Nell Merryman, 77, helped restore mansion

Nell Merryman, who was instrumental in the restoration of Hampton National Historic Site, died Friday after suffering a heart attack at Clover Hill Farm, her home in Parkton. She was 77.

She was long involved in the restoration of the Georgian mansion and its surroundings in Towson, mostly through fund raising.

She had served as chairwoman of the women's committees at Hampton and the Maryland Historical Society.

Born in Greenville, S.C., the former Nell Williams completed her education at North Greenville Junior College. She worked as a telephone operator before marrying Nicholas Merryman in 1940.

The couple moved to Mr. Merryman's family home, Hayfields Farm in Cockeysville, and then to Clover Hill in the mid-1970s.

Mrs. Merryman sold real estate, specializing in the sale of large farms, and was an active member of the Cockeysville Chamber of Commerce. She raised money for Hannah More School and helped her husband with his beef cattle business.

An avid gardener, she served several terms as president of Worthington Valley Garden Club.

She was a member of Sherwood Episcopal Church, helping to raise money to build the rectory and furnish it.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the church, Sherwood and York roads, Cockeysville.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Frances Rollman of Sewickley, Pa., and Eleanor M. Hardy of York, Pa.; a son, John Merryman of Parkton; a sister, Frances W. Sleight of York; and five grandchildren.

Eddie M. Holmes, 87, retired auto repairman

Eddie M. Holmes, a retired auto repairman, died of Alzheimer's disease Thursday at Genesis-Loch Raven Center, where he had lived since 1994. He was 87.

He had previously lived in the Hamilton, Towson and Parkville areas.

He worked for many years as a body and fender repairman at area dealerships, including Anderson Oldsmobile and Miller Motors Buick, and retired in 1976.

The native of Fauquier County, Va., attended public schools there, and worked building roads before he moved to the Baltimore area in the early 1940s.

Services were set for 11 a.m. today at Johnson Funeral Home, 8521 Loch Raven Blvd.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, the former Marian B. Miller; two sons, Robert Holmes of Sykesville and Richard Holmes of Ellicott City; a daughter, Charlotte Shock of Lineboro; a sister, Roberta Pearson of Smithfield, Va.; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Ruth Darby Ensminger, 72, information systems analyst

Ruth Darby Ensminger, who began working with huge computers as a teen-ager in a 37-year career with the old Western Electric Co., died of ovarian cancer Saturday at Gilchrist Center for Hospice Care at Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

She was 72 and a resident of Ridgely Condominiums in Towson.

Born in Tunas, Mo., the former Ruth Darby came to Baltimore at age 17 with friends seeking jobs during World War II. She found work at age 18 and later joined Western Electric on Broening Highway and remained as an information systems analyst until the company closed in 1985.

In 1947, she married Donald H. Ensminger, who died in 1950.

She made her home in Northeast Baltimore from 1952 to 1979 and was active in the Republican Women's Club, including serving as its president. Her supportshifted in later years, however, to the Democratic Party.

A memorial service for Mrs. Ensminger will be held at 1 p.m. Feb. 6 at Towson Presbyterian Church, 400 W. Chesapeake Ave.

She is survived by a daughter, Diane K. Ensminger of Baltimore; a sister, Blanche Kelley of Springfield, Mo.; and many nieces and nephews.

Pub Date: 1/25/99