Joseph William Showalter, age 96, and one of the first permanent residents of Scientists' Cliffs, died on March 6, 2011. Mr. Showalter was born on March 2, 1915 at Dale Enterprise, VA near Harrisonburg where he spent his early years. He was the youngest of seven children and his parents were Reuben Swope Showalter and Verdie Miller Showalter. He graduated from King College in Bristol, TN and received a Master's degree in plant pathology from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service and came to Scientists' Cliffs in 1946 at the request of Flippo Gravatt, one of the founders of Scientists' Cliffs, to manage Mr. Gravatt's agricultural interests. Mr. Showalter also became a building contractor in the area and built thirty-nine homes at Scientists' Cliffs. He was the founder and owner of Bending Bough Nursery.

Mr. Showalter was well known in the county for his volunteer work with many civic, cultural, educational, and religious organizations. In the early years he held the presidency of the Prince Frederick Elementary School PTA and the County Council of PTA and later became president of the Maryland Congress of Parents and Teachers and a regional vice-president of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers. He served on the Calvert County Board of Education. He was regional vice-president of the Maryland Heart Association, Southern Maryland Chapter. He was a member of the Calvert Memorial Hospital Board for twenty-five years and served as its chairman for five years. He also served as chairman of the Calvert Nursing Home Board. Mr. Showalter was a member of the Calvert County Historical Society and member and president of the Calvert County Historic District Commission. He served on the Calvert County Commission on Aging, the Calvert Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the One Room Schoolhouse Board, and was a volunteer with Project Echo and the Calvert Marine Museum. He had a great interest in classical music and enjoyed participating in the Men's Music Group at Scientists' Cliffs. In early years he was a member of Cook's Creek Church of the Brethren in Dayton, VA and later became a member of Trinity United Methodist Church and served as a Sunday School teacher and as a member of the Administrative Board. Mr. Showalter was a part of a committee that was instrumental in securing Linden as the headquarters of the Calvert County Historical Society and he supervised the restoration of two historic barns in the county.

Mr. Showalter enjoyed traveling and with his wife, Ruth, he visited ninety countries and all seven continents. They participated in mission trips to Russia and the Aleutian Islands. He was very knowledgeable of family history and maintained contact with his relatives in the Shenandoah Valley.

He was predeceased by his wife of sixty seven years, Ruth Howell Showalter, and one great grandchild. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, David and Sally Showalter, and daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Danny Price of Kilmarnock, VA, seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Calvert Hospice, PO Box 838, Port Republic, MD 20676.

The family received friends on Thursday March 10, 2011 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church, Prince Frederick, MD. Funeral services were held on Friday 2 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church. Interment was held on Saturday March 12, 2011, 2 PM in Weavers Mennonite Church Cemetery, Harrisonburg, VA.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.