Lawson Duckworth

Buddy Duckworth, 68, of Frostburg passed away on June 2, 2010 at the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center, Cumberland.

Born Oct. 12, 1941 in Ocean Mines, he was the son of the late Lawson Simeon Duckworth and Beatrice Ada Ross.

He is survived by his wife Carolyn Marie McKenzie Duckworth; three daughters, Maronda Marie Simmons Wilt and her husband Stanley Joseph Wilt of Frostburg, Vicki Jo Kamp of Fairfax, Va. and Angela Dawn Wilt and her husband Robert Leo Wilt, Grantsville; two sons, Lawson Duckworth III and his wife Kelley Duckworth of Grantsville and William Alfred Duckworth and his wife Jodi Duckworth living in Australia. He is survived by 11 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Carolyn Lee Rowe; his parents; son-in-law, Verl Otto “Spike” Simmons III; and grandson, Darric Lee “Diesel” Kamp.

Surviving are his brother, Kenneth Duckworth; two sisters, Dorothy Jane Robosson and her husband Joseph, Eloise Broadwater and her husband Wilbert, all living in this area.

Buddy’s greatest love was his family, history, genealogy, hunting and the outdoors. He was passionate about the youth of today being educated about their heritage and history of the area.

Buddy graduated from Valley High School in 1959 and attended Eastern Bible Institute in Green Lane, Pa. for two years.  After that he spent some time with David Wilkerson and Nicky Cruz in the early days of Teen Challenge, ministering to the street gangs in New York City. When he was in carpentry, he helped build the Maranatha Assembly of God Church in Grantsville.

He volunteered for the Marine Corps and went on active duty from January 1962 serving overseas during the Vietnam War.  He was honorably discharged as a corporal in May 1966.

His later years were spent trying to get his family history recorded for the generations that followed. He was widely known in the area for his efforts in setting up family websites for the Georges Creek area and the Allegany/Garrett families, plus some cemetery sites. It gave a forum for many who had moved from the area to reconnect with each other on the internet.

Friends will be received at Eichhorn-McKenzie Funeral Home, P.A. in Lonaconing, from 1 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 6, 2010 and the service will be held at the funeral home on Monday, June 7, 2010 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Debra Bradley officiating. Following the service, there will be a full military committal at the George Henry Loar Memorial Gardens.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.eichhornmckenzie.com .

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations go to a special fund to cover funeral expenses. The fund will be administered by his daughter, Angie Wilt, 100 Cassel Ridge Apt. 1, Grantsville, MD 21536.

To celebrate Buddy’s love of life, everyone is invited to bring a covered dish, salad, or dessert and join the family at the First Assembly of God, Family Life Center, 17222 Assembly Lane, SW, Lonaconing, MD 21539, following the committal.