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.
REHOBOTH BEACH - Edith W. Reynolds of Rehoboth Beach, formerly of Louisville, Ky., died Friday, Jan. 29, 1999, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. She was 81.
Mrs. Reynolds was born in Indianapolis, Ind., the daughter of the late Guy George Barnes-West and Mary Edith Hoadley West.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Reynolds was preceded in death by her husband, Jack J. Reynolds, in 1991.
She is survived by a daughter, Edith A. Reynolds of Rehoboth Beach; three sons, Guy Reynolds of Versailles, Ky., Jay Reynolds of Richmond, Ind., and Todd Reynolds of Louisville, Ky., and six grandchildren, Ashley West Reynolds, Blake Anderson Reynolds, Jason Joshua Reynolds, Megan Alyssa Reynolds, Carson Willett Reynolds and Jordan West Reynolds. Service will be held 7 p.m. today at the Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, Long Neck, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be private at Lewes Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Salvation Army of Rehoboth Beach or the Rehoboth Beach library.
William M. Flook Jr., 77
CHESTERTOWN, Md. - William M. Flook of Chestertown, died of pancreatic cancer Saturday, Jan. 30, 1999, in Heron Point, Chestertown. He was 77.
Mr. Flook was born in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., the son of the late William M. Flook Sr. and Helen Stuart Harris.
He received his bachelor's degree in electical engineering from Harvard University in 1944, and a doctorate in physics from Brown University in 1951.
Mr. Flook served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, seeing action in the Pacific Ocean aboard the escort carrier U.S.S. Savo Island.
He worked for DuPont in Wilmington from 1952-1965 and operated Peltron Laboratory. He was an accomplished electrical engineer, spending his career developing instuments for specialized measurements in industrial plants. He was awarded 13 U.S. patents during his lifetime, 10 while with DuPont Experimental Station, three while operating Peltron and acting as an independent consultant to the textile industry.
Mr. Flook married Marion ''Marnie'' Montgomery in 1945 and they have resided in Greenville for the last 25 years.
He had a lifelong interest in photography, producing several award-winning photographs over the years; other interests included watercolor painting, fly-fishing, woodworking and boating. He loved to cruise the Chesapeake Bay from the time he bought his first boat in 1952 until his death. He enjoyed traveling with his wife to remote locations like Antarctica, Alaska, and the Canadian Rockies; but loved his home in Langford Creek the best. He will be remembered with great love.
Mr. Flook was known as a creative problem solver, who could fix virtually anything. He belonged to three scientific organizations, The Optical Society of America, Sigma XI and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
In addition to his wife of 53 years, he is survived by five children, William Flook III of Crownsville, Md, Margaret Lisberger of Santa Monica, Calif., David Flook of Rumson, N.J., Robert Flook of Raleigh, N.C., and Virginia Kendall of Harvard, Mass., and nine grandchildren.
Service will be 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at Wesley Hall in Heron Point, Chestertown, and at a later date in Wilmington.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 162 Prince George St., Annapolis, MD 21401.
Arrangements by Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, Chestertown.
Dale C. Harding,38
BRIDGEVILLE - Dale C. Harding of Bridgeville, died of cystic fibrosis Friday, Jan. 29, 1999, in University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia. He was 38.
Mr. Harding was employed at Pillsbury Foods in Federalsburg, Md., as a receiving clerk.
He was an avid bowler, a member of the Night Owl Bowling League in Seaford and a fan of NASCAR stock-car racing.
He is survived by his wife, Ruthann Wenk Harding of Bridgeville; parents, Edna and Medford Donovan of Seaford; paternal grandfather, Darrell Wheatley of Federalsburg; parents-in-law, Charles E. and Bessie H. Wenk of Bridgeville; four sisters, Charlotte Donovan of Seaford, Tina Van Wagoner of Salt Lake City, Utah, Tammy Donovan of Seaford and Bobbi Donovan of Salisbury, Md.
Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Grace Baptist Church, 804 Atlanta Road, Seaford, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in Eldorado Cemetery, Eldorado, Md.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Delaware Valley Transplant Program, 2401 Walnut St., Suite 404, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Helen May Smart Massey, 76
LAUREL - Helen May Smart Massey of Laurel, died of cancer Sunday, Jan. 31, 1999, in her home. She was 76.
Mrs. Massey was born in Blades, Del., the daughter of the late Fred and Martha Mesick Smart.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Massey was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Thomas Massey, in 1989.
She is survived by two sons, Preston Massey of Laurel and Richard Massey of Seaford; four daughters, Anna Mae Rumbley of Seaford, Madeline Mae Richardson of Salisbury, Md., Phyllis Ann Truitt of Seaford and Mary Jane Littleton of Laurel; a brother, Sam Smart of Delmar; a sister, Mildred Chambers of Bridgeville; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Watson-Yates Funeral Home, Front & King Streets, Seaford, where family may call two hours prior to the service and friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in Blades Cemetery, Blades.
Elizabeth Phillips Ruff, 70
BLADES - Elizabeth Phillips Ruff of Blades, died after a long illness Saturday, Jan. 30, 1999, in Life Care at Lofland Park, Seaford. She was 70.
Mrs. Ruff was born in Marydel, Md., the daughter of the late Clarence James and May Elizabeth Smith Phillips.
She was a writer of Seaford-Blades socials for 13 years at the Leader and State Register, retiring in 1994. Prior to this, she worked for the Farmers Bank of Delaware in Dover for 4 years.
Mrs. Ruff was a member of Blades United Methodist Church, where she was past president of the Count on Me Circle Society. She was instrumental in placing the historical markers at the church in 1994 and the placing of the cross atop the steeple in the 1960s. She was the authur of a book and several articles on the town of Blades and Blades United Methodist Church, winning an award in 1993 in the State Local Church Historical contest. She was also a member of the Historical Society of Barratt's Chapel.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Clarence J. Phillips Jr., in 1990 and Edward S. Phillips in 1998.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, George Ruff; two sons, George L. Ruff and wife Helen of Seaford, and David L. Ruff and wife Cheryl of Blades and five grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. at Blades United Methodist Church, Market Street, Blades.
Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at Watson-Yates Funeral Home, Front and King streets, Seaford.
Burial will be in Blades Cemetery, Blades.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Blades United Methodist Church, 300 S. Market St., Blades, DE or Blades Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 683, Blades, DE 19973.
Mary Frances Kennedy, 65
NEWARK - Mary Frances Kennedy of New Castle, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 1999, in Christiana Hospital. She was 65.
Mrs. Kennedy was born on Oct. 13, 1933 in Laurel, the daughter of the late Harlan Thawley and Edna Marine Thawley.
She was a graduate of Laurel High School, and the Milford Hospital School of Nursing.
Mrs. Kennedy worked as a registered nurse for St. Francis Hospital for several years.
She was a member of the Laurel Alumni Association.
She is survived by her husband of 28 years, John E. Kennedy; a son, Burt Timmons of Milford; three daughters, Denise Andrews of Newark, Helen Sauer of Lancaster, Pa., and Robyn Craighton of New Castle, and 12 grandchildren.
Service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear.
Burial will be in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Laurel Alumni Association, P.O. Box 382, Laurel, DE 19956-0382
Mildred H. Parsons, 79
GEORGETOWN - Mildred H. Parsons of rural Georgetown, died Saturday, Jan. 16, 1999, in Bayhealth Medical Center/Milford Memorial Hospital. She was 79.
Mrs. Parsons was born in Georgetown the daughter of the late Meredith E. and Garnett Vowles Hawes.
She was a physical test operator at the DuPont Co. for 25 years, retiring in 1970.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Valentine B. Hawes in 1998.
