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.
Services for Claire D. LeClaire, 91, of Dover were privately held. Mr. LeClaire died Sunday, Aug. 4, 2002, in Westminster Health Center, Dover.
He was born Aug. 26, 1910, in Huron, S.D., son of the late Peter and Kathryn Hanson LeClaire.
Mr. LeClaire was an industrial chemist.
After obtaining his Ph.D. in chemistry, he worked on a Firestone project at Mellon Institute in Pittsburgh, and later on a synthetic rubber project at Firestone in Akron, Ohio. He worked at 3M in Minneapolis, and then came to Dover to work first at International Latex, and then at Reichhold Chemical, where he worked for 20 years, retiring at age 65.
He was an emeritus member of the American Chemical Society, belonging for 63 years. He was also a member of the Theosophical Society and the Society and the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Alumni Association.
His favorite charities included St. Joseph’s Indian School of Chamberlain, S.D. and the Salvation Army.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margot LeClaire on Feb. 26, 1999.
He is survived by three nephews, Steven LeClaire of Prosser, Wash., Gary Larson of Marina Del Rey, Calif., and Keith Larson of Escondido, Calif.; three nieces, Kathy Geyer of Los Osos, Calif., Diane LeClaire of North Hollywood, Calif., and Pam Wendt of Angels Camp, Calif.
Arrangements were by Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming.
Lena J. Miller
Services for Lena J. Miller, 68, of Hartly, were held Saturday, Aug. 10, at the home of John M. Miller, Dover. Mrs. Miller died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2002, in her home.
She was born June 14, 1934, in Dover, daughter of the late Jonas I. Yoder and Mattie King Miller.
She was a homemaker.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a son and four grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Abner J. Miller; six sons and three daughters, Mattie of Wyoming, Ammon of Fillmore, N.Y., Lydia of Fredonia, Pa., Jonas of Hartly, Rudy of Hartly. Alva of Wyoming, Sadie of Hartly, Johnny of Fillmore, N.Y., and Allen of Hartly; seven brothers, a sister, 76 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover.
Frances Louise Smith
Funeral services for Frances Louise Smith, 76, of Dover, will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Baumeister, Orcutt & Small Mortuary Inc., South Queen at Jackson Street, York, Pa., where friends may call at noon. Mrs. Smith died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002, at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
She was born Sept. 19, 1925 in York, Pa., daughter of Walter and Margaret Hess Kaufmann.
Mrs. Smith attended William Penn High School in York and spent several seasons as a counselor at Girl Scout Camp. She worked for several years at York Telegraph and Telephone Company in the Controllers Office.
In July 1949, she married Harold Smith, her husband of 53 years. They moved to Dover in 1966, after he was appointed Deputy Chief of Procurement at Dover Air Force Base.
Mrs. Smith was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church if Dover. She also loved to travel.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Mark Smith and his wife, Barbara, of Dover; a grandchild, Shelby Lee Smith; and cousins; Ned and Nancy Kaufmann of York.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Albert J. Steveskey, 81, of Dover and Rehoboth, will be offered at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug.15, at St. Casmir Church, Elmira, N.Y. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Kalec Funeral Home, 705 E. Church St., Elmira. Mr. Steveskey died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002, at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
He was born in Ashland, Pa., son of the late Thomas and Anna Marmus Steveskey.
Mr. Steveskey was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He worked as an x-ray technician of steel for the American Bridge Works, which was a division of U.S. Steel, until his retirement in 1975.
He was a former member of the Nocturnal Adoration Society, was an avid fisherman and enjoyed woodworking.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary Potchadlo Steveskey of Dover; one daughter, Linda M. Steveskey of Dover; two brothers, William of Binghamton, N.Y., and Charles of Auburn, N.Y.; two sisters, Eleanor Beaudette of Endwell, N.Y., and Dorothy Stratton of Norwich, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial will be in S.S. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Elmira.
Local arrangements were by the Funeral Home of Michael J. Ambruso, Dover.
