Individual Details

George James Barthel

(3 Oct 1923 - 4 Feb 2006)

The Herald-Mail, Hagerstown, Maryland, Tuesday, February 7, 2006: Braddock Heights, Md. - Mr. George James Barthel, 82, well-known community volunteer and civic leader, who resided for many years in Braddock Heights, died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, at the Glade Valley Nursing Center. He was the husband of the late Geneva Laura VanDament Barthel, who died Sept. 7, 1986. Born Oct. 3, 1923, in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was a son of the late George and Mary Agnes Woods Barthel. Mr. Barthel was inducted into the United States Army in 1943, where he served in the 44th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations, until being wounded twice in battle, first in Jan. 1945, and later in March 1945, and returning then to the United States for medical treatment. He received the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, as well as other medals and military awards.

Following his release from the military, he attended and graduated from the University of Maryland, and spent many years devoting time to his family, and working with volunteer groups and organizations. Mr. Barthel was a member of the Middletown schools PTAs, and served on the local, state and National Parent-Teacher Associations, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award and lifetime membership from the National PTA.
He was a lifelong member of the Middletown Lions Club and had served this area of Lions International as Governor of District 22W. He was also a longtime member of the Braddock Heights Optimist Club, and helped form the first Girls Softball Team and volunteered thousands of hours with the Christmas Tree program. Mr. Barthel was also involved in Boy and Girl Scouting for many years, and after serving in many positions in the Francis Scott Key District, National Capital Area, Boy Scouts of America, had been awarded their highest honor, The Silver Beaver Award. In more recent years, he was remembered for his work as a school volunteer, where he volunteered most recently with South Frederick Elementary School.
He was also a member of AMVETS Post 9, Middletown; the Francis Scott Key Post 11, American Legion; the John R. Webb Post 3285, Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Frederick; the Disabled American Veterans; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 684, Frederick; and the Braddock Heights Volunteer Fire Co. He was also involved in the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, where he volunteered on several committees; worked with Frederick County as a volunteer and Board member of the SALT Council; served on the board of the Frederick County Mental Health Society; and the Frederick County, Adult Disabled Persons Review Board. He was also chairman of the local March of Dimes for many years.

Mr. Barthel was honored in 1990 with the Sertoma Club Service to Mankind Award. He is survived by one son, Donald G. Barthel of Hagerstown; four grandchildren, Michael Todd Barthel, Donya Lynn Moyer, Dona Abarca and Angela Palmer; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Lee Barthel East. The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Keeney and Basford Funeral Home, 106 E. Church St., Frederick. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Pastor Burnis D. Barrett as officiate. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Lions Vision Research Foundation Inc, Wilmer Eye Institute, The Johns Hopkins Hospital Institutions, P.O. Box 1714, Baltimore, MD 21203-1714.

Events

Birth3 Oct 1923Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York
Death4 Feb 2006Braddock Heights, Frederick Co., Maryland
BurialMount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick City, Frederick Co., Maryland

Families

SpouseGeneva Laura VanDament (1911 - 1986)
ChildDonald G. Barthel ( - )
ChildMary Lee Barthel (1943 - 2002)

Endnotes