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 Helen S. Engle, 78, of Tampa, Fla., formerly of Smyrna, were held Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the Gracelawn Memorial Park Chapel, Minquadale. She died of natural causes Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, in St. Joseph Hospital, Tampa, where she had resided with her niece.
She retired after 30 years of teaching, many of which were spent at schools at Dover Air Force Base.
Mrs. Engle was preceded in death by her husband, Charles A. Engle.
She is survived by her family in Florida and Delaware.
Burial was in Gracelawn Memorial Park.
Arrangements were by Daniels & Hutchison Funeral Home, Middletown.
Thelma Fisher
Services for Thelma Fisher, 43, of Dover, were held Friday, Nov. 15, at Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover. Ms. Fisher died of natural causes Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002, in Green Valley Pavilion, Smyrna.
She was born June 26, 1959, daughter of Frances Fisher of Dover and the late Carlas Drain.
Ms. Fisher loved her family and friends.
In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by an aunt, Thelma Elizabeth Fisher; and her great-aunt, Libby Prattis.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by two daughters, Shana Fisher of Greensboro, Md., and Latonea Fisher of Dover; three sisters, Jacqueline Fisher, Frances Fisher and Martha Fisher, all of Dover; a brother, Edward Fisher of Dover, and two grandchildren, Tyresse Fisher Baynard and Robbieona Fisher of Dover.
Mrs. Fisher is also survived by two nieces, Brittley Fisher and Miranda Thomas; three nephews, Richard Armfield, Dylan Fisher and Jamera Fisher, all of Dover; her grandmother, Elizabeth Sullivan of Dover; an aunt, Shirley Tribbit of Wilmington; three uncles, Leon Fisher, Frankie Bridge and Raymond Fisher and his wife, Dorothy, all of Dover; a great-aunt, Lottie Kellson of Dover; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" Harris
Services and burial for Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” Harris, 98, of Delaware City, were held privately. Ms. Harris died of natural causes Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, in Gov. Bacon Health Center, Delaware City.
She was born Aug. 3, 1904, in Star Hill, near Dover, daughter of the late Fletcher and Martha Harris.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by nine sisters and a brother.
She is survived by a niece, Jeanette A. Steele of Dover; a nephew, Donald A. Jones of New Castle; and several devoted friends who feel that their lives were enriched by knowing her, Shirley M. Holloway of Dover, Lenora H. Seaborn of Detroit and Fern and Isaac Byrd of Arlington, Va.
Arrangements were by Minus Funeral Home, Dover.
Edna Rebecca "Betty" Pinder Hill
Services for Edna Rebecca “Betty” Pinder Hill, 77, of Dover, were held Tuesday, Nov. 19, in Full Gospel Church, Clayton. Mrs. Hill died after a long illness Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002, in her home.
Mrs. Hill lived on Maryland’s Eastern Shore until 1968, when she moved to Delaware. She had lived in the Dover-Smyrna area ever since.
She worked as a foster grandmother at the Major George S. Welch Elementary School on Dover Air Force Base before her retirement in 2001.
Strong religious beliefs, the love of her family and a keen sense of humor saw her through life’s trials and tribulations and sustained her in her final days.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Kemp Hill Sr., in 1973, and a son, Lawrence “Bucky” Hill Jr., in 1996.
She is survived by five daughters, Shelia Lomax and her husband, Jerry of Townsend, Theresa Fisher and her husband, Clem of Camden, Becky Jewell and her husband, Donnie of Centreville, Md., Kristan Adkins and her husband, Frank of Smyrna, and Marchelle Adams and her husband, Rich of Felton.
Mrs. Hill is also survived by two sons, James Hill and his wife, Angela of Felton and Clinton “Gene” Hill and his wife, Joy of Hartly; a stepson, Warren Hayes and his wife, Elaine of Piedmont, Okla.; a grandson, Lee Hill, whom she raised, and his fiancée, Apryl Snow of New Castle; six additional grandsons; nine granddaughters; numerous great-grandchildren; a dog, Tinker; and a cat, Pretty Boy.
