Richard E. Asplen, 78

CAMBRIDGE - Richard E. Asplen, age 78, of Cambridge, died Friday morning June 12, 2009, at Heartfields at Easton where he had been a resident for the past month. Born on Nov. 17, 1930 in Cambridge, he was the son of the late Ralph Payne Asplen, Sr. and Hazel Collins Asplen. Mr. Asplen was the youngest of six children where he grew up in Woolford and Taylors Island. Mr. Asplen served his country in the U.S. Army for twenty years and six days as a radio teletype operator with the rank of Sergeant First Class. While he served during the Korea Conflict, he was fortunate not to see any combat. During his service he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Good Conduct Medal (fifth Award). On Jan. 24, 1963, he married the former Dorothy "Dot" Foxwell Wallace. She died on Nov. 18, 2004. After military service he worked for C&P Telephone Company as an equipment and operations technician and foreman where he retired after twenty-five years of employment. Mr. Asplen enjoyed meeting his friends as they gathered at various restaurants within the community. He liked riding his various tractors and grass cutting. Mr. Asplen was a life member of the Cambridge V.F.W. Post 7460. Surviving are two granddaughters, Ginger Griffey and her husband Robert of Columbia, and Korrie Borkowski and her husband Destiny of Parkville; three great-grandchildren, Madison Borkowski, Mya Griffey and Trent Griffey; daughter-in-law, Irene S. Wallace of Baltimore; two sisters-in-law, Sue Murrell and her husband Milton Eldon Murrell of Cambridge, and Nancy Robinson and her husband Romie Quinn Robinson of Church Creek; a brother-in-law, Charles Foxwell of Cambridge; and special friends Ritchie and Debbie Slacum and their sons Shannon and Shane Slacum, all of Cambridge; and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death besides his parents and wife was, his son Dorsey Kent Wallace; two sisters, Ruth A. Phillips, and Mary A. Nolan; three brothers, William C. Asplen, Charles Wesley Asplen, and Ralph P. Asplen, Jr.; and sister-in-law, Alice Foxwell. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. today, June 17, at Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home, P.A., where the family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Officiating at the service will be The Rev. Robert Kirkley. Burial will follow with Military Honors at the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery, Hurlock. Pallbearers will be Destiny Borkowski, Robert Griffey, Michael McMahon, Ritchie Slacum, Shannon Slacum and Shane Slacum. In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be made to the Veterans Recognition Committee, P.O. Box 143, Cambridge, MD 21613. To send letters of condolences, please visit www.curran-bromwell.com.