Dorsey M. "Sonny" Kline, a retired ironworker who was a veteran of three services and a founder of the Dundalk Heritage Fair, died May 22 of heart failure at Stella Maris Hospice in Timonium.
He was 80.
Mr. Kline, the son of a steelworker and a homemaker, was born in Hagerstown and raised in Dundalk, where he attended Dundalk High School.
"He was in the Army when he was 15, and was booted during basic training after they found out his age," said a son, Kevin D. Kline of Joppa. "He later served in the Navy and saw action in Korea with a Marine Corps infantry unit."
Mr. Kline, who was a member of Ironworkers Local 16, worked as an ironworker until retiring in the late 1980s.
He was a charter member of the Dundalk Heritage Fair, which is part of the community's annual Independence Day celebration.
"He and his brother were a big part of our Heritage Fair for more than 30 years," said Tom Toporovich, former secretary to the Baltimore County Council and a Dundalk activist.
"Sonny was a most interesting character. Every year, he'd take a week off and put in more than 70 hours working on the fair," said Mr. Toporovich. "He was humble, hardworking and would do anything you asked him to do."
The longtime Dundalk resident was an avid Orioles, Ravens and Baltimore Colts fan. He was also a member of the Dundalk Athletic Club.
Services were held May 27.
Also surviving are his wife of 57 years, the former Rosemary Michael; another son, Thomas M. Kline of Jacksonville, Fla.; a daughter, Judy Suddoth of Pennsylvania; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A son, Gary W. Kline, died in 1991, and another son, Mark S. Kline, died in 1999.
