Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

A memorial gathering will be held on Monday, June 15, 2026 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon hill, MD 20745. 

Entombment in the columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery will take place at a later date. 

A complete obituary will be available soon.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate George's life on Tuesday, May 5 from 5 to 8 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037, where his funeral service will be held the following day, Wednesday, May 6 at 11 am. Interment to follow at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery in Lothian.

Online condolences may be made using the Memories tab on this page.

On Sunday, April 26, 2026 of Suitland, MD. Beloved husband of the late Roberta J. Hamilton Plater; father of Lisa Plater, Zenobia Plater, William J. Plater, IV and the late Sheryl Plater; brother of Ranell Johnson, Zenobia Lancaster and Derrick Plater and the late Ronald Plater. Also survived by many loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives and friends. All are invited to William's Celebration of Life at St. Bernardine Of Siena Roman Catholic Church, 2400 Brooks Drive, Suitland, Maryland 20746 on Friday, May 8, 2026 from 9 a.m. until the start of the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. Interment Lincoln Memorial Cemetery.

Rose Marie Dela Vega, 96, a longtime resident of Annapolis and previously of Ft. Washington, MD passed away in Annapolis on April 24, 2026.  Born in Philadelphia, PA on March 6, 1930, to the late Eliseo and Julia Saranillas, Rose began her working career for the Department of Defense Naval Facilities Engineering Command Chesapeake Division.  After retiring from there, she joined RTKL Architectural Engineering Associates, serving as Director of Federal Contracts and Vice President of Marketing.  She received many awards during her distinguished career, but most notable was a Presidential Citation in special recognition of her outstanding contribution to greater economy and improvement in Government Operation which was signed by the Secretary of the Navy and President Lyndon B. Johnson.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Annapolis and formerly of St. Columba Catholic Church in Oxon Hill, MD., Atlantic Ballroom USA and was on the Board of Directors of the Society of American Military Engineers.  Her hobbies included dancing, bridge, mah jong, video poker, horse racing and college basketball.
In addition to her parents, Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Maurice Dela Vega; a daughter, Deborah D. West; a son-in-law, Roy E. Hawkins, Jr. and a grandson, Lawrence “Larry” Stanford West, III.

Rose is survived by her children, Renee Hawkins Wight (Jim) of Bridgeville, DE and Richard “Rick” Dela Vega of Ocean City, MD; her loving partner, Charles “Pete” Peters; son-in-law Lawrence “Bill” Stanford West, Jr.; her grandchildren, Christine West, Michelle “Shelley” West, Michael “Greg” West, Roy “Beau” E. Hawkins, III (Kaitlyn) and Stephanie Hawkins Kiernan; and her great grandchildren, Peyton Kiernan, Monty Kiernan, Roy E. “Red” Hawkins, IV, Juniper Hawkins and Luca James West Ross.

Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Rose’s life on Tuesday, May 5, viewing from 10 am until  Mass of Christian Burial is offered at 11 am, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W. Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD.  Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Online condolences and tributes may be made by using the memories link on this page.


Dianna Emily VanDerwerker (77) of Fort Washington, MD, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 24, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Born “en route” to the hospital in Northern California on April 29, 1948 to Mario and Emily Maldonado, Dianna spent her childhood growing up in Washington DC, the Philippines, and San Francisco, CA. A woman of multiple talents and lives, her proudest accomplishment was being Mother to four daughters: Delani Cashion, Dewi Cashion, Shanna VanDerwerker (Justin), and Ashley Simmons (Sean). From working at Hot Shoppes as a waitress, to a secretary at George Warner Plumbing Company where she moved up to deciphering the plumbers’ bad hand writing, creating bills in accounting. She then shifted into real estate, where she met and married John VanDerwerker, and eventually started her own business, Dianna’s Custom Costumes & Dancewear all while raising her girls. She always taught her family you can do anything you put your mind to. Dianna was the definition of resilience and determination. 

“Family is everything” was not only what she taught her children, but how she lived her life. She even became known as “Mommy V” to her children’s friends, loving and supporting them as her own. The times that made her the happiest were cooking and baking for everyone, especially her traditional tacos, holiday sticky buns and carrot cake, taking care of her grandchildren, and a recent return to the game of Mah Jong. Dianna is survived by her daughters, six siblings: Mario Jr., Rebecca, Anthony, James, David, Jeffery and her grandchildren: Tessa, Ciara, Erin, Kaia, Bodhi, Gavin, and Caleb.

Dianna’s strong legacy of family, love, and perseverance will live on through everyone around her and she will be dearly missed by so many. She left us to reunite with John in eternity 1 day shy of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. In lieu of flowers, family requests memorial donations be sent to Michael J Fox Parkinson's Foundation in her honor. A Celebration of Life will be held July 11, 2026, details to follow.


