Pritts Funeral Home

Wayne (Merk) Steven Merkel, a dedicated US Army National Guard veteran, born on October 20, 1940, peacefully passed away on September 24, 2023, at the age of 82, in Westminster, Maryland, while under the care of Carroll County Hospital Center. Wayne was the beloved son of the late Steven and Virginia Merkel. He leaves behind a legacy of love and cherished memories, survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Beverly Ann (Rippeon) Merkel. His memory lives on through his three loving daughters, Christine Reyeur, along with her husband Charles Reyeur III, Donna Shea Heckler, and Stephanie Crone, accompanied by her husband Brandon Crone Sr., and son-in-law Dan Heckler. He was a cherished...

William (Bill) E. Schaeffer age 78 of Westminster, MD passed away Monday August 28, 2023 under the care of BridgingLife Hospice. He was the beloved husband of the late Marie A. Schaeffer. Bill was born on October 6, 1944 in Westminster, MD, son of the late Russell W. Schaeffer and Mary P. Schaeffer. Bill was a graduate of Westminster High School in 1962 and received his bachelor's degree in business from the University of Baltimore in 1966. Bill and Marie were married on November 21, 1970. Together they owned and operated several Twin Kiss restaurants throughout Carroll County and Gettysburg, PA. When they retired from the restaurant business they moved to Rock Hall, MD to live out the...

Gloria Leister Yingling, 92, a born local of Westminster, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at her home. Born August 9, 1930 in Westminster, she was the daughter of the late Leslie B. and Viola Rill Leister. She was the loving wife of the late Carroll E. Yingling, who predeceased her in December 2006. Gloria was a graduate of Westminster High School, Class of 1947. She was a devoted homemaker for much of her life but was also previously employed at Random House Publishing Co., Carroll Haven School for the Handicapped and Guyton Electric of Middletown. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed craft projects, playing cards- and...

David Allen Loy, 61, of Taneytown, passed away on Monday, October 3, 2022, surrounded by his family at Gettysburg Hospital. Born January 4, 1961, he was the son of the late Ralph Loy and Mary (Haifleigh) Loy of Taneytown. He was the beloved husband of Tammy D. (Caple) Loy, who he married in 1991. David was an active dairy farmer. He enjoyed planting and harvesting crops. He attended Francis Scott Key High School as a member of the class of 1979 and was a member of the school FFA Chapter. He was a member of the Taneytown Jaycees Chapter, and a member of the Kingsdale Fire Company. He devoted himself to helping neighbors with spring planting and summer haymaking. Throughout his life he...

Dr. H. Kenneth Shook, 92, of Westminster, MD, died on Wednesday August 17, 2022 in his sleep before dawn, at his family summer home on Beaver Lake, New Jersey. Born March 26, 1930 in Frederick, MD, Ken was the son of the late Denver Jacob and Catherine (Burgee) Shook. Dr. Shook was one of four children in the Denver Shook family of Frederick, MD. Ken grew up on East Patrick Street. His parents had very different backgrounds. His dad was a farm boy in his youth, and his education was often disrupted by chores and other family duties. For this reason he lacked a high school diploma, and gained employment as a mechanic, a road construction foreman, and a Frederick policeman. His mother held a...

Thomas Lee Finley, Jr., 52 of New Windsor formerly of Mt. Airy and Middletown passed away Monday, August 15, 2022, surrounded by family and friends at Carroll Hospital Center. Born May 9, 1970, in Silver Spring, he was the son of Thomas, Sr. and Susan (Curtis) Finley. He was the loving husband of Stacey Baker Finley. Tom was a 1988 graduate of Linganore High School, attended Salisbury University and graduated from Frederick Community College. He had worked at St. Agnes Hospital as a Registered Respiratory Therapist and had been a Clinical Instructor for Frederick Community College. Tommy was known for his quick smile and laugh. He loved all animals and had many pets over the years. He...

