ROBERT FOARD SR.

Robert T. Foard, Sr.

Robert T. Foard, Sr., 79, of Chesapeake City, MD, passed away at his home October 2, 2008 after a brief illness.

A lifelong resident of Chesapeake City, MD, Robert was born on April 23, 1929, the son of the late Thomas LeRoy and Myrtle Dickinson Foard. He graduated from Chesapeake City High School in 1946 and owned and operated Foard Brothers Hardware Store until he attended Eckels School of Mortuary Science and pursued a career in funeral service, where he met his lifelong friend and professional colleague Robert C. (Hutch) Hutchinson of Middletown / Townsend, DE. He founded R.T. Foard Funeral Home on the site of the hardware store in Chesapeake City and later purchased the Reed and Tyson/McMullen Funeral Home in Rising Sun, MD. In addition, he assisted his son in the purchase of the Robert T. Jones Funeral Home in Newark, DE. Following his retirement in 1999, his son continues to own and operate the three locations. Robert was a former member of the Boards of Directors of Union Hospital and The YMCA. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, a life member of Cecil Lodge #125 AF&AM, Chesapeake City, now Union Lodge #048 AF&AM, Elkton, MD and was instrumental in establishing the R.R. Atkinson DeMolay Chapter in Elkton. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Lodge Council Chapter Consistory, Wilmington DE and a member of the Nur Temple Shrine, Wilmington. He was also an active 50 year member of the Chesapeake City Lions Club and served as President for three terms, as well as Cabinet Secretary under District Governor Darby J. Johnson District 22-B in 1964-65.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jayne McCommons Foard; a daughter, Paula F. Lutz and her husband George of North East, MD; a son, Robert T. (Rock) Foard Jr. and his wife Patti of Rising Sun, MD; 4 grandchildren, Meredith Stehl and her husband Kevin, Laura L. Heilman and her husband Brad, Whitney Montana Foard and Madison Taylor Foard; a great granddaughter, Emerson Jayne Stehl; a niece, Marilyn Del Casale and a nephew, Thomas LeRoy Foard III. He was preceded in death by his brother, Thomas LeRoy Foard, Jr. who died in 2002.

Funeral services will be held at R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., 318 George St., Chesapeake City, MD 21915 on Wednesday, October 8, 2008 at 11am. Friends and family may call at R.T. Foard Funeral Home, P.A., 111 S. Queen St., Rising Sun, MD on Monday October 6, 2008. from 7-9pm or at the Chesapeake City Funeral Home, 318 George St., on Tuesday October 7, 2008 from 7-9pm. Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery.

Charitable contributions in Robert's memory may be made to the Chesapeake City Lions Club c/o the funeral home. To send condolences visit www.rtfoard.com.

R.T. FOARD

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

& CREMATORY

(410)885-5916