Helen Tuerk, 90, teacher, volunteer
Helen Tuerk, a homemaker and former educator, died of cancer Tuesday at Roland Park Place retirement community. She was 90.
The former Catonsville resident taught at Pimlico Elementary School from 1928 until 1937.
She was a volunteer nurse's aide during World War II and later at Spring Grove State Hospital, where she accumulated 5,000 volunteer hours. She also had been active with the Cub Scouts.
The former Helen Blumberg, who was born and reared in Forest Park, earned a bachelor's degree from Towson State Teachers College in 1928.
In 1930, she married Dr. Isadore Tuerk, former state health commissioner, who died in 1989.
Services were held yesterday.
She is survived by two sons, Richard Tuerk of Commerce, Texas, and Jonathan Tuerk of Washington; and four grandchildren.
Earl "Ken" Swanson, 71, CSX railroad executive
Earl "Ken" Swanson, retired CSX railroad executive and former Severna Park resident, died Sunday after a short illness at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He was 71 and lived in Bradenton, Fla.
He joined the marketing department of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway in Chicago in the early 1950s and retired as marketing director of CSX in Baltimore in the 1980s.
The Chicago native earned a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University and served in the Army Air Forces during World War II.
He was a former member of Chartwell Country Club in Severna Park and belonged to Tara Golf and Country Club in Bradenton.
Services were set for today in Bradenton.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, the former Sally Willard; two daughters, Jennifer Murnana of Atlanta and Jamie Martin of Tampa, Fla.; and 10 grandchildren.
Joan R. Fillmore, 61, import manager
Joan R. Fillmore, who worked for several area import-export firms, died Sunday of cancer at her Kent Island home. She was 61.
At the time of her death, she was import manager for SDV-USA. Earlier, she was office manager for Lusk and traffic manager for R. G. Hobelmann.
She was a member of the Wom- en's Traffic Club, a transportation industry group.
The former Joan Ruth Wells lived for more than 55 years in the Hampden rowhouse where she was born and reared. She was a 1956 graduate of Eastern High School.
Proud of her Irish heritage, she loved to sing Irish songs and enjoyed celebrating St. Patrick's Day, her favorite holiday.
In 1973, she married Frank C. Fillmore, who died in 1988.
Services were private.
She is survived by a son, Bruce Ruth Jr. of Baltimore; a stepson, Frank C. Fillmore Jr. of Ellicott City; a stepdaughter, Colleen R. Robinson of Sequim, Wash.; 13 grandchildren; and special friend, David Fairbank of Kent Island.
Marie A. Gillespie McGraw, 84, owned grocery
Marie A. Gillespie McGraw, who had been co-owner of a grocery store in West Baltimore, died Sunday from complications of a stroke in Nitro, W.Va., where she moved last year. She was 83.
A native of Buffalo, W.Va., the former Marie A. Gillespie moved to Baltimore in the late 1930s and married Oscar Raymond McGraw in 1955. The couple operated McGraw's Groceries in West Baltimore for about 20 years.
Services are set for tomorrow in Hinton, W.Va.
Mr. McGraw died in 1985. Mrs. McGraw is survived by a daughter, Nancy Monn of Orbisonia, Pa.; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth Cunliffe Geyer, 68, jewelry designer
Elizabeth Cunliffe Geyer, a retired jewelry designer, died Sunday at her Phoenix home. She was 68.
A Baltimore native, the former Elizabeth Cunliffe graduated from Eastern High School in the late 1940s and attended the Maryland Institute College of Art. She joined Nelson Coleman and Sons, Baltimore jewelers, in the late 1940s and retired last year.
Mrs. Geyer was board chairman of Glen Arbor Inc., a Baltimore retirement home for Christian Scientists. She was a member of the First Church of Christ Scientists in North Baltimore, where she was a Sunday school teacher and treasurer.
She was an accomplished artist who worked in various media.
A memorial service is set for 3 p.m. today at the Mitchell-Wiedefeld Funeral Home, 6500 York Road, Towson.
She is survived by her husband, James Geyer, whom she married in 1968; a son, Thomas Geyer of Washington; and two sisters, Nancy Webster of Palos Verdes, Calif. and Carol Sheppard of Baltimore.
Pub Date: 3/19/99