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.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Harold Joseph Shea, 70, of Hartly, was held on Tuesday, June 23 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Marydel. Mr. Shea died Wednesday, June 17, 1998 in Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. Shea was a millwright at Kraft Foods. He retired in 1985.
He served in the U.S. Navy during WW II.
He enjoyed traveling in his motor home in his spare time.
Mr. Shea was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Marydel. He was also a life member of the Greenwood Volunteer Fire Co.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Harriet Matthews Shea of Hartly; two sons, Ricky T. Shea of Wilmington, N.C. and Michael J. Shea of Green Bay, Wisc.; three daughters, Donna L. Shea of Kure Beach, N.C., Cindy B. Walker of Hartly and Christine A. Philyaw of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands; a brother, Lawerence J. Shea of Greenwood; three sisters, Arlene Williams of Prairie Du Chien, Wisc., Maxine Green of Newport, N.J. and Dolly Mancus of Bridgeton, N.J.; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were by Trader Funeral Home, Dover.
Burial was in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bear.
Arthur A. Biloon
A graveside service for Arthur A. Biloon, 84, of Dover, was held on Friday, June 19 at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear. Mr. Biloon died Wednesday, June 17, 1998 in Kent General Hospital.
Mr. Biloon owned and operated Biloon Electric for 30 years, retiring in 1975.
He served in the U.S. Army and Delaware Army National Guard for 23 years, retiring in 1957.
Mr. Biloon was a member of Congregation Beth Emeth, Wilmington; Jefferson Lodge #15 A.F. & A.M., Lewes; a volunteer at the Dover Air Force Base; a member of Delaware Consistory, Nur Temple Shrine; past commander of Lawrence Robert American Legion Post #21; past president of Masonic Club of Delaware; president emeritus of Wilmington West Kiwanis; a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars; Delaware National Guard Association, 198th Coastal Artillery; First State Model Railroad Club, Camden-Wyoming; life member of the National Rifle Association and the Air Force Association.
He is survived by his wife, Irene Biloon; a son, Millard L. Biloon of Savanah, Ga.; two daughters, Deborah S. Butter of Annapolis, Md., and Ellice K. Biloon of Newark; a sister, Marian Kreshtool of Long Boat Key, Fla.; and three grandchildren.
Ronnie G. Hironimus
A memorial service for Ronnie G. Hironimus, 51, of Smyrna, was held on Saturday at the Modern Maturity Center, Dover.
Mr. Hironimus was found dead in a house fire in the 200 block of American Ave., Dover, on Tuesday, June 16, 1998, authorities said.
Mr. Hironimus was born in Lyons, N.Y. in 1947, the son of the late Phil C. and Mildred DeRue Hironimus.
He earned his bachelor's degree from Albright College in Reading, Pa., and his M.F.A. from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He was working on his doctorate degree in curriculum and development at the University of Delaware.
Mr. Hironimus was a school teacher for the last 23 years, most recently with Capital School District, where he was named the Teacher of the Year for the 1996-97 school year.
He loved the theater and was the drama teacher at Dover High School. He enjoyed traveling extensively.
Mr. Hironimus is survived by his wife, Bonnie Schlagel Hironimus; a brother, Larry Hironimus of Marion, N.Y.; and a sister, Dawn Bothell of Smyrna.
Arrangements were by Faries Funeral Directors Inc., Smyrna.
Burial was private.
Grace M. Tirabassi
A Mass of Christian Burial for Grace M. Tirabassi, 82, of Woodbridge, N.J., was held on Friday, June 19 at St. Polycarp's Roman Catholic Church in Smyrna.
Mrs. Tirabassi, formerly of Jersey City, N.J. and Smyrna, died on Tuesday, June 16, 1998 in her home.
Mrs. Tirabassi was a former communicant of St. Polycarp's Roman Catholic Church in Smyrna and a member of the Altar-Rosary Society.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John A. Tirabassi, in 1986.
Mrs. Tirabassi is survived by her son, John A. Tirabassi of Hartly; a daughter, Joanne Casablanca of Woodbridge, N.J.; a brother, Andrew Kerrigan of Woodbridge, N.J.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were by the Faries Funeral Chapel, Smyrna.
A funeral service for Shirley Lucille Thorn, 63, of Kenton, will be held at noon today at Chapel Center, Fort Meade, where friends may call one hour prior to the service.
Mrs. Thorn died Tuesday, June 16, 1998 in North Arundel Hospital.
Mrs. Thorn was born on Oct. 18, 1934 in Kenton, the daughter of the late Eliza and Raymond Lake.
She received her education in the Delaware public school system.
Mrs. Thorn was a devoted wife and mother and spent countless hours praising her family. She had a passion for the outdoors and loved working in her yard and with her flowers.
For entertainment, she loved traveling, listening to music, dancing, attending plays and fashion shows. She had a passion for shopping and dressing fashionably. Her places to shop were Nordstrom's and Macy's, where she was known by many for her "exquisite style."
She was a real people person. She could converse with anyone and everyone about anything. She always left a lasting impression. She was a very outgoing person and was always in good spirits. She touched the lives of many.
Her hobbies were collecting figurines such as "All God's Children," "All That Jazz", and "Native Craft Ltd."
Mrs. Thorn's Christian experience began as a young girl at Blanco AME Church in Kenton. She was a member of the Usher Board, Missionary Society and choir. After moving to Fort Meade, Md., in 1981, she attended Calvary Chapel.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Vivian Jackson-Demby, and two brothers, Roland James Lake and Elmer Lake.
