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 - Sara Dickerson Kirby of Milford died Tuesday, March 24, 1988, in the Methodist Manor House, Seaford, where she had lived for the past four years. She was 83.
Mrs. Kirby was a graduate of the Milford Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, class of 1936 and following graduation she went to graduate school in Philadelphia to train as a nurse-anesthetist. For a period of time, she took time out from her duties at the hospital to have a family, returning again in 1960. It was then she developed Central Supply Service at the hospital with just one aide. She started a respiratory care department while Central Supply supervisor and after attending many seminars on the East Coast she became chief respiratory care therapist.
She enjoyed china painting under the tutelage of the late Dot B. Hall and was also interested in quilting.
Mrs. Kirby was a member of the Milford Doll Club and the Milford New Century Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert J. Kirby, in 1991.
She is survived by a son, Robert J. Jr. of Milford; two daughters, Susan K. Mitchell of Bethany Beach and Kathy Kirby Of Washington, D.C.; a brother, L. Hayes Dickerson of Milford; and two grandsons, Mark of Wilmington and Capt. Michael Mitchell of Alaska.
Service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John's Catholic Church, Seabury Avenue, Milford.
Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Rogers Funeral Home, Lakeview Avenue, Milford.
Burial will be in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, Milford.
Deborah S. Burns, 41
WILMINGTON - Deborah S. Burns of Wilmington died of hepatic failure Monday, March 23, 1998, in the Christiana Hospital. She was 41.
Ms. Burns was employed with Applied Card Systems, Wilmington.
She is survived by two daughters, Heather Grieves of Omaha, Neb. and Rhonda Crookshank of Newark; a brother, Larry Burns of Hockessin; two sisters, Trudy Crookshank of Newark and Bonnie Martin of Middletown; her fiance of 10 years, Jay Ellis of Wilmington; her ex-husband, Donald Grieves of Omaha, Neb.; two nieces; and three nephews.
Memorial service will be 7 p.m. Thursday in the Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home, North Broad Street, Middletown.
Burial will be private.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Hepatitis C Foundation, 1502 Russett Drive, Warminster, PA 18974.
Carrie Josie West, 86
REHOBOTH BEACH - Carrie Josie West of Rehoboth Beach died Saturday, May 9, 1998, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. She was 86.
Mrs. West was born Oct. 21, 1911, in Green Bay, Wis., the daughter of the late Jule and Odile Bouchonville.
She worked at the St. Regis Hotel, New York City, N.Y.
Mrs. West was a member of St. Edmond's Catholic Church, King Charles and Laurel streets; she was also a member of the Rehoboth Beach VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
She is survived by her husband, Floyd W. West of Rehoboth Beach; a son, Ronald Nelson of Ft. Myers, Fla.; two sisters, Doris Dahike of Antigo, Wis., Frances Spasoff of Chicago, Ill.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Parsell Funeral Homes and Crematorium Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 1449 Kings Hwy., Lewes.
Burial will be private.
Contributions can be made to the American Lung Association, Delaware chapter, 625 S. State St., Dover, DE 19901, or to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, P.O. Box 646, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Evelyn Ellen Givens Waller, 82
SEAFORD - Evelyn Ellen Givens Waller of Seaford died of heart failure, Sunday, May 10, 1998, in Chesapeake Wood Center, Cambridge, Md. She was 82.
Ms. Walker was born in Laurel, the daughter of the late Olan and Nellie Hitchens Givens.
She was a self-employed seamstress, retiring in 1992; prior to that she worked at Sussex County Community Action, Georgetown. She also was a Seaford School District bus contractor for 20 years, from 1956-1976.
Ms. Walker was a member of Concord United Methodist Church and its Methodist Women's Circle Order of Eastern Star Chapter 7; she was a member of Ladies Auxiliary, Virgil Wilson Post 4961 VFW. She was also a member of the Women of the Moose Chapter 1384, Seaford, and the Laurel Grange 273.
She is survived by two daughters, Dianne W. Maddux and Vivian L. Sink, both of Seaford; two brothers, Monroe Givens of Seaford and Olan Givens of Milford; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at Watson-Yates Funeral Home, Front and King streets, Seaford, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Roland E. Tice will officiate.
Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Seaford.
John M. Rodier, 82
REHOBOTH BEACH - John M. Rodier of Rehoboth Beach died Saturday, May 9, 1998, in Milford Memorial Hospital, Milford. He was 82.
Mr. Rodier was born Jan. 22, 1916, in Washington, D.C., the son of the late Jules A. and Bessie B. Rodier.
He retired a lieutenant colonel from the United States Air Force; he was a pilot.
Mr. Rodier also retired in 1978 after 23 years with the United Service Life Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. Prior to that time, he worked for 21 years with the Acacia Life Insurance Company.
He was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rehoboth Beach, the Rehoboth Beach Kiwanis Club, the Lewes Historical Society, where he was a docent, and he was a member of the Retired Officers Association of Rehoboth Beach.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Hazel L. Rodier of Rehoboth Beach; two sons, John M. Rodier Jr. of Palm Bay, Fla., and Stewart G. Rodier of Dellaplane, Va.; a daughter, Patricia R. Panuska of Georgetown; three grandsons, John Christopher Rodier of Ashburn, Va., Mark Wayne Panuska of Georgetown, and Sean August Rodier of Dellaplane, Va.
Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, King Charles and Laurel streets, Rehoboth Beach.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Parsell Funeral Home and Crematorium Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 1449 Kings Hwy., Lewes.
Burial will be in St. Peter's Cemetery-Pilottown, Lewes.
Contributions can be made in memory of Mr. Rodier to Westminster Presbyterian Church, King Charles and Laurel streets, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
Nelson M. Maxfield, 76
SMYRNA - Nelson M. Maxfield, of Smyrna, died of heart failure Thursday, May 7, 1998, in Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 76.
Mr. Maxfield was a domestic worker and a veteran of World War II.
He was a member of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Harrington.
He is survived by a son, Jerome Maxfield of Salisbury, Md.; a brother, James Maxfield of Fruitland, Md.; two sisters, Margaret Fletcher of Salisbury, Md., and Louise Roberts of Seaford; and five grandchildren.
Service will be 7 p.m. at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Harrington, where friends may call two hours prior to the service.
Burial will be in Veterans Cemetery, Bear.
Arrangements by Young Funeral Home, Milford.
Minnie R. Drummond, 57
FRANKFORD - Minnie R. Drummond, of Frankford, died of cancer Saturday, May 9, 1998, in Atlantic General Hospital, Berlin, Md. She was 57.
Mrs. Drummond was born in Accomac, Va., the daughter of the late Charles and Rosie Bagwell Toppin.
She was a homemaker.
She is survived by her companion of 34 years, William G. Collick; four sons, Alonzo Drummond Jr. of Salisbury, Md., George Drummond of Millsboro, Jesse Drummond of Frankford, and Alvin Drummond of Ellendale; four daughters, Orlando Jones of Frankford, Brenda Briddell of Oak Orchard, Linda Drummond of Georgetown, and Cheryl Drummond of Rehoboth Beach; three brothers, David Bailey of Georgetown, Roosevelt Bailey of Frankford, and Urundi Mekong of Chicago, Ill.; a sister, Stella Mae Hickman of Frankford; two sons-in-law, Rodney Briddell and Lavugh Jones; 31 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Calvin O. Price will officiate.
Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery, Frankford.
Robert P. Williamson, 61
MILLSBORO - Robert P. Williamson, of Millsboro, died of cancer Friday, May 8, 1998, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. He was 61.
Mr. Williamson was born in Canton, Ill. He was the son of the late Paul B. and Maxine Miller Williamson.
He was a United States Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War; he retired in 1974, after 20 years.
He was a teacher at Sussex Tech, near Georgetown, for 18 years, retiring in 1991.
