David Whittier Roese, a former Catonsville resident, died July 6, 2008, at Centreville Hospice House.

He was 82.

The son of John and Edith (Hobe) Roese was born Nov. 24, 1925, in Wilkinsburg, Pa.

He graduated from Ben Avon High School in 1943, where he earned letters in baseball and football.

Mr. Roese attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa., then left to enlist in the Navy.

During and after World War II, he served in Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan and China.

After his discharge, Mr. Roese returned to Allegheny College, where he met and married Helen Stenstrom on Sept. 25, 1948.

He later took graduate classes at Johns Hopkins University.

Mr. Roese began his career with Westinghouse Electric Corp. in 1947, first in Montclair, N.J., then moving to Pittsburgh, Pa.

He moved his family to Catonsville when Westinghouse set up offices in a wing of Friendship Airport (now Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall) until a plant was built in Linthicum.

Mr. Roese worked on the development of gyroscopes; the Gemini and Apollo space programs; the lunar landing module hook-up; Doppler radar for weather, military, and airports; AWAC radar for the military, and portable ground field radar, among other projects.

Mr. Roese retired in 1992 after a career as a scientific engineer and later project manager. He earned several patents and awards for his work.

Mr. Roese volunteered at Maryland Public Television in the Viewer Services Department weekly for many years.

He regularly worshiped at Catonsville United Methodist Church.

Mr. Roese assisted with his son's Cub Scout troop at the St. Paul Lutheran Church.

He assumed management of the Catonsville Model Rocket Club. The children's finished products were launched from what is now the property of the Community College of Baltimore County-Catonsville.

As a past president of the National Exchange Club in Catonsville, Mr. Roese helped to build the club's Fourth of July parade floats and oversaw its track meets.

He volunteered as vice chairman of fundraising for building the Western YMCA, then supervised its construction.

He and his wife were longtime members of the Catonsville Cotillion dance group and several bridge clubs.

They supported the Annapolis Brass Quintet, frequently acting as host and hostess of the receptions following the concerts.

The couple enjoyed traveling through the United States, Europe and the Caribbean -- sailing, boating, camping and RVing.

Assateaque Island., Va., was a favorite destination.

Since 1983, Mr. Roese had a summer residence at Bethany Beach.

His spouse preceded him in death.

He next spent several years at Heartlands Assisted Living in Severna Park before moving in with his daughter and son-in-law in Chestertown.

He is survived by daughters Karen Roese, of Catonsville, and Cassandra Fedas, with husband John, of Chestertown; a son, Craig Roese, of Catonsville; a sister, Jean Phelps, with John, of Pittsburgh, and brother Paul Roese, with Beverly, of Naples, Fla.

Arrangements were made by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, Chestertown.

On July 16, a memorial service was held at Great Oak Manor Bed and Breakfast, Chestertown.

A graveside service took place at Lake View Memorial Park in Sykesville.

The family asks that donations be made to Hospice of Queen Anne's County, 255 Comet Drive, Centreville, MD 21617 or Mosaic Community Rehabilitation, 20 Winters Lane, Catonsville, MD 21228.

Online condolences may be made to www.fhnfuneralhome.com.

Gloria Gilbert

On July 12, 2008, Gloria Isabel (Bozman) Gilbert, 87, died at Brightview Assisted Living.

She formerly lived in Catonsville.

Mrs. Gilbert worked as a claims researcher at the Social Security Administration.

She enjoyed gardening.

Grandchildren Matthew Gilbert and Christine Grant survive.

Leslie Gilbert preceded his wife in death, as did their son, Leslie Gilbert Jr.

The Sterling-Ashton-Schwab-Witzke Funeral Home scheduled visitation hours and a prayer service.

Mrs. Gilbert was buried in Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery.

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