John Earle "Hokey" Verdin, Jr., 74, died peacefully at his home April 9, 2009. He was born June 16, 1934 in Washington D.C.

While he resided in Silver Spring for his first years, his family moved to South Carolina for a few years of his childhood and later returned to Maryland. He still spent many of his early years in Greenville, South Carolina with his family and many summers with his grandfather, James Pierce Verdin. He graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in 1951, where he lettered in both basketball and baseball.

He married Evelyn Garrison in 1954, and they divorced in 1960.

He married Barbara Oberdorfer in 1963 and they lived and raised their family in Chesapeake Beach, MD. He also resided in Tennessee for a brief time. He was a member of International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftsman, BAC Local No. l, Washington, D.C. since 1954. He was also president of Verdin Construction Services, Inc. a local masonry company, retiring in 2007.

Mr. Verdin was a beloved husband, dedicated father and devoted son, an avid Redskins fan and a gardener. He loved the Chesapeake Bay, boating and fishing, and took many vacations to Ocean City and Myrtle Beach, SC.

He was preceded in death by his sister Nancy Mazzullo, and parents Catherine and John Earle Verdin, Sr. He is survived by his wife of nearly 46 years, Barbara, his brother James "Jimmy" Verdin , his son John Pierce Verdin of Alexandria, VA, son Michael Scott Verdin of Plum Point, MD, daughter Susan Lee Gallo and husband Michael Stephen Gallo of Lusby, MD, son Patrick James Verdin and wife Ronda Denise Verdin of St. Leonard, MD, daughter Lisa Ann Wieland and husband Paul Allen Wieland of Port Republic, MD, daughter Linda Kaye Burke and husband Kevin F. Burke of Port Republic, MD, son Clayton Douglas Verdin of Breezy Point Beach, MD and son David Anthony Verdin of Huntingtown, MD. He is also survived by his grandchildren Michael, Kelly, Amy, Rachel, Chloe, Ryan, Emma, Riley and Rowan and one great-granddaughter, Adriana.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.