Robert Wilson Colbourne, 99

SECRETARY - Robert Wilson Colbourne, died Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, in Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. He was 99. Born Aug. 11, 1909, near Secretary, he was the son of the late Samuel Colbourne and Effie May Craig Colbourne. From an early age, he worked as a waterman. On June 29, 1933, he married Mildred Gordon. In 1945 he partnered with the late Joseph G. Era Jr. and founded Colbourne and Era Seafood Company in Secretary. He retired at the age of 65 and enjoyed crabbing and gardening. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred on July 28, 1998; a son, Robert C. Colbourne; a son-in-law, Louis C. Hollerman; a brother, Wilbur Colbourne; and a sister, Rebecca Colbourne. He is survived by two sons, Jack C. Colbourne and his wife Carolyn, and Gary W. Colbourne and his friend Pam, all of Secretary; a daughter, Betty A. Hollerman of Secretary; a daughter-in-law, Avon Colbourne of Cordova; five grandchildren, Jill Vincent of Woolford and her husband Terry, Jack W. Colbourne of Hurlock and his wife Ashley, Lu Ann Hausmann of Wilmington and her husband Rod, Dawn Mitchell of California and her husband Kevin, and Molly Talley of Cordova; eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Dorothy Nickerson of East New Market; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service was 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008, at the Zeller Funeral Home in East New Market, where the family received friends from 2 to 3 p.m. Rev. Glenn A. Staehli officiated. Burial followed in East New Market Cemetery. Donations in memory of Mr. Colbourne may be made to Humane Society of Dorchester County, 4930 Bucktown Road, Cambridge, MD 21613.