Catonsville

A 65-year-old man died after a Sunday afternoon fight at a landmark Catonsville bar, according to Baltimore County police. The altercation between two men, whose names have not been released, began at Morsberger's Tavern in the 700 block of Frederick Road. Police and emergency medical technicians were called at 1:33 p.m., said Officer George Erhardt. The injured man was found in the tavern's bathroom and died later at St. Agnes Hospital. Both men walked into the bathroom, and only one came out, police said.

On March 26, 2009, Helen A. Griber The family will receive friends on Monday, March 30th from 3 to 5 P.M. and 7 to 9 P.M. at STERLING-ASHTON-SCHWAB-WITZKE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 1630 Edmondson Avenue, Catonsville, MD. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, March 31st at 1:00 P.M. St. Agnes Catholic Church, 5422 Old Frederick Road, Catonsville, with interment to follow in Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery at 2:30 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions...

On January 28, 2007, CARMELA MARY SAIA of Ellicott City, MD. Beloved wife of Martin Saia; loving mother of Martin G. Saia (Mollie) and Dominic J. Saia (Cheryl); devoted grandmother of Meghan, Thomas, Erin, Michael and Alexis. Family and friends are invited to call at STERLING-ASHTON-SCHWAB-WITZKE FUNERAL HOME OF CATONSVILLE, INC., 1630 Edmondson Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228 on Tuesday from 3-5 and 7-9pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul's Church, 3755 St. Paul St., Ellicott City, MD 21043 on Wednesday at 10am.

Frank P. Baummer, a retired streetcar operator who headed the 2,200-mem- ber transit workers union for 16 years, died of pneumonia May 24 at Charlestown Retirement Community. He was 92. Born in Baltimore and raised on North Durham Street, he was a 1930 graduate of the old St. Michael's Commercial School in East Baltimore. He worked at Montgomery Ward and was a manager of an Arundel Ice Cream Co. store. He became a Baltimore Transit Co. streetcar operator in early 1941 and became a dispatcher seven years later.

On September 26, 2007, Jessalyn G. Meier, a resident of Charlestown Retirement Community and Catonsville, MD, beloved wife of the late Morton L. Meier; mother of Lawrence D. Meier and his wife Vera of Richmond, VA, Cynthia A. Meier of Virginia Beach, VA and Nancy J. Meier of Catonsville, MD; grandmother of Kirsten A. Meier and Daniel N. Meier of Richmond, VA; sister of Joseph A. Garvey and his wife Ginny of Allentown, PA and sister-in-law of Henry W....

Samuel Serio, an automobile financial consultant, died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack Jan. 6 at his Ellicott City home. He was 43. Born and raised in Catonsville, he was a 1981 graduate of Catonsville High School, where he played lacrosse. As a young man, he worked on weekends alongside his father, Charles Robert Serio, at his Lexington Market fruit and vegetable stall. Mr. Serio earned a bachelor's degree in business from what is now Towson University, and sold automobile insurance and warranty policies while he was a student there.

Daniel Michael Hipsley, a retired Catonsville attorney, insurance broker and business owner, died Sunday of a heart attack at his Ellicott City home. He was 81. Born in Baltimore and raised on Payson Street, he was a 1943 graduate of Mount St. Joseph High School, where he played varsity baseball. He also played on a local semipro team. During World War II, he served as a Marine Corps radio specialist in the South Pacific and fought at Okinawa and Mindanao. He attained the rank of sergeant.

On December 3, 2007, GRANVILLE "JIM" WYATT, JR., of Catonsville, MD. Beloved husband of Kathleen Wyatt; loving father of Mary Ellen Donald and her husband Don and the late Kathleen Lang and her husband the late Bruce Lang; devoted grandfather of Pete and Mike Donald, Linda Lang DeBonis and Tom Lang; he is also survived by 3 cherished great grandchildren. Family and friends are invited to call at STERLING-ASHTON-SCHWAB-WITZKE FUNERAL HOME OF CATONSVILLE, INC., 1630 Edmondson Ave., Catonsville, MD on Wednesday from 5 to 8pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Agnes Church, 900 Caton Ave., Baltimore, MD on Thursday at 10:00am.

Gene Ward Meekins Sr., a retired salesman and collector of military memorabilia, died of cancer Thursday at his Catonsville home. He was 81. Mr. Meekins was born in Baltimore and raised on Elm Ridge Road in Arbutus. After graduating from City College in 1944, he enlisted in the Navy. He served as a boatswain aboard the destroyer USS Duffy and participated in the Leyte Gulf, Mille and Maloelap Atoll campaigns. After the war, Mr. Meekins became a furniture salesman for Shaivitz. In 1970, he joined the old Hutzler's department store, where he worked in the rug department at Westview Shopping Center and later in Towson.

FREDERICK -- Wilde Lake forward Faryn Watts was the smallest player in front of the Catonsville goal before a corner kick in the second half of yesterday's Class 3A state semifinal game. That the 5-foot-1 senior headed in the free kick sent toward the near post by Caitlin Duff couldn't have come as a surprise to the No. 9 Wildecats, who have overcome a tough early schedule and key injuries. Watts scored with 28:59 left in the second half, and the Wildecats' defense handled the rest to come away with a 2-1 win over the No. 10 Comets in steady rain at Tuscarora.