Edward N. Thomas
Services for Edward N. Thomas, 65, of Hartly, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at Melvin Funeral Home, 15522 S. DuPont Highway, Harrington, where friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14. Mr. Thomas died of complications of cancer Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
He was born in Quantico, Md., son of the late Haywood Sanford and Nannie Mae Thomas.
He worked for various construction firms as a carpenter.
His favorite pastimes included fishing, which he thoroughly enjoyed, coin collecting and watching local horse races. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and spoiling his grandchildren.
Mr. Thomas attended Missionary Baptist Church and enjoyed fellowshipping with his many church friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Edward N. Thomas Jr.; and a brother, Ronald Thomas.
He is survived by his wife, Edna Mae Dorrell-Thomas of Hartly; a son, Robert Anthony Thomas of Delmar, Md.; five stepchildren, Audrey Bennett of Townsend, John Edward Dorrell of New Castle, Brenda McCleary of Elkton, Md., Franklin Dorrell of Wilmington and Christina Swoboda of Easton, Md.; three brothers, Alfred Thomas of Delmar and Richard Thomas and Haywood Thomas, both of Salisbury, Md.; a sister, Gladys Carey of Delmar; 21 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Services for Alice Marie Thompson, 66, of Dover, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, in the Padgett Funeral Home, 1107 State Highway 77, Upper Deerfield Township, N.J., where friends may call one hour earlier. Ms. Thompson died unexpectedly Friday, Aug. 9, 2002, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover, where she had been a patient for two weeks.
Ms. Thompson was born in Fairfield Township, N.J., daughter if the late Jeremiah and Martha Pierce Thompson.
She had been a Dover resident for 15 years, and prior to that, had resided in Fairfield Township most of her life.
Before her retirement two years ago, Ms. Thompson had been a teacher at both Cumberland County Vocational Technical Center in New Jersey and at the Sussex County Vocational School in Delaware, and also had been a caregiver to the elderly in her area of residence. She also had formerly owned and operated Alice’s Beauty Shop in Fairfield Township.
Ms. Thompson enjoyed crafts, cooking, gardening and traveling. She was a devoted mother as well.
She was a member of Bridgeton High School class of 1955, the Lions Club and Modern Maturity Club of Dover.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 20 years, Donald Fisher Sr.
She is survived by a son, Donald Fisher Jr. of Fairfield Township; five sisters, Roseila Thompson of Bridgeton, N.J., Linda Loatman of Hopewell Township, N.J., and Flora Fisher, Mary Rice and Irene Hoover, all of Fairfield Township; two brothers, Jeremiah Thompson Jr. and Charles Thompson, both of Fairfield Township; a grandson, Donald Fisher III of Fairfield Township; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Burial will be in Gouldtown Memorial Park, Fairfield Township.
Brig. Gen. Fred William Vetter (USAF, Ret.)
Funeral services for retired Brig. Gen. Fred William Vetter, 80, of Dover, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Carpenter Memorial Chapel (Chapel No. 2), Dover Air Force Base, Old Base Housing. Gen. Vetter died of a stroke Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Following the services, burial with full military honors will take place at Lakeside Cemetery, North State Street, Dover.
He was born Aug. 13, 1921, in Snohomish, Wash., son of Fred Jacob and Elisabeth H. Heveth Vetter. Gen. Vetter held a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.
Gen. Vetter was a command pilot with over 14,000 flying hours and flew combat missions in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was one of the youngest officers promoted to colonel in the history of the Air Force, and held 32 military and civilian decorations.
Early in his career, Gen. Vetter commanded the 1st Pilotless Bomber Group, the Air Force’s first nuclear equipped missile unit deployed overseas, and designed the badge worn today by all Air Force missilemen.
A former military assistant to Secretary of Defense Harold Brown, he was sent to Dover in 1968 from the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C. to rebuild and modernize Dover Air Force Base in preparation for the arrival of the C-5 Galaxy aircraft.
A strong advocate of good relations between Dover AFB and the surrounding community, he initiated a base open house and air show called a Salute to Delaware, which has now become an annual summer tradition.
Following his retirement from the Air Force in 1970, Gen. Vetter was appointed by Gov. Russell W. Peterson as Delaware’s first Secretary of Public Safety. Following this, he became president and CEO of two Rockwell corporations.
