Thomas Dewey Abshire, 59, city deputy sheriff

Thomas Dewey Abshire, a retired deputy sheriff in Baltimore, died Tuesday at Mercy Medical Center after suffering from pancreatic cancer for eight months. He was 59.

Mr. Abshire was born in West Virginia and raised in Baltimore. He was a resident of Severna Park.

He attended Loyola High School and Loyola College and served in the Army with the 82nd Airborne Division in the 1960s.

A deputy sheriff for more than 25 years, Mr. Abshire retired from the Baltimore sheriff's office in June 2000. He was a member of Fraternal Order of Police No. 3, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and American Legion Post 278.

Jennifer Sereboff of Severna Park, Mr. Abshire's stepdaughter, said he inspired her to join the city sheriff's office four years ago.

Mr. Abshire enjoyed traveling and fishing. He participated in the White Marlin Tournament in Ocean City several times, said his wife of six years, Lois A. Abshire.

Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Monday at Barranco & Sons Funeral Home on Ritchie Highway in Severna Park.

In addition to his wife and stepdaughter, Mr. Abshire is survived by two daughters, Andrea Wilson of Cockeysville and Mecca Smith of Westminster; a stepson, David Sereboff of Severna Park; his mother, Santos Marie Cromwell of Baltimore; two sisters, Joan Leyrer and Monica Napier both of Baltimore; and a brother, John Cromwell of Baltimore.