Rev. Mr. Charles "Deacon Robert" Fortney, Sr., 77, of Morganza, MD formerly of Grafton, WV died December 16, 2008 in Washington, DC. Born March 26, 1931 in Grafton, WV he was the son of the late Marion A. Fortney and Myrtle L. Phillips Mann.

He was the loving husband of Elinore M. Fortney whom he married on February 10, 1950 in MD.

He is survived by his children: Charles R. Fortney, Jr. of Lake City, FL, Daniel R. Fortney, Sr. of Centreville, VA, David R. Fortney of Warrenton, VA and Terri Beinert of Waldorf, MD; sister; Nancy Duperre of Waldorf, MD; 7 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his sisters: Betty Jenkins and Georgia White. Deacon Robert moved to St. Mary's County in 1970 from Clinton, MD. He graduated from Greenbelt High School "Class of 1948". He worked as a medical purchasing agent for Physicians Memorial Hospital for 10 years until his retirement in 1993.

He also served in the U.S. Army for 20 years from 1948 – 1971 where his duty stations include Germany, Panama, Colorado and Texas as well as serving in the Korean War and Vietnam War.

He enjoyed spending time with his family and fishing. He was a Deacon and a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Morganza, MD and a member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 19, 2008 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 10:00 AM in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Morganza, MD with the Most Rev. Martin D. Holly Auxiliary Bishop of Washington as the celebrant and Fr. Keith Woods Pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Morganza, MD as the con-celebrant. Interment will follow in Queen of Peace Cemetery, Helen, MD.

Pallbearers will be: Charles Fortney, Jr., Daniel Fortney, Sr., David Fortney, Daniel Fortney, Jr., Rob Beinert and Adam Trader. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Thomas Haley and Bill LaChance, Jr.

Contributions may be made to: St. Vincent DePaul Society, National Council of the United States Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, 58 Progress Parkway, St. Louis, Missouri 63043-3706 and/or St. Joseph's Catholic Church, P.O. Box 175, Morganza, MD 20660.

Arrangements provided by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home.