C. Robert Varndell, a former partner of the Baltimore engineering firm of Rummel, Klepper and Kahl, died of cancer Tuesday at the Hospice of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. The former longtime Catonsville resident was 85. Mr. Varndell, the son of an accountant and a school teacher, was born in Uniontown, Pa., and raised in Scenery Hill, Pa. After graduating fron Uniontown High School, he earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1946 from the...

Chesapeake-Baltimore County is in the enviable position of being in the driver's seat in the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association playoffs. After gaining just one first down in the first half against host Catonsville, the No. 15 Bayhawks scored four times in the second half to reinforce their postseason spot with a 28-7 victory. Chesapeake forced four turnovers in the second half, and the offense took advantage of the short field. Chesapeake improved its record to 7-0 and leads the Class 2A North playoff standings.

Catonsville standout forward Peyton Johnson has incredible ball skills, 20-20 vision of the field and a shot that's both heavy and precise. On Tuesday night against visiting Loch Raven, however, the All-Metro senior's most important quality was persistence. Frustrated throughout regulation by sticky marking from Loch Raven defender Sarah Krejcik and save after save by All-Metro senior goalie Danielle DeLisle, Johnson made the most of an overtime chance in tight quarters. Making a strong run to goal, she received a short cross from senior Becca Garman and promptly placed a shot to the lower left corner from 10 yards with 4:28 left in the first overtime to give the No. 13 Comets a 1-0 win over the Raiders.

On October 7, 2009 MARI0N ANN HECHT; beloved wife for 59 years of Robert E. Hecht Sr.; loving mom of Marion A. Hecht, Robert E. Hecht Jr., Catherine H. Young, Frances H. Becker, Patricia H. Sweemer, Susan H. Maggio, Thomas A. Hecht, Teresa H. Valais, Margaret H. Gillespie and William Y. Hecht; cherished Gamme of 24 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Family received friends on Thursday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. with a rosary service at 8:15 P.M. at STERLING-ASHTON-SCHWAB-WITZKE FUNERAL HOME OF CATONSVILLE, INC., 1630 Edmondson Avenue, Catonsville, MD 21228 and on Friday from 10 to 10:30 A.M. at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel, Charlestown Retirement Community.

On October 2, 2009, Keith D. Shortridge, Jr Friends will be received for a memorial visitation at the MacNabb Funeral Home, P.A., 301 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228 on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 from 3 to 5 P.M. and 7 to 9 P.M.

Franklin's football team took an early lead Thursday night at Catonsville, but the Indians struggled to put the game away, turning the ball over three times in the second half. Still, the Comets could not capitalize enough on those mistakes, and Franklin running back Zack Silverberg made the hosts pay for a late-game fumble, finally sealing a 24-12 victory. In the middle of the fourth quarter, the teams played giveaway as DeOndre Watson picked off a pass by Franklin quarterback Joey Dorsey.

James P. "JP" Libertini Sr., a decorated World War II veteran and Small Business Administration official who earlier had owned a construction company, died of a heart attack Aug. 15 at the Charlestown retirement community. The former Elkridge resident was 86. Born in Baltimore, the son of Italian immigrant parents, Mr. Libertini was raised at Eden and Preston streets. He was a 1940 graduate of Polytechnic Institute and earned a bachelor's degree in engineering in 1944 from the Johns Hopkins University, where he had been a member of the ROTC.

On August 11, 2009, IRVIN T. THOMPSON of Catonsville, MD, age 85; beloved husband of the late Alma E. Thompson; devoted father of John W. Thompson of Fairfax, VA; loving companion of Margaret E. Smith of Catonsville, MD. Also survived by an extended family and many friends. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2009, at 10 A.M at Our Lady of the Angel Chapel, Charlestown Retirement Community, 711 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons International, Baltimore South Camp, P.O.Box 7483, Baltimore, MD, 21227 or the Charlestown United Protestant Church, 711 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD, 21228.

On August 5, 2009, CATHERINE VIRGINIA SAFRANEK (nee Walbeck) of Catonsville, beloved wife of the late Edward J. Safranek, devoted mother of Guy Howard Safranek, loving sister of Irene Johnson. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. A memorial gathering will be held at the STERLING-ASHTON-SCHWAB-WITZKE FUNERAL HOME OF CATONSVILLE, INC., 1630 Edmondson Avenue, Catonsville 21228 on Tuesday, August 18 from 3 to 5 P.M. Interment private.

On August 4, 2009, Stanley W. Miller Sr. of Linthicum. Dearest son of the late Robert T. and Lula V. Miller. Beloved husband of the late Hallie G. Miller. Loving father of Stanley Jr. of Bedford, PA, Lola J. Sullivan of Linthicum and Gail J. Thrasher of Catonsville. Caring brother of Albert Miller of Pasadena, Kenneth Miller of TN and the late Robert Miller. Cherished grandfather of nine and great-grandfather of 14. The family will receive visitors at the family owned Kirkley-Ruddick Funeral Home, 421 Crain Highway SE in Glen Burnie on Friday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M. A funeral ceremony will be held on Saturday at 11 A.M. at the Emanuel UMC, 6517 Frederick Road, Catonsville, MD 21228.