Walter Elmer Raum, 74, of Leonardtown, passed away peacefully at his home amidst family on Thursday, October 2, 2008. Walter resided on his farm in Leonardtown and lived in St. Mary's County for most of his life.

Born in Washington, DC, he was the son of the late John Arthur and Leta Mae Atwell Raum and grew up in North West, DC. His parents met and worked for Bell Telephone in the city. Walter graduated from Calvin Coolidge High School in 1952 and met his wife of 53 years, the former Romayne Mae Orloski when they were attending the University of Maryland at College Park. He was a member of the Alpha Gamma RHO fraternity and graduated 1957 with a degree in Agronomy. Walter also earned his Masters in Environmental Health from John's Hopkins in 1975.

Walter loved farming the land and nature and worked on farms in and around the Washington/Baltimore area for a couple of years, before settling in St. Mary's County. He worked for George Clark at Leonardtown Dairy before buying farm land in Leonardtown and taking a job with the State of Maryland as a Health Inspector. On his family farm he raised tobacco, grains, vegetables and hay and tended livestock (including sheep, cattle and feeder pigs).

Walter retired from the State of Maryland after 26 years as the Director of Environmental Health and happily spent his last 20 years farming. Through that time, he and his wife took great effort to include his grand children in activities on the family farm and to nurture each grandchild's individuality and responsibility.

Walter is survived by his wife Romayne O. Raum, his son Wendell Raum (married to the former Joyce Karen Larrabee), and his daughter Cheryl Romayne Pinkerton (married to Kevin Pinkerton) who all reside in Leonardtown. His grandchildren include David Benjamin Raum, Leland Michael Raum, Hannah Elizabeth Pinkerton, Abraham Daniel Raum and Eli Harlan Pinkerton.

Walter's Life Celebration will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2008 from 5pm to 8pm in the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice House c/o Hospice of St. Mary's, Inc., P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.