Kent County, Delaware Obituary Collection (Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in Kent County, Delaware.
Many obituaries from Camden, Dover, Smyrna, and surrounding area.
GEORGETOWN - Sara Ellen Breasure of Georgetown died of a heart attack Thursday, March 26, 1998, in her home. She was 62.
Ms. Breasure was born in 1935 in Georgetown, the daughter of John Ward Breasure and Effle Mae Breasure, both of Georgetown.
She graduated from Georgetown High School in 1953, and from Milford Memorial Hospital School for Nursing in 1956 as a registered nurse, then earned a bachelor of science degree from Wilmington College.
Ms. Breasure began her nursing career at Milford Memorial Hospital as an operating room nurse. She later worked for Dr. Oliver A. James as a private surgical and office nurse. She also worked as a health assistant teacher at Sussex Vo-Tech School in Georgetown. Since 1984, she had worked as a nurse at the Stockley Center in Georgetown.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by three sisters, Margaret 'Peggy' Breasure and Joan Breasure, both of Georgetown , and Joyce Breasure of Wyoming; one brother-in-law, Dan Herrick of Wyoming; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Burial was in Union Cemetery, Georgetown.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Stockley Center Fund, R.D. 1, Box 1000, Georgetown, DE 19947.
Sarah C. Bryan, 65
GEORGETOWN - Sarah C. Bryan of Georgetown died Wednesday, April 1, 1998. She was 65.
Mrs. Bryan worked as a lab technician for Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, and retired in 1987 after 20 years of service.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Thomas Bryan several years ago.
She is survived by three sons, Dallas Bryan of Kittanning, Pa., Wayne Bryan of Millsboro, and William T. Bryan of Georgetown; one daughter, Deanna Lynch of Georgetown; two sisters, Betty Walker and Pauline Hughes, both of Georgetown; three brothers, James Scott of Milton, Daniel Scott of Georgetown and the Rev. Donald Scott of Cockeysville, Md.; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium-Dodd-Carey Chapel, 307 N. Bedford St., Georgetown, where friends may call from 6-7 p.m. Friday.
Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Georgetown.
Charlotte Mae Whiting Woodyard
DOVER - Charlotte Mae Whiting Woodyard, formerly of Westminster, Md., and a resident of Westminister Village Health Center died Friday March 27, 1998, in Kent General Hospital.
Mrs. Woodyard was born in Hagerstown, Md., the daughter of the late Harley and Maude Whiting.
She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Eleanor and George R. Kent of Dover; son, John R. Woodyard of Pennsylvania, daughter, Irene W. Brown of Westminster; daughter, Eugenia W. Gilbert of Roosevelt, N.Y.; daughter and son-in-law, Angalean and Isaac Costley III of Westminster; a daughter and son-in-law, Kuline and Robert Miller of Millsboro; a sister, Irene W. Lee of Frederick, Md.; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John L. Woodyard in 1969; five brothers, Gilmore, Calvin, Charles, Elmer, and Raymond Whiting and sisters, Mary Whiting and Anna Mae Smallwood Ferguson.
Service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Union Street United Methodist Church, 22 Union St., Westminster.
The family will receive friends from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at Whatcoat United Methodist Church, 341 Saulsbury Road, Dover.
Friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Friday at Union Street United Methodist Church in Westminster.
Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Frederick, Md.
Arrangements by Miller Funeral Service, Dover.
Bessie Ann Fitchett Porter, 63
GEORGETOWN - Bessie Ann Fitchett Porter of Georgetown died Monday March 30, 1998, in Milford Memorial Hospital. She was 63.
Elder Porter was born in 1934, the daughter of the late Elder Fred and Bessie Brittingham Fitchett in Berlin, Md.
She was educated in the public school system of Laurel.
Elder Porter worked faithfully in the church along with her parents, after accepting Christ into her life. Elder Porter was called into the ministry in the 40s. She would always preach at the Missionary Union along with the other missionaries. She was appointed pastor of the Mt. Zion Holy Church in Laurel in 1965-1966. She pastored Bethel in Ocean City, Md., from 1972-1981; Rose of Sharon in Fruitland, Md., from 1972-1982. Elder Porter along with her family joined the Mt. Olive Pentecostal Church in Smyrna under the pastorate of the late Elder (Bishop) J.L. Jones in 1983, where she remained a lifetime member.
Elder Porter fellowshipped with a number of churches. She loved to fellowship and she preached for many churches.
One of her well-known sermons was 'LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED', St. John 14:1, another one of her sermons was 'YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN'. We should never forget the sermon 'WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS SOUL'.
