William Leonard Longmore, 65, Leonardtown

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Born July 17, 1941, in Leonardtown, he was the son of the late James Abell Longmore and Rose Theresa (Alvey) Longmore.

He lived in St. Mary’s County all of his life. In 1960 he graduated from Ryken High School and then served in the U.S. Army National Guard. Together with his father and his brother, he owned and operated the Ben Franklin variety store in Leonardtown. Later he owned and operated the Ben Franklin Store in Lexington Park. After 27 years of service as a district court commissioner for the Fourth District Court of Maryland, he retired in 2003.

He was a member of the Leonardtown Lions Club for many years. He was a member of the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, with more than 30 years of service, receiving a number of awards for his commitment and dedication to his work. He was recognized for his work in renovating the merry-go-round and he took pride in working yearly in the food stand at the Leonardtown carnival. He loved his cats and enjoyed woodworking, yard work and the time spent with friends preparing Southern Maryland stuffed ham.

He is survived by his daughters, Linda Nicole Longmore and Monique Marie Longmore, both of Annapolis; his siblings, Rose Marie Weiland and her husband, Hugh, of Leonardtown, Elsie Theresa Sullivan and her husband, Kevin, of Woodbridge, Va., James Abell Longmore Jr. and his wife, Mary Anne, of Leonardtown, Mary Lou Frain and her husband, Charlie, of Finksburg, Betty Longmore of Owings Mills and Marian Bowser and her husband, Joe, of Leonardtown; six nephews; seven nieces; and 10 grand-nephews and nieces.

The family will receive friends today, April 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Brinsfield Funeral Home chapel in Leonardtown. Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated April 19 at 11 a.m. at St. John Francis Regis Catholic Church in Hollywood. The Rev. Raymond Schmidt will be the celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery in Leonardtown.

Pallbearers will be T.W. Bell III, Gerald Gardiner Jr., John Gough, George Kalnasy Jr., Mike Mattingly, Tommy Mattingly, Wayne Miedzinski and Teddy Wathen.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 50, Leonardtown, MD 20650; and⁄or Hospice of St. Mary’s Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.