William Price Woolston

William Price Woolston, known as Bill or Mr. Bill, a long time community activist died Thanksgiving morning at University of Maryland Hospital . He was born in Crisfield, Maryland, July 28, 1924, the son of Charles Matthews and Willie Mae Landon. He graduated from Crisfield High School in 1941 and attended Salisbury Teachers College, and the University of Maryland. He was a charter member of Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church, and taught Sunday School classes at Ebenezer Church in Easton. Because of his love of sports, he helped promote recreational sports in Talbot County. He served on the Board of Directors of the Talbot County Y.M.C.A. and helped raise funds for the current building, as well as planning and constructing the first three tennis courts at that site. He was an active participant in local tennis tournaments. His interest in youth and football led him to join a group of local businessmen who started Talbot County Little League Football and was instrumental in bringing football to Easton High School. He was initiated as an honorary member of the “Tribe.” His interest in youth sports was life long, and he sat on the Easton Park Board at the time of his death. Mr. Woolston had a love of music that began in his youth. He played trumpet in a local dance band in Crisfield in the 1940’s, prior to his entering military service. He played Baroque music on the recorder, and loved classical music, jazz, Sousa marches and especially rock and roll. Mr. Woolston was a decorated veteran of World War II having participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy. After entering the military March 10, 1943, he was assigned to Company L of the 175th Infantry Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division. William was a B.A.R. rifleman for Company L during the Normandy Invasion, and was part of the force that landed in the early hours of June 7, 1944. He fought with Company L until he was wounded prior to the Battle of St. Lo. Mr. Woolston finished the war with the 3411th Medium Automotive Maintenance Company in North Acton, England. He was discharged Christmas Day 1945 as a Tech Sergeant 4th Class. For his service, William was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one Bronze Service Star with Arrowhead, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, Marksman Badge, and Honorable Service Lapel Button for World War II. He was also recognized on June 6, 2000 with the Medal of the Jubilee of Liberty, awarded by the French government in recognition of veterans of the invasion of Normandy. Mr. Woolston worked for many years in the Talbot County area in the construction business, having owned his own companies. He owned a restaurant in Salisbury then known as “The Huddle,” having former Baltimore Colts’ player Dennis Gaubatz as a partner. In later years, he was the director of the Addictions Program of the Talbot County Health Department, and organized numerous support groups. He developed a counseling program that served as a model for other addictions programs around the State. He had a life long love of outdoor sports including hunting, boating and fishing, which he shared with his family. He also enjoyed model boat-building and decoy carving. Mr. Woolston is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years Audrey Stayton Woolston of Easton. He leaves one son, Stephen S. Woolston of Cambridge and three daughters Dale Dowling, PhD., of Frederick, Victoria Smoot M.D., of Havre de Grace and Adrienne Hyatt of Easton. Mr. Woolston is also survived by grandchildren Charles and Talmadge Dowling; Marjorie Hyatt; Rebecca, Thomas and Rachel Smoot; William, Benjamin and Sarah Woolston. His sister Mary J. Woolston of Catonsville and nephew Charles M. Woolston III, PhD., of Baltimore also survive. His brother Charles M. Woolston Jr. of Crisfield is deceased. Mr. Woolston also leaves daughter-in-law Jean Woolston and sons-in-law Sherwood A. Dowling and Roy Smoot, M.D. Friends may call on Tuesday evening at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A. Easton, MD. from 6:00 to 8:00PM Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 at 10:00AM at St. Marks United Methodist Church, Easton, MD. Burial will follow at the Sunny Ridge Cemetery, Crisfield, MD. on Wednesday at 2:30PM. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Marks Building Fund, 100 Peachblossom Rd. Easton, Md. 21601.

William Price Woolston

November 24, 2005