Percy George Sussex

June 27, 1931 - September 23, 2020

Percy was an only child, born in Philadelphia in 1931. He was nicknamed, Sonny! He was a tall, thin guy who loved playing basketball and was on the High School basketball team. With a passion for printing he graduated from Dobbins Vocational Tech School. With his family spending summers in Atlantic City, Sonny developed a love of sailing. He would enter sailboat races and even earned a championship for sailing. He even built his own Moth Sailboat in his basement only to find out it was too big to get out of the basement! In 1951, Sonny joined the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the battleship, U.S.S. Wisconsin. He was a Quarter Master and was responsible for the ship’s communications by sending/receiving signals by morse code. Sonny was very honored to be a sailor and serve his country. He wore his U.S.S. Wisconsin hat on a daily basis. He was blessed to serve with men that truly became best friends beyond his navy tenure. In 1956, he married Betsy Turner and had two children, Karen and David. After working for the Philadelphia Inquirer for several years, he came to MD to work for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) and made a career out of printing U.S. currency and U.S. stamps. Sonny was passionate about printing and became an important contributor to the operations of the BEP by changing the stamp printing process by utilizing water-based inks. To continue his learning about printing, he attended the PA State University for printing classes. Over the years, Sonny volunteered his time and became President of the Crofton Home Owners Association where he served for 27 years. He was involved for so long, that there is a baseball field in Crofton Meadows named after him to recognize his many years of community service-Percy Sussex Field. He also was Vice President of the Heritage Harbor Home Owners Association for several years. Sonny and his wife became active in a camping club and traveled to many interesting places enjoying family and friends along the way. He also enjoyed bowling with the Heritage Harbor Bowling Team. Sonny enjoyed socializing and helping others. Sonny studied and became a 33rd degreed Free Mason and a Shriner at the LuLu Temple in Pennsylvania. Sonny was preceded in death by his father, Percy, and his mother, Mary, and his son, David. He is survived by his wife Betsy, his daughter Karen Bailey, daughter-in-law Marie, grandson Shawn, grandson Tyler, grandson Chase, and granddaughter Lauren.