OCTOBER 8, 2021
Ocean City Today
PAGE 63
OBITUARIES WILLIAM ADDISON GIBBS, JR. Ocean City William Addison Gibbs, Jr., “Bill,” passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 at age 72 surrounded by his wife, sons and siblings. Born in Salisbury, and raised in Ocean City, he was the son of late William A. Gibbs, Sr. and Virginia (Bruffy). Bill Gibbs Jr. Bill is survived by his wife, Julianne “Julie” (Mitchell) Gibbs; and sons, Gary Gibbs of Washington DC, Jeff Gibbs and his wife, Ashley (Parker), of Berlin, and Kevin Gibbs of Ocean City; and by the joy of his life, his two granddaughters, Addison and Ava Gibbs. Also surviving are his brothers, Tom Gibbs and his wife, Nancy, of West Palm, Florida, and Bruce Gibbs and his wife, Theresa, of Ocean City; a sister, Gail Carozza of Salisbury; and several nieces and nephews. Bill graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in 1967. He attended Norman Jr. College for two years, where he played varsity basketball. He then transferred to West Georgia College where he received his Bachelor’s degree in History. After college, Bill returned home and opened his first pizza shop, Lombardi’s on the Boardwalk at Wicomico Street. In 1981, after purchasing The Breakers Hotel, Bill created The Dough Roller, fulfilling his lifelong dream, the need for a full-service restaurant on the Boardwalk. Through his successes he was able to open multiple Dough Rollers up and down the beach. Bill was very active in the Ocean City community. He was the president of the OCHMRA in 1988-1989. He served on the Chamber of Commerce and was a founding member of the OC Development Corporation. He was a founding member of the Downtown Improvement Association, a member of the Atlantic General Hospital Foundation, and a past AGH Golf Tournament chairman. He actively supported Children’s House by the Sea, Worcester County Development Center, and Believe in Tomorrow Children’s Foundation, and many more local organizations and charities. Bill and Julie received the Brice and Shirley Phillips Lifetime Industry Achievement Award in 2012 from the Restaurant Association of Maryland. He was awarded a Key to the City in 2014. In his spare time, Bill enjoyed his grandkids the most. He was an avid Ravens fan and golfer. Bill loved Kentucky basketball and enjoyed playing the slots or a game of 3-card poker at Ocean Downs. A visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, from 4-7 p.m. at the
Atlantic United Methodist Church, 105 4th St., Ocean City, Maryland. The funeral service will be on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, at 1 p.m. at the church. Rev. George Patterson will officiate. Interment will follow and will be private for the family only. In lieu of flowers a donation in his memory may be made to: The Children’s House by the Sea, P.O. Box 3627, Ocean City, Maryland 21843; Vietnam Veterans of America Ocean City Chapter 1091, P.O. Box 1343, Ocean City, Maryland 21843; or Worcester County Developmental Center, 8545 Newark, Maryland 21841. Arrangements are in the care of the Burbage Funeral Home, Berlin Maryland 21811. JOHN EARL WHEATLEY, JR. Berlin John Earl Wheatley, Jr., age 71, died on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin. Born in Baltimore, he was the son of the late John E. Wheatley, Sr. and Catherine Lyston Wheatley. He is survived by his children, Terrance Reale, Christofo Reale, John Wheatley William Wheatley, Lise Grigsby, Kelli Wheatley, Becki Cameron, Anna Wheatley and Erin Wheatley. Also surviving are his brothers, Michael, Thomas, David and Ricky Wheatley, and sister, Cathy Wheatley Readmond. There are 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mr. Wheatley had served in the United State Air Force Reserves, and attended Essex Community College. His lifetime career was repairing batteries and generators. In his spare time, he was an avid reader of John Sanford and James Patterson novels while drinking his black coffee he enjoyed so much.
He also “armchair” coached the Baltimore Orioles baseball team and the Ravens every season. A beloved family man and everyone’s favorite “Uncle Johnny,” his family adored him. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. A donation in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, Memorial Processing Center, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060-9979. Letters of condolence may be sent via: www.burbagefuneralhome.com. CALVIN MARTIN Baltimore Calvin Martin, 71, of Baltimore, died on Sept. 25, 2021, at his daughter’s home in Ocean Pines. He was born on Aug. 28, 1950, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the son of the late Margaret and Edwin Thrasher. Calvin had many jobs in his years from Calvin Martin driving an 18-wheeler, driving a tow truck, repoing cars and finally working for Alliad Contractors of Baltimore driving a truck. Calvin loved to go to the flea market and restaurant depo to buy in bulk. One was never enough. And to come to the ocean to visit his daughters and grandsons. Calvin was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, many aunts and uncles, cousins and in-laws. Calvin is survived by his two daughters, Beverly Martin and her partner, Gary Hardy, and Kimberly Martin; two grandsons, Aaron and Kevin Mumford and his wife, Courtney; his four siblings, Sherry Marston, Billy Coats and partner, Pam, George Coats and his wife, Darlene, and Margaret Driscoll and her husband Brian; his special aunt, Joyce Kilgor and a
close friend, Joe Johnson, and many other family members. There will be a memorial on Nov. 14, 2021. Please contact Beverly for the information. Calvin will be missed by everyone. Arrangements are in the care of Eastern Shore Cremation and Funeral Service, 504 Franklin Avenue, Berlin, Maryland 21811. To send condolences to the family, please visit www.easternshorecremation.com. DONALD R. CODEY JR. Selbyville Donald R. Codey Jr., age 76, of Selbyville, Delaware, died Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes following a long suffering illness related to Covid-19. He was born in Springfield, Missouri, and was the son of the late Donald R Codey Sr. and Patricia A Donald Codey Jr (Harling) Codey. Don was a loving husband, father, grandfather, racing executive and coach. He was an alumni of Mt. St. Mary’s College class of ’66. Early in his career he served as a racing official with the New Jersey Sports Authority as well as assistant basketball coach at Seton Hall University under Bill Raftery, followed by assistant director of the New Jersey Racing Commission, where he was instrumental in creating the established rules and regulations for simulcasting in America and Canada. He also served as past general manager at Rosecroft Raceway in Oxen Hill, Maryland, and past COO and vice President at the former Ballys at Ocean Downs in Berlin, MD. He was Past Presiding Judge at Meadowlands Racetrack in E. Rutherford, New Jersey, and past president of Freehold Continued on Page 64