She is survived by three daughters, Stella Hickman of Millsboro, Eva H. Wootten of Georgetown and Betty C. Loucks of Georgetown; a stepdaughter, Esther Roberts of Longwood, Fla.; a stepson, Herman Parsons Jr. of Millsboro; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and 10 stepgrandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Chapel of Grace U.M. Church, East Market Street, Georgetown, where friends may call 7-9 p.m. today.
Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Georgetown.
Arrrangements by Short Funeral Services, Georgetown.
Frances Handy West, 82
DOVER - Frances Handy West of Dover, died Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999, in Bayhealth Medical Center/Kent General Hospital, Dover. She was 82.
Mrs. West was the daughter of the late Frances Bowes and Wallace Handy.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. West was a member of Christ Episcopal Church and was active in the church prayer group. She was also a volunteer at Kent General Hospital and Dover Modern Maturity Center, Dover.
She is survived by her husband, Joshua T. West of Dover; two sons, William G. West of Cleveland and James S. West of Newark; a daughter, Kathleen M. Robinson of Magnolia; a sister, Jane H. Ward of Salisbury, Md., and six grandchildren, Mike Drayton, Chris Drayton, Drew West, Jeff Whisler, Lindsay Robinson and Josh West.
Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Christ Episcopal Church, South State and Water streets, Dover.
Burial will be in Christ Episcopal Church.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Christ Episcopal Church or Bayhealth Medical Center/Kent General Hospital.
Arrangements by Trader Funeral Home, Dover.
Robert E. Betts Sr., 71
GEORGETOWN - Robert E. Betts Sr. of Georgetown, died Saturday, Jan. 16, 1999, in his home. He was 71.
Mr. Betts was born in Georgetown, the son of the late Granville and Mary Donovan Betts Sr.
He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1969 after 23 years of service.
Mr. Betts worked for Megee Heating and Air Conditioning from 1976-1990. He worked for his own heating and air conditioning business for a few years before retiring.
He was a member of Bethesda United Methodist Church, president of Kiwanis Club, past Freat Sacheem of the Improved Order of Redman, and was a member of the National Redman Order, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the CHEER Center of Georgetown, VFW Post 7234 of Ocean View and Moose Lodge 646, Lewes/Rehoboth Beach.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Mildred Betts; two brothers, Bill Betts and Granville Betts Jr.; a grandson, Roger Betts; amd a granddaughter-in-law Gloria Lee Betts.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Catherine ''Cathy'' Wilkes Betts of Georgetown; a son, Robert Lee Betts of Knoxville, Tenn.; two daughters, Ellen Pride of Milton and Veronica Talcott of Washington state; a sister, Barbara Donovan of Dover; four grandsons, four granddaughters; two great-grandsons and cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Chaplain Bruce Marshall and the Rev. Paige Marshall will officiate.
Burial with military honors will be in Millsboro Cemetery, Millsboro.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Bethesda U.M. Church, Rt. 1 Box 238, Georgetown, DE 19947 or Delaware Hospice, Southern Division, 600 Du Pont Highway, Suite 107, Georgetown, DE 19947.
Catherine Montondo, 76
DOVER - Catherine Montondo of Dover, died Wednesday, Jan. 13, 1999, in Silver Lake Nursing Home. She was 76.
Mrs. Montondo was born on July 17, 1922, in Charlotte, N.C., the daughter of the late Thomas and Bessie Owens.
She was a housewife most of her life, but had also worked for Southern Bell Telephone in Charlotte, and Sears and Roebuck in Watertown, N.Y.
She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Dover.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Lawrence W. Montondo of Dover; a son, Thomas E. Montondo of Buffalo, N.Y.; a daughter, Nancy A. Roberts of Dover; two brothers, Wilson Owens and Ted Owens both of Charlotte; three sisters, Emily Dulin and Rose Lamb, both of Charlotte and Susan Ashe of Greensboro, N.C.; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Torbert Funeral Chapel, 61 S. Bradford St., Dover.
Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family.