Virginia Metcalfe "Gindy" Hook, 95, of Westminster, passed away on Sunday, August 7, 2022 at Lorien of Taneytown. Born August 13, 1926 in Linwood, MD she was the daughter of the late Gaven E. and Mary (Glisan) Metcalfe. She was the wife of the late William Grant Hook, who predeceased her in 1989. Gindy was a graduate of Sykesville High School, class of 1943. She was a bookkeeper for the HUB Store for 22 years. She then became the owner and operator of East End Market for 20 years. She was a life member of the Linwood Brethren Church. Gindy enjoyed crocheting and quilting and shared her talents with the sewing circle at church. Surviving her are 10 devoted nieces and nephews; many...

Grace LaRue Durham, 89, of Frederick and formerly of Westminster, passed away at her daughter's home early Saturday morning, May 28, 2022. Born April 25, 1933, in Frederick, she was the daughter of the late Oscar G. and Aletha (Walker) Ledford. She was the loving wife of the late Robert Earl Durham, who died in 2009. Grace was a seamstress for English American Tailors, and she retired in 1995. She was a member of Bark Hill Bible Church and she enjoyed beading, the ocean, tent camping and going to church. She was an avid Baltimore Ravens fan. Surviving are her daughter, Peggy Sue (Kenneth L.) Garst of Frederick; grandson Shawn Michael Garst of Frederick; brother Mark Ledford of...

Jimmy DeWayne Itson, Sr., 72, of Westminster, passed away on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Northwest Hospital. Born February 7, 1949 in Lindale, Georgia he was the son of the late John Walter Itson and Ruby Nell (Demonia) Itson. Jimmy was a graduate of Pepperell High School , and a graduate of University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army and was career military for 24 years. After the military, he began a second career as a security guard for the National Institutes of Health. Surviving him are children Jimmy DeWayne Itson, Jr., Jason Itson and wife Linda, Christina Briggs, and Jonathan "JC" Itson both of Westminster;...

Charles Lester "Basket" Murray, 89, of Westminster, passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at Inspirations Memory Care. He was the husband of the late Gladys E. Grove Murray. Basket was born in Finksburg on May 15, 1932 to the late Charles and Mary Knouse Murray. He worked in property construction for many years, retiring as a property construction foreman. Basket will be greatly missed by his long-time companion Margaret Redmond. He also leaves numerous nieces, nephews, other loving family members and his longtime special friends and neighbors, Wendy and Bob Price and their son Jamie. Basket always enjoyed carpentry work. He loved to fish, attend car shows, travel and dance. He...

On March 24, 2021, Richard David Putman, 75, husband of Pamela Shipley Putman; loving father of Richard Grant Putman (Lindsay) and David Gregory Putman; grandfather of David Avery Putman and Mia Jean Putman; brother of James F. Putman (Loretta) passed away. A private graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Carroll Lutheran Village, Resident Assistance Fund, 300 St. Luke Circle, Westminster, MD 21158. Arrangements provided by Pritts Funeral Home and Chapel. Full obituary and online condolences may be offered to the family at www.prittsfuneralhome.com

Anna Mercedes "Mutz" Peddicord, 92, of Westminster passed away peacefully to heaven on January 24, 2021 at her home. She was the beloved wife of the late Charles W. Peddicord, Jr. Anna was born on April 6, 1928 in New Freedom, PA to the late Joseph A. and Anna Theresa Sader Getz. Anna attended St. Joseph Academy in Columbia, PA, was a member of their softball team and graduated from Seton High School in Baltimore. She loved singing, dancing, playing the guitar and performing in plays for audiences. Her first job was folding linens in a department store. Her next job was a secretary for an electrical contractor where her future husband was an electrician. Anna did the payroll and...

Gilda Naomi "Chick" Paugh, 83, of Uniontown, OH passed away on January 21, 2021 at her home. Chick was born in Oakland, MD on March 5, 1937 to the late William and the Arvilla Amtower Harvey. Chick is survived by her two children, Ronald Paugh of Uniontown, OH and Susie James and her husband Danny of Kitzmiller, MD. She will be greatly missed by her 4 grandchildren; Jeff (Allison) Paugh, Steve (Kelly) Paugh, Peggy Sue (Bob) Lester and Jesse (Krissy) James and 10 great-grandchildren; Shayla, Ericka, Colin, Kayla, Jesse, Jr., Elaina, Landon, Ella, Talon and Leighton. She also leaves a sister, Mary Lou Teets of Oakland, MD. Chick was a proud retired Teamster from Local 348. Chick...

