Gary Lee Meredith, first Ocean View mayor
Gary Lee Meredith of Ocean View passed away in the comfort of his home Thursday, July 27, 2017, with his family present. He had just celebrated his 80th birthday Monday, July 24. Gary fought a brave fight with pulmonary fibrosis for the last several years. Delaware Hospice had been directing his care for the last five months.
Gary was born in Altoona, Pa., July 24, 1937. He was the only child of George E. Meredith and Ruth I. Meredith. He later moved to Huntingdon, W.Va., and also lived in Charleston, W.Va. He graduated from Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, Md., in 1955 where he met his high school sweetheart. He received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland in 1960. Gary and Bette were married Aug. 23, 1958.
Gary worked at Vitro Corporation (a defense contractor) for 37 years and retired as a senior contracts manager in 1997. While at Vitro he enjoyed playing softball on intermural teams. He was employed by the Delaware Seashore State Parks as a fee collector for the past few years.
In Montgomery County, Md., he was president of the Olney Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, a club with over 1,000 members. During his time as president, he started the girls program in the club. Gary enjoyed coaching a variety of boys and girls teams. He was chairman of the steering committee for the conversion of the Longwood Civil Defense Site to the Longwood Recreation Center in Olney. He was appointed by the Montgomery Co. Executive to be the chairman of the Area 5 Recreation Advisory Board. He continued his passion of playing softball on men’s, coed, and later senior teams in the Montgomery County Recreation Department.
After he retired, Gary moved to Ocean View in 1997. He became president of the Town of Ocean View Council. After a year as president, the town charter was changed and the position of mayor was created. He was the first publicly elected mayor for the town of Ocean View and served two, three-year terms, 2002-08. During his time as mayor, the town completed a sewer system, installed a municipal water system, built a state-of-the-art police station, expanded the Town Hall and offices, expanded John West Park and acquired historical property. His last position with the town was chairman of Planning & Zoning Commission, from which he resigned this year due to health.
After moving to Ocean View, Gary worked to increase recreation opportunities for seniors, and was co-organizer of the Olde Tymers Softball League for men and women over 50. He also organized the local AARP Bowling League, which is in its 20th year. He was also president of the local chapter AARP #5226, and served as president of the Country Village community Board of Directors.
Gary was active on the fundraising steering committee for the building of the South Coastal Leisure Center for CHEER. He ran several sock hop dances and coordinated a raffle to raise funds for the construction of the CHEER Center, known as the S. Coastal Leisure Center on Central Avenue in Ocean View, which has become a very active senior center.
He was a charter member and organizer of the Bethany Beach Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) which started year-round services at the Conference Center Chapel in Bethany Beach in 1998.
Gary loved sports and rooted for several teams, including the Maryland Terps, Marshall University, the Washington Redskins and the Washington Nationals. Most of all he loved his family.
He was devoted to the family dogs, and his Pomeranians were a great comfort to him during his illness.
Gary is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, Bette L. Meredith, three children, Donna L. Kemp (husband Michael), Dean S. Meredith and Susan C. Moyer (husband Nelson); and two grandchildren, David A. Kemp (wife Jennifer) and Michelle L. Kemp.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17, at the Bethany Beach Christian Church Disciples of Christ, 7 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Bethany Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either: Delaware Hospice, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963, or The Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, 750 East Pratt St. 17th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202, c/o pulmonary research/interstitial lung disease www.hopkinsmedicine.org.
Electronic Condolences may be made via www.watsonfh.com.
