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.
LEWES - Gregory Lewis Melson of Lewes died of heart failure Tuesday, May 19, 1998, in his home. He was 41.
Mr. Melson was a heating and air conditioning service technician.
He served in the U.S. Air Force and received the meritorious service award.
Mr. Melson was an artist, sculptor and enjoyed duck hunting and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Carl and Margaret Philips of Rehoboth Beach.
He is survived by two sons, Christian and Andrew Melson of South Portland, Maine; his parents, Eleanor and Robert Cordrey of Lewes, his father, Phillip H. Melson of Millsboro; two sisters, Margaret Landry of Sartoga Springs, N.Y. and Sandra Baker of Millsboro; four brothers, Christian P. Melson of Gaithersburg, Md., A. Page Melson of Lewes, Robert Cordrey Jr. of Millsboro and Dale Cordrey of Warner Robin, Ga.; his paternal grandmother, Mary P. Melson of Frankford; and his nieces and nephews, Kristen and Whitney Melson, Jacob and Rebecca Melson, Stacy, Kasi and Quinn Baker.
Service will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, Long Neck Road and Delaware 24, Long Neck, where friends may call one hour prior to service. The Rev. Charles Moyer will officiate.
Burial will be private.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions made to The American Liver & Hepatitis Foundation, 1425 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove, N.J. 07009.
Yolanda J. D'Antonio, 75
PRINCTON, N.J. - Yolanda J. D'Antonio of Princeton died of natural causes Tuesday, May 19, 1998, in Hospital at University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She was 75.
Mrs. D'Antonio was the daughter of the late Antonio and Grace Lisinichia.
She owned and operated East Wind Industries in Dover, Del., from 1966-1988.
In 1973, she started East Wind Manufacturing Factory in Trenton.
Mrs. D'Antonio is a former member of Trenton Country Club, Ocean City Yacht Club and Palm Beach Yacht Club.
She is survived by her husband, Mario R. D'Antonio; a son and daughter-in-law, John P. and Susan R. D'Antonio of Princeton; a daughter and son-in-law, Ann D'Antonio-Dry and Andrew Dry of Brooklyn Heights, N.Y.; two brothers, Peter and Anthony Lisinichia of Easton, Pa.; three sisters, Lena Larosa, Grace Lovenstein and Josephine Shelbo, all of Easton and five grandchildren.
Mass of Christian burial will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Aquinas Institute. Father Thomas Mullelly will officiate.
Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Friday at Mather & Hodge Funeral Home, 40 Vandeventer Ave., Princeton, N.J. 08542.
Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton, N.J.
Contribution may be made to Hands Together c/o Aquinas Ins. Library at Stockton, Princeton, N.J. 08540.
Norris Farlow, 59
WYOMING - Norris Farlow of Wyoming died Saturday, May 16, 1998, in Kent General Hospital. He was 59.
Mr. Farlow was born in 1938, in Dover, the son of the late Calvin and Elizabeth Farlow.
He attended White Oak School and Fork Branch School, Dover.
He served in the U.S. Army for four years.
Mr. Farlow was employed as a diesel mechanic for several different companies in the Dover area until he became disabled in 1993.
He was an active member at Crossroads Christian Church.
Mr. Farlow loved mechanical work and anything his hands could find to do. He also enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He always encouraged his wife to sing. One of his last fulfilled desires was to hear his wife singing in the church choir again.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Christine E. Cooper Farlow; two sons, Norris Jerome Farlow of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Keith Cooper of Wyoming; three daughters, Carla Black and Bridgett Vanderpool, both of Fort Lauderdale and Denise Miller of Lewes; two stepdaughters, Carla Mosely of Magnolia and Anna Wicks of Dover; his stepmother, Lillian Farlow of Dover; five brothers, Robert Farlow of Newark, Thomas, Mark, Marvin and Brian Farlow, all of Dover; two sisters, Eva Harris and Alice Crump of Dover; 16 grandchildren; five son-in-laws; eight brother-in-laws; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his church family.
