M. "Dean" Cruse
June 4, 1937 ~ February 11, 2021
M. Dean Cruse, 83 of Waldorf, MD, passed away on February 11, 2021 in LaPlata, MD.
Born June 4, 1937 in Mountainair, NM, he was the son of the late Rosa Cruse White and Wilson Paul Cruse.
Dean is survived by his loving wife M. Virginia Cruse, whom he married on April 26, 1958 in St. George Episcopal Church.
He was the devoted father of Wayne (Cathy) Cruse of King George, VA, Tammy (Eddie) Bassford of Hughesville, MD and Steve Cruse of Neptune City, NJ. Siblings: Paula Davison of Fort Pierce, FL and Easter King of Stonewall, OK. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Melvin Cruse. Also survived by 5 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
Dean served in the U.S. Navy and was a Route Salesman for Pepperidge Farm and Utz.
The family will receive friends Monday, February 22, 2021 from 9:00AM to 10:00AM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD, where a Funeral Service will be held at 10:00AM with Father Greg Syler officiating.
Interment will be private.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.mgfh.com. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A. & Crematory Leonardtown, MD.





We were incredibly blessed to have our Grandad Cruse in our lives. We will always remember his passion for photography, garden full of tomatoes, and how he loved to share family history. He will be greatly missed, and our prayers are with our family as we celebrate his life.
Met Dean in 1969. He drove me through the then dirt streets of St. Charles. He was a good friend. I will remember those events in life which brought us together.