Elmer Joseph Linthicum, Sr.

Elmer Joseph Linthicum, Sr., 82, one of the original residents of Maryland City, passed away on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, surrounded by family.

His wife of 50 years, Sybil Jean (Newman) Linthicum, passed away in 2007 at the age of 68. Mr. Linthicum is survived by three sons, Elmer J. Jr., W. Timothy (Patti), and Andrew T. (Chrissy), and three daughters, Sharon L. Hauptman (Harvey), Kathleen A. Strasser (John) and Donna J. Gaynor (George); his grandchildren, Julia Young (Terrence), Tessa Hauptman, Hannah Pearish (Jake), Emily Gaynor, Brady Gaynor (Stacy), Kylie Conneally (Conor), Garrett Linthicum, Dalton Linthicum, Aubrey Linthicum and Avery Linthicum; and great-grandchildren, Matthew Flynn and Autumn Young.

Mr. Linthicum was born August 25, 1937, in Baltimore, MD. He graduated from Calvert Hall College High School and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Loyola College, both in Baltimore. He attended both institutions on academic scholarships. He also earned a Master’s Degree from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. under sponsorship of his employer.

He retired as a manager from the National Security Agency in December 1994 after 32 years of service. Mr. Linthicum held positions in R&E, Operations, Security, and Personnel.

Concurrently over 25 years, he also worked part time. With more than 33 years of service in the U.S. Army Reserve in both enlisted and officer status on active duty and in the active Reserves, overseas and in this country, he retired as a Colonel in 1989.

Mr. Linthicum held various positions in Intelligence, Military Police, and senior staff. He had been a Battalion Commander and served as an assistant principal staff officer at the 97th U.S. Army Reserve Command at Ft. Meade. He was commissioned from the R.O.T.C. Program at Loyola University where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate. A graduate of the Army’s Command and General Staff College, Mr. Linthicum also did course work with the Army and Air War Colleges. During his military career, he was awarded two Meritorious Service Medals and two Army Commendation Medals.

Mr. Linthicum was one of the two original Lay Corporators of Resurrection Of Our Lord Catholic Church and was instrumental in the planning for and the development of the first parish church.

He and his wife had been active in the early years of the Maryland City Civic Association and Mr. Linthicum also had coached baseball for a number of years. He coordinated the door-to-door Santa Clause visits throughout the Maryland City community.

Mr. Linthicum and his family assisted Ralph Wilcox and his family with activities supporting the Washington Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The Linthicums also assisted the Wilcoxes for 15 years in producing Christmas parties for the handicapped.

For nearly 25 years, Mr. Linthicum collaborated with his wife in producing a weekly neighborhood news article for the Laurel News Leader and the Maryland Gazette, as well as a monthly Maryland City Civic Association newsletter.

Visitation will be held Thursday, January 23, 2020, from 2-4 pm, and 7-9 pm at Glenview Mansion, 603 Edmonston Dr, Rockville, MD 20851. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, January 24, 2020, 11:00 AM at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church, 8402 Brock Bridge Rd, Laurel, MD 20724. A burial with full military honors will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 2002 Clipper Park Road #110, Baltimore, MD 21211. Services entrusted to Sagel Bloomfield Danzansky Goldberg Funeral Care.