Joseph III

Joseph (Jody) George Era, III, 76 of Cambridge, Maryland entered into eternal rest on August 15, 2013.
Born in Cambridge Hospital on June 13, 1937 he was a son of the late Catherine Elliott and Joseph (Joe Buck) George Era Jr. He was raised in Secretary, MD.
Jody attended Secretary Elementary and East New Market High School. He was known for his athleticism and played baseball during his teenage years and was a well- known fast ball pitcher for the local American Legion. Jody was scouted by several major league baseball scouts. Instead of going into his senior year of high school, he elected to join the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 and was stationed in Norfolk, VA. He served on the USS Everglades, a destroyer tender, from 1954 to 1957, making two six month cruises to the Mediterranean and was in the Suez Canal conflict. He was reassigned to the USS Keller in Washington, D.C. taking reservists out during his final year of service and was honorably discharged as a Gunner Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer in June 1958. Jody received an accommodation from the Captain for an at sea rescue. While in the Navy he received his G.E.D.
When returning to Secretary, Jody worked with his father and family friend in the family fish business, Coulbourne and Era Seafood for several years. He then went into law enforcement, becoming a Chief for the East New Market and Secretary areas and a Constable for Dorchester County. Later he became a Deputy Sheriff under Calvert Creighton and Sarge Johnson serving four years.
Jody was hired at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center in 1970 as a Nursing Health Aide and then going on to attend Eastern Shore Hospital Center Practical Nursing School graduating in 1973 as Class President. He continued his LPN nursing practice at ESHC until he transferred to the Hospital Police Department in 1976. In 1985 he was promoted to Chief of Hospital Police and was responsible for Security at both Upper Shore Hospital Center in Chestertown and Eastern Shore Hospital Center in Cambridge until he retired in April 1993. Following retirement he worked part-time for Curran-Bromwell Funeral Home and Preston Ford.
In April 1979 he married Donna Jean Robbins and together made their home in Cambridge, Maryland.
He enjoyed playing and watching many sports, dancing, fishing and politics. Other interests were reading books on World War II, Korean War and visiting Civil War Battlefields and old forts. He and his wife loved to travel and visited Canada, Spain, Portugal, Aruba and have visited many states in this country. His hobbies included his own fantasy baseball, college basketball, attracting and feeding the birds and squirrels in his front yard and spending time with his devoted dog, Pancho.
He was a current member of the First Baptist Church of Cambridge and over the years served on many church committees including Trustee, American Legion Post #91, VFW Post #7460, Police Association and past president of the Cambridge Ruritan Club. He was elected to serve on the Democrat Central Committee for four years.
In addition to his wife of 36 years, he is survived by his devoted dog Pancho; son from a previous marriage, Gregory Van Era and daughter-in-law Anna Riley Era of Hebron, MD; two grandsons Kyle and Ryan Era; sister Beverly Simpson of ENM, MD; special cousin Mary Moore; sister-in-laws Norma Era of Secretary, MD, Dorothy (Dottie) Era of Hurlock, MD, Deborah Wessells of ENM, MD, Judith Robbins of Cambridge, MD; brother-in-law Christopher Robbins (Beth) of Church Creek, MD; nephews John Robert Era, Jr., of ENM, MD, Joseph G. Era, IV of Richmond, VA, Stewart Bradley of ENM, MD, William Hunter Wessells of Rhodesdale, MD; nieces Leslie Fetzer of PA, Lisa Riley of CO, Diane Jump of Salisbury and many Era cousins living in the Secretary area. He also has two step daughters Vicky and Linda from his second marriage to Ruth Davenport. Parents in-law Warren and Jean McWilliams of Rhodesdale, MD; step mother-in-law G. Ann Robbins.
Preceding him in death besides his parents, are two brothers, Anthony Plummer Era and John Robert (Bobby) Era; father-in-law Cyril (Pete) Robbins; brother-in-law Dr. Craig Wessells.
A special thank you goes out to Shore Home Care Home Health, Comfort Keepers Coastal Hospice and his special caretaker, Cali Marsh.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 beginning 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 501 Glenburn Ave., Cambridge. Family will receive friends the hour prior to the service. Officiating will be Pastor Steve Trice. Private interment will follow at the Maryland Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery, Hurlock, Md with military honors.
Serving as pallbearers will be Dave Nickerson, Joseph George Era, IV, William Hunter Wessells, Thomas Ruark, James Ruark and Andy Engle.
Honorary pallbearers will be Christopher B. Robbins, Jack Coulbourne , Wayne Saunders and Donald Cox.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Jody can be made to the First Baptist Church of Cambridge, Benevolence Fund, 501 Glenburn Ave., Cambridge, MD 21613 or the Quota Club of Cambridge, MD, P.O. Box 1236, Cambridge, MD 21613.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Newcomb and Collins Funeral Home, P.A., Cambridge, MD.
To send online condolences, please visit www.newcombcollins.com.