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 - Arlie B. Clark of Georgetown died of heart failure Monday, May 11, 1998, in the Beebe Medical Center. He was 72.
Mr. Clark was born in Milton, the son of the late John W. Clark Jr. and the late Lulu Carey Clark.
He served in the Army during World War II.
Mr. Clark was a truck driver and mechanic for Reed Trucking for several years. He also worked in the Maintenance Dept. at Paramount Poultry for several years.
He was a member of Lewes V.F.W. #10638.
He is survived by a sister, Millie Morris of Millsboro; two brothers, Wilford Clark of Los Angeles, Calif. and John W. Clark III of Lewes.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Chapel of Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal Street, Milton.
Burial will be in Congregational Church Cemetery, Milton.
Carl R. 'Pete' Rentz Jr., 68
DOVER - Carl R. 'Pete' Rentz Jr. of Dover died Monday, May 11, 1998, in the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill. He was 68.
Mr. Rentz was born and raised in Frederica.
He was a trades instructor for the Delaware Correction Center in Smyrna for 13 years, retiring in 1993.
Mr. Rentz was a member of the Camden-Wyoming Moose Lodge #203 and a member of the Milford V.F.W.
He enjoyed fishing and NASCAR racing.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Charles E. Rentz, Richard A. Rentz, and James I. Rentz.
He is survived by a daughter, Cynthia Porter of Harrington; a son, Robin J. Rentz of Frederica; four sisters, Janet Kanoy and Carol Steele, both of Felton, Kay Davidson of Frederica and Lois Saunders of Harrington; two brothers, Robert D. Rentz of Salisbury, Md. and William H. Rentz of Frederica; four grandchildren.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Friday a the Chapel of Berry-Short Funeral Home, Main Street, Felton, where friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Thursday.
Burial will be in Barratt's Chapel Cemetery, Frederica.
June Ellen Cephas Walker, 57
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - June Ellen Cephas Walker of Philadelphia, Pa., formerly of Lincoln, died of sepsis Friday, May 8, 1998, in the Allegheny-Hahneman Hospital. She was 57.
Ms. Walker was the daughter of the late Fred G. Cephas Sr. and the late Catherine D. Cephas.
She was a graduate of the former Wm. C. Jason High School in Georgetown, and received her Master's degree in Human Resources from Lincoln University, Oxford, Pa.
Ms. Walker was employed as the Associate Director for Combined Campaigns at the Center for Responsible Funding in Philadelphia for seven years; prior to this, she was the Human Resources Director for the Consortium, a community mental health center in Philadelphia for 15 years.
She was a member and secretary of Philadelphia 2000, a group dedicated to helping youth to attain employment. She was on the Board of Directors of Aids Fund (formerly known as From All Walks of Life) and sponsored her own team in the annual Aids Fund Walk. Her professional and personal activities have resulted in millions of dollars being raised to feed, clothe, provide shelter and medical care for hundreds of people in the Tri-State area.
She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Jon E. Cephas in 1995 and Fred G. Cephas Jr. in 1997.
She is survived by three sons, Jamal Abdul-Hamid of Dover, Mark A. Carson of Sanford, N.C., and Gregg B. Walker of Philadelphia; a step-mother, Elsie Y. Cephas of Lincoln; a brother, Timothy D. Cephas of Lincoln; three sisters, Sandra Cephas Mifflin of Dover, Dianne Cephas of Felton and Catherine R. Cephas of Newark; nine grandchildren.
Service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at New Covenant Church of Philadelphia, 7500 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, where friends may call two hours prior to the service. Friends may also call from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, Slaughter Neck, DE.
Burial will be in West Laurel Hills Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
The family suggests contributions be made to the Aids Fund, 1234 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Arrangements by Young's Funeral Home, Milford.
James L. 'Dick' Jarvis Sr., 74
FELTON - James L. 'Dick' Jarvis Sr. of Felton died after complications resulting from a head injury, Monday, May 11, 1998, in the Kent General Hospital. He was 74.
Mr. Jarvis was the son of the late Charles G. Jarvis and Elsie Morton.
He was a veteran serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and served in five major invasions, Italy, Sicily, Anzio, Normandy and Okinawa.