Service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church, Queen and Fulton Streets, Dover, where friends may call two hours prior to the service.
Burial will be in Sharon Hill Cemetery, Dover.
Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.
Joseph A. Conway, 76
LAUREL - Joseph A. Conway of Laurel died of renal failure Sunday, April 26, 1998, in the Veterans Administration Hospital, Elsmere. He was 76.
Mr. Conway was born in Lewes.
He was a truck driver for Perdue Inc. in Salisbury, Md., retiring in 1987.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Mayme Brown Conway, in 1987.
He has no immediate survivors.
Graveside service will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in Friendship United Methodist Church Cemetery, County Road 306-A, Millsboro.
Friends may call from noon-1 p.m. Wednesday at Watson Funeral home, 211 Washington St., Millsboro. The Rev. Ervin Williams will officiate.
Edith Ann Jenkins, 93
FEDERALSBURG - Edith Ann Jenkins of Federalsburg died Saturday, April 25, 1998, in Mallard Bay Nursing Home, Cambridge. She was 93.
Mrs. Jenkins was born 1904, in Williamsburg, Dorchester County, the daughter of the late Eugene August and Annie Eliza McGlotten Holliday.
She attended elementary school at Skinners Run, Near Williamsburg and she graduated from the National School of Nursing. She also graduated from the Academy of Millinery Design Located in Little Fall, N.J., in 1940.
She was a cook for A B C Day Care in Federalsburg for 22 years.
Mrs. Jenkins joined Solomon's A.U.M.P. Church at an early age, where for the past 20 years, she taught the Adult Bible Class, was a member of the Senior Choir, a delegate of the A.U.M.P. Church Conference and Mother of the A.U.M.P. Conference. During her life, she lived in Thorofare, Atlantic City, N.J., and Philadelphia. While in Philadelphia, she was a member of Abyssinian Baptist Church. In 1950, she moved to Federalsburg and joined the Zion United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the usher board, Sunday school teacher, chairperson of the pastor aide and adult choir. She was also a member and secretary of the United Methodist Women. She was one of the originators and past president of the Community Civic League in Federalsburg. She was also a member of the Denton Senior Center, a past president of its site committee and was a charter member of the Federalsburg extension homemakers. Wherever she lived, she was active in churches and other civic organizations.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Jenkins.
She is survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Frampton Hawkins-Eskow Funeral Home in Federalsburg, where The Most Reverend Dr. Delbart L. Jackson, presiding bishop of the African Union Methodist Protestant Church and Connection, and the Rev. William Briggs will officiate.
Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Burial will be in the Federal Hill Cemetery.
Claudia K. 'Connie' Schmidt, 84
MAGNOLIA - Claudia K. 'Connie' Schmidt of Magnolia died Thursday, April 23, 1998, in Capital Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Dover. She was 84.
Mrs. Schmidt was born 1913, in Hughesville, Pa., the daughter of the late John and Lillie Collins Crossley.
She attended Bucknell University and graduated from Mansfield State College in Mansfield, Pa.
She lived in the Magnolia area for nearly 60 years.
Mrs. Schmidt worked for the state of Delaware as a public assistance administrator for the Division of Social Services, retiring in 1978 after 25 years of service.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, G. Hayes Keller, in 1955, her second husband, Richard Schmidt, in 1980, two brothers John and Jesse Crossley; and two sisters Pearl Crossley and Carmen Green.
She is survived by a sister-in-law Mary G. Crossley of Upper Black Eddy, Pa.; five nieces and a nephew.
Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Torbert Funeral Chapel, Reed and Bradford streets, Dover, where the Rev. Ron Wuest will officiate.
Burial will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Boalsburg Cemetery, Boalsburg, Pa.
Howard F. Smith, 75
GREENWOOD - Howard F. Smith of Greenwood died of cancer Sunday, April 26, 1998, in his home. He was 75.
Mr. Smith retired from farming in 1997.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
Mr. Smith had been a member of Todd's United Methodist Church, Greenwood.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene A. Smith, in 1992.
He is survived by a son, David B. Smith of Greenwood; a daughter, Nancy K. Smith of Greenwood; and two grandchildren.
Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Hardesty Funeral Home, 202 Laws St., Bridgeville.
Burial will be in St. Johnstown Cemetery, Greenwood.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to the Delaware Hospice, 600 DuPont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947.
William S. White Jr., 85
DOVER - William S. White Jr. of Dover and formerly of Frederica died Monday, April 27, 1998, in the Capital Health Care Center, Dover. He was 85.
Mr. White was born 1912, in Philadelphia, the son of the late William S. White Sr. and Ella Mosley White.
He was an Army captain during World War II.
After leaving the military, Mr. White was employed by Holland's Restaurant and Catering in Philadelphia. When in Delaware, he worked for Sears & Roebuck, where he was a serviceman, warehouse manager and a salesman in the furniture department.
He is survived by a son, Carey A. White of West Simsbury, Conn.; two daughters, Sidney W. Bacon of Cherry Hill, N.J., and Jean Harrison of Philadelphia; a brother, Horace White of Milford; a nephew, Horace White Jr. of New Hope, Pa.; and two granddaughters, Linden and Merrin.
Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Torbert Funeral Chapel, Reed and Bradford streets, Dover, where friends may call one hour prior to service.
Burial will be in John Wesley A.M.E. Church Cemetery, Thompsonville.
Bayard 'Frank' Watts, 71
MILLSBORO - Bayard 'Frank' Watts of Millsboro died of cardiac arrest Sunday, April 26, 1998, in Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. He was 71.
Mr. Watts was born 1926, in Smyrna, the son of the late Vernon and Hannah Watts.
He was a World War II veteran, joining the U.S. Navy in 1944. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with a Pacific Theater Ribbon, American Theater Ribbon, and a Victory Medal.
Mr. Watts was a master carpenter. He and his brother Ralph started the Watts Brothers Construction Co. in Middletown, and later the Watco Inc. in Newark, where he worked until 1988. He recently worked for Tunnell Communities part time.
He loved to fish, garden, and watch car races, old movies and Phillies baseball games on TV. He also took good care of his wife of 51 years, Annie Blanche Watts.
Mr. Watts was a former member of the American Legion and the VFW.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, John Franklin Watts Sr. of Marydel; a daughter, Deborah A. Thompson of Millsboro; two brothers, Ralph V. Watts of Newark and Harold B. Watts of Middletown; two grandsons, John Franklin Watts Jr. of Marydel and Brian Michael Watts of Wyoming; and a granddaughter, Kimberly Ann Eck of Wyoming.
Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Fleischauer Funeral Home, 48 W. Market St., Greenwood, where friends may call from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday. There will also be a graveside service at 1:30 p.m.
Burial will be in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.
Mary C. Rivera, 71
DOVER - Mary C. Rivera of Dover, died Friday, April 24, 1998, in Kent General Hospital. She was 71.
Mrs. Rivera was born in 1926, in Milford, the daughter of the late Bessie E. Vann and Theodore Bell.
She attended school in the Milford District.
Mrs. Rivera worked at Burris in Milford; King Cole of Milton and Torches of Milford.
She received her religious teaching at Bethel A.M.E. Church of Milford. She was a member of the Stewardess Board. She loved animals and fishing.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paulino Rivera; two brothers, Frank Vann and Amos Vann and a niece, Vanessa Brown.
She is survived by two sisters, Edith M. Vann of Dover and Lucille P. Allen of Milford; a multitude of relatives; nine nieces, Sylvia Bailey, Shamekia Horsey, Marilyn Fry, Linda Walters, Amy Brown, Beverly Weems, Valeria Brown, Dolores Wiggins and Shirley Owens; eight nephews, Donald Vann, Jerome Carey, Richard Brewington, Lawrence Horsey, Jessie Fitzgerald, Ramadan Bayyan, Craig and Bruce Brown and cousins and a host of friends.
The family will receive friends from 10-noon Saturday at Bethel A.M.E. Church, Milford. The service will be at noon.
Burial will be in Old Hickory Cemetery, Slaughter Neck.
