Peter Stephen Elias

Peter Stephen Elias, 88, of Grasonville, MD, died on September 9, 2013. Born in Pawtucket, RI, on November 7, 1924, he was the son of the late Stephen and Flora Fontaine Elias. Steve spent most of his life in National Park, NJ, and moved to Prospect Bay (on the right side of the Bay) in 1988. Steve proudly served our country in the United States Army from 1942 - 1952, during which time he earned a European-African-Middle Eastern Ribbon with seven Bronze Stars and a Distinguished Unit Badge. After his honorable discharge, he spent his career in transportation, working as a truck driver. In 1950, Steve started his “career” of driving stock cars at various tracks around South Jersey, PA, and DE. He ended this career with six Track Championships and over 150 heat races. Steve was inducted into the National Old Timers Hall of Fame in 1999 and into the Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club Hall of Fame in 2002. For stock car racing stories and pictures, visit www.3wides.com. When his racing days were over in 1968, Steve put a boat on the roof of his car and found a new love: fishing on the Chesapeake Bay. If he wasn’t on his boat fishing, he was somewhere in the area talking about his last fish or plans for the next one. His “secret” spots are now a true mystery to his friends, family and jealous fisherman. Steve was an active member of Grasonville VFW Post 7464, American Legion Benedict A. Andrew Post 296, Bay Country Moose Lodge, Centreville Lodge No. 180 A. F. & A. M., Boumi Shrine, Chester River Shrine Club, Boumi Yacht Club, Prospect Bay Country Club and Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club. He is survived by his loving wife, Linda Johannessen Elias; his children, Sam Elias and his wife, Lorraine of Port Norris, NJ, Susan Riley and her husband, William of Lake Worth, FL and Jeffrey Elias and his wife, Lisa, of Kinston, NC; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren with one more expected soon; nephews Albert and Kenny Powell; niece, Madeliene Ritter; childhood friend, Harold Mitchell of Salem, NJ; and his dogs, "Maggie" and "Mollie." He was preceded in death by a son, Peter Stephen Elias, Jr., and a daughter-in-law, Roseanne Elias; his parents; his brother, John; and his sister, Madeliene. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 14th at the VFW Post 7464, 203 VFW Avenue, Grasonville, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospital Transportation Fund c/o Boumi Shrine, 5050 King Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21237.

Peter Stephen Elias

November 7, 1927 - September 9, 2013