Arrangements were by Berry-Short Funeral Home, Felton.
Willard A. Ingersoll
Services for Willard A. Ingersoll, 59, of Hartly, were held Friday, Nov. 15, at Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover. Mr. Ingersoll died Monday, Nov. 11, 2002, in the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia.
George R. Alphin
Celebration of Life services for George R. Alphin, 84, of Bonita Springs, Fla., will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, in Torbert Funeral Chapel, 61 S. Bradford St., Dover. Mr. Alphin died Sunday, Aug. 4, 2002, in Genesis Healthcare, Milford, where he was staying to recuperate from illness suffered while visiting family.
He was born in Goldsboro, N.C., son of the late Robert Alphin and Mary Summerlin Alphin. The family soon moved to Yorklyn, Del., where Mr. Alphin was raised.
The Depression prompted him to join the Merchant Marines in his teens to help support his family. Just as he was to be named captain of his own vessel, he was drafted by the U.S. Army and served honorably throughout World War II. He was trained as a radio operator and served as the company bugler.
After the war, he trained as an electrician at Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. Hired by DuPont after certification, he worked for them until his retirement in 1979.
Like many members of his generation, World War II imbued Mr. Alphin with a keen sense of patriotism and a need to be of service to others. Likewise, his character was molded by the hard times of the Depression, and the death of his father and sister in a fire in the ‘30s.
These circumstances were reflected at work with his many safety suggestions, where he won more than two-dozen awards during his career. He also devoted much of his spare time to fighting fires and saving lives through his service at the Wilmington Manor Fire Company and the Mill Creek Fire Company, where he was a Life Member, past captain of the ambulance crew, drafter of the first set of regulations for ambulances in Delaware and a member of the State Fire Board for more than a decade.
After retirement to Fenwick Island, he served the community for eight years as Director of Emergency Preparedness, participating in many state and regional conferences. His last years were spent away from the winter cold at Leisure Trailer Park in Bonita Springs, Fla., with his summers being spent with family in Minnesota and Delaware.
Mr. Alphin was master mason and member of Lafayette Lodge No. 14 of Wilmington and Eastern Star Points Chapter No. 13.
His need for reflection and tranquility during his later years prompted him to begin painting watercolors, mostly of seascapes and sailboats. His work was recognized in a number of local competitions.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Sara Annabelle Alphin, on July 21, 2000.
He is survived by a son, Robert T. Barrett of Dover; three grandchildren, Lisbeth Baker and her husband, Randy, of Millsboro, Tyler Barrett of New Castle and George Andrew Barrett and his wife, Wendy, of Minneapolis, Minn.; two great-granddaughters, Sara Baker of Millsboro and Isabelle Barrett of Minneapolis; a sister-in-law, Mary Jane Alphin of Stanton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Burial will be in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial contributions be made to the Salvation Army, 611 Forest St., Dover, DE 19904.
Charles C. Carson Sr.
Services for Charles C. Carson Sr., 76, of Dover, were held Tuesday, Aug. 13, in the Education and Humanities Theater at Delaware State University, Dover. Mr. Carson died of pulmonary fibrosis Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002, in his home.
He was born Aug. 19, 1925, in Montgomery, Ala., son of the late Charles Carter and Alice Snow Carter.
He attended Alabama State High School and graduated from Tennessee State University. He later earned a license in mortuary science from Atlanta College of Mortuary Science in 1950. Upon graduation, he became the manager of Smith and Gaston Funeral Home of Montgomery, setting the course for a distinguished career.
His federal career as a civilian mortician began with the Department of the Air Force in 1958. He was the deputy mortuary officer at Ton Son Nhut, Republic of Vietnam, and at Clark Air Base in the Philippines from 1964 to 1970.
