Robert N. Dempsey, 87 KENNEDYVILLE, Md. - Robert N. Dempsey, 87, of Kennedyville, Md., died Dec. 13, 2009, in Chester River Hospital. Mr. Dempsey was born on Sept. 5, 1922, son of the late William C. Dempsey and Edith Caldwell. He was a lifetime resident of Kennedyville. For 3 years he served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 10th Mountain Division and for 35 years as an Ordinance Technician, Demolition Consultant, and Test Director with the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps at Aberdeen Proving Ground. He specialized in U.S. and foreign (Warsaw Pact and Communist Chinese) manufactured tank ammunition, rockets, missiles, anti-personnel mines, booby traps, and all types of demolition charges. Mr. Dempsey served as a consultant, teacher, observer, instructor, and or test director at 8 U.S. arsenals and proving grounds, and was sent on many occasions overseas for Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence at the Pentagon and the Foreign Scientific and Technical Corps of Charlottesville, Va. During his many trips overseas he worked in 8 European, 10 Asian, and 2 African countries (including, the Six Day War in 1967 and the War of Liberation in Israel) performing various assignments as were requested. Mr. Dempsey's other accomplishments include Commander, Charter and Life Membership in American Legion Post 246 and the 40-8; District Vice Commander of the North Eastern Shore District American Legion, Senior Vice Commander and Alternate National Executive Committee of the American Legion Dept. of MD, Life Member of V.F.W. Post 652; Charter Member, Assistant Chief, Treasurer, etc., Past President (4 occasions) and Life Member of the Kennedyville Volunteer Fire Co.; Past President of the Kent-Queen Anne Counties Fire and Rescue Assoc; several committees, and committee chairman, and President of the Maryland State Fireman's Assoc. (only President of MSFA ever elected from Kent County); appointed as member to serve on the Maryland Fire-Rescue Education Training Commission (10 years). He was a member of the Kennedyville United Methodist Church and loved to golf, fish and hunt. In addition to the many accommodations that he received, Mr. Dempsey was awarded two of the highest awards ever presented to a civilian employee at Aberdeen Proving Ground: The Director Award for outstanding Technical Achievement and The Presidential Citation Award by Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States. Mr. Dempsey, recommended for appointment to the Maryland Explosives Advisory Committee by State Fire Marshall Rocco J. Gabriele and Delegate R. Clayton Mitchell, Jr. was appointed by Governor Schaefer in 1984 and has been serving for 20 years. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Gwendolyn Lance Dempsey in 2008; and a brother, J. Theodore Dempsey. Mr. Dempsey is survived by a daughter, Norma A. Dempsey of Kennedyville; a son, James Dempsey and his wife Constance of Feltonville, Pa.; two grandchildren, Shane Dempsey, and Stephanie Dempsey; and two great-grandchildren, Hannah and Samara. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 17, in the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, 118 W. Cross St. Galena, Md., and again on Friday from 10 to 11 a.m. in Kennedyville United Methodist Church, Kennedyville, Md. Service will begin at 11 a.m. Burial in adjoining cemetery. Donations may be offered to Kennedyville U.M. Church, P.O. Box 32; or Kennedyville V.F.C., P.O. Box 98, Kennedyville, MD 21645.