Richard Lester Tubman, 84, of Annapolis and a retired builder, died July 20 at Anne Arundel Medical Center after a lengthy illness.

Born in Baltimore, Mr. Tubman graduated in 1936 from Catonsville High School. In 1943 he enlisted in the Army and served in the Counter Intelligence Corps until 1946 when he was discharged as a sergeant.

He then studied engineering at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He started his own contracting company, Richard Tubman Inc., in 1948 and began building homes throughout Anne Arundel County. From 1979 to 1989 he was a building inspector for the state.

He was a member of the Severna Park Rotary Club and the Glen Burnie Masonic Lodge.

He lived in Round Bay in Severna Park from 1943 to 1969 before moving to Annapolis. His hobbies were fishing and woodworking.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Doris Ayres Tubman; two sons, Richard A. Tubman of St. Michaels and Thomas S. Tubman of Milford, Va.; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Barranco and Sons Severna Park Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway. Burial is private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, MD 21093-5142.

As Published in The Capital Newspaper, Annapolis, MD on July 23, 2004