Sharpless Mercer Paxson III, 87, of Tullamore Court in Timonium, Maryland, died on Nov. 26 at Gilchrist Hospice Care of a pulmonary illness. He had a long career in the Marketing Department of Exxon Company, USA in Washington and Baltimore. He was a staff manager for its Eastern Region headquarters at Hunt Valley, Maryland; covering the Mid-Atlantic States, directing product quality and loss control, truck fleet and industrial and environmental safety. After retiring from Exxon in 1983, he was a consultant, composing training programs for Exxon international and others. A native of West Chester, PA., and a graduate of West Chester High School (1941) and Gettysburg College, he also served with the 35th Infantry Division in Europe during World War II. He resided for many years in Towson and Timonium, and was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Towson and on the Vestry there. He was recently a member of St. Stephens Church in Mays Chapel. He was a member and past president of the Baltimore Cosmopolitan Club. In addition to his wife, Edithanne Heed Paxson, he is survived by two sons, David Sharpless of Myrtle Beach, S.C. and William Clay of Brooks, MD.; two daughters, Beth Anne Trippe of Timonium, MD., and Carol Summers of Newnan, GA.; two stepsons, Francis C. Dudley Jr. of Colleyville, TX., and Philip H. Dudley of Cumming, GA.; a stepdaughter, Julie Dudley Halteman of Telford, PA., and l0 grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at the family owned Ruck Towson Funeral Home, Inc. 1050 York Road (Beltway Exit 26 A) Wednesday, December 1, from 2-4 and 6-8pm. A memorial service will be held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 11856 Mays Chapel Road, Timonium, MD. 21093, Thursday, December 2, at 11 am. Internment will be held Friday, December 3, at Greenmount Cemetery, 117 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA., at 2pm. The family suggests contributions in his name to St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Timonium, MD.