Elder Porter loved to sing during the devotional service. She would sing 'Afterwhile the War Will be Over, ' 'Let Jesus Fix It for You, ' and 'Look What the Lord has Done'. One of her favorite songs was 'My Soul Loves Jesus'. We certainly cannot forget two other songs, 'You Don't Know Like I Know What He's Done For Me and What do You Think About Jesus'.
Elder Porter was a loving mother, grandmother and sister.
She is survived by one son, James Fred Porter of Dover; three daughters, Bessie Eleanor Porter, Olivia Porter Bivens, Betty J. Porter, all of Seaford; one sister, Marie D. McNeil of Coolspring; three brothers, Oliver Fitchett of Kinston, N.C. and Harry Fitchett of Philadelphia; six grandchildren; one son-in-law, Francis Bivens of Seaford; one daughter-in-law, Heather Porter of Dover and a host of nieces, nephews, one goddaughter, Audrey Jones of Salisbury, Md., cousins and friends.
Service will be at noon Saturday at United Deliverance Bible Center, 532 7th St., Laurel, where friends may call three hours prior to the service.
Burial will be in Macedonia Cemetery, Seaford.
Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.
Howard Clifton Stevenson, 74
DOVER - Howard Clifton Stevenson of Dover died Saturday March 28, 1998, in the Silver Lake Nursing Home in Dover. He was 74.
Mr. Stevenson was born in 1923 in Dover, the son of the late William and Susie Stevenson.
He received his education in this community at Booker T. Washington Elementary and at Delaware State College, now Delaware State University, and Eckel's College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia.
Mr. Stevenson entered the U.S. Army early in life and served his country well.
He was the owner of the Stevenson Funeral Chapel of this city and also Smyrna for 53 years.
Mr. Stevenson was past president of the Delaware Professional Licensing Board of Funeral Directors; a member of Lambda Zeta Mu Honorary Scholastic Fraternity of Eckel's College; member of Alpha chapter of Pi Sigma Eta Fraternity of Morticians and past president of Kent County Alumni Club of Delaware State College and treasurer of Delaware State College General Alumni Association; a 32nd degree Mason; he was a past patron of Electa Chapter 6, Order of Eastern Star and served as a member of Pride of Dover Lodge 1125 I.B.P.O. Elks of the World; served as chairman of the Administrative Board and Secretary of Board of Trustees of Whatcoat United Methodist Church of the Dover district; as a citizen of Dover, he was a former member of the Board of Directors of Kent General Hospital; and was chairman of the Dover Housing Authority.
He is survived by his brother, William W. Stevenson; a sister, Marion S. Winder; one aunt, Helen Tilghman of Dover; one sister-in-law, Courtney W. Stevenson; one brother-in-law, George Sorden; four nieces, Georgette S. Stafford of Columbia, Md., Octavia Grippon, Amelia Dudley, Geraldine Durant and Elizabell Massey, all from Dover; six nephews, Thomas D. Stafford of Columbia, Charles A. Massey, William Massey and Harold Massey of Dover, Dennis Ryder of Fla., and Jamie Durant of Dover; a friend, Minnie Whatley of Akron, Ohio; care-giver, Marion L. Harris, and a host of relatives and friends.
Service will be at noon Saturday at Whatcoat United Methodist Church where friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Friday and from 10-noon Saturday.
Burial will be in Sunset Garden Cemetery, State College Road.
Arrangements by Minus Funeral Home, Dover.
L. Paul Tyndall, 72
GEORGETOWN - L. Paul Tyndall of Georgetown died Monday March 30, 1998, in the Beebe Medical Center. He ws 72.
Mr. Tyndall worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 45 years as a rural mail carrier, and retired in 1994.
He was a member of Independent Order of Odd Fellows; NARFE; Improved Order or Redmen Nanticoke Tribe 21; State and National Republican Committee and Midland Grange.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Ann B. Tyndall of Georgetown; a brother, John Tyndall of Georgetown, and a sister, Ruth Donovan of Georgetown.
Service will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Parsell Funeral Home & Crematorium, Dodd-Carey Chapel, 307 N. Bedford Street, Georgetown, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Pastor Rodney DuFour will officiate.
Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Laurel.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the First Baptist Church of Georgetown, DE.
Elroy W. Arnold, 81
MILFORD - Elroy W. Arnold of Milford died Tuesday March 31, 1998, in Silver Lake Center in Dover. He was 81.
Mr. Arnold was a supervisor for Mil-Del Corp. in Milford for 30 years, retiring in 1988.
