Earle J. DeFord, 83

GREENWOOD - Earle J. DeFord, of Greenwood, died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at Milford Memorial Hospital, Milford. He was 83. Mr. DeFord was born in Denton, Md., on March 30, 1925, to the late W. Frank and Mary Chance DeFord. He graduated from Caroline High School in 1943. Mr. DeFord proudly served his country in the U.S. Army. He worked for New Process Fibre Company for 17 years, retiring in 1989. In his earlier years, he worked for H.P. Cannon in Bridgeville. He also helped his brother on the farm whenever he could. Earle loved to work in his garden and usually had a couple of steers running around. He volunteered at the Greenwood Cheer Center delivering meals for 14 years. He was a past member of the Ruritan Club in Burrsville, Md. He attended Calvary Baptist Church in Denton, where he was a greeter which he loved to do. He was often the first one at church to make sure he greeted everybody. He was a greeter at Calvary and at Christian Tabernacle for about 30 years. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Edward and Charles. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Pearl; three children, Carol and husband Jack Butler of Denton, Frank DeFord Sr. of Greenwood, and Barbara and husband James Williams of Seaford; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Pauline Neal of Easton, Md., Thelma Passaro of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Kay Trice of Denton, and Eloise Wooden of Charleston, S.C.; and extended family. Funeral Services will be 1 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, at the Fleischauer Funeral Home, 16 West Market Street, Greenwood, where friends may call from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Interment will be held at St. Johnstown Cemetery, Greenwood. Donations may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 1120 Market St., Denton, MD 21629, marked for Building Fund.