New Castle County, Delaware Obituary and Death Notice Collection
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New Castle County, Delaware Obituary Collection
GenealogyBuff.com - New Castle County, Delaware Obituary Collection - 33
Posted By: GenealogyBuff Olaf Luther Brand Sovde
Olaf, son of Rev. O.O. Sovde D.O. and Olena Gordon Sovde, was born in LaCrosse, Wis. and grew up in Scandinavia, Wis. He was a graduate of Ripon College, where he studied drama, and after serving as a naval officer during WWII, he worked as a radio announcer and actor. He retired from his post as hearing officer with the California DMV in 1980.
Horses were his lifelong passion. He trained and exhibited Tennessee Walking horses for over 25 years. He loved jazz and appreciated high quality performance of all kinds. He loved all of nature and its creatures "great and small".
In addition to his parents, Olaf was preceded in death by his sister, Gladys Kahlenberg of Sarasota, Fla. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Gertrude Eleanor (Silberg) Sovde; his son, Eric J. Sovde; his daughter, Lisa J. Elias and her husband, John G.; his grandson, Greer E. Elias, all of Townsend; a granddaughter, Mya O. Elias of Philadelphia; two sisters, Alice Hebal and Evangeline Gregory, both of Waupaca, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews; as well as friends on both coasts. There was a memorial service at 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning, August 27 at the Daniels and Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 N. Broad St., Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Tristate Equine Adoption and Rescue, c/o the funeral home.
Elizabeth P. Weaver
She was the daughter of the late Jesse and Ann Marie Steele Walling. Betty was a dedicated wife, mother, sister, aunt and grandmother. She enjoyed traveling and playing bingo in her leisure time.
Mrs. Weaver was also preceded in death by her brother, James Walling. Survivors include her husband of 50 years, Francis; their children, Francis R. Weaver, and his wife, Sue, of Florida, and Richard W. Weaver, at home; sisters, Catherine "Kitty" Boyer, and her husband, John, of Delaware City, Jane Huff, and her husband, Delbert, of New Castle and Louise Walling, of Texas; aunt, Elizabeth "Libby" Thomas, of Kirkwood; and Betty's beloved granddaughter, Ashley Weaver. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Padmalingam and his dedicated nurse, Mary Ballance.
The funeral service and burial will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice, 3515 Silverside Road, Wilmington, DE 19810.
Barbara E. Weiss
Barbara was an administrative assistant for the State of Delaware Violent Crimes Compensation Board for more than 20 years. She enjoyed shopping, crafts, sewing and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, James D. Weiss, and his wife, Kathy, of Austin, Texas, Lawrence W. Weiss, and his wife, Michele, Thomas J. Weiss, Lynne M. Nickel, and her husband, Tom, all of Wilmington, Christopher S. Weiss, and his wife, Becky, of Townsend; her sister, Hilda Skomorucha, of Harbeson; her brother, William E. Savery, of Bethany Beach; and five grandchildren, Lawrence W. Jr., and Sara Weiss, and Lauren, Steven and Jacquelyn Nickel.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, Aug. 19, at St. John the Beloved Church. Entombment was in Cathedral Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 100 W. 10th St., Suite 209, Wilmington, DE 19801.
Doreatha I. Hampton
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Deacon Cornell Hampton Sr.; six children, Cornell Hampton Jr., Tracey Hampton, Theola Henry, Doris Dike, Velma Speight and Chris Hampton; and a host of grandchildren. She leaves to grieve two sisters, Rachel Johnson, of Townsend, and Harriet Brown, of Atlanta, Ga.; two brothers, Theodore Meade, of Wilmington, and James Meade, of Dover; great aunt, Roberta Graves; beloved friend, Imogene Bryant; and a host of nieces and nephews.
A service was held Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Middletown. Interment was in Pinetree Cemetery.
Linda E. Cramer
She attended Middletown High School and the University of Delaware for one year, and received an associate's degree in accounting from Goldey-Beacom College. She worked for the Hercules Country Club/Delaware National Country Club for 26 years. She was a member of the Sweet Adeline's singing group for five years. She loved all kinds of music, especially The Beatles.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Eugenia Smith; her father, Henry McCorkle Smith; and her brother, Henry James Smith. Survivors include her beloved daughter, Jennifer Ethelyn Cramer, of Seattle, Wash.; her sister, Dorothy Robbins, of Yorklyn; and her brothers, David Smith, and his wife, Pat, of St. Georges, Paul Smith, and his wife, Cathy, of Mt. Airy, Md., Michael Smith, of Hockessin, and Timothy Smith, and his wife, Deidre, of Hockessin. Linda adored children and was lovingly practicing for grandmotherhood with her nieces and nephews, Kyle, Daniel and Megan Smith and Elana and Maya Montejo. She will be sadly missed by all who have been blessed to know her.
