (Sue) H. Roberts passed away peacefully on March 13, 2021 at the age of 88. She had been part of St. Paul's for over 20 years. Our community of members and friends mourns her passing and sends condolences to her brother, Mr. John Hall.
A ZOOM Memorial Service for Sue Roberts will be held on Friday, April 16, at 11:00 a.m. To join the service, please contact Erin Steele in the church office (stpaulsunited@stpaulsk.org) for the Zoom invite and login information.
Announcing the death of
Ed Ayre
Mr. Ed R. Ayre passed away on March 19, 2021 with his loving partner Mary Ellen Shepherd at his side. He was 80 years old.
The private funeral service and inurnment in the Memorial Garden were held on Friday, April 9 at 11:30 a.m.
In addition to Mary Ellen, Ed is survived by two children and four grandchildren. He is remembered for devoting his working hours to the family business, the Edward E. Ayre Inc. jewelry store in downtown DC, and he loved travel, sailing, and racing automobiles. For the full obituary, please visit: https://www.pumphreyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Edward-R-Ayre?obId=20400654#/obituaryInfo
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the American Heart Association (https://www2.heart.org/site/SPageNavigator/donatenow_heart.html) or the Lewy Body Dementia Association (https://www.lbda.org/honor-memorial-gifts/).
Announcing the death of
Mr. Richard Rice
With great sadness, we announce the death of St. Paul's member Mr. Richard Rice on December 30, 2020. He was able to visit with family at his home in the Kensington Park retirement and senior care community on the day he passed away.
Funeral arrangements for a service at St. Paul's will be scheduled for future date.
For the obituary, please visit: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=richard-rice&pid=197427559&fhid=2159
Memorial for
Mrs. Claire Kordella
Livestream Service
Saturday, January 9, 2021
11:00 a.m.
With great sadness, we announce the death of Mrs. Claire Kordella, who died late Sunday night, December 20, 2020 at her home in Kensington Park with family present. Mrs. Kordella was 98 years old and a treasured member of the St. Paul's UMC family.
A memorial service celebrating her life was livestreamed from St. Paul's on Saturday, January 9 at 11:00 a.m. The service remains available for later viewing; please click below to play.