Mr. Carson came to Dover in 1970, and was promoted to chief mortuary officer at Dover Air Force Base the following year. Since 1971, he had supervised the preparation of remains from virtually every major disaster involving American military and civilian personnel. Some of those events include the Vietnam and Gulf wars, the 1977 crash of two Boeing 747 jets in the Canary Islands, the 1978 mass murder and suicide at Jonestown, Guyana, the 1983 terrorist bombing of Marine headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, the 1986 NASA Challenger mission and the airplane crash that claimed the life of then-Secretary of Commerce Ronald Brown. He retired from service at Dover Air Force Base in 1996.
In recognition of his devoted service, Dover Air Force Base honored Mr. Carson twofold. The street on which the port mortuary stands bears his name and the mortuary itself is named the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs.
Mr. Carson was the recipient of numerous awards and citations. In addition to receiving the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and Military Airlift Command Award for Excellence from the base, Mr. Carson was cited by the city of Dover, the Alabama state Senate and the city of Montgomery.
Mr. Carson was a member of Alpha Phi Fraternity Inc. and Sigma Pi Fraternity-Beta Eta Boule, the NAACP, the National Funeral Director and Morticians Association and Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, where he served on the Board of Stewards and was honored with emeritus status.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, the former Virginia Lewis; three daughters, Alice Carson Tisdale of Orangeburg, S.C.; Sylvia L. Carson of Wilmington; and J. Diaese Graves of Dover; a son, Reginald D. Carson of Miami; a son-in-law, Dr. Henry N. Tisdale of Orangeburg, S.C.; a daughter-in-law, Cheryl White Carson of Wilmington; and two grandchildren, Danica K. Tisdale and Brandon K. Tisdale of Orangeburg.
He is also survived by a brother-in-law, Riley L. Lewis of Montgomery; two nephews, George G. Hill of Goldsboro, N.C. and Raymond C. Robinson of Newport News, Va.; seven cousins, Sandra Lucy, John Richards, Herman Richards, Lisa M. Richards, Kathleen Jones, Kimberly Jones, Barrington J. Jones, all of Washington, D.C., and Upper Marlboro, Md.; four great-nephews, Patrick and Christopher Ingram of Newport News and George James and Matthew Hill of Goldsboro; an adopted son, Cary Smith of Dover; special friends and a host of individuals for whom Mr. Carson was a role model and mentor.
Burial was in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.
Contributions can be made to the Charles C. Carson Scholarship Fund, Cavalier Club, 35 Beech Drive-Eden Roc, Dover, DE 19904.
Giuseppa Dezzi
Memorial services for Giuseppa Dezzi, 67, of Dover, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, in Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, where friends may call one hour earlier. Mrs. Dezzi died Saturday, Aug. 10. 2002 in her home.
Mrs. Dezzi was born May 11, 1935, in Naples, Italy, and was a homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony J. Dezzi Jr., in 1985.
She is survived by a son, Anthony J. Dezzi III of Dover; a daughter and son-in-law, Emilia and Kenneth Wood of Magnolia; a granddaughter, Stephanie Wood of Magnolia; two grandsons, John Dezzi of Hatfield, Pa., and Kenneth Wood of Magnolia; her mother-in-law, Emilia Dezzi of Hatfield; three brothers-in-law and three sisters-in-law, Bill and Louise Vitiello of Hatfield, Philip and Wanda Dezzi of Teleford, Pa., and Alfred and Eleanor Dezzi of Philadelphia; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial will be private.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Luther Towers Memorial Fund, 430 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
Janet M. Getz
Remembrance services for Janet M. Getz, 46, of Dover, were held Friday, Aug. 9, at Trader Funeral Home, Dover. Ms. Getz died Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
She was born April 2, 1956, at Langley Air Force Base, Va., daughter of Charles R. and Pauline Getz of Dover.
She was active at the Adult Day Center, Smyrna. She loved knitting, bowling, country music and the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.
Ms. Getz was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Dover.
