Ernest C. Vernon

Ernest C. Vernon of Easton, MD, died on December 19, 2014 He was 87 years old. An active member of the Easton community for more than 30 years, he will be remembered by many as a consummate gentleman who always looked for ways to lend a hand. Born April 28, 1927, in Caswell County, North Carolina, he was the son of the late Edward Rose Vernon and Mamie Elizabeth Scott Vernon. He graduated from Prospect Hill High School, Prospect Hill, NC, in 1944 and attended George Washington University, Washington, DC. He served in the Army Air Corps and the U.S. Air Force from 1945 until 1967, which period included military assignments in occupied Germany and at American embassies in Stockholm, Sweden and Warsaw, Poland. Awards during this time included the WW-II Victory Medal, the Occupation Medal (Germany), the Air Force Commendation Medal (awarded twice) and the Joint Services Commendation Medal. After 1967, Ernie continued to live in Falls Church and was employed by the federal government until 1983. He was a Boy Scout leader in the Falls Church area during the l960s and early 1970s. In 1983, he and his wife Kathryn retired and relocated to Easton, where Ernie was a Talbot County school bus contractor until 1996. “Mr. Ernie” loved the students and teachers he met while driving bus #214 and was always gratified to meet former students who remembered him even after they’d grown to be adults. After retiring the bus, Ernie joined the "Thursday Crew" construction team as a volunteer with Talbot County Habitat for Humanity through 2003, followed by volunteer service with the Talbot Hospice Foundation. A parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Easton, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #2274 and the Father Mosley Assembly #1929. He served as a Knights of Columbus officer for a number of years. Other fraternal organization memberships included AARP Chapter #1601, Elks Lodge #1622 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5118. His first wife, the former Mary Patricia Cairns, whom he married at Washington, DC, September 9, 1950, died at Falls Church, VA January 26, 1978. His second wife, the former Kathryn Malet Connell, whom he married at Falls Church, VA , on September 27, 1980, died at Easton March 17, 2006. Ernie’s loving devotion to Kathryn – especially during the difficult illness of her last years – will forever be appreciated by her family. In recent years at William Hill Manor retirement community, Easton, Ernie enjoyed the faithful companionship of Jean Elizabeth Startt. Ernie is survived by a sister, Dorothy Vernon Smith (Dean); two brothers, Richard Vernon (Shirley) and Warner Vernon (Grace); two sons, David Vernon and Christopher Theibault; two step-daughters, Maura Connell and Kathleen Connell Dawn (Ralph); a granddaughter, Meghan Dawn Skomba (Tom); four grandsons, Matthew Vernon, Charles Vernon (Briawna), Christopher Theibault Jr. and Corban Theibault; and two great-grandchildren, Grayson Vernon and Miya Vernon. He was preceded in death by a son, John Vernon, a sister, Roberta, and a brother, Edward. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cordova, MD, on March 27, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at the church cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 2366, Easton, MD 21601 or the Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601.

Ernest C. Vernon

April 28, 1927 - December 19, 2014