W. Jerome Offutt
August 27, 1917 — June 23, 2018
W. Jerome Offutt, formerly of Adamstown, MD, died June 23, 2018 at Summit Place, Little River, SC at the age of 100
Born on August 27, 1917 in Dickerson, Montgomery County, MD, he was the son of the late John B. and Marie Jones Offutt.
Mr. Offutt graduated from Poolesville High School in Poolesville, MD in 1934. He was awarded his Bachelor of Laws Degree from Columbus University in Washington, DC, at the age of 19, when he entered the Law Office of the Late David C. Winebrenner, III of the law firm of Winebrenner and Sinn. In 1939, he was admitted to the Bar and has actively maintained a law practice in Frederick. He was elected to the General Assembly of Maryland in 1943 and served on the Judiciary and other major Committees while in the House of Delegates. He was awarded his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1964 at Columbus Law School of Catholic University of America.
He served as City Attorney of Frederick during the term of Mayor Donald B. Rice from 1951 through 1956 and thereafter on the Frederick City Planning Commission for about 5 years. He was attorney to the Board of Elections Supervisors of Frederick County from 1947 to 1971.
He was President of the Frederick County Bar Association from 1956-1957; Vice-President of the Maryland State Bar Association from 1956-1960; State Chairman Young Lawyers Conference, American Bar Association, 1946; Chairman, Estates and Trust Council, Maryland State Bar Association, Maryland State Bar Association, 1971. He was a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a past director, St. Thomas More Legal Society of Maryland.
He was a member of the Rotary Club of Frederick and had been a Rotarian since 1974 and served as President. His name has been added to the list of Rotary Club Fellows of the Rotary Club of Frederick
He was past president of the Chamber of Commerce of Frederick County and past member of the Agri-Business Committee. He was a Founding director in Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley; Maryland Society for Crippled Children and Adults; Easter Seal Treatment Center; Director, Jeanne Bussard Workshop, served on National Development Council, Mount St. Mary's College.
His fraternal participation included Bishop McNamara Council and Bishop McNamara Assembly, Fourth Degree, Knights of Columbus (Offices held: Grand Knight, Past Grand Knight and Past District Deputy); Frederick Lodge B.P.O.E, Fraternal order of Eagles; Frederick County Fish and Game Protective Association, Catoctin Fish and Game Protective Association; Tuscarora Gun Club; The Brotherhood of the Jungle Cock, Inc.(trout fishing). He had been a lifetime member of the Great Frederick Fair since the 1960s where he served as judge in the Harness Racing program was Counsel to the Board of Managers.
He received the John McElroy Award in 2016, given annually by the Friends of Catholic Education to recognize individuals whose actions or achievements have advanced Catholic school education throughout Frederick, Maryland and Frederick County. He also received the 2015 Good Samaritan award from Frederick Memorial Hospital. In March 2005 the Bar Association of Frederick County created and presented the first W. Jerome Offutt annual award to him in recognition to the advancement of professionalism and civility in the practice of law in Frederick County. He was a founder of The Frederick County Community Foundation. He was a former senior partner of the Frederick law firm of Offutt, Horman, Burdette, and May and Vice chairman of the Family Heritage Trust Company of Frederick. He was also a past Chapter President and member of the Sons of American Revolution, Frederick Farm Bureau, United Fire Company, and Jefferson Grange. He was the recipient of many civic and professional awards.
He was previously a member of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Frederick and a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in North Myrtle Beach, SC.
Survivors include his children, Paul J. Offutt and his wife, Kathy, of Clermont, FL, Thomas F. Offutt and his wife, Carol, of Roswell, GA, Grace O. Williams and her husband, Frank, of North Myrtle Beach, SC, William J. Offutt, Jr. of Frederick, MD, 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson. He was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Hilda Marie Offutt, his daughter, Teresa Louise Offutt and his former spouse, Laura W. Offutt.
The family will receive friends on Friday, August 3, 2018 from 2:00 pm to 4:00pm and from 6:00pm until 8:00pm at Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702.
Interment will be held privately in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick, MD.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to either The Children's Craniofacial Association @ www.ccakids.org
Expressions of sympathy may be offered to the family at StaufferFuneralHome.com.