Edgar A. Willey Sr.

CAMBRIDGE - Edgar A. Willey, Sr.,78, passed away on Sunday Dec. 16, 2007 at the Chesapeake Woods Center in Cambridge. He was born in Dorchester Co. on Jan. 8, 1929 and was a son of the late Medford and Elizabeth Lowe Willey, Sr.

Mr. Willey attended schools in Cambridge. He served in the U.S. Army and served in Korea during the Korean Conflict and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class.

As a young man he worked as a farm hand. He later operated Willey's Atlantic Service Station on Sunburst Highway for 17 years. On October 8, 1950 he was married to the former Kathleen Handley. He later worked as a salesman for the Goodyear store in Cambridge, and also worked at Heckler Motor Parts until he retired at age 65.

Mr. Willey had been raised in the Methodist faith. He was a member of Dorchester Post # 91 American Legion and Choptank Memorial Post # 7460 VFW, and was a former member of Cambridge Lodge No. 1272 B.P.O.E.

For a number of years he had organized a neighborhood carnival in the White Hall area where the kids had called him Hotchieboo. Mr. Willey enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards, gardening and for a number of years had enjoyed going camping with his family. He had been in failing health for several months when he passed away at the Chesapeake Woods Center in Cambridge on Sunday morning.

Survivors include; his wife of 57 years, Kathleen H. "Kitty" Willey of Cambridge; one daughter, Linda W. Elzey and her husband Craig C. Elzey of Cordova; two sons, Edgar "Allen" Willey, Jr. and his wife Linda B. Willey of Vienna and Stephen M. Willey and his wife Carol A. Willey of Cambridge; three grandchildren, William Christopher Willey and his wife Jennifer R. Willey, Eric Walter Willey and Bryan Charles Elzey and his fiancée, Allison M. Anderson; one great- grandson, Gregory Cole Willey.

He is also survived by; two brothers, Elmer L. Willey of Cambridge and Medford Willey of Elliott and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by; two sisters, Louise Shockley and Mary Lowe ; two brothers, John Willey and Melvin Willey and two half brothers Leon Willey and Earl Willey.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Thomas Funeral Home in Cambridge with Mr. Chris Maddox officiating. Burial will follow at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the Thomas Funeral Home on Wednesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Mrs. Doris Weber, 5163 Maple Dam Road, Cambridge, MD 21613 or to the Coastal Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802.

Pallbearers will be W. Christopher Willey, Eric W. Willey, Bryan C. Elzey, Dennis Roe, Raye Brohawn, Wayne Brohawn and Cole Willey. Honorary bearers will be Harry "Sonny" Heckler, John Brannock, Mace Tall, Larry Morris, Bobby Hall, Clark Elzey and Wayne Brown.