Obituaries

CLAUDE GARY COLEMAN, JR. Ocean City

Claude (Joe) Gary Coleman, Jr., age 95, passed away in the care of his family and home nursing assistance in Ocean City, Maryland on June 21, 2021, following health complications from a stroke. Joe and his wife, Mary (Betty passed away in June 2015) had made Ocean City their retirement home in 1998. They had relocated from Parkville, Maryland in Baltimore County, where they had lived for most of their lives and raised six children.

Joe was born in February 1926 in Augusta, Georgia, the son of Claude Gary Coleman and Annie Lee Smith, who later divorced.

Joe leaves behind four surviving children (Mary, Joseph, Ann and Thomas), eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his brother, Krozer Early.

In addition to his wife, he is preceded in death by his son, John (2003), and daughter, Elizabeth (2015).

Joe was a loving and devoted husband and father who also gave back to his community after his retirement from the then Martin Marietta industrial company (Middle River, Maryland), where he worked in financial management.

He led tax preparation volunteer work for the elderly and disabled; or-

chestrated activities at the Senior Citizen Center in Dundalk, Maryland; served remotely for five years as the treasurer for the USS Yorktown Foundation based in Charlestown, South Carolina, the USS decommissioned aircraft carrier (CV-10) where he served in the US Navy during the later end of WWII Pacific theater war, and bravely fought in combat as a bombardier on a dive bomber; and volunteered for two years at the AtClaude Coleman lantic General Hospital visiting patients, to include bringing flowers to their rooms. The Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin, Maryland, is handling his body’s cremation, per Joe’s wishes. His ashes will be laid to rest at a future private celebration of life memorial ceremony at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Dagsboro, Delaware. His remains will be lovingly placed besides those of beloved wife, Mary, his son, John, and his daughter, Elizabeth. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe’s name to Coastal Hospice (https://coastalhospice.org) or to the USS Yorktown Foundation (https://ussyorktownfoundation.org) , both 501 (C) 3 charitable organizations. Letters of condolence may be sent via the Burbage Funeral Home (https://burbagefuneralhome.com), 108 William Street, Berlin, Maryland 21811.

WORLD WAR II

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Of those captured, 286 finally returned to Spain on April 2, 1954, after Stalin’s death. La División Azul was the most decorated unit in Spanish history. The Spanish soldiers were awarded 138 Iron Crosses, 2,359 Iron Crosses Second Class, eight Cruzes Laureadas de San Fernando (the Spanish equivalent to the Medal of Honor) and 44 Medallas Militares (the Spanish equivalent to the Silver Star).

In addition to the Knight’s Cross awarded to Gen. Muñoz Grandes, one was also awarded to Gen. Infantes y Martin, (although without the Oak Leaves) who was also promoted to Lt. general upon his return to Spain. Both generals also received the German Cross of Gold.

Hitler said that La División Azul was, “...equal to the best German ones.”

Next week: Smolensk

Mr. Wimbrow writes from Ocean

City, Maryland, where he practices law representing those persons accused of criminal and traffic offenses, and those persons who have suffered a personal injury through no fault of their own.

He can be contacted at: wimbrowlaw@gmail.com. JOHN STATON WHALEY, JR. Berlin

John Staton Whaley, Jr., age 88, died on Monday, June 28, 2021, at his home in Berlin.

Born in Salisbury, he was the son of the late John Staton Whaley, Sr., and Willa Mae (Hayes) Whaley. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Gail Jarvis Whaley; son, John Staton Whaley, lll, and his wife, Jilian of Berlin; and grandchildren, Staton Alexander Whaley of Berlin, and Kendall Suzanne Whaley of Berlin.

Mr. Whaley attended the Loomis School in Windsor, Connecticut, where he received the Batchelder Prize, and was president of the Student Council.

He was a graduate of Princeton University, Class of 1954, where he was a member of the Ivy Club.

John served as a 1st lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps from 1954-1958.

In West Ocean City he developed the subdivision he named Captain’s Hill. With his friend Daniel Trimper Vl, he built the first condominiums in Ocean City.John built many oceanfront townhouses and oceanfront buildings. Among these were Beachwalk, Beach Place North, Beachloft, and Beachmark. He built the first “high-rise” building in Ocean City, High Point South. He built High Point North and Pyramid. John Whaley He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Berlin, and was an active sports fisherman on his boat the “Curlew.” A graveside service was held on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at the Whaley Cemetery in Whaleyville, Maryland. The Rev. Michael Moyer officiated. A donation in his memory may be made to: Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, Maryland 21804; or Atlantic General Hospital, 9733 Healthway Dr., Berlin, Maryland 21811. Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

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