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.
MILFORD - T. Wayne Jones of rural Milford died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998, at Life Care at Lofland Park, Seaford. He was 57.
Mr. Jones was a farmer. He was a member of the Milford Farm Bureau and of the Slaughter Neck United Methodist Church, Milford. He enjoyed swimming and history.
Mr. Jones is survived by an uncle and aunt, Theodore and Constance Jones, of Milford; another aunt, C. Elaine Muncey of Lewes; and nieces and nephews.
Service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at the Chapel of Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal St., Milton, where friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday.
Burial will be in Slaughter Neck Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Slaughter Neck Cemetery Fund, c/o Richard Argo.
Edith Mae Gray, 64
LAUREL - Edith Mae Gray of Laurel, and formerly of Alexandria, Va., died Monday, Sept. 14, 1998, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. She was 64.
She was born in Washington, D.C., a daughter of the late Benjamin and Ellen Marie Potter.
Mrs. Gray retired in 1972 from the Red Cross in Alexandria, where she was a data processor for 25 years, and also worked for Townsends Inc., in Millsboro as a data processor, retiring in 1981. She was an Avon representative in the Sussex County area for more than 20 years.
Mrs. Gray was a member of the Laurel Wesleyan Church in Laurel; a lifetime member of VFW Post 7447 in Rehoboth Beach; the president of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 28 in Oak Orchard; a member of the Women of the Moose Lodge 646, Cool Spring; and a volunteer at the Christian Storehouse, Millsboro.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gray was preceded in death by her former husband, Robert R. Gray, in 1981.
She is survived by a son, Michael Gray, and his wife, Beverly, both of Laurel; a sister, Ellen West of Millsboro; three grandchildren and a nephew.
Service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Short Funeral Home, 700 West St., Laurel, with the Rev. Todd Crofford and the Rev. J. Reed Morris officiating.
Friends may call Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burial will be in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Laurel.
Richard Aldridge Reeves Williams III, 16
DOVER - Richard Aldridge Reeves Williams III of Dover died Friday, Sept. 11, 1998, in a car accident. He was 16.
Richard was born in 1981 in Dover, the son of Ray Jean Reeves and Richard Williams Jr.
He attended Dover High School, where he was in the 11th grade.
Richard was a lover of life who never met a stranger.
If you were his friend, you were his friend for life.
A smile, a kind word to say was his greeting or a good joke when you needed one.
Richard lived life to the fullest.
His future plans were to attend Delaware State University, upon graduation.
Richard loved the Lord, accepting Jesus Christ as his personal savior and being baptized two years ago.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Brandon Williams.
He is survived by his mother, Ray Jean Reeves of Dover; his father, Richard Aldridge Williams Jr. of Dover; a sister, Shanda Denise Reeves of Dover; two brothers, Craig Lenorris Reeves and Joshua Lamar Reeves, both of Dover; two half-sisters, Tamara M. Williams of Dover, and Rochelle Savage Reye of Washington, D.C.; a niece, Crishona Reeves; two nephews, Christopher Reeves and Deshawn Reeves; three aunts, Everda Williams, Edith Reeves and Evelyn Burley, all of Georgia; four uncles, Ray Charles Reeves, Emmanuel Williams, and B.C. Reeves, all of Georgia, and Joe Ward of Washington D.C.; and a host of cousins, other relatives, friends, and classmates.
Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Bennie Smith Funeral Chapel in Dover, where friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Friday.
Burial will be in Whatcoat Cemetery, Dover.
William R. 'Ace' Carrow, 76
CLAYTON - William R. 'Ace' Carrow of Clayton died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1998, in his home. He was 76.
Mr. Carrow was born in 1922, in Clayton, the son of the late Ralph V. Carrow and Margaret Boggs Carrow.
He was a 1940 graduate of Smyrna High School.
He enlisted in U.S. Air Force following high school.
Mr. Carrow was a World War II veteran.
He retired in 1961 with the rank of master sergeant, after 21 years of service.