He was an Air Force Veteran of World War II, having reached the rank of Master Sergeant.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Joyce L.; a son, Rob Arnold of Chicopee, Mass.; two step-sons, Rexx Williamson of Milford and Scot Williamson of Bridgeville; two brothers, Milton Arnold of Winchester, Va. and Welton Arnold of Zephyrhills, Fla.; one sister, Lunette Wessner of Roanoke Rapids, N.C., and two grandsons.
The Arnold family invites our family and friends to attend the memorial services for our husband and father on Monday, April 6, 1998, at 1 p.m. at the Christ Episcopal Church, N. Church Street, Milford.
Burial will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park in Dover.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Milford Ministerium Scholarship Fund, 613 Lakeview Avenue, Milford, DE 19963.
Sandra Gruwell Keller, 53
DOVER - Sandra Gruwell Keller of Dover died of complications due to sudden renal failure, Monday March 30, 1998, in Johns-Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md. She was 53.
Mrs. Keller was born in 1944, in Dover, the daughter of Hudson E. and Jean Gruwell of Dover.
She grew up in Dover and graduated from Dover High School in 1962. She graduated from Straford College in 1965 with an Associate of Arts degree. She then attended and graduated from the University of Alabama, which was most important to her, in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science in English and History. From 1975-1977, she attended and graduated from the University of Delaware with a Masters in Education Administration.
Mrs. Keller worked in the Kent County Vo-Tech School District as the Adult Learning Lab Coordinator and retired in 1989. Additional post graduate work was done at Temple University.
She was a member of the Christ Episcopal Church in Dover and the Friends of Old Dover. She also participated in the Read-A-Loud Program and had volunteered at the Delaware Agriculture Museum and the Kent Renal Dialysis Center in Dover.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband, George Keller; a son, Hudson M. Keller of Georgetown; a daughter, Lea D. Hamaker of Richmond, Va.; a brother and his wife, Robert H. and Randa Gruwell of Palm Harbor, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Susan L. Keller of Smethport, Pa.; a grandson, David H. Hamaker of Richmond, Va.; a nephew, Scan Gruwell of Palm Harbor, Fla., and a niece, Shanna Molina of Palm Harbor.
Service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Christ Episcopal Church, State & Water Streets, Dover.
Burial will be privately held in the Christ Churchyard, Dover.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Delaware Kidney Fund, 315 Ruthar Drive, Newark, DE 19711.
Arrangements by Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover.
Patricia J. Hess, 46
LINCOLN - Patricia J. Hess of Lincoln died of heart failure Saturday March 7, 1998, in her home. She was 46.
Mrs. Hess was an occupational therapist assistant for Genesis Health Ventures at the Milford Center, formerly at Silver Lake Nursing Home.
She was a member of Eagles Nest Fellowship Church, Milton. She was also a former member of DuBois First Baptist Church, DuBois, Pa.
She is survived by her husband of 28 years, Barry W. Hess; a daughter, Andrea Sue Hess at home; three sons, Craig A. Hess at home, Douglas J. Hess of Reynoldsville, Pa., and David S. Hess of Hampton Ill.; three sisters, Carol L. McMillian of Felton, Rhonda J. Hipps of Mifflinville, Pa., and Deanne Carns of Oxford, Pa.; mother and step-father, Dolores and Raymond Spaid of Grampian, Pa.; a grandmother, Clara Pentz of Grampian.
Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Chapel of Eagles Nest Fellowship Church, Milton.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Eagles Nest Building Fund, R.D. 1, Box 169, Milton, DE 19968.
Arrangements by Short Funeral Services, Milton, Del.
Priscilla Lorraine Taylor Snell, 48
CLEVELAND, OHIO - Priscilla Lorraine Taylor Snell of Cleveland, Ohio, formerly of Millsboro, died of a heart attack Monday March 30, 1998, in the Cleveland Clinic. She was 48.
Ms. Snell was born in Millsboro.
She was a supervisor at the Church Square Day Care Center in Cleveland.
Ms. Snell was a member of the New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as the church treasurer and a member of the New Prospect Choir in Cleveland.
She is survived by two daughters, Alison Taylor and Telisa Snell, both of Cleveland; mother and father, D. Lynwood and Sara Taylor, both of Millsboro; three brothers, Dwight and Bruce Taylor, both of Millsboro, and Robert Taylor of Pa.; nine sisters, Jennie Santiago, Catherine, Pamela, Wanda, Bertha, Sebrena Taylor, and Gail Simms, all of Millsboro, Shirley Conaway of Houston and Linda Perry of Chesapeake, Va.; three grandchildren, Alicia, Rahel, and Richard Fleming, all of Cleveland, and several nephews and nieces.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the Dickerson Chapel A.M.E. Church, U.S. Rt. 113, South of Millsboro, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Friends may also call from 7-8 p.m. Sunday at the Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington Street, Millsboro.