Mrs. Thorn is survived by her husband, James Thorn; a daughter, Karen M. Thorn of Hanover, Md.; four sons, Anthony B. Thorn and Maurice F. Thorn, both of Severn, Md., Gordon P. Thorn of Glen Burnie, Md., and Randall J. Thorn of Augusta, Ga.; two daughters-in-law, Lisa Thorn of Glen Burnie, Md. and Marilynn Thorn of Augusta, Ga.; five grandchildren, Tanisha, Antione, Christian, Geromy and Jude; two brothers, Clarence Lake of Smyrna and Richard Lake of Jackson, Miss.; a goddaughter, Faith Lively of Middletown and special godchildren, John Slade of East Orange, N.J., Julia Fowlkes of Catonsville, Md., Cotina King of Hanover, Md., and Roslyn Scott of Millersville, Md.; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; a special cousin, Audrey King; and special friends, Alpain and Marshall Wilson, Jimmy and Edna King, James and Mary McClurkin, Rosa Redd and Lulu Raines.
Arrangements are by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.
Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Walter J. Bartlett
A funeral service for Walter J. Bartlett, 75, of Milford, was held on Tuesday, June 23 at the First Presbyterian Church of Milford. Mr. Barlett died Friday, June 19, 1998 in The Milford Center, Genesis Eldercare.
Mr. Bartlett graduated in 1954 from the Philadelphia College of Textile and Science.
He was a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served in the Pacific as an A-20 Bomber pilot during WW II.
He worked as a marketing manager and salesman in the textile industry for 45 years, working for Continental Mills in Philadelphia for 20 years and then for American Cyanamid in New York City for 25 years. He retired in 1984.
Mr. Bartlett was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Milford, where he served as a trustee; the Milford Rotary Club, where he was past president, and in 1991 was a group study tour leader to Australia.
He was also a member of Shawnee Country Club in Milford, where on Monday nights he enjoyed getting together with his group to play bridge. He was a member of AARP Chapter 3134; American Legion Post #3 in Milford; and was active in the 312th Bomb Group annual reunions.
He was serving on the Board of the Visiting Nurses Association of Delaware.
He will be remembered for enjoying a good time and a good joke.
Mr. Bartlett is survived by his wife of 53 years, Natalie Bartlett; three daughters and their families, Barbara Bartlett Bellack and her husband, Alan of Annapolis, Md., Nancy Runowicz and her husband, Alexander of Lawrenceville, N.J., and Kathy Bogdziewicz of Pennington, N.J.; a sister, Jean Tarlton of Pottsville, Pa.; five grandchildren, Jonathan B. and Adam W. Bellack, Kathy Rogers, Laura N. and David J. Bogdziewicz.
Arrangements were by Lofland Funeral Home, Milford.
Burial will be today in Whitemarsh Memorial Park, Limekiln Pike (Rt. 152), Prospectville, Pa.
Robert Fogwell Walters
A funeral service for Robert Fogwell Walters, 66, of Dover, was held on Tuesday, June 23 at Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, Galena.
Mr. Walters, formerly of Millington, Md., died Friday, June 19, 1998 in his home.
Mr. Walters was born in Galena, Md., in 1932, the son of the late Samuel C. and Anna Fogwell Walters.
He retired in 1992 from Acme Markets after 38 years of service as a meat and district manager of numerous stores on Delmarva.
Mr. Walters was the immediate past president of Dover Lions Club; member and past treasurer of Millington Volunteer Fire Co.; member of Harrington Moose Lodge; Asbury United Methodist Church, Millington; and former member of Chester Masonic Lodge AF & AM.
He enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing, hunting, and was a devoted country music fan.
Mr. Walters was preceded in death by his first wife of 35 years, Esther Walters; and six brothers and sisters, Mary A., Benjamin P., Samuel C., Anna Louise, Jean and Edward C. Walters.
He is survived by his wife of 11 years, Jean Gourley Walters; two sons, Robert A. of Centreville, Md., and Warren S. Walters of Galena, Md.; three daughters, Deborah L. Meredith of Moreno Valley, Calif., Pamela W. Boyles of Sudlersville, Md., and Deborah E. Schelts of Galena, Md.; a sister, Katherine W. "Kitty" Robinson of Millington; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral service for Thomas J. McHale Jr., 78, of Dover, was held on Monday, June 22 at Delaware Veterans Chapel of Honor, Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Bear.
Mr. McHale died after a lengthy illness on Thursday, June 18, 1998 in Kent General Hospital.
Mr. McHale was born in Stoneham, Mass., the son of the late Thomas J. and Mary McHale.
He served in the U.S. Army in WW II.
Mr. McHale was employed by Baker's Chocolate. He then went to work for General Foods in Dover in 1964, where he served as a power house engineer. He retired in 1979.
Mr. McHale was a member of Holy Cross Church in Dover, where he had served as an usher and was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus Council 4182.
He was also a volunteer at the Dover Modern Maturity Center, where he was involved with the Meals On Wheels program.
Mr. McHale is survived by his wife of 51 years, Gertrude Cronin McHale of Dover; a son, Richard T. McHale of Dover; a daughter, Tech Sgt. Mary Ellen McHale, USAF of Lakenheath, England; two grandchildren, Clint Thomas McHale and Chelsey Ann McHale, both of Chandler, Ariz.; four sisters, Barbara Aiesi, Patricia McLaughlin, and Marion O'Connell, all of Boston, Mass., and Dorothy Keneavy of Dedham, Mass.
Arrangements were by the Michael J. Ambruso Funeral Home, Dover.
