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.
SEAFORD - Elsie Beatrice Messick Short of Seaford died of heart failure Wednesday April 8, 1998, in Life Care at Lofland Park. She was 88.
Mrs. Short was born in Seaford, the daughter of the late Charles and Agatha Culver Messick.
She was a housewife.
Mrs. Short was a member of the Christian Church of Seaford.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Emory Tyndall Short in 1978.
She is survived by two sons, Charles E. Short of Seaford and Clarence 'Pete' Short of Frederica; two daughters, Joan Whaley of Laurel and Doris Collins of Seaford; 15 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Christian Church of Seaford, Duel Hwy. 13, Seaford, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Mathew Sheep will officiate.
Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Seaford.
Robert Cane, 82
FELTON - Robert Cane of Felton died of heart failure Wednesday April 8, 1998, in his home. He was 82.
Mr. Cane was a truck driver for 15 years for Rothwell's in Smyrna. He was retired.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during World War II.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Cane in 1965.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Delema Kenton Cane; one daughter, Beverly Blunt of Felton; four sons, Lester Cane and Billy Cane, both of Felton, Allen Cane of Woodside, and Jimmy Cane of Harrington; 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, Main Street, Felton, where friends may call two hours prior to the service.
Burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Sandtown.
Bonnie Elizabeth Gregory, 43
SEAFORD - Minister Bonnie Elizabeth Gregory of Seaford, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1998, in Christiana Hospital, Newark. She was 43.
Minister Gregory was a faithful employee of the Delaware Court of Chancery in Georgetown, where she served as chief deputy.
As a devoted member of the United Deliverance Bible Center, Minister Gregory served in numerous capacities.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Rosena E. Matthews; and an elder brother, Larry Gaines.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Elder Winford Gregory Jr.; a daughter, Christel Matthews of Dover; a son, Michael Sample of Slaughter Neck; her adopted adoptive? father, Bradford White; three brothers, Donald Gaines of Newark, Warren Gaines Sr. of Phoenix, Ariz., and Gary Gaines of Seaford; an adopted brother, Brock Owens; three sisters, Jamasine Matthews of Seaford, Monica Perkins of Seaford and Mary Helen Jenkins of Baltimore; an adopted sister, Gwendolyn Collins of Seaford; four aunts; two great-aunts; two uncles; nine sisters-in-law; four brothers-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Service will be 2 p.m. Monday at the United Deliverance Bible Center, Laurel, with Bishop Catherine A. Camper, pastor, officiating.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Sunday for a memorial celebration.
Burial will be in Macedonia A.M.E. Church Cemetery.
Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.
A. Evelyn Garton, 83
DOVER - A. Evelyn Garton of Dover, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998 in IHS of Delaware. She was 83.
Mrs. Garton was born in Henderson, Md., March 26, 1915, the daughter of the late John E. and Helen M. Walls.
She had worked as a clerk working with Addressagraph machines for the Farmers Bank and its successors, Girard Bank and Mellon Bank, retiring about 1979. She had also worked for a short time as a line worker for Playtex.
Mrs. Garton was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church, Dover.
Seh was preceded in death by her husband, Alden Garton; and her first husband, Paul A. Chambers.
She is survived by a host of nieces and nephews.
Service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Torbert Funeral Chapel, 61 S. Bradford St., Dover, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Dover.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 92 Read's Way, Suite 205, New Castle, DE 19720; or to Wesley United Methodist Church, 209 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901.
John S. Griffin III, 72
NEWARK - John S. Griffin III of Newark, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1998, in his residence after a lengthy illness. He was 72.
Born and raised in Smyrna, Mr. Griffin was the son of the late John S. and Emma Pratt Griffin.
A World War II Army Veteran, Mr. Griffin was with the 28th Infantry Division and had served in the Battle of the Bulge.
He moved from the Smyrna area to Dover in 1957 and later moved to Newark. He worked in automobile sales for over 40 years and, at the time of his death, he was with Porter Chevrolet, where he had served for the past 12 years.
Mr. Griffin was a longtime member of the Citizens' Hose Co. Band, associated with Smyrna's volunteer fire company, where he had played trumpet. He is also remembered for playing trumpet with several area orchestras throughout the years.
He was a past member of the BPO Elks Lodge of Dover and was a member of the Newark Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. He was a member of Asbury Methodist Church, Smyrna.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Camilla LePore Griffin of Newark; a son, John L. Griffin of Newark; two daughters, Constance C. Holland of Dover and Cathy Cauffman of Wilmington; two sisters, Elva Tarburton of Dover and Betty Harrington of Smyrna; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Service will be 1 p.m. Monday at the Funeral Home of Michael J. Ambruso, 1175 S. State St., Dover, with the Rev. Wilbur Bubb of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.
Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna.
The family suggests donations in Mr. Griffin's memory be sent to the Fox Chase Cancer Center, 7701 Burhulme Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111.
Nellie Mildred Hairgrove, 86
NEW CASTLE - Nellie Mildred Hairgrove of New Castle, died Friday, Sept. 25, 1998, in Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Wilmington. She was 86.
