John J. Smith Sr., 77, Towson businessmanJohn J. Smith...

John J. Smith Sr., 77, Towson businessman

John J. Smith Sr., who was president and founder of Baynesville Electronics Inc. in Towson, died Thursday of pneumonia at St. Joseph Medical Center. He was 77.

Mr. Smith founded the electronics business in 1955 and was president of the corporation until his retirement in 1988. The company is an electronic parts distributor for maintenance and repair of such things as computers and radio and television equipment.

Known as "Smitty" by his friends, Mr. Smith's only hobby was the various businesses he ran over the years, which included another electronics venture and a farm.

"He was purely interested in business," said his son, John J. Smith Jr. "He did it for pleasure. He had several businesses, and he enjoyed every one of them."

Born in Romney, W.Va., Mr. Smith came to Maryland just before serving in the Army during World War II. Family members described him as a generous man who worked hard all his life.

A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. today at St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church cemetery, 1021 St. Mary's Road, Pylesville.

Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, the former Mary E. Barber, of Norrisville; three sons, John J. Smith Jr. of Timonium, and Richard F. Smith and James L. Smith, both of Norrisville; a sister, Mary E. Fletcher of Norrisville; and a brother, Joseph E. Smith of Norrisville.

Ella Sterrette, 68, operated day care center

Ella Sterrette, the longtime owner of a West Baltimore day care center, died Tuesday of cancer at her West Baltimore home. She was 68.

Since the early 1970s, Mrs. Sterrette operated the Miss Pettye's day care center from her home in the 3400 block of Bateman Ave.

Born Ella Gibson in Baltimore, she graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1946 and was a homemaker until she opened her business.

She married Bernard Sterrette in 1949. She enjoyed cards, trips to Atlantic City and singing.

Services are scheduled for 11: 30 a.m. tomorrow at St. Gregory Roman Catholic Church, 1542 N. Gilmor St.

In addition to her husband, survivors include three sons, Rudolph Sterrette, Jeffrey Sterrette and Gregory Sterrette, all of Baltimore; two daughters, Cheryl Stevenson of Baltimore and Cynthia Bass of Clarksville, Tenn.; four sisters, Lillian Knox, Mary Bailey, Duvall Gibson and Edna Conway, all of Baltimore; 12 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Dorothy S. Oest, 90, taught in city schools

Dorothy S. Oest, a retired Baltimore teacher and former Cedarcroft resident, died May 29 of heart failure at Edenwald retirement community in Towson. She was 90.

Mrs. Oest began her career in the early 1920s as a teacher in city schools and retired in 1960 as chairman of the guidance department at Chinquapin Middle School.

She was born Dorothy Sheppard in New Freedom, Pa., and graduated from the old Towson Normal School. She earned a master's degree in history from the Johns Hopkins University in 1927.

A resident of Edenwald for the past 11 years, she had been a member for many years of Christ Lutheran Church in South Baltimore.

In 1951, she and E. Wallace Oest were married. He died in 1994.

Services were held May 31.

She is survived by two nephews, J. Donald Young of Glen Rock, Pa. and Herbert Thompson of Baltimore; and three nieces, Ruth Ann Young of Towson, Mildred Gable of Annapolis and Selma Conn of Baltimore.

Lawrence C. Bowser, 79, heavy equipment operator

Lawrence C. Bowser, a retired heavy equipment operator and World War II hero, died Wednesday of renal failure at Ivy Hall Geriatric and Rehabilitation Center in Middle River. He was 79.

Mr. Bowser, a longtime Essex resident, enlisted in the Army during World War II and served with the Army Corps of Engineers in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

He was decorated with the Bronze Star for "meritorious achievement" in connection with a military operation at Luzon in the Philippines.

A Japanese sniper delayed his work supervising the movement of heavy engineering equipment in the construction of front line bridges during the 1945 battle. Mr. Bowser took a hand grenade and killed the sniper.

At war's end, he returned to Baltimore and his job as a crane operator with Potts & Callahan Inc., where he had been employed since 1939. He retired in 1984. He was a member of Charles Evering Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6506 in Rosedale, and Edward G. Crieger Jr. American Legion Post No. 168 in Thurmont.

Mr. Bowser was a native of Carmichael, Pa., and graduated from high school there.

Services were held Friday.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, the former Margaret Bowser; three sons, Perry S. Bowser and Jerry A. Bowser, both of Rosedale, and Danny K. Bowser of Dowagiac, Mich.; two brothers, Ben Bowser of Mechanicsville and Les Bowser of Essex; four sisters, Selma Davis of Baltimore, Cathy Heil of Edgewood, Malva Van Ryn of Delmont, Pa., and Jean Burton of Phoenix, Ariz.; and four grandchildren.

Forest Dewey Dodrill, 95, cardiovascular surgeon