Delaware Obituary Collection
(Obits and death notices from Various Funeral Homes in Delaware [with many Maryland obits that are associated with Delaware]).
Many obituaries from Dover and Rehoboth Beach.
Raymond C. Wright
Raymond C. Wright, of Long Neck, and formerly of Falcroft, Pa., died Monday, April 24, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. He was 72.
He was a Navy veteran of World War II.
He was a foreman for 34 years, retiring in 1990.
He enjoyed boating and fishing.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Norma A. Wright; two sons, Raymond C. Wright Jr. of Brookhaven, Pa.; and David A. Wright of Sharon Hill, Pa.; two daughters, Linda Lee Pinciotti of Elverson, Pa.; and Sherri A. Conlan of Boothwyn, Pa.; a brother, Benjamin Wright of Hyattsville, Md.; three sisters, Kathryn Buchanan of Durham, N.C.; Marion Lee of Yancyville, N.C.; and Patricia Goode of Bowie, Md.; nine grandchildren; and a great-grandson.
Services were held at the Chapel of Melson Funeral Services in Long Neck.
Burial was private.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to the Salvation Army.
KENNETH BUSBEE, 67, of Georgetown, died of heart failure Wednesday, Aug. 9, a the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Busbee an auto mechanic at the Dover Air Force Base. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the Navy. He was a member of the American Legion Post 28 of Oak Orchard-Riverdale, Moose Lodge 646 of Lewes and the Cape Henlopen Elks.
He is survived by his companion of 16 years, Hazel Ragni, of Georgetown; a daughter, Roxann Reidel and her husband, John, of Lewes; two brothers, Harley Busbee of Niceville, Fla., and Harvey Busbee of Miami, Fla.; two sisters, Perrine Barlow of Columbus, Ga., and Mary Anton of Niceville; three grandchildren, Christina, Shannon and Jonathan; two great-grandchildren, Kenneth Jordan and Sara Elizabeth; and a grandson-in-law, Ronald Brzezicki.
Funeral services were held at the Chapel of Melson Funeral Services in Long Neck. Burial was in the Cool Spring Presbyterian Cemetery near Lewes.
DIANNA TOPPIN, 49, of Dover died Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000, at home. A funeral service will be held at noon Monday at Bennie Smith Funeral Home in Dover, where friends may call one hour before the service. Interment will be in Sharon Hill Memorial Gardens in Dover.
LAURA VIRGINIA BENSON, 79, of Harrington died Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2000, at Milford Memorial Hospital. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the New Pentecostal Church of God on Route 8 in Dover. A visitation will be held Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mount Moriah Church of the Living God. Arrangements are being handled by Bennie Smith Funeral Home in Dover.
KIMBERLEY CHANDLER DIGIACOMA, 44, of Rehoboth Beach, died Tuesday, Aug.8, at Christian Hospital in Newark.
Mrs. DiGiacoma was a graduate of Garnet Valley High School in 1975.
Survivors include her husband of 13 years, Mike J. DiGiacoma; two sons, Michael J. Jr. and Sean Michael; three step-daughters, Kellie DiGiacoma and Tiffani DiGiacoma, both of Linwood, Pa., and Chrissy DiGiacoma of Claymont; her parents, Ferris and Dorothy Martine Chandler of Boothwyn, Pa.; two brothers, Jeffery Chandler of Swedesboro, N.J., and Lance Chandler of Wilmington; one sister, Michele Cirineo of Boothwyn; several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held at the Marcus Hook Baptist Church in Linwood, Pa. Internment was private.
Donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
CLARISSA VAN DUZER, a resident of the Millsboro Nursing Home for the past four years, died Aug. 9, 2000 at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. She was 87.
Van Duzer, who was born in Walkill, N.Y., was the daughter of the late William and Inez Schultz Mitchell. Her father was a dairy farmer in Orange County, N.Y.
Her husband, Clarence Van Duzer, died in 1990. He had worked for many years for City Service Oil Co. and then for the Tydol Oil Co.
She is survived by a daughter, Beverly Bender of Millsboro; a son, Clarence Van Duzer Jr. of Little Falls, Tenn.; two brothers; a sister; seven grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Services and burial were private.
