Edward M. Lowe, 73, construction manager Edward M...

Edward M. Lowe, 73, construction manager

Edward M. Lowe, a construction project manager who was active in veterans' affairs, died Monday of cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The New Freedom, Pa., resident was 73.

Mr. Lowe had been employed since 1995 as a construction project manager for Cotten Construction Co. in Baltimore.

He began his career in the late 1950s, working for C. J. Langenfelder & Son Inc., a Baltimore construction company. In 1963, he joined Potts & Callahan Inc., where he was a construction project manager and vice president until retiring in 1995.

Born in Hammond, Ind., he was raised in Defiance, Pa., and Delta, Pa., where he graduated from high school. During World War II, he served in Europe with the Army Air Forces in the 301st Heavy Ordnance Unit. He was discharged at the war's end but was recalled to duty during the Korean War.

He was active in the affairs of American Legion Post No. 256 in Parkton. He also served as vice commander of the American Legion Northern Central District of Maryland and had been an executive committee member of the American Legion's Maryland Department,

Mr. Lowe was a life member and former commander of Veteran of Foreign Wars Post No. 7012 in New Freedom.

He was married in 1963 to Matilda "Mickey" Kramer, who died in 1989. In 1991 he married Dorothy V. Boughen. She died in 1995.

Services were held Friday in New Freedom.

He is survived by two sons, Edward J. Lowe of Colora, Cecil County, and William E. Lowe of New Freedom; a brother, Seibert D. Lowe of Loganville, Pa.; two sisters, Dorothy L. Hardester and Florence A. Swartz, both of Camden, Del.; two stepsons, Joseph F. Koska of Phoenix, Baltimore County, and Craig A. Koska of Smyrna, Del.; a stepdaughter, Catherine E. Ream of Shrewsbury, Pa.; 13 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his companion, Peggy T. Sice of Port Deposit.

Ervin L. Szilagyi, 97, teacher, portrait artist

Ervin L. Szilagyi, who taught art history at Western Maryland College and was a former portrait artist, died Oct. 21 of pneumonia at Keswick Multi-Care Center in Roland Park. He was 97.

Mr. Szilagyi retired in 1968 from the faculty of Western Maryland College in Westminster, where he had taught art history for many years.

A lifelong bachelor who maintained a Read Street studio for many years, Mr. Szilagyi was born in 1903 and raised in Budapest.

He earned his bachelor's degree in 1927 from the Royal Hungarian Agricultural Academy, a master's degree from the Royal Hungarian Erzebet Academy in 1929 and a law degree from Ferenez Joseph University. He earned a second bachelor's degree in fine arts in 1936 from the Royal Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest.

A learned man who spoke seven languages and read 10, he fled Hungary during the Nazi occupation, eventually immigrating to Tampa, Fla., in 1948, where he taught painting and worked as a portrait artist.

After serving as an artist in residence at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., he moved to Baltimore in 1957 and settled in a studio at 31 E. Mount Vernon Place.

In his retirement, he continued to paint and read. He also swam and bicycled daily at the Downtown Athletic Club.

There are no local services. His ashes will be interred Nov. 26 at a memorial service to be held at the Hungarian Church in Berkeley Springs, W.Va. He is survived by a nephew in Hungary.

Margaret H. Walker, 78, homemaker and volunteer

Margaret H. Walker, a homemaker and former Parkville resident, died Oct. 22 of lung cancer at Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas. She was 78.

Mrs. Walker, who had worked as a Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. operator in the late 1940s and early 1950s, had moved to Austin last year.

Born Margaret Hurley in Westminster, she was raised in Parkville. She was a graduate of Baltimore County public schools.

Her marriage to Dr. Anthony P. Rousos ended in divorce. Mrs. Walker later married James Walker, who died in the 1980s.

She was a nursing home volunteer and also volunteered at the Parkville Senior Center.

Private services were held Monday. She is survived by a son, Tony Rousos of Austin; a daughter, Mary Duran of Austin; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.