Robert Alan Dare

Robert Alan Dare of Darlington died on January 27, 2005 at home of colorectal cancer. He was 49 years old. Born in Havre de Grace, he was the son of Dorothy Margaret Dare of Aberdeen and the late Frank Clinton Dare. He was the husband of Kira Hodous. Mr. Dare was an accountant for the ARC Northern Chesapeake Region for the past five years. Previously he had worked as an accountant for the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster and was the Business Administrator for the John Carroll School for fourteen years. While at John Carroll, he also taught accounting and business classes and coached Junior Varsity Wrestling. He taught business courses at Harford Community College in the early 1980's. In addition, he had an extensive private accounting business that he managed from his home. He graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1973. While there, he wrestled all four years and sang with the A Cappella Choir, the All-State Chorus, and the All Eastern Chorus. He then attended Harford Community College and graduated from the College of William and Mary Business School in 1977. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity and sang regionally as a member of their nationally known choir. He was privileged to have had the opportunity to perform on two separate occasions for President Gerald Ford. He loved Williamsburg and all of the history associated with the historic town and chose to attend the College of William and Mary to have the experience of living there. , He was a talented musician and vocalist. He taught himself guitar in junior high school and went on to play keyboards in several bands through high school and college. He played guitar and sang at many local Harford County establishments throughout his life as well as for weddings, family events, and local Darlington celebrations. When the Darlington Independence Day Celebration was first established over twenty years ago as a Peace event, it was just a small group of community members with Rob playing guitar and singing in Silver Park. He began singing with the Grace Methodist Church Choir in Aberdeen when he was in second grade and continued through high school. He joined The Darlington United Methodist Church choir when he moved to Darlington. During the summers he rarely missed a Friday night at the Broad Creek Memorial Scout Camp Grounds where he performed for the Boy Scouts during the dinner hour-and around the campfires. But he enjoyed most of all playing and singing for friends and family on the front porch of his home in Darlington. His repertoire was extensive and included the music of the Doors, the Grateful Dead, CSNY, and the Indigo Girls; all whom he had seen in concert many times. He was an avid Boy Scout. He joined the Cub Scouts when he was eight years old and went on to earn his Eagle Scout in 1977. One of his greatest privileges was attending the Boy Scout World Jamboree in Japan in 1971. During his one month stay there, he and 28, 000 Boy Scouts from around the world toured the country, camped at the foot of Mt. Fuji, and endured the perils of Typhoon Olive. He recalled knowing that danger was on the way when the Japanese scouts began digging one foot trenches around their tents! He was active with several Boy Scout troops and Cub Scout packs in both Aberdeen and Darlington. He was inducted into the Order of the Arrow and earned his Vigil Award in October 2003'. He will most be remembered by the Boy Scouts as the Patch Trader. His knowledge of patches was extensive and his collection even greater! In addition to his mother and his wife, Mr. Dare is survived by their daughter, Scarlet Corinne Dare of Darlington, his son Robert Edward Dare, also of Darlington, and his daughter, Robin Elizabeth Johnson of Trappe, PA. Also his sisters, Karen Mitchell of Aberdeen and Margaret Scibek of Gold Vein, V A, brother Richard Dare, of Aberdeen, several cousins, nieces and nephews., A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2005 at 2 PM at Grace Methodist Church in Aberdeen. The Reverend Doctor Paul Grant, Deacon Sarah Standiford, and Reverend Donald Hutchens will be officiating. A Time of Fellowship will follow in the Social Hall. Boy Scouts are asked to wear their Class A uniforms if they wish. Honorary Pallbearers will be Richard Dare, Michael Shaw, Perry Mitchell, Jim Scibek, Frederick Hodous, Wells Hodous, Christopher Yeago, and Richard Daley Jr. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Robert Alan Dare to Harco Maryland Federal Credit Union, the American Cancer Society for Colorectal Research, or the Broad Creek Memorial Scout Camp in Whiteford, Maryland. Funeral Home: Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home 333 South Parke Street Aberdeen, MD US 21001