Flowers

Gene Alden O'Dell, 76, of Hagerstown, Md., died April 26, 2013, at Meritus Medical Center. Born May 25, 1936, in Quinwood, W.Va., he was the son of the late Lundy B. and Edith M. (Jones) O'Dell. Gene served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1954 to 1957, during the Korean War. He received the National Defense Service Medal. Gene worked as a truck driver for Pony Express and Halls Motor Transit. He received driving awards for 15 years with no accident and million-mile safe driving.

In a recent column I mentioned a number of perennial plants that would give lasting pleasure in winter bouquets. With spring in sight, here are a few annuals - beyond the commercially available strawflowers and globe amaranth - you might want to consider for this summer's garden and next winter's pleasure. My favorite annual for winter use is love-in-a-mist ( Nigella damascena .) This easy-to-grow delight has six-petaled blue, pink or white flowers surrounded by a collar of misty green.

The American Cancer Society wants Washington County to get a jump on spring. The organization is importing about 22,500 flowers for the 16th annual Daffodil Days today and Friday. Last year's event raised $13,000 for the fight against cancer. Many area churches are sponsoring "Hope Sunday" by placing bunches of flowers on their altars. Fresh bunches of spring flowers will be available at the following locations: The American Cancer Society office at 1037 Haven Road, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Basketful of Gifts at 107 N. Potomac St., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In front of Home Care Pharmacy at the Robinwood Medical Center, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call the American Cancer Society at 733-8272.

Girl Scout Troop 238 was successful with its flower planting Thursday thanks to several local greenhouses who donated annuals, perennials, and geraniums to the troop. The greenhouses included Good's Garden & Greenhouse and T&C Greenhouse, both in Leitersburg. Karen Giff, a leader of the fourth- graders' troop, said the girls planted the flowers Thursday afternoon at Eden Pines nursing home off of Eastern Boulevard. Giff said the girls have visited nursing homes in the past, and the flower planting was a chance to contribute directly to the home.

MAY 4, 1933-JAN. 19, 2011 Tony Steven Dattilio, 77, of Hagerstown, Md., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, at the Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. Born Thursday, May 4, 1933, in Security, Md., he was the son of the late Nicola Dattilio and the late Rosa Prospero Dattilio. Tony graduated from Hagerstown High School in 1950. He served in the U.S. Navy on board the USS Missouri during the Korean War. He was an employee of Jamison Door Co. for 45 years.

Next Sunday will be my first Mother's Day without my mom. She died last September. I miss her in a big way, of course, but often it's the little things that hit me hardest. I've actually caught myself reaching for the telephone when questions come up and she's the only one who would know the answers. And I remember the Mother's Days I spent with her. My mother likely never heard of Anna Jarvis, one the creators of Mother's Day, but they would have agreed about a few things.

Mrs. Rebecca L. Leatherman, 91, of Wolfsville, Md., entered peacefully into eternal life on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. Born May 30, 1921, near Middletown, Md., Rebecca was the daughter of the late George Edgar and Edna Irene Palmer Shank. Upon the passing of her parents, Rebecca resided in Hagerstown with her Uncle Leon and Aunt Eva Brandenburg Palmer and also Mr. and Mrs. William H. Brandenburg near Wolfsville. She was the wife of the late Carroll Charles Leatherman, who passed in May 1991.

APRIL 15, 1927-NOV. 7, 2009 Wayne Ralph McKee, 82, of Hagerstown, Md., passed away, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, at the Golden Living Nursing Home, Hagerstown. Born Friday, April 15, 1927, in Canonsburg, Pa., he was the son of the late John A. McKee and the late Mabel Young McKee. He graduated from Lehigh University in 1953. He was a member of First Christian Church. He is survived by his wife, Jane Dickson McKee; three sons, Reid McKee of Frederick, Md., Shawn McKee of Smithville, Texas, and Brian McKee of Jasper, Ind.; six grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and three stepgreat-grandchildren.

NOV. 2, 1943-APRIL 21, 2009 SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - Naomi G. Wadel, 65, of 1627 Pinola Road, Shippensburg, died Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at the Falling Spring Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Chambersburg, Pa. Born Nov. 2, 1943, in Southampton Township, Franklin County, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Laban A. and Grace Lehman Wadel. She was a member of Rowe Mennonite Church, Shippensburg. Naomi is survived by four brothers, Clyde L. Wadel and his wife, Dorothy, Martinsburg, Pa., Nathan L. Wadel and his wife, Esther, and Ray E. Wadel and his wife, Wilma, both of Chambersburg, and Marvin J. Wadel and his wife, Virginia, Orrstown, Pa.; a sister, Almeda R. Lehman and her husband, Walter, Shippensburg; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lois L. Youngbar, 82 DEC. 11, 1926J-AN. 14, 2009 BOONSBORO - Lois Lillian Youngbar, 82, of Clevelandtown Road, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, at Washington County Hospital. Born Dec. 11, 1926, in Winfield, N.Y., she was the daughter of the late Walter Willard and Minnie Mae Graces Ackerman. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Pierce Youngbar, in 1970. She was a member of Smithsburg Valley Baptist Church in Smithsburg. She is survived by two daughters, Lois A. Kosco and Mae A. Argilan, both of Boonsboro; four sons, Dion A. Youngbar of Hagerstown, Pierce R. Youngbar of North Carolina, and H. Allen Youngbar and Melvin A. Grim, both of Boonsboro; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.