ZACHARY RYAN FOWLER, 2, of Milton, died Wednesday, July 28, of an accidental drowning at his home.
Zachary was born Oct. 28, 1997, in Lewes.
He is survived by his mother, Stephanie Ann Fowler, with whom he lived; his father, Robert B. Fowler of Dover; maternal grandparents Melvin and Gloria Fox of Milton; maternal grandparents Bill E. and Karen Miller of Cape Coral, Fla.; paternal grandparents Joyce and Clive Sadler of Dover; paternal grandparents William and Wanda Fowler of Woodside; maternal great-grandmother Ruth Zinsmeister of Milton; maternal great-grandmother Margaret Miller of Vanwert, Ohio; paternal great-grandparents Wilfred and Anna Whaley of Laurel; paternal great-grandmother Sara Arters of Bear; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were held at Watson Funeral Home in Millsboro. Interment was in the Cool Springs Presbyterian Church Cemetery near Milton.
The family suggests donations to defray funeral expenses to the account of Zachary R. Fowler c/o Watson Funeral Home, 211 Washington St., Millsboro, DE 19966.
IRENE WILLIAMS DICKERSON GRAHAM, 85, of Seaford died Sunday, Aug. 13, 2000, at Methodist Manor House in Seaford. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church in Laurel, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Interment will be held at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Laurel. Memorial contributions may be sent to Centenary United Methodist Church, PO Box 230, Laurel, Del. 19956; or Laubach Literacy, PO Box 131, Syracuse, N.Y. 13210. Arrangements are being handled by Short Funeral Home in Laurel.
ETHEL JEANETTE HARMON, 70, of Rehoboth Beach, died after a lengthy illness Wednesday, Aug. 2, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes.
Mrs. Harmon was a member of the usher board at Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, where she attended regularly with her children.
Survivors include, her husband of 17 years, Levin J. Harmon; two sons, Edward Brown of Frederica and George Miller of Lewes; two daughters, Edna Miller of Rehoboth and Sherrill Daisey of Felton; four step-children, Wanda Lewis of Milton, Walter Harmon, Vickie Harmon and Craig Harmon, all of Millsboro; two brothers, Melvin Brown and Benny Brown, both of Woodford, Va.; four sisters, Ruth Brown and Ella Brown of Pennsylvania, Bertha Minor of Richmond, Va., and Earlene Brown of Woodford; an aunt, Lulu Brown of Virginia; an uncle, Augustus Smith of Virginia; a son-in-law, Jan Daisey; two daughters-in-law, Ernestine Brown of Magnolia and Dorethea Miller of Smyrna; five brothers-in-law, Walter Harmon of Rehoboth, Walter Minor of Richmond, Wallace Brown of Woodford, and Cornell Draine and Thomas Draine of New Jersey; six sisters-in-law, Diane Mumford of Millsboro, Ruby Brown of Woodford, Allene Miller, Bernice Miller, Edna Harmon, and Blanche Tankford, all of Rehoboth; one goddaughter, Debbie Townes; 19 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, three special friends, Nanette Cunliffe, Lucille Hood and Gertrude Vann; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Funeral services were held at Welcome Full Gospel Holiness Church in Slaughter Neck. Burial was in Christ Church Cemetery in Harbeson.
ANDREW M. HICKMAN of Dagsboro died Aug. 8, 2000 at his home. He was 90. Hickman, who was born in Dagsboro, was the son of the late Charles W. and Hannah Adkins Hickman.
He was a self-employed farmer, retiring in 1972.
Hickman was a member of St. George’s United Methodist Church, Clarksville; the Doric Masonic Lodge No. 30, A.F.&A.M. in Millville; the Tall Cedars of Lebanon; the Delaware Consistory; and a past member of the Shriner’s Nur Temple in Wilmington.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Laura B. Chamberlain Hickman; a son, Charles J. Hickman of Selbyville; four daughters, Charlotte Jones of Millsboro, Janice Merritt of Dagsboro, Mary Daisey of Gumboro and Andrea Baird of Milton; a sister, Alva Varrato of Millsboro; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Masonic services were held Aug. 12 at the Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro, followed immediately by the funeral services. The Rev. Mike Hurley officiated. Burial was in the Dagsboro Redmen’s Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to either St. George’s United Methodist Church, Clarksville, DE 19970 or to Delaware Hospice, 600 DuPont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947.
