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Obituary
Edition of Nov. 21, 2008

Robert J. May

Member of the Herndon Historical Society, American Legion

Robert James May, 87, of Herndon, died Nov. 12, 2008, at Heritage Hall Nursing Home. He was the son of Milford Bray May and Ruth Lillian (Groner) May and was born in Bangor, Pa. Mr. May graduated from Bangor High School. In 1944, Mr. May joined the United States Air Force earning the rank of flight officer, operating P-40 and P-51 single engine aircraft. Mr. May received the Certificate for Meritorious Service during World War II. After his honorable discharge, Mr. May attended Lafayette College and graduated in 1950 with a degree in civil engineering. He was then employed by J. E. Griner Consulting Engineers, where he participated in the building of the Delaware Water Gap and Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. In 1960, Mr. May was employed by the Defense Intelligence Agency as an intelligence research specialist and he retired in 1984.

Mr. May was a member and chaplain of the American Legion, 40/8 Honorary Chapter of the American Legion, a member of NARFE and the Herndon Historical Society and an active member and teacher at the Sterling United Methodist Church.

Mr. May was married on June 11, 1949, to Gladys L. May, who is now deceased. He had two brothers, Ernest May and Roy May, both deceased. Mr. May is survived by his sister-in-law, Helen Osika; three children, David May, Paul May and Nancy Niswander and her husband, C. Griffin Niswander; eight grandchildren, Melanie Salins and her husband Michael Salins; Bethany May and her husband Shawn Shirks; Carly May, Sally May, Stuart May, Robin May, Meredith Niswander and Shane Niswander; and two great grandchildren, Skylee May and Kayden Shirks.

Services were held at Adams-Green Funeral Home on Monday with burial immediately following at Chestnut Grove Cemetery in Herndon.

Peggy Jo Carey

Lived in Reston

Peggy Jo Carey, 57, died Nov. 14, 2008, at her home in Reston. She was born Aug. 31, 1951, in Toledo, Ohio. Mrs. Carey was the wife of 28 years of Will Carey, mother of Laura Carey, Thomas Carey and Jane Carey, all of Reston, daughter of Kenneth and Mary Jo Walczak of Toledo, Ohio, and sister of Mark Walczak and Jim Walczak. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at Adams-Green Funeral Home, 721 Elden St. in Herndon, where funeral services will be held at 3 p.m.

Sonia M. Rosa-Velez

Spanish Teacher at Chantilly High, Kilmer Middle Schools

Sonia M. "Chikee" Rosa-Velez of Herndon died Nov. 13, 2008, at Capital Hospice in Arlington. Mrs. Rosa-Velez worked as a Spanish teacher in the Fairfax County Public Schools at Kilmer Middle School and Chantilly High School for the past seven years. She was also a member of Cornerstone S.D.A. Church in Herndon.

Mrs. Rosa-Velez was the wife of 23 years of Eliud Bonilla, mother of Alex Bonilla, daughter of Pascual Rosa and Josefa Velez of Puerto Rico, and sister of Gloria Rosa, Carmen Negron, Zaida Rosa and Mariam Rosa-Soto. Funeral services and interment will be held in Puerto Rico and a memorial service in Northern Virginia will be held at a later date.