In 1976, he returned to Washington, D.C. to serve as associate administrator in the U.S. Department of Transportation. While there, he initiated a host of improvements in highway safety, including the early efforts to reduce drunk driving.
Gen. Vetter was a nationally recognized authority on vehicle safety and energy conservation, and was selected by President Jimmy Carter to head the National 55 Mph Speed Limit Implementation Program.
He was an avid skeet and sporting clay shooter and was a State Senior and Veteran State Skeet Champion. The skeet ranges at Dover AFB have been named in his honor. Gen. Vetter was an active hunter and trout angler, as well as a sports writer, a member of the African Safari Club, the International Explorers Club, the Daedalians 42nd Flight at DAFB, the VFW and a Life Member of the NRA.
A restorer of classic Mercedes cars, he also was a member of the Mercedes Benz Club of North America’s Vintage Car Committee.
Gen. Vetter was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis M. White Vetter, on May 15, 1995.
He is survived by a daughter, Jacqueline M. Kujawski of Clayton; a granddaughter, Jacqueline C. King of Midlothian, Va.; and two great-granddaughters.
Arrangements were by Trader Funeral Home, Dover.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Kent County SPCA and Delaware Hospice are suggested.
Note: friends and family of Brig. Gen. Vetter are invited to attend the funeral services at Dover AFB. Due to security concerns, a friend of the family will be available at the gate to assist.
Anna E. ‘Aunt Anna’ Crossan
A Requiem Eucharist for Anna E. Crossan, 100, of Elderwood Village, Dover, was held Monday, June 10 at Christ Episcopal Church, Dover. Mrs. Crossan, formerly of Wilmington and Hack’s Point, Md., died June 4, 2002, in Silver Lake Center.
Mrs. Crossan was born in Hillsboro, Md., daughter of the late Harry D. and Mary Elizabeth Roe Connolly.
She attended Beacom Business College, graduating in 1918, and then worked for the Wilmington Trust Company for 42 years in the general ledger department, She retired in 1960.
Her hobbies included sewing, photography and gardening.
Mrs. Crossan was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church for 82 years and also attended St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Earleville, Md., and Christ Church in Dover.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, William H. Crossan, in 1972, after 47 years of marriage.
Mrs. Crossan is survived by a niece, Connie Hoffman of Hershey, Pa.; a nephew, Lloyd Alexander of Camden; three grandnieces; two grandnephews and four great-grandnephews.
Her foster family included members of the Lillian Cross family: Frances Cross Hanby of Lewes; Edith Cross Hahn and Anna Cross Spencer of Wilmington; Doris Cross Wiberg of Rehoboth Beach; and numerous others.
Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover.
James R. Hewes Jr.
Services for James R. Hewes Jr., 69, of Smyrna, were held Tuesday, June 4, at Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home, Middletown. Mr. Hewes died of an apparent heart attack, Friday, May 31, 2002, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
He was born Dec. 24, 1932, in Chesapeake City, Md., son of the late James R. Hewes Sr. and Jessie May Hewes.
Mr. Hewes was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, where he served as an ambulance driver and medic.
He retired in 1988 after 32 years with the Chrysler Corp.
Mr. Hewes loved working in his garden, hunting and fishing in his spare time.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Sally Hewes; three children and the spouses of two, Louise and Terry Holt of Milford, Steven Hewes of Dover and Susan and William Ball of Aston, Pa.; a brother, Frank Hewes of Townsend; two sisters, Glenda Dutton of Clayton and Mary Ella Argo of Hartly; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Holt, Willie Ball and Angela “Angelo” Ball; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services for Diana McElroy Hunt, 41, of Dover, were held Wednesday, June 5, at Immanuel Apostolic Church, south of Felton, with Elder Arthur G. Carney officiating. Ms. Hunt died Thursday, May 30, 2002, in her home.
She was born July 3, 1961, in Dade County, Fla., daughter of Maggie Love and the late David McElroy.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by a daughter, Yetaka Y. McElroy; a son, Rudolph T. McElroy; a brother; six sisters; and two grandchildren.