Mr. Williamson was a Delaware hunter education instructor, a member of the Natinal Rifle Association, the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association, the Choptank Muzzle Loaders Association, the Swamp Creek Muzzle Loaders Club, the Delaware Blues of the North-South Skirmish Association, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7422, Millsboro.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Schirmer Williamson; four sons, Joshua Williamson of Goldsboro, Md., Jody Williamson and Charles Hobbs, both of Millsboro, and Steven Hobbs of Georgetown; three daughters, Judith Williams of Harrington, Jennifer 'Bug' Warner of Granbin, Fla., Jeannette Bartram of Greenwood; two brothers, John Williamson of Woodbridge, Va., and Paul Williamson of Vineland, N.J.; a sister, Elsie Dorr of Dorothy, N.J.; and 10 grandchildren.
Service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington St., Millsboro, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Robert Hudson will officiate.
Burial will be in Millsboro Cemetery.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions can be made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 300, Memphis, Tenn. 38148.
Kenneth C. Furnish, 68
MILFORD - Kenneth C. Furnish of Milford died of cancer Wednesday, May 6, 1998, in his home. He was 68.
Mr. Furnish retired in 1980, after 40 years in the poultry industry. He designed and managed processing plants, having worked for Esskay's Poultry Division in Cordova, Md., Burris Processing Plant in Milford and Stork-Gamco in the Netherlands.
He was an avid golfer.
Mr. Furnish was a member of the Shawnee Country Club in Milford and the Peach Blossom Country Club in Easton, Md. He was also a member of the Milford Elks Lodge #2401.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Dorothy P. Furnish; a son, Dan K. Furnish of Carrollton, Texas; a daughter, Claudia F. Melson of Seaford; a brother, Darrell L. Furnish of Easton, Md.; a sister, Carol Sue Clark of St. Michael's, Md. and two grandsons, Ryan and Matthew.
Memorial service will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Del. 14, east of Harrington.
Contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. DuPont Highway., Dover, DE 19901.
Arrangements by Rogers Funeral Home, Milford.
Ethel Virdin Craig, 87
SMYRNA - Ethel Virdin Craig of Smyrna died Sunday, May 10, 1998, in Capitol Health Care Services, Dover. She was 87.
Mrs. Craig was born in 1910, in Smyrna, the daughter of the late William W. and Avis White Bailey.
She was a cashier at the Smyrna Market for several years before retiring.
Mrs. Craig enjoyed bingo, traveling and going to the slots.
She was preceded in death by her husband, J. Virdin Craig.
She is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Faries Funeral Chapel, 29 South Main Street in Smyrna, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Smyrna.
Gladys Sterioti, 92
MILFORD - Gladys Sterioti of Milford died Sunday, May 10, 1998, in Harbor Health Center, Lewes. She was 92.
Ms. Sterioti was a registered nurse in New York City for many years.
She moved to Milford in 1988.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Sterioti in 1972 and longtime friend, Minnie Loefler in October 1997.
She has no immediate survivors.
Graveside service will be 4 p.m. Thursday in Odd Fellows Cemetery, N. Walnut St., Milford.
Contributions may made to Delaware Hospice, 600 DuPont Hwy., Georgetown, DE 19947 or the SPCA in Georgetown, Delaware.
Arrangements by Rogers Funeral Home, Milford.
Dorothy Bennett Taylor, 70
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Dorothy Bennett Taylor of San Francisco, Calif., formerly of Wyoming, died Saturday, May 2, 1998. She was 70.
Mrs. Taylor was born in Frankford, the daughter of the late J. M. Bennett and Fleta Fifer Bennett.
She was graduated from Caesar Rodney High School in 1945 and then Bridgewater College in 1949.
Mrs. Taylor enjoyed traveling, and had traveled all over the world.
She is survived by her husband Dwight Taylor; two sons, Donald Prather of Panama City, Fla., and David Prather of Los Angeles, Calif.; a daughter, Nancy Northrup of Dallas, Texas; two brothers, Harold Bennett of Camden and Robert Bennett of Rehoboth; and nine grandchildren.
Memorial services were held Friday, May 8, 1998 in the Grace Cathedral, San Francisco.
The family suggests contributions be made in her memory to Regents University of California, c/o Dr. Debasish Tripathy, P.O. Box 1714, Breast Cancer Center, 2356 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA, 94143
Jerry Walton Exum, 53
MILTON - Jerry Walton Exum of Milton died Tuesday, May 5, 1998, in his home. He was 53.