Services will be private at the request of the family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Francis Hospital, 7th and Clayton streets, Wilmington, DE 19805.
Frank J. Clark
Frank was a lab technician for Alloy Surfaces Company, in Chester, Pa. for the past 40 years. He was a marine veteran. Frank enjoyed fishing and hunting.
Frank was preceded in death by his longtime companion, Margaret Betts. Survivors include his brother and sister-in-law, Les and Carol Clark of New Castle; aunt, Lillian Stevenson and her husband, Allen of New Castle; nephew, Les Clark, Jr. and his wife, Kim of Townsend; niece, Lynn Bennett and her husband, Robert of Millsboro and cousins.
Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25, at Nichols-Gilmore Funeral Home, 212 E. Justis St., Newport, where visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 24. Interment will be at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bear.
The family suggests contributions in Frank's memory to the Memorial and Honor Program, St. Jude Children s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.
Ruby L. Keeler
Mrs. Keeler was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother throughout her life.
She is survived by her husband of 57 years, William R. Keeler; two daughters and two sons-in-law, Ruby and Mark Schaeffer of Smyrna and Diane Iverson and Steve of Camden; five granddaughters, Melanie Ballard, Candace Simonini, Cristina Rawley, Tara Ward and Stephanie Iverson; two grandsons, Clay Schaeffer and Mark Schaeffer; six great-grandchildren; a brother, John Dilks of North Carolina; and two sisters, June Dixon of Wilmington and Joan Walsh of Ocean View.
Services were held on Aug. 19 at Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home LLC, Middletown.
Burial was private.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Delaware Hospice, Inc., 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
Alice Marie Laber
Mrs. Laber was born on June 22, 1928, in Chester, Pa., daughter of the late Harry and Julia (Stropski) Miller.
During the illness of her husband, she moved to Middletown to be closer to her family.
Mrs. Laber was a homemaker who lived her life for her grandchildren and family.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of more than 50 years, Lawrence M. Laber, Sr., in March of 2001.
She is survived by two daughters and two sons-in-law, Kim and Joe Polifroni of Middletown and Paula and Everett O dell of Snow Camp, N.C.; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Lawrence M. Larry Laber Jr of Newark and Charles Chuck and Sue Laber of Brandenton, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and a great-granddaughter due in October.
Memorial services were Aug. 21, at Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home LLC, Middletown.
Burial was private.
Memorial contributions may be made to Regal Heights Health Care, c/o Alzheimer s Unit, 6525 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707.
Sandra Lea Dougherty Garrett Lang
Mrs. Dougherty was born on Aug. 27, 1963, the daughter of the late Marlene Waclo and Daniel Dougherty.
She graduated from William Penn High School.
Mrs. Dougherty was a NASCAR fan and enjoyed cooking. She was a devoted and loving wife and mother.
She is survived by her father and stepmother, Daniel and Shirley Dougherty of Bear; her husband, Dennis J. Lang Sr. of Townsend; two daughters at home, Amanda M. Lang and Cortney L. Lang; three stepchildren, Dennis J. Lang Jr., Christina M. Sluder and Melissa A. Evans; seven grandchildren, Skylar Lang, Xena Lang, Harley Lang, Richard Sluder, Cassidy Sluder, Kelly Talmud and Tabitha Talmud; a sister, Deborah Nichols; a brother, Sean Dougherty; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held Aug. 22 at Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home LLC, Middletown.
Burial was in Old Drawyer s Cemetery, Odessa.
Contributions may be made to Dennis J. Lang, Sr., c/o Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home LLC, P. O. Box 126, Middletown, DE 19709-0126.
Gloria H. Cook Maple
Mrs. Maple was born on March 2, 1934, in Kent County, Md., daughter of the late James and Martha Hackett Cotton.
She was raised on Money Point Farm in Earleville, Md., where she worked as a cook for the Decker s.
Mrs. Maple was a member of the New Christian Chapel of Love, Big Woods.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Wilson Daniel Maple; two daughters, Gloria Robin Maple and Onamae Cotton; a brother, James JR Cotton; and sister, Deanna Cotton.