Mr. Carrow then worked for civil service at Dover Air Force Base, retiring in 1987.
He joined the Clayton Fire Co. in 1959, working his way through the ranks to become chief for five years.
He was past president of the Delaware Volunteer Fireman's Association, serving in 1983; also serving as secretary for the association from 1987-94; and as assistant secretary from 1995 to the present.
Mr. Carrow was past president of the Delmarva Volunteer Firemans Association, from 1975-76; and chief emeritus in 1977.
He was past county president, from 1978-79.
He was the Clayton Fire Co.'s Fireman of the Year in 1981 and 1985; Co-Fireman of the Year for Kent County in 1997; and the Delaware Volunteer Firemans Association Fireman of the Year in 1992.
Mr. Carrow was inducted into the Delmarva Firefighters Hall of Fame in 1984; and the Delaware Volunteer Firemans Association Hall of Fame, in 1985.
He was serving as a fire commissioner for the state of Delaware, appointed by Gov. Carper in 1995.
Mr. Carrow was a member of Harmony Lodge 13 AF&AM in Smyrna, a member of the VFW Post 8801 in Clayton, a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Smyrna, a life member and past president of the Clayton Fire Co., a past council member for the town of Clayton, and a member of Ewell's-St. Paul United Methodist Church in Clayton.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, James E. Pritchard Jr., in 1969.
He is survived by his wife, Manetta Holland Carrow of Clayton; a son William R. Carrow II of Clayton; two daughters, Cindy Brode and her husband, Harold, both of Harrington, and Cathy Pritchard and her husband, Jimmy, both of Dover; and four grandsons, Derrick Brode, Kenny Brode, and Robbie Brode, all of Harrington, and Alex Carrow of Clayton.
Service will be noon Saturday at Ewell's-St. Paul United Methodist Church, Clayton.
Friends may call from 6-9 p.m. Friday at the Clayton Fire Hall in Clayton, where a masonic service will be held at 8 p.m.
Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Clayton Fire Co., P.O. Box 1050, Clayton, DE 19938.
Arrangements by Faries Funeral Directors, Inc., Smyrna.
Emma Jane Purnell, 77
MIDDLETOWN - Emma Jane Purnell of Middletown died of natural causes Monday, Sept. 14, 1998, in Christiana Medical Center. She was 77.
Ms. Purnell was born Feb. 15, 1921, the daughter of the late Edward Mitchell and Indiana Purnell.
She was a domestic worker.
Ms. Purnell was a member of Middletown Kingdom Hall.
She is survived by a daughter, Doris Jeffers of Middletown.
Service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Middletown Kingdom Hall, Noxontown Road, Middletown, where friends may call one hour prior to service.
Burial will be in Lee's Chapel Cemetery, Townsend.
Arrangements by Minus Funeral Home.
Marshall A. Willey Sr., 74
LEWES - Marshall A. Willey Sr. of Lewes died of heart failure Monday, Sept. 14, 1998, in Beebe Medical Center. He was 74.
Mr. Willey was born in Milton, the son of the late Layton Willey and Arzie Carpenter.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Willey was a retired farmer.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Albert Willey, in 1996.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Elizabeth E. Willey of Lewes; four sons, Lyndon Willey of Georgetown, and Marshall A. Willey Jr., Jack Willey, and Dennis Willey, all of Lewes; four daughters, Charlotte Hall of Lewes, Phyllis Roe of Milford, and Donna Workman and Betty Burton, both of Milton; a brother, James Willey of Laurel; four sisters, Margaret Seelig of Escondido, Calif., Jeannette King of Connecticut, Mary Rust of Rehoboth Beach, and Helen Davidson of Laurel; and 17 grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Friday at the Chapel of Melson Funeral Service in Long Neck, where friends may call one hour prior to service.
Burial will be in White's Chapel Cemetery, Lewes.
Leonard Francis Jewell, 59
MILFORD - Leonard Francis Jewell of Milford died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998, in his home. He was 59.
Mr. Jewell was born in Milford, the son of Mary Jewell Conley and the late Earl H. Jewell.
