Roy Rafter

Commander Roy W. Rafter died Thursday, September 7, 2006. He was 81 years old. Mr. Rafter was a native of Hagerstown, MD. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 at the age of 18. He served in the Mediterranean theater during World War II on the minesweeper U.S.S. Despite and the Patrol Craft 1169. After the war, Mr. Rafter returned home and started working for the Division of Inspection and Patrol of the Department of Tidewater Fisheries in May, 1948. Rafter was one of the original 13 recruits for the Department. Rafter’s first assignment with the Maryland State Marine Police was aboard the Kent. He would later work aboard the Margery, and the Hooper Straits. In 1951, Rafter was made the captain of the Rhode Island. As Captain he would serve on the Shirley V and the Anne Arundel. In 1958, Mr. Rafter was promoted to Chief Inspector and served on the patrol boat Anne Arundel. In 1962, Rafter became the Commander of the Maryland State Marine Police. In 1971 the Marine Police and the Inland Division of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Game Wardens combined to become the Natural Resources Police at which time he was appointed as Superintendent of Natural Resources Police Force. He served as a President of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association. Mr. Rafter retired in 1985, at which time he was awarded the coveted Admiral of the Chesapeake citation from Governor Hughes. After retiring, Mr. Rafter became a real estate agent with O’Connor, Piper & Flynn in Annapolis. He was a member of Kent Island Lions Club, and a past member of the Kent Island Elks Lodge, Member of V.F.W., Fraternal Order of Police and Shore Christian Fellowship. Mr. Rafter is survived by his wife, Joan Dalrymple Rafter; two sons, Roy Lee Rafter, Sr. of Chester, MD, and Ronald Eugene Rafter, Sr. of Ridgley, MD; a daughter, Trisha Elizabeth Benson of Greensboro, MD; 14 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Viola E. Rafter in 2005. Family will receive relatives and friends at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., Chester, MD on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 from 6-8 PM. A funeral service will be held at the Funeral Home on Thursday, September 14, 2006 at 11AM. Interment will follow in Stevensville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fish Locker Ministries, 201 Sunset Blvd., Ridgley, MD 21660. See www.fhnfuneralhome.com