Mr. Jarvis worked in the civil service at Dover Air Force Base and he worked for the Delaware State News as a carrier.
He was a member of Dover Modern Maturity; Milford Senior Center; a former member of Camden-Wyoming Moose Lodge #203; a member of the Ageless Wonders, which performed for nursing homes; he was in the Pepper Steppers Square Dance Club, and Levi and Lace Dance Club in Dover.
Mr. Jarvis loved acting in plays and impersonating Elvis for charity; he loved bowing and karaoke.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Mabel E. 'Dolly' Jarvis in 1996.
He is survived by a son, James L. Jarvis Jr. of Wyoming; four daughters, Sandra Weishaupt of Greensboro, Md., Karen Sanders of Marydel, Cindy Griffin of Felton and Tammy Prince of Wyoming; one sister, Mary Ferguson of Ann Arbor, Mich.; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Service will be at 2 p.m Friday at the Trader Funeral Home, 12 Lotus Street, Dover, where friends may call two hours prior to the service.
Burial will be in Mt. Olive Cemetery in Sandtown.
John J. 'Pan Am John' Walcott Jr., 63
MILTON - John J. 'Pan Am John' Walcott Jr. of Milton and formerly of Long Island, N.Y., died Monday, May 11, 1998 in his home. He was 63.
Mr. Walcott was an aviation mechanic for Pan American World Airlines, New York, for 31 years before retiring.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Walcott was a member of the American Legion Post 28, Oak Orchard, he was also a member of the VFW 6984, Milton.
He is survived by his wife of three years, Gail Walcott; two sons, John J. Walcott III of Bay Shore, N.Y., and Jim J. Walcott of Madera, Calif.; and two step-daughters, Donna Manchin of East Meadow, N.Y., and Debi Pulitano of Bay Shore, N.Y.
Service will be private.
Friends may call 3 p.m. Thursday at the Milton V.F.W. 6984.
Burial will be private.
Arrangements by Short Funeral Service, Milton.
Barbara Louise Perkins, 60
SELBYVILLE - Barbara Louise Perkins of Selbyville died of a brain hemorrhage Sunday, May 10, 1998, in Christina Hospital. She was 60.
Mrs. Perkins was born in 1938 in Reliana, Md. the daughter of Martian L. Batson and George Batson.
She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Perkins was loved by many and would do anything she could to help someone and she would do it from the heart. She was a fun-loving person.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Perkins.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by four sons, Rufus Bolden of Virginia, Milton Bolden of Florida, Robert Bolden of Smyrna, Roy Perkins of Princess Anne, Md.; three daughters, Sylvia Fennell of Florida, Darlene Bolden of Bridgeville, and Deborah Perkins of Selbyville; 13 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren; two brothers, George Edward Batson and Monroe Quails, both of Hurlock, Md.; eight sisters, Anne Batson of Bridgeville, Ruth Savage, Audrey Batson, Carolyn Simms all of Federalsburg, Md., Rose Johnson and Maine Quails, both of Washington, D.C., Alfreda Cephas of Seaford, and Brenda Quails of Bridgeville; a aunt, Catherine Lewis of Finchbille, Md.; a uncle, Franklin Bolden of Seaford; two great-aunts, Florence Evans of Finchbille, Md., Myrtle Welch of Washington, D.C.; a great-uncle, Booker Evans of Finchbille; a sister-in-law, Mary Farrow of Hurlock; a brother-in-law, William Savage of Seaford; two special friends, Joyce Santiago of Milton and Mary Forman of Selbyville; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Friends may call 11 a.m. Friday at the Young's Funeral Home, Seaford.
George Richard Gunby, 85
LAUREL - George Richard Gunby of Laurel died Tuesday, May 12, 1998, in Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, Seaford. He was 85.
Mr. Gunby was born in Marion Station, Md., the son of the late James and Arinthia Ann Brown Gunby.
He was employed with Harvey Holland Jr. as a plumbing assistant. He was previously employed by the former Phillips Cannery as a supervisor for several years and also George Collins Farms and Martin Johnson Farms.
Mr. Gunby was a former member of Morning Star Lodge 10, F&AM of Laurel.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Clementine Brown Carr.
