Donald G. Slacum

CAMBRIDGE - Donald G. Slacum, 84, passed away on Monday, Dec. 3, 2007 at the Chesapeake Woods Center in Cambridge.

He was born in Cambridge on Sept. 25, 1923 and was a son of the late Wilbur Nathan and Eva Clarissa Gray Slacum.

Donald attended schools in Cambridge. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Dec. 15, 1942, and was stationed in the Panama Canal zone working with guard dogs guarding the canal during the war. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 20, 1945.

On May 20, 1947 he was married to the former Elizabeth "Betty" Magrogan. Mrs. Slacum passed away on Oct. 27, 2001. After his discharge from the service he worked as a salesman for Engle's Furniture in Cambridge. In January of 1960 he went to work for Prudential Insurance Co. and worked for them for 25 years until he retired in October of 1985.

On March 21, 1961 he was confirmed as a member of St. Mary Refuge of Sinners Catholic Church in Cambridge. Mr. Slacum was a communicant of St. Mary Refuge of Sinners Catholic Church, Charter Member of the Marine Corps League where he was currently chaplain and had served as Commandant. He was a member of Dorchester Post 91 American Legion, Choptank Memorial Post 7460 VFW, and was also a member of Cambridge Lodge No. 1272 B.P.O.E.

He had been in failing health for the past two months and had been a resident at Chesapeake Woods for the past four days.

Survivors include two daughters, Lois S. Lane and her husband, Jay Lane of East New Market and Dona S. Roderick and her husband, Kenneth Roderick of Chestertown; five grandchildren, Lana Catherine Thomas and her husband, Spence Thomas of Charleston, S.C., Leon M. Lane III and his wife, Shana L. Lane of Cambridge, Donald Slacum Roderick and Elizabeth Rose Roderick and Matthew Brian Roderick, all of Chestertown; two great-grandchildren, Brady Aaron Thomas and Cole Runyon Thomas; one sister, Doris S. Hurley of Cambridge and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Wilbur C. "Rip" Slacum and a nephew, John C. Slacum.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Refuge of Sinners Catholic Church on Glasgow Road in Cambridge at 11 a.m. on Friday. Burial will follow at the Maryland Veterans' Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 7 to 9 at the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Choptank Detachment 439 of the Marine Corps League, c/o Donald R. Creighton, 6 Richardson Drive, Cambridge, MD 21613 or to St. Mary Refuge of Sinners, P.O. Box 218, Cambridge, MD 21613.

Pallbearers will be Bruce Hurley, Mark Hurley, Stephen Renshaw, David Rhoades, Leon M. Lane III and Donald R. Creighton.