Colin Furneaux

Colin James Furneaux, age 85, passed away, Saturday, February 1, 2025 in Westminster, Maryland from complications surrounding Alzheimer's Dementia. He was born April 21, 1939 in Surry, England to James and Gladys Furneaux. He grew up in the city of Cambridge, and lived most of his adult life in the village of Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire, England. Colin moved to St. Mary's County, Maryland and later to Carroll County, Maryland while maintaining his home in his beloved Sharnbrook. Until his retirement, Colin was chair of the geography department and outdoor Education Instructor at Bedford Modern School in Bedford, England. In this position, he positively impacted the academic and emotional development of countless students, while providing first hand experiential learning in the rugged mountains of Whales and Scotland. To this day, his students recall the never to be forgotten lessons learned while sailing the rough seas of the English Channel and the coast of Scotland. Upon his retirement from Bedford Modern, Colin accepted a position as Professor of Geography Education at DeMontford University in Bedford. Colin is survived by his wife, Lorraine Fulton Furneaux, sister Patricia Ogley, of Nottinghamshire, England and his two sons, Mark and Nicholas Furneaux, also living in England. His first wife Patricia Anne Furneaux pre-deceased him in 2000. In 2004, Colin married Dr. Lorraine Fulton in St. Mary's County, Maryland and became stepfather to Lorraine's adult children, Shannon Dee Catherine Horosczazak and Kathleen Jane Hitchens, both of Howard County, Maryland. Their family included seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Together, they built their home in Finksburg, Carroll County, Maryland where Lorraine served as Head of a private middle school. Beyond his professional pursuits, Colin was a keen adventurer. Trans-Atlantic sailing, ice climbing above the Arctic Circle, mountain climbing around the globe, exploring lost hiking and biking trails throughout Europe and North America exemplified his stamina and perseverance while relishing the wonders of nature. In England he served in the Royal Air Force Reserve. In Maryland, as a renowned historian and adventurist, Colin visited many schools providing students with first hand lessons in history, government and the environment. In addition, he found great pleasure serving on the Carroll County Recreation and Parks Advisory Board. Colin was an active member of Church of the Ascension in Westminster, Maryland, where he read the Sunday lessons and volunteered on numerous church activities. Family will welcome friends on Thursday, February 13th from 4-6pm at Eline Funeral Home in Finksburg, MD. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 14th at 10:00am at Church of the Ascension, 23 North Court St. in Westminster, MD. Following the funeral service, a celebration of life will be held in the Church's Fellowship Hall. Internment will be private in the Church of the Ascension Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorial donations be made to the children's programs at the Church of the Ascension in Westminster.