He is survived by a son, Charles L. Gunby of Columbus, Ga.; a daughter, Barbara A. Hill of South Carolina; 19 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law Ruth Gunby; a devoted companion, Armelia Knox of Laurel; four foster children, Vandola Green, Eugene Green, Robert Knox and Vaughn Knox and several nieces and nephews.
Service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at New Zion U.M. Church in Laurel, where friends may call one hour prior to service.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Friday at the church.
Burial will be in St. Matthews Baptist Cemetery, Laurel.
Arrangements by Jolley Memorial Chapels, Salisbury.
Frances Wilson Truitt, 74
LEWES - Frances Wilson Truitt of Lewes died Monday, May 11, 1998, in Beebe Medical Center. She was 74.
Mrs. Truitt graduated from Bellwood Antis High School in 1931.
She lived in Levittown, Pa., for 29 years before moving to Lewes in 1983.
Mrs. Truitt was an avid gardener, enjoyed cooking, reading and had a true love for life. She was known for her unwavering support and unconditional love to those around her.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, James L. Truitt Jr.; nine children, James Truitt III of Redway, Calif., Michael Truitt of Georgetown, John Truitt of Santa Rosa, Calif., Leah Hoyt of Huntington, Pa., Mary Hensor of Petersburg, Pa., Emma Donovan of Milford, Margie Mattly of Santa Ynez, Calif., and Peter Truitt and Georgia Truitt, both of Lewes; 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial mass will be 11 a.m. Friday at St. Jude's Catholic Church, Lewes.
An entument will follow in Henlopen Memorial Park.
Contributions may be made to Delaware Kidney Fund.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 1449 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE 19958.
Sherman G. Stevenson Sr., 69
FELTON - Sherman G. Stevenson Sr. of near Felton died Thursday, May 14, 1998, in Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 69.
Mr. Stevenson was executive vice president of the Delaware Farm Bureau and a lobbyist. He retired in 1991 after 20 years. After retiring he continued to lobby for local governments.
He was in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and Korea.
Mr. Stevenson was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Frederica, and past member of Felton United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Delaware State Game and Fish Commission, State FFA adviser in 1991-'92, the American Legion, Walter L. Fox Post No. 2, Dover, and past commander and county commander of the W.A. Cortright Jr. Post No. 115, N.J. He was also a member of the Harvest Years Senior Center, Dover.
He is survived by his wife of six years, Charlotte; a son Sherman G. Stevenson Jr. of Middletown; five stepsons, Lawrence Shea of Japan, Daniel Shea, Scott Shea, both of Seaford, Michael Shea of Bridgeville, Joseph Shea of Houston; a daughter, Tammy Scheffer of Dover; three stepdaughters, Kathleen Harring and Linda Shea, both of Greenwood, and Jo Anne Myer of Bridgeville; three grandchildren, 15 step-grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
Service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Rogers Funeral Home, 301 Lakeview Ave., Milford.
Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Burial will be in Barratt's Chapel Cemetery, near Frederica.
Jacquelyn D. 'Jackie' Collick Christmas, 55
SMYRNA - Jacquelyn D. 'Jackie' Collick Christmas of Smyrna and formerly of Lewes died Wednesday, May 13, 1998.
Mrs. Christmas was born Feb. 24, 1943, in Lewes, the daughter of the late Martin 'Pete' Gouch and Sarah Collick.
She attended Lewes Junior High School, and later graduated from the William C. Jason High School, Georgetown.
She was employed for the last 19 years at the Smyrna Home and Hospital as a nursing assistant, retiring earlier this year.
Mrs. Christmas was member of St. Paul U.A.M.E. Church where she served on the senior church and kitchen committees.
She is survived by her husband, Dilland W. Christmas; two sons, Gregory Christmas and Dewayne Christmas of Smyrna; a daughter, Cynthia D. 'Cindy' Christmas of Smyrna; five grandchildren; four sisters, Carolyn J. Malone of Imperial Beach, Calif., Barbara A. Collick, Emily B. Faye Collick, both of Lewes, Sylvia L. Callick Brown of San Diego; a brother, Martin Downing of Farmington.
Service will be noon Saturday at St. Paul U.A.M.E. Church, Smyrna, where friends may call two hours prior to the service. Friends may also call 4-5 p.m. Saturday at the church, West Fourth Street, Lewes.
