J. Henry States Jr., 88

HENDERSON, Md. - J. Henry States Jr., of Henderson, passed away peacefully Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, in his home surrounded by his family after a brief illness. He was 88. Born in Caroline County on Nov. 23, 1919, Mr. States was the son of the late John Henry States Sr. and Ida Mae McMullen States. His loving and devoted wife, Pearla Mae States, died Nov. 20, 1994. Active and energetic throughout his entire life, he enjoyed working, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. He was a hard-working, diligent person who took care of many people's needs. After serving in the U.S. Army in the Philippines and New Guinea as a Staff Sergeant during World War II, he returned home in 1946, to continue a lifetime of many careers, including the family business, John H. States & Sons Service Station, in Queen Anne, for 23 years. He then worked for the Caroline County Government for 24 years until his health no longer allowed him to do so in 2005. He leaves behind his two children, Jerry and his wife Bertha States of Henderson and Shirley and her husband Bud Taylor of Zephyr Hills, Fla.; his devoted granddaughter, Crystal and her husband Tommy Dadds of Henderson; 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter; four sisters, Marie Shaffer of Denton, Margaret Jump of Easton, Gladys Saulsbury of Easton, and Audrey Schmitt of Denton; and one brother, Dawson States of Tucson, Ariz. In addition to his wife, Mr. States is preceded in death by one son, John Wayne States; one daughter, Diane States; one of 13 children, he was also preceded in death by seven siblings, Mary, Earl, Eva, Irven, Wilson, Carlton "Hot Rod", and Francis "Sourball." Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Moore Funeral Home, P.A., 12 S. Second St., in Denton, where friends and relatives will be received from 6 until 8 p.m. on Monday evening. Burial will be in the Maryland Eastern Shore Veteran's Cemetery in Beulah near Hurlock. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests for friends to send memorial donations to the Caroline Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 362, Denton, MD 21629.