He attended Murphy School.
Mr. Jewell was an U.S. Army veteran.
He was a retired commercial union painter.
Mr. Jewell was a member of the Painters and Allied Trades Local Union 100, a member of the National Rifle Association, a member of the Society of 3rd Infantry Division, and a member of the Varmit Hunters Association of South Dakota.
He is survived by his mother, Mary Conley of Harrington; five brothers, Harry Jewell and Paul Jewell, both of Harrington, David Carter of Milford, Earl Jewell of Seaford, and Joseph Jewell; three sisters, Nina Jenkins of Lincoln, Charlene Fuller of Milford, and Shirley Fawley of Waldorf, Md.; and several half brothers and sisters.
Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home in Milford, where friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Thursday.
Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Milford.
Harold Wayne Madison, 56
REHOBOTH BEACH - Harold Wayne Madison of Rehoboth Beach died Saturday, Sept. 12, 1998, in his home. He was 56.
Mr. Madison was born in 1941, in Alexandria, Va., the son of the late Clarence Minor Madison and Ada Gertrude Edwards.
He earned a bachelor of science degree in cartography from George Washington University in Washington D.C.
He graduated from the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Va., and from the Seniors Officials in National Security program at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University.
Mr. Madison worked for the Department of Defense as a cartographer.
He served on the National Imagery and Mapping Association's Installation Management.
He was a retired member of the Department of Defense's Senior Executive Service.
Mr. Madison was the author of technical works relating to extraction of elevation information through aerial photography.
He was the recipient of many awards, including the Distinguished Civilian Service Award, in 1990.
Mr. Madison was a member of the National Society of Photogrammetry, and a member of the Association of Mapping Seniors.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Emily Tydings, in 1997.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Patricia Bayliss Madison of Rehoboth Beach; a son, David Madison of Rehoboth Beach; a daughter, Donna Madison of Rehoboth Beach; four sisters, Lois Flynn of Rockville, Md., Barbara Wever of Annandale, Va., Betty Durand of Silver Spring, Md., and Joan MacMillan of Wallkill, N.Y.; a brother, Stephen Madison of Dale City, Va.; and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and many friends.
Service will be 10 a.m. Saturday at DeMaine's Funeral Home in Springfield, Va., where friends may call from 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. Friday.
Burial will be private.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
Gary Lee Ricketts, 35
BRIDGEVILLE - Gary Lee Ricketts of Bridgeville died Tuesday, Sept. 15, 1998, in Kent General Hospital. He was 35.
Mr. Ricketts was born in 1963, in Seaford, the son of the late Malachi Ricketts and Margaret Smack.
He graduated from Woodbridge High School.
Mr. Ricketts worked for Nanticoke Memorial Hospital as a dietary aide.
He is survived by a sister, Betty Woolford of Bridgeville; an aunt with whom he resided, Mary Johnson of Bridgeville; a brother, Pat Smack; and other relatives and friends.
Graveside service will be 3 p.m. Thursday in Trinity Cemetery, Dublin Hill.
John Arthur Beckman, 75
REHOBOTH BEACH - John Arthur Beckman of Rehoboth Beach died Sunday, Sept. 13, 1998, in Beebe Medical Center. He was 75.
Mr. Beckman was born in 1922, in Columbus, Ohio, the son of the late Arthur Beckman and Eleanor Tinkler.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps 94th Bomb Group.
He worked as a credit manager for J.P. Stephens Textile Co. in New York.
Mr. Beckman moved to Rehoboth Beach in 1989.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Beckman, in 1996.
He is survived by a son, Chris Beckman of Rehoboth Beach; two daughters, Joanne Merlo of Rehoboth Beach and Linda Hamilton of Memphis, Tenn.; and six grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Sept. 27 at All Saints Episcopal Church, Rehoboth Beach.
Burial will be private.
In memory of John Arthur Beckman, the family suggests that contributions be nade to the Rehoboth Beach Library, 226 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Lewes.