AGNES A. HOLLAND, 74, of Selbyville died Monday, Aug. 14, 2000, at her home. A funeral service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Salem United Methodist Church in Selbyville. Interment will be held at Redmen's Cemetery in Selbyville. Friends may call today from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Hastings Funeral Home in Selbyville.
PEARL E. HILL, 75, of Lewes, died Saturday, Aug. 12, at Harbor Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center in Lewes, where she had also been a resident.
Mrs. Hill worked at the Cambridge Wire House from when she was 16 until her retirement in 1966. She loved fishing, her dogs and playing bingo. She was a member of New Castle Moose Lodge 1578.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard J. Hill, in 1965.
Survivors include her niece, Roberta J. Dickinson of Townsend; a sister, Lilly Gray of Seaford; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at Dorchester Memorial Park in Cambridge, Md., on Thursday, Aug. 17, at 11 a.m.
JAMES L. KLAAS of Ocean View, formerly of Alexandria, Va., died Aug. 10, 2000 at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. He was 56.
Klaas was a retired sergeant major in the U.S. Army and was the recipient of the Bronze Star while on tour of duty in Vietnam.
After retiring from the Army, he was a management consultant for Hay Systems, Inc., and an advisor for Adult Education in Fairfax County Public School Systems in Virginia.
Klaas was a member of Mason-Dixon V.F.W. Post 7234 at Quillen’s Point in Ocean View and was the commander of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-01 of South Bethany.
He is survived by his wife Patricia; two daughters, Patricia Klaas and Kimberly Estrada; and a granddaughter, Erica Estrada.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Ann’s Catholic Church on Aug. 14. Burial with full military honors was held at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
JOSEPH O. “JOE” MCCREADY of Georgetown died Aug. 8, 2000 at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes. He was 48.
McCready is survived by his wife, Joan McCready of Georgetown; a stepson, Russell Serman of Georgetown; two step-grandchildren; seven sisters and brothers, Eva Somers of Millsboro, Charlotte Holcomb of Edgewood, Md., Rue McCready Jr. of Salisbury, Md., Theresa Dean of Elkton, Va., Rena Wolford of Georgetown, Stevie McCready, Pat McCready of Salisbury, Md., and Regina Sterling of Fruitland, Md.; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Aug. 11 at the First Baptist Church of Georgetown. Burial was in Union Cemetery, Georgetown.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Delaware Hospice, Southern Division, Georgetown Professional Park, DuPont Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947.
CHARLES D. PARKER of Millsboro died Aug. 8, 2000 at the Millsboro Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was 81.
Parker, who was born in Millsboro, was the son of the late Lybran L and Hettie Davis Parker.
He was a retired self-employed farmer and carpenter.
Parker was a World War II Army veteran.
His wife, Elsie Wheatley Parker, died in 1973.
He is survived by two daughter, June Jones of Millsboro and Charlene Hubert of Georgetown; two grandchildren, Ashley Jones and Karen Brewington of Millsboro; and two great-grandchildren, Jake and Taylor Brewington of Millsboro.
Services were held Aug. 10 at the Watson Funeral Home, Millsboro. The Rev. Phyllis Walton officiated. Burial was in Millsboro Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Millsboro Little League, P.O. Box 1036, Millsboro, DE 19966 or to the Christian Storehouse Building Fund, P.O. Box 541, Georgetown, DE 19947.
BERTIE A. PHILLIPS of Millsboro died Aug. 6, 2000 at the Millsboro Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Millsboro. She was 86.
Phillips, who was born in Georgetown, was the daughter of the late Lorenzo and Virginia Littleton Vanderbilt.
She had worked as a waitress for many years.