She is survived by four sons and three daughters-in-law, Wilson D. Maple of Chestertown, Md., Gary and Robin Maple of Warwick, Md., David and Leona Maple of Elkton, Md., and James and Joalice Maple of Newark; a brother, Charles Cotton of Worton, Md.; two sisters, Doris Murray and Eleanor Cotton, both of Elkton; 16 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Services were held Aug. 19 at in the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, Galena, Md.
Burial was private.
Estelle Swerdlow
Mrs. Swerdlow was born on Dec. 10, 1927, in Bronx, N.Y., daughter of the late Paul and Anna Goldberg.
She lived in Philadelphia with her husband, Alvin, for many years. They moved to Odessa a few years ago to be close with their daughter, Wendy O Connor.
Mrs. Swerdlow was a retired market researcher.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Alvin.
She is survived by two daughters and two sons-in-law, Denise Dee and Steven Smith of Philadelphia and Wendy and Thomas O Connor of Odessa; four grandchildren Jaime, Andres, Jennifer and Sean; and a great-grandson, Benjamin.
The family wished to extend a personal thanks to a wonderful staff at Broadmeadow Nursing Home.
Services were held Aug. 22 at Goldsteins Rosenbergs Raphael-Sacks Suburban North, Southampton, Pa.
Burial was in Roosevelt Memorial Park.
Shiva will be observed at the home of Denise and Steven Smith and at the home of Wendy and Thomas O Connor.
Memorial contributions may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice, 5610 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19808-5004.
Melissa L. Miller
Mrs. Miller was born in Florence, daughter of Randy and Barbara Gayle Holloman Lynch. She was formerly employed by Francis Marion University, attended Friendship United Methodist Church and was a member of the Florence Moose Lodge.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Hoyt and Elizabeth Lynch, and Dewey and Ruby Holloman.
She is survived by her husband, William Wesley Miller of Florence, formerly of Odessa; two children, Courtney A. Miller and Randolph Wesley Bubba Miller, both of Florence; her parents, Randy and Gayle Holloman Lynch of Florence; a sister, Ruby Elizabeth Missy (Everett) McMillian of Florence; and her mother- and father-in-law, Bill and Connie Miller of Odessa.
Funeral services and burial were held Sunday, Aug. 18 in Florence.
Edwin J. Butch Crookshank
He served in the United States Army. Following his discharge from the armed services, he was employed as a long-distance truck driver for more than 30 years. He enjoyed country music, cats and collecting things.
He was preceded in death by his father, Edwin W. Crookshank.
He is survived by his daughter, Tina Koller of Calif.; a son, Richard Crookshank of Macon, Ga.; two granddaughters; his mother, Faye L. Crookshank of Middletown; a sister, Nancy Lasko of Middletown; three brothers, Jack Crookshank of Newark, William Crookshank of Wilmington and David Crookshank of Fla.; and numerous aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services were held Aug. 19 at Daniels and Hutchison Funeral Home, Middletown.
Interment was in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Middletown Baptist Church Building Fund, 419 Armstrong Corner Rd., Middletown, DE 19709.
Dorothy Banavage
Mrs. Banavage worked at the Blue Ridge Textile Plant in Middletown from 1951 to 1957. She had also worked at the Hollywood Diner in Wilmington Manor as a waitress.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Roger O. Cannon in 1982; and her second husband, Edward P. Banavage.
She is survived by a son, Roger O. Cannon (Ruby) of Earleville, Md.; a daughter, Jeanne C. Galloway (James) of West Columbia, S.C.; five sisters, Lorraine Martine of Wilmington, Beatrice Toomey of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Betty Schiavo of Lancaster, Pa., Marion Simpkins of Zephyrhills, Fla. and Mary Gold of Naples, Fla.; four grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.
Services will be held Aug. 22 at 1 p.m. in the Daniels and Hutchison Funeral Home, 212 N. Broad St., Middletown, where friends may call from noon to 1 p.m.
Interment will be in the Forest Cemetery, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Middletown Baptist Church Building Fund, 419 Armstrong Corner, Rd., Middletown, DE 19709
James H. Wilson, Jr.
Mr. Wilson retired from the county police after 20 years of service as a senior sergeant. He was formerly a Wilmington firefighter, presently a maintenance supervisor for H. David Luger, and a member of Victory Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Holly J. Wilson; daughters, Deborah L. Wilson of Newark, Susan L. DiRusso (Mark) of Middletown; a son, Stephen T. McElwee, Jr. of Wilmington; his brothers, Barry Wilson of Wilmington, Howard Wilson of Middletown, Jeff Wilson of Elkton, Md. and Terry Wilson of Newark; sisters, Marjorie Davis of Smyrna, Carole Burgess of Bear and Brenda Hinderer of Newark; his mother, Marjorie Wilson; and grandchildren, Gabrielle and Zachary.