Mrs. Hairgrove was born in Dover, the daughter of the late Roland and Elizabeth Willis Boyer. She married Thomas K. Hairgrove in 1942 and lived in Dover for many years, later moved to Delaware City and, in 1945, moved to New Castle.
She was a homemaker.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son, Robert Scuse, in 1995.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas K. Hairgrove of New Castle; three daughters, Peggy Knightly of Leavenworth, Kan., and Pat Newton and Betty Jamison, both of New Castle; a sister, Delsie Davis of New Castle; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Trader Funeral Home, 12 Lotus St., Dover, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Dover.
Jeanette S. Outten, 70
FRANKFORD - Jeanette S. Outten of Frankford, died in Millsboro Nursing Home Thursday, Sept. 24, 1998, of kidney failure. She was 70.
Mrs. Outten was born in Frankford, the daughter of the late Irey Long and Sarah West Long.
Mrs. Outten was retired after 25 years as an attendant at the Stockley Center, Georgetown.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward L. Outten, in 1987; and by a son, Dennis Outten, in 1983.
She is survived by two sons, Edward L. Outten Jr. of Frankford and Bryan E. Outten of Millsboro; three brothers, Elton Long of Schenectady, N.Y., and Clifton Long and Monroe Long, both of Millsboro; a sister, Virginia Cortright of Woodland, Texas; and two grandchildren, Shawn Outten and Hunter Outten, both of Frankford.
Service will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, Frankford, with the Rev. William H. Hudson officiating.
Friends may call at the chapel one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in the Dagsboro Redmen's Cemetery, Dagsboro.
James Edward Peterson Sr.
GREENWOOD - James Edward Peterson Sr. of Greenwood, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1998, in Milford Memorial Hospital of cancer.
Mr. Peterson was born in Rich Square, N.C., to the late Lou-Ella Peterson.
He was a laborer.
Mr. Peterson was a member of Mount Enon Baptist Church in Milford, where he was an usher and choir member. His favorite song was 'One Day at a Time.'
In addition to his mother, Mr. Peterson was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Peterson.
He is survived by two sons, James E. Peterson of Norfolk, Va., and Raymond Tingle of Georgetown; a foster son, James Thomas Peterson of Hampton, Va.; three daughters, Geraldine Peterson and Julia Peterson Tingle, both of Lincoln, and Regina Peterson of Portsmouth, Va.; a sister, Doris Clayton of Seaford; a daughter-in-law, Regina Whaley of Milton; a son-in-law, Joseph Tingle of Cool Spring; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
Service will be 1 p.m. today at Mount Enon Baptist Church, Milford, where friends may call two hours before the service.
Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Middleford.
Arrangements by Young's Funeral Homes, Milford.
Carl Edward 'Pop' Smith, 59
FREDERICA - Carl Edward 'Pop' Smith of Frederica, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 1998, in Bayhealth Medical Center-Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 59.
Mr. Smith was born June 17, 1939, in Littlestown, Pa., the son of the late Carl and Grace Smith.
He was a woodsman, cutting trees as an occupation.
Mr. Smith enjoyed fishing and crabbing with friends. He also enjoyed enjoyed sitting under trees with friends.
He is survived by three sons, Edward Smith of Felton and Randy Smith and Paul Smith, both of Harrington; three daughters, Margaret Luckenbough of Pennsylvania and Alena Spalding and Paula Poore, both of Harrington; a brother, Donald Smith of New Oxford, Pa.; a sister, Darlene Sadler of Westminster, Md.' four grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; his best friends, Bruce and Linda Glanden of Frederica; and many friends from Bowers Beach.
Service will be 2 p.m. today at Melvin Funeral Home, 15522 S. DuPont Highway, Harrington, with the Rev. Matthew Wright, pastor of Mount Enon Baptist Church, Milford, officiating.
Burial will be in Hollywood Cemetery, Harrington.
Mayretta M. Bailey, 68
MILLSBORO - Mayretta M. Bailey of Millsboro, and formerly of Smyrna, died Monday, Sept. 28, 1998, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes.
Mrs. Bailey was the daughter of the late Carroll and Almeda Morris.
She was employed by Pratt Insurance, Smyrna, for 26 years, and later by Hardesty Insurance, Dover, for 12 years, retiring in 1988.
Mrs. Bailey enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed dancing, country music and camping.
She was a member of Ewell's-St. Paul United Methodist Church, Clayton.
She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Ralph W. Bailey, at home; a son, R. Bryan Bailey, and his wife, Laura, of Harrington; two daughters, Mary Spicer, and her husband, Tom, of Middletown, and Belinda J. Kahoe, and her husband, James, of Millsboro; two brothers, Carroll O. Morris of Bowden, Ga., and Donald H. Morris of Smyrna; a sister, Pearl E. Cole of Clayton; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a special niece, Edna Truax of Smyrna.
Service will be 1 p.m. Friday at Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home, 123 W. Commerce St., Smyrna, where friends may call 7-9 p.m. Thursday.