In addition to her parents, she is survived by a brother, Charles R. Getz Jr. of Smyrna; three sisters and their husbands, Mary E. and Terry Bower of Dover, Ruth D. and George Rogers of Felton, and Tammy S. and Glenn Adams of El Paso, Texas; a niece, Angel Bower; four nephews, Joseph Rogers, Aaron and Josh Adams and George Rogers III.
Remembrance services for Franklin “Frank” Graham, 77, of Dover, were held Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Trader Funeral Home, Dover. Mr. Graham died of complications from acute pancreatitis Friday, Aug. 9, 2002, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
He was born Aug. 29, 1924, in Kenton, son of the late Charles and Buleauh Bedwell Graham.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Mr. Graham was in maintenance at Colonial Investment for many years.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Graham.
He is survived by two sons, Franklin A. Graham of Milford and Wallace R. Graham of Viola; a daughter, Sandra L. Wilkins of Milford; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; a brother, Mike Graham; and a sister, Pearl Minnie.
Funeral services for Allen Jones Jr., 49, of Dover, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Calvary Assembly of God, where friends may call an hour earlier. Mr. Jones died Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002.
He was born Dec. 20, 1953, in Yanceyville, N.C., son of Allen Sr. and Ruby Jones.
He graduated from Eastside High School, Paterson, N.J., where he was a member of the concert choir, drama team and various sports teams. Mr. Jones also attended Rutgers University for three years.
He started his Christian journey when he was six-years-old at St. Luke Baptist Church in Paterson, N.J., under the leadership of the late Rev. Dr. A.M. Tyler. He served on the youth and teen choirs and loved to sing in church choirs. He rededicated his life at Calvary Assembly of God, where he loved to participate in the men’s Bible study group.
Mr. Jones had performed in many dramatic presentations. He also enjoyed traveling and was an avid reader. At the time of his death, he was completing his lifelong dream of writing and had recently begun the process of publishing his works.
He was a son, brother, husband, father and uncle who deeply respected and admired his family and friends.
Mr. Jones was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Willie and Annie Jones and his maternal grandparents, Robert and Try-Phena McCaden.
He is survived by two sons, Lateef and Edward Earl; two daughters, Nazlah and Crystal; three grandchildren; a sister Priscilla Gore and her husband, Cephus L. Gore; two nephews, Christopher and Marcel Gore; one niece, Lakesha Gore; and one great-niece, Bryttani Gore, all of Dover; two aunts, Carolynn Graves of Maryland and Laura Reese of North Carolina; friend Sandra Bowen; and a host of uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends. He also leaves a legacy along the entire east coast.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to help cover the cost of funeral expenses.
William A. Kelly
A memorial service for William A. Kelly, 77, of Felton, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at The Stone Barn in Unionville, Pa. Mr. Kelly died after a brief illness Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002, at Christiana Hospital, Newark.
He was born in Philadelphia, son of the late Franklin and Anna Kelly.
Mr. Kelly was a graduate of Boys Central High School in Philadelphia and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He was an Eagle Scout.
He served as an ensign in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1949. A mechanical engineer, he worked in the sales department at Lukens Steel Company in Coatesville, Pa., until his retirement in 1984 after a career of 35 years.
Outside of work, he devoted many hours to community services and organizations including the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Army Corps of Engineers wildlife projects and work in many state parks, including Killen’s Pond State Park, where he and his wife were honored for their efforts by Gov. Thomas Carper as Volunteers of the Year.
Mr. Kelly especially enjoyed projects that involved working with osprey and piping plover. In pursuit of these volunteer endeavors, he and his wife traveled in their motor home.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Fay Alvord Kelly; five children, Bruce, Tina, Candy, Andy, and Jeannie; two brothers, a sister, and seven grandchildren.
Arrangements were by Edward L. Collins Funeral Home, Oxford, Pa
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made in Mr. Kelly’s memory to the Salvation Army.