He was predeceased by his father, James H. Wilson, Sr. in 1997; and his son, James H. Wilson, III in 1993.
Funeral services were held Thursday Aug. 15. Burial was in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.
Margery Peterson Parker Bergen
Margery was born in 1924 in San Pedro, Calif. to Luella Hansen and C. Leo Peterson. Soon after her birth, her family returned to their home in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she remained until she married Robert E. Parker in 1944.
Marge and Bob relocated to the suburbs of Chicago, Ill., where they lived until 1968 when Bob was transferred to Wilmington. In 1976, Bob died after a short illness. Marge was married for a second time in 1984 to Robert Bergen. In 1991, Marge and Robert retired to Salt Lake City, Utah, where a part of Marge's heart had always remained. Sadly, Robert died in 1997.
Marge returned to the East Coast in 2000 and lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Glenn Fleming and their daughters, Katie and Megan of Holland, Pa. until her death.
Marge is also survived by daughter and son-in-law, Kathryn and Robert Hoch of Elk Grove Village, Ill.; son and daughter-in-law, Christopher and Grace Parker of Middletown; daughter and son-in-law, Lee and Roger Nickle of Seaford; grandchildren, Stephen, Tom, Christian and Karin Hoch, Catherine and Laura Parker, Kirstin and Matthew Nickle; her brothers, Robert, Richard, Garth, Donald and Gary, all of Salt Lake City, Utah; two great grandchildren; stepchildren, Robert Bergen (Roxanne) of Wilmington, Eilene Maier (Joseph) of Hockessin, James Bergen of Wilmington; step-grandchildren, Tonya and Joe Maier of Wilmington; and numerous nieces and nephews who loved her and will miss her.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, Aug. 17 at the St. John United Methodist Church, 820 Almshouse Rd., Ivyland, PA. Marge's final resting place will be over the Utah mountains she so loved.
Edna May Gale
Edna was employed in the children and youth services department of the State of Delaware.
Her son, Carl A. Gale, preceded her in death. She leaves behind her parents, Florence Rose and Lacy Rose; four children, Patricia Gale-Madric of Baltimore, Md., Robin Gale-McManus of Middletown, James Gale of Newark, Steven Gale of Wilmington; 19 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; son-in-law, Kevin McManus; her longtime friend, George Moore; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and other friends.
The funeral service was held on August 19 at The House of Wright Mortuary, Wilmington. Interment was in Gracelawn Memorial Park.
Virgie B. DiOrrio
Mrs. DiOrrio was born in Claremont, W.V., wife of the late Thomas J. DiOrrio of Wilmington and daughter of the late Haze and Bessie Sears of Wilmington. She had been retired from the Acme Meat Cutters Union.
She is survived by her son Ralph F. DiOrrio, Sr. (Marie), with whom she lived; a sister, Violet Paoli of Wilmington; a brother, Charles Sears; three grandsons, Ralph F. DiOrrio, Jr. (Kimberly) of Middletown, Damien M. DiOrrio (Catie) of New Castle, and Daniel J. DiOrrio of Wilmington; and two great grandchildren, Nicholas and Alexis.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Aug. 21 in the Chapel of Gracelawn Memorial Park. Interment was in the adjoining memorial park.
Tara Elaine Bostic
Tara had just completed her sophomore year at William Penn High School in New Castle. She had been a manager for both the girls volleyball team and the swim team at William Penn for the past two years.
She is survived by her parents, Michael A. & Karen F. (Wirt) Bostic of New Castle; two brothers, Ryan M. Bostic and Joshua D. Bostic; two sisters, Autumn M. Bostic and Andrea M. Bostic, all at home; maternal grandparents, Eleanor and Ronald Roat of Kennett Square, Pa; and paternal grandparents, Daniel and Darlene Bostic of Middletown.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, August 23, 2002, at Asbury United Methodist Church, 300 E. Basin Rd., New Castle. Interment will follow in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear. Friends may call 5-8 p.m., Thursday, August 22, 2002 at the SPICER-MULLIKIN FUNERAL HOME, 1000 N. DuPont Pkwy., Wilmington Manor, New Castle.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, 1601 Concord Pike, #78, Wilmington, DE, 19803 (658-9474).
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