A celebration of life for Mr. Merton will be held at a later date. Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page

Robert V. Cox, 86, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Annapolis, MD. Born on August 16, 1939, to the late Robert H. Cox and Nellie V. Cox-Best in Washington D.C., Robert was a resident of Davidsonville, MD for 52 years. Following his graduation from Northwood high school, he joined the United States Coast Guard where he served his country until 1966. After his service in the Coast Guard, Robert became an electrician and eventually went on to start his own business, C.T. Electrical Corporation. Outside of work, Robert enjoyed fishing, traveling, and listening to music. He was a fluid stock market watcher and a diligent investor as well. Robert was also a member of Davidsonville United Methodist Church and the Moose Lodge.

Robert is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Linda D. Cox; his children, Robert H. (Kimberly) Cox of Edgewater, MD, Christopher K. (Shannon) Cox of Davidsonville, MD, and Kelly L. (Donnie) Ferguson of Bear, DE; his sister, Loretta Knight of Germantown, MD; his grandchildren, Kaitlyn K. (Zach) Morris, Connor R. (Emma) Cox, Courtney K. (Jordan) Taub, Ryleigh M. (Wyatt) Johnson, Lauren F. Cox, Noah C. (Gabrielle) Cox, and Anthony J. Ferrara; and his three great-grandchildren, Kayleigh, Hudson, and Julian.

Friends and family are invited to celebrate Robert’s life on Friday, May 1, from 10 to 11 AM at the Kalas Funeral Home and Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD where a funeral service will be held at 11 AM. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery, 4111 Pennsylvania Ave., Suitland-Silver Hill, MD.

Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.

Rose Marie (Wood) Long , 90, of Clinton, Maryland, passed away peacefully at home on April 22, 2026.
Born on March 30, 1936 in Prince George's County, Maryland, to the late Thomas Edgar Wood and Linda Viola Wood, Rose lived a long and beautiful life marked by strength, kindness, and deep devotion to her family and friends.

Rose graduated from Surrattsville High School and attended Strayer Business School. She received her certification as a licensed practical nurse and began her career with the ophthalmology practice of Bernard J. Gurwin, M.D. who later joined the practice of Drs. Helfgott & Fine, where she served as office manager until retiring at the age of 67.

In 1960 she married the love of her life, Joseph Alfred "Al" Long. Together they created a welcoming home filled with warmth, laughter, and great food, sharing 30 wonderful years until his passing in 1990.

Rose was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt. She delighted in caring for her family, especially her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren, whom she spoiled with homemade cookies, bedtime stories, and endless hugs. As a woman of strong faith, she found comfort in her relationship with God and was an active member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. She touched countless lives, and opened her home and heart to any in need.

Whether at work, volunteering at church, or hosting family gatherings, she made everyone around her feel loved and valued. She was known for her sharp wit, feistiness, kindness, and her famous fruit cakes and crab imperial.

Rose was predeceased by her beloved husband; her parents; and her siblings, Mary "Mernie" Wood, Thomas Edgar Wood Jr., Viola McDonald, John "Frank" Wood, Pauline Hayden, Richard "Dick" Wood, William "Chester" Wood, Walter Wood, Joseph Wood, Samuel Wood, Paul Wood, and Mildred "Nickie" Taylor.

She is survived by her children, Bernard Long (Vanessa) and Phyllis Proctor (David); her grandchildren, Tabitha (John), Miranda (Hugo), and Mary; her great-grandchildren, Aryan, Olivia, Aubrey, Octavia, Aurora and Andrés; her sister, Evelyn (Wood) Larsen (James); as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, honorary family members, and dear friends.

Rose lived 90 years full of grace and love, leaving behind a legacy of family, faith, and kindness that will continue to inspire all who knew her. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered in the hearts of those she cherished.

Relatives and friends are invited to gather for Rose's Life Celebration on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 from 2 P.M. to 4 P.M. and 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 11 A.M. at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 5203 Saint Barnabas Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748. Interment to be held at 1 P.M. at Cedar Hill Cemetery, 4111 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suitland, MD 20746.

Flowers are welcomed, or donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Rose’s memory.


James “Dwight” D. Walthall, 81, passed away on Monday, April 20, 2026. Born on September 22, 1944 to the late Fred Walthall and Frances Louise Dempsey, Dwight was one of thirteen children. In 1969, he met Joan Louise Miller Duckett and her four children, Ernest Albert, Sharon Louise, Larry Paul, and Bonnie Lynn Duckett. In 1974, they added James D. Walthall, II to the family. Their children blessed them with ten grandchildren, who in turn multiplied that blessing with eleven great-grandchildren. Theirs was a love affair of over fifty years. Dwight, affectionately known as “Pop”, enjoyed picking and playing old country music and bluegrass on one of his many guitars. He could dance your socks off, frequently winning dance contests with his lifetime partner, Joan Louise. He will be most remembered for his dirty jokes. He made people laugh! Joan Louise was the center of his universe and he fought valiantly to hang on, not wanting to leave before her. Rest in peace Pop. Mom is in good hands until we hand her back to you. Family and friends are invited to celebrate Dwight’s life on Saturday, May 2 from 11 am to 1 pm at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD 21037.

A full obituary will be posted on here soon.

Condolences may be made by using the Memories tab on this page.

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