Otis Herman Wharton Sr., 92

EASTON, Md. - Otis Herman Wharton Sr., of Easton, formerly of Ridgely, died Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at the Memorial Hospital of Easton. He was 92.

Born Feb. 10, 1916, in Philadelphia, he was son of the late Otis Hambleton and Mary Elizabeth (Imler) Wharton. As a young child he moved to Maryland and was raised by his aunt and uncle, Tirzah and Frank Simon.

He graduated from Ridgely High School with the class of 1933.

He then began his career in the milk industry working at Cooklyn Dairy in Goldsboro, then helped to build and later worked for Breyer's milk plant in Ridgely, and then for M. Maggio Milk Co. in Denton, a subsidiary of M. Maggio of Philadelphia. In 1959 he was transferred to Philadelphia as the general manager of M. Maggio Milk Co., which produced milk products and various Italian cheeses, retiring in 1981.

On Dec. 30, 1939, he married the former Mary E. Crouse of Ridgley, and they made their home in Ridgely prior to moving to New Jersey, and upon retiring moved back to Ridgely, and in 2006 moved to Easton.

During World War II he served locally in the National Guard and the Maryland State Guard and also worked at the defense plant in Chester, Pa., and Chestertown.

He was an outstanding soccer player in his youth and young adult years, receiving the greatest soccer player from 1900-1959 award at a ceremony in 1981.

He was also an experienced woodworker, creating numerous handmade toys, trucks, doll houses and many other novel creations.

From 1975 until 1998, he and his wife traveled extensively with their Airstream travel trailer over 47 states and Canada.

He was a member of the WWBCCI club for 31 years where he served as president and was also a former president of the Ridgely Cemetery Association.

In addition to his wife of 68 years, he is survived by two sons, O. Herman Wharton Jr. and Wayne G. Wharton, both of Nottingham, Pa.; a daughter, Ruth Ann Smith of Easton; six grandchildren, Heidi Smith of Camden, Del., Shawn Alan Sparks of Easton, Jeffrey Wharton and John Wharton, both of Philadelphia, and Zachary Wharton and Alex Wharton, both of Nottingham; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, Easton, where friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Memorial donations may be made to Ridgely Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 746, Ridgely, MD 21660.