Mr. Exum was born in Baltimore, Md. He is son of the Harvey Walton and Mildred Virginia Exum of Denton, Md.
He was a groundskeeper and custodian for churches.
Mr. Exum was a member of Midway Assembly of God in Midway. He served as Saxton for churches in the Philadelphia area and also for the Midway Assembly of God Church near Lewes.
He is survived by his parents.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Midway Assembly of God, Rt. 1 & Postal Lane, Midway. Pastor Gary Ross will officiate.
Burial will be private.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Home & Crematorium, Atkins Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
Cecil M. Beacham, 77
LEWES - Cecil M. Beachum of Lewes, formerly of Temple, Pa., died Friday, May 8, 1998, in Kutztown Manor, where he had resided 10 days. He was 77.
Mr. Beacham was born in Aurora, N.C., the son of the late Cecil R. and Laney Cuthrell Beacham.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War.
Mr. Beacham was affiliated with Iron Workers Union, Local 420, Reading, Pa., retiring in 1982. He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Riverview Park, Pa.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane A. Rodrian Beacham in 1994, and a daughter, Adelaide J. Ruszldewicz.
Mr. Beacham is survived by a daughter, Betsie, wife of James Rutolo of Bethlehem; two sons, Thomas M. Sr. of Hamburg and Daniel J. Oley; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Milkins Funeral Home, Inc., 4914 Kutztown Rd., Temple.
Burial will be in Laureldale Cemetery, Tuckerton.
George L. Steinmetz, 84
BRIDGEVILLE - George L. Steinmetz of Bridgeville died of complications from cancer, Sunday, May 10, 1998, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital. He was 84.
Mr. Steinmetz graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in chemical engineering.
He retired in 1976 as plant manager for H.P. Cannon & Son Co. Cannery, Bridgeville. He previously worked as quality control manager for the company for 30 years.
Mr. Steinmetz was a member of the Bridgeville Kiwanis Club; Union United Methodist Church, Bridgeville, and the Nanticoke Amateur Radio Club (Ham radio operators). He won a gold medal in the Delaware Regional Senior Olympics for the fast walk in 1993. He was an avid sports fisherman.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Grayce D. in 1997.
He is survived by two sons, George Dixson of Newark and Ray L. of Houston, Texas; one daughter, Gretchen S. Collins of Fenwick Island; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Service will be at 1 p.m. today at Union United Methodist Church, Market & Laws Streets, Bridgeville, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Burial will be in the Bridgeville Cemetery.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Union United Methodist Church, 1 Laws Street, Bridgeville, DE 19933.
John H. Hudson, 74
MILLSBORO - John H. Hudson of Millsboro died of cancer, Monday, May 11, 1998, in his home. He was 74.
Mr. Hudson was born near Dagsboro, the son of the late William D. and Lettie Murray Hudson.
He was a boiler operator at Townsend's, Inc., Millsboro for 15 years, retiring in 1986.
Mr. Hudson was a member of the St. George's United Methodist Church in Clarksville.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Melson Hudson in 1995.
He is survived by two sons, Terry W. Hudson of Dagsboro and Garry W. Hudson of Millsboro; one daughter, Mary Jane Decker of Millsboro; one brother, Delano R. Hudson of Frankford; seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington Street, Millsboro, where friends may call two hours prior to the service.
The Rev. Ruth Tull will officiate.
Burial will be in the Millsboro Cemetery, Millsboro.
Norman E. Waters, 82
DOVER - Norman E. Waters of Dover died of cardiac arrest, Saturday, May 9, 1998, in Kent General Hospital. He was 82.
Mr. Waters was born in 1915, in Copper Hill, Md., the son of the late Norman and Jessie Waters.
He was a painter for 36 years.
Mr. Waters was a loving husband and loved his family and everyone so much. He served Jehovah for more than 25 years and was a member of the Kingdom Hall in Felton.
He is survived by his wife, Emma Waters of Dover; two daughters, Linda Page of Magnolia and Deborah Waters of Manhatten, N.Y.; one sister, Vera Starks of Philadelphia, Pa.; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
