Vernon Mathew Gambill

Vernon Mathew Gambill, 80, of Frederick, passed away Tuesday, April 6, 2010, at his home. He was the loving husband of Donna Mae (Burke) Gambill for 57 years. Born in Rifle, Colo., on March 3, 1930, he was the son of the late Willis Benjamin and Ellen Robin (Hayes) Harding. At the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a hospital corpsman 2nd class in Japan during the Korean War. While later assigned to the U.S. Naval Station in the Panama Canal Zone, Vernon contracted poliomyelitis and was medically discharged in 1957. During his civil service career, which followed, he began as a medical technician at Fort Detrick and retired as an administrative assistant for the Naval Medical Research Center Tissue Bank, Bethesda. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other memberships included Frederick American Legion Post 11. In addition to his wife, Donna, he is survived by his children, Kenneth L. Gambill and wife, Joyce, of Vancouver, Wash., and Cynthia L. Watson and partner, Bobby Eury, of Thurmont; a sister, Yvonne Wright of Idaho Falls, Idaho; along with three nieces and a nephew. He was the grandfather of nine, Heather B. Wilson of Saratoga Springs, Utah, K. Matthew Gambill of Kuna, Idaho, Jacob L. Gambill of Medford, Ore., Kevin M. Heerd of Frederick, Keith E. Heerd of Gettysburg, Pa., Kimberly I. Saxby of Canandaigua, N.Y., David W. Gambill of Tucson, Ariz., Nathan A. Gambill of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Jessica M. Salter of Orem, Utah. He is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren; and his best friend of 62 years, Arthur Besemer of the Philippines. There will be a private family memorial service.