Alan Griep

Alan Henry Griep, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 13, 2018. He was born in Paterson, New Jersey on November 21, 1938 to the late Henry and Henrietta (Piekema) Griep.

The Griep family moved to Preston, Maryland around 1942 when Alan was just a young boy. He spent his childhood on the family farm, surrounded by the beauty and peacefulness of the lower eastern shore. This tranquility permeated Alan’s temperament as all who know him can attest to his kind and gentle nature.

He graduated as valedictorian from Preston High School and later attended LeHigh University to earn dual Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Information Sciences and Mathematics.  Alan served honorably in the US military and attended language school where he learned Russian and German so that he could translate intercepted code while stationed in northern Turkey. Through his travels and military service over the years Alan learned seven languages.

Alan lived an adventurous life in his earlier phase of adulthood. After completing his military service in Turkey, he decided to stay abroad and settled in northern Germany. He later moved back to the United States to continue his studies at LeHigh University in Pennsylvania and it was there that his first daughter, Fae, was born. They later moved back to Germany and Alan remained there for 15 years. He worked as a programmer in the burgeoning era of the computer age.  Alan was also an avid motorcyclist while in Germany and regularly joined a riding group on tours through the countryside and coastlines near Bremen.  In the early 1980’s Alan resettled once again on the eastern shore, this time with his daughters Laura and Hope.  Alan worked various jobs over the years and especially enjoyed his time as a tutor through Dorchester Public Schools in his later years.

Alan met Bessie Evans at Jubilee Christian Fellowship where they were both members. They were married on August 7, 2005 and enjoyed a strong union in faith and love. Alan was very active at JCF and served as an usher and a greeter over his 35 years as a member. Alan was always willing to lend a helping hand and appreciated the supportive network of the JCF congregation. He was a man of strong faith and we know he is now rejoicing in heaven.

Alan is survived by wife, Bessie; sister, Judy; daughters Fae, Hope, and Laura; grandchildren Pearse, Saoirse, and Kai; nieces and nephews, Brian, Chris, Yvonne and David; and cousin, Marilyn. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Roger.

A memorial service will be held at Newcomb and Collins Funeral Home on Sunday, October 7th at 2 pm with Pastor George Wheatley officiating, followed by a Celebration of Life beginning  4 pm at Jubilee Christian Fellowship. Burial will be held on Monday, October 8th beginning 11 a.m. with military honors at the Junior Order Cemetery, Preston, MD.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Jubilee Christian Fellowship, PO Box 202, Cambridge, MD, 21613.

To share online condolences with the family, please visit www.newcombcollins.com