Jozsef "Miki" Miklos Kiss, also known as "Joe," 89, passed away on Tuesday, January 19, 2021. He was the beloved husband of Ilona Kiss for 58 years. Jozsef was born on February 19, 1931 in Szolnok, Hungary and was the son of the late Anna (nee von Kiefer) and Miklos Kiss. Jozsef served in the Hungarian Army before emigrating to the United States in the late 1950s, eventually settling in Cheshire, Connecticut, where he lived for over 55 years. He spent his career as a computer scientist, specializing in systems analysis. He greatly enjoyed tinkering, working with electronics, and reading, especially Hungarian poetry. Jozsef was an active member of the Hungarian Community Club of...

Thomas B. "TD" Dent, 69, of Westminster passed away suddenly on Thursday, June 25, 2020 of an apparent heart attack. TD was born on May 20, 1951 in Baltimore to the late Thomas Bernard Sr. and Pauline Loretta Brown Dent. TD was a graduate of the Westminster High School class of 1970. In high school he stood-out as a student leader, a member of the student senate, a great singer, a member of the Key Club, the Varsity Letter Club, and a three-sport athlete. TD - number 32 - was co-captain of the football team, number 30 on the basketball team, and was a record-holder in track and field. He was a standout singer and performer for high school music teacher Herb Sell. TD performed at Westminster...

Alan C. Powers Sr., 84, of Westminster, passed away on June 16, 2020 at Brighton Woods of Sykesville. Born August 13, 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio, he was the son of the late James P. and Emma (McMahon) Powers. He was the husband of Diane J. Powers, his wife of 39 years. He was a retired educator and flight instructor who enjoyed his time in the sky in addition to collecting stamps, ballroom dancing, and was an antique car enthusiast. Surviving Alan, in addition to his wife, are son Alan C. Powers, Jr. (Mary K.) of Catonsville; daughter Denise Lynn Davis (Travers) of Oxford, NC; and daughter Maya F. Hoover of Honolulu, HI; grandson Travers Davis; one great-granddaughter; one niece and two...

Richard "Dick" Toms, 82, of Sykesville Md. passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2020 at Carroll Hospital Center from complications after heart surgery. He was the loving husband of Sharon Toms who he married on July 21, 2001. Richard was born on June 16, 1937 in Eyler's Valley, Emmitsburg, Md. at the family homestead to the late Maude and Glen E. Toms. He was a graduate of Emmitsburg High School Class of 1955. He then attended and graduated from the Maryland Natural Resources Police Academy. He became a Game Warden for the State of Maryland, a position from which he retired as a Corporal after 25 years of service on May 1, 1993. After retirement, Richard worked as a Bailiff for the Carroll...

Floyd Henry Latleif, 88, of Westminster passed away on Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at Sun Valley at the Meadows Assisted Living. Floyd was born on April 18, 1931 in Silver Spring to the late John H. and Esther (Brown) Latleif. He was the longtime companion of the late Annie Beall, who predeceased him in 1996. He was the owner of Burtonsville Auto Body and Paint Shop in Burtonsville, Maryland. Floyd was a member of the Frederick Moose Lodge 371. He enjoyed singles dances, playing cards, NASCAR, and Ravens Football. Floyd is survived by his son, Ronald F. Latleif of Mount Airy; Sister Annie Tyler of Westminster, niece Sharon Cervenka, nephews Michael Tyler and his wife Patti, and Jeffrey...

Mary C. Bauernschub Kiger nee Weber, 96, of Westminster, formerly of Dundalk and Frametown, WV, passed away on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at Lookabout Manor. Born January 12, 1923 in Baltimore City, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Brannock Weber. Twice married, she was predeceased by husbands John C. Bauernschub and Walter F. Kiger. She was also predeceased by her six siblings. After working for 32 years, Mary retired from Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point. She enjoyed traveling and, after retirement, she moved to West Virginia. Mary loved shopping, crocheting, playing bingo and cards. She was a very active person even cutting her own grass and retaining her independence until...