She is survived by a son, Robert P. Tracy of Atlantic City, N.J.; and a brother, Layton Phillips of Viola; and a sister, Naomi Brown of Garden City, S.C.
A graveside service was held on Aug. 11 at the Millsboro Cemetery.
ANNE B. ROBERTS died Aug. 7, 2000 at the Berlin Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Berlin, Md. She was 74.
Roberts was born in Chester, Pa.
She was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George Roberts, in 1988 and by a daughter, Janice Williams, in 1984.
She is survived by a son, John P. Roberts of Selbyville; three grandchildren, Karen Roberts, Justin Roberts and Scott Roberts; and two nieces, Alice Robbins and Nancy Iacona.
A graveside service was held Aug. 10 in Sunset Memorial Park, Berlin.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Gerry Harrison, 337 Winters Quarters Drive, Pocomoke, MD 21851.
THELMA R. SMITH, Md., and formerly of Frankford passed away surrounded by her loving family on Aug. 13, 2000 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, Md. She was 74.
Smith was the daughter of the late James W. and Evelyn E. Truitt.
She retired from the State of Delaware’s Stockley Center so that she could care for her husband of 35 years, William R. Smith, who preceded her in death in 1986.
She was also predeceased by a brother, James A. Truitt, in 1986.
Truitt enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was a member of the Frankford United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her husband, Ollie Powell; three daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy and Robert Murray, Sandra and Dukie Dukes and Joann and Ricky Bacon; grandchildren, Robbie Murray and wife Denise, Kristen Lynch and husband John, Bryan and fiancé Dawn Mitchell and Tommy Bacon; great-grandchildren, Lauren Lynch, Billy Murray, Elizabeth Murray and Kalob Rickards; a sister, Margie Rust and husband Linford; a brother, Robert B. Truitt; stepdaughters Trudy Fitzhugh and Jeanne Cohee and their families; and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 16 from the Frankford chapel of Melson Funeral Services, Thatcher Street, Frankford, where friends may call after noon. Burial will be in Carey’s Cemetery, Frankford.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to either Frankford U.M. Church, Main Street, Frankford, DE 19945 or to the American Diabetes Association, 110 S. French St., Wilmington, DE 19805.
WALTER W. VINCENT, 88, of Laurel and formerly of Delmar, Md., died Monday, Aug. 14, 2000, at his home. A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Short Funeral Home in Delmar, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Interment will be held at St. Stephens Cemetery in Delmar.
MELVIN F. WIDOMSKI, 86, of Newark and formerly of Baltimore, died Friday, Aug. 4, 2000, at the home of his daughter. Burial was at Holy Cross Polish National Catholic Church in Baltimore.
FLORA M. HITCH, 90, of Seaford, died Friday, Sept. 8, 2000. A graveside service will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Odd Fellow's Cemetery in Laurel. Arrangements are being handled by the Cranston Funeral home in Seaford.
JUANITA D. “JIMMY” HITCHENS, 83, of Millsboro, died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2000, at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Watson Funeral Home in Millsboro. Friends may call after 6 p.m. Arrangements are being handled by Watson Funeral Home.
IRIS E. MASON, 54, of Bridgeville, died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2000, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford. A funeral service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Short Funeral Home in Laurel, where friends may call one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are being handled by Short Funeral Home in Laurel.
FLORENCE S. MUMFORD, 89, of Bethel, Del., died Friday, Sept. 8, 2000, at Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in Seaford. A graveside funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Carey's Cemetery near Laurel, Del. Friends may call Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Short Funeral Home in Laurel.
PRESTON G. SMITH, 78, of Selbyville, died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2000, at his home. A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Watson Funeral Home in Millsboro, where friends may one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are being handled by Watson Funeral Home in Millsboro.
J. MONROE TULL, 85, of Laurel, died Sunday, Sept. 10, 2000, at Lofland Park in Seaford. A graveside service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Laurel. Arrangements are being handled by Watson-Yates Funeral Home in Seaford.
HANNAH LOUISE WHITE, the infant daughter of Rick and Sara White of Bridgeville, died Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2000. Funeral and burial services will be private. Arrangements are being handled by Cranston Funeral Home in Seaford.
