Calvin Cruse

Calvin Lee Cruse died Saturday October 21, 2006 at his home in Chester, MD surrounded by his loving family. He was 78. Calvin Cruse was born in Mooresville, NC on October 25, 1927 to the late Coy Cruse and Lucile Martin Cruse. He grew up in Davidson, NC and joined the Air Force, serving during World War II. He married Jacqueline Williams in 1953 and they made their home in Whiteville, NC. Mr. Cruse had a crop dusting business in NC for six years and owned his own crop dusting plane. He attended school for truck driving and began working as a long distance truck driver for Pilot Freight Carriers in NC. He and his wife moved to Maryland in 1962. Upon moving to Maryland, he worked with his cousin Jack Stowe at Kelley’s Garage in Chester. In 1964, he went to work for Preston Trucking Company, where he remained for 25 years, retiring in 1989. While working for Preston Trucking, he received the Four Million Mile Safe Driving Award. After retiring from his career in trucking, Mr. Cruse worked for Prospect Bay Country Club, managing the cart barn, where he was responsible for the fleet of carts. Mr. Cruse was a Teamster and belonged to the American Legion. He attended Kent Island United Methodist Church and enjoyed golfing and playing cards with his friends. In addition to his wife Jacqueline, he is survived by two children, Timothy Calvin Cruse of Grasonville, MD and Jill Cruse of Church Hill, MD; a sister, Helen Benfield of Mooresville, NC; two grandchildren, Jason Lee Cruse of Chester, MD and Dorsey Dudley Patchett, III and wife Penny of Centreville, MD; and a great granddaughter, Piper Leigh Patchett. A funeral service will be held at the Kent Island United Methodist Church at 2739 Cox Neck Road in Chester, MD on Wednesday October 25, 2006 at 2PM. Friends and family may call on Tuesday October 24, 2006 between 6-8PM at the Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam Funeral Home, P. A., 106 Shamrock Road in Chester, MD 21619. Interment will follow the service at Kingsley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to Hospice of Queen Anne’s, Inc. 423 Thompson Creek Road, Stevensville, MD 21666 or the Kent Island United Methodist Church Building Fund, 2739 Cox Neck Road, Chester, MD 21619.