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.
Kenneth F. Poore
Private services and burial were held recently for Kenneth F. Poore, 62, of Dover. Mr. Poore died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003, surrounded by his family at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital.
He was born July 15, 1940, in Smyrna, son of the late William and Elizabeth Mayberrie Poore. He attended Smyrna High School.
Mr. Poore was a self-employed produce salesman and did some wholesaling in the Delaware and Maryland area for most of his life.
He enjoyed watching old movies, playing cards and dinners out with his friends and family. Mr. Poore enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors and going to flea markets to find that perfect and special something. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends.
Mr. Poore is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Sandra Lee and Charles Todd, of Dover; and a brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Ruth Poore, of Harrington.
Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover.
Erin M. Trowbridge
Remembrance services for Erin M. Trowbridge, 18, of Felton will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, in Trader Funeral Home, Dover, where friends may call two hours earlier. Ms. Trowbridge died Thursday, Jan. 30, 2003, in St. Alphonsus Medical Center, Boise, Idaho, of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
She was born Feb. 23, 1984, in Milford, daughter of Robert Trowbridge of Port Penn and Cordelia Mears Collins of Felton.
Ms. Trowbridge was a 2002 graduate of Dover High School and was living with her aunt and uncle, Lisa and Darren Talcott, while furthering her education.
She was free spirited, and enjoyed talking on the phone, being with friends and living life to its fullest. She touched many with her heart and with her smile. She also was an organ donor, so others could have life.
In addition to her parents and aunt and uncle, she is survived by her stepmother, Amy Trowbridge of Port Penn; her stepfather, John Collins of Felton; three brothers, Robert Trowbridge Jr. of Port Penn and Eugene and Clifton Greek, both of Felton; three sisters, Cassy and Carrie Lancaster, both of Port Penn, and Lynsy Collins of Felton; her maternal grandparents, Linda and Roger Mears, of Felton; her paternal grandparents, Lawrence and June Sullivan of Bowers Beach; her paternal step-grandparents, George and Sue Lancaster of Port Penn; her maternal step-grandparents, Harold and Sarah Collins of Dover; and her special friend, William Station of Korea.
Benjamin F. ‘Jake’ Twilley Sr.
Remembrance services for Benjamin F. “Jake” Twilley Sr., 82, of Hartly, were held Friday, Jan. 31, at Trader Funeral Home in Dover. Mr. Twilley died peacefully Sunday, Jan. 26, 2003, at his home surrounded by family and friends.
He was born April 13, 1920, in Seaford, son of the late Bailey and Lydia Downes Twilley.
Mr. Twilley was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
He worked at Bolan Motors for many years. He retired from IUOE Local 542 of Philadelphia.
Mr. Twilley was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, farming, fishing and crabbing. He built and raced stock cars and go-carts. In his later years he loved to work on small engines in his shop.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Harry, William “Bill,” and Richard; and a sister, Madaline Ivory.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Jane Twilley of Hartly; three sons, W. David Twilley, Paul and his wife, Josephine Twilley, and Benjamin F. Jr. and his wife, Michele Twilley, all of Hartly; two daughters, Rebecca and her husband, John Kohout, and Sally and Chuck Wojcieszyn, all of Hartly.
He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Lorraine Ross Twilley of Magnolia and Dorothy Twilley of Bear; eleven grandchildren, Christina Mitchell, Kelly Lloyd, Stacy Sylvester, Jason Kohout, Julie Dove, Matthew Angrisani, Erin Wojcieszyn Holly Wojcieszyn, Charles “Buck” Dougherty, Ryan Dougherty, and Vance Dougherty; five great-grandchildren; and a cousin, Margie Massey.
Burial was in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.
Master Sgt. Cornelius VanDrunen, U.S.A.F. (Ret.)
Services for Cornelius VanDrunen, 80, of Wyoming, were held Friday, Jan. 31, in Whatcoat United Methodist Church, Camden. Mr. VanDrunen died suddenly Monday, Jan. 27, 2003, in the Celebration Hospital, Orlando, Fla.
He was born May 12, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Mich., son of the late Frank and Anaa DeLaat VanDrunen.
Mr. VanDrunen served in the U.S. Air Force as a master sergeant during World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
After his retirement from the Air Force, he operated Van’s Mobile Service and First State Mobile Home Transport. He most recently operated a greenhouse and sold produce and plants, operating Pop’s Produce at Spence’s Bazaar.
Mr. VanDrunen was a faithful member of Whatcoat United Methodist Church, Camden.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Katherine “Kitty” VanDrunen; four sons, Cornelius “Butch” VanDrunen Jr. of Harbeson, Larry VanDrunen of Argyle, Texas, Thomas VanDrunen of Wyoming and Stephen VanDrunen of Millsboro; two daughters, Sandra Glass of Wyoming and Katherine Walls of Normal, Ill; two brothers, Frank VanDrunen of Byron Center, Mich., and Robert VanDrunen of Wyoming, Mich.; and 13 grandchildren.
Burial was in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro.
Arrangements were by Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming.
Bishop Benjamin L. Washington
Services for Bishop Benjamin L. Washington, 94, of Dover, were held Monday, Feb. 3, at the Bibleway Church of God in Christ, Dover. Bishop Washington died of natural causes Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003, in Silver Lake Nursing Home, Dover.
He was born in Seaford, son of the late Walter and Bessie Washington.
Bishop Washington received his early education in the public schools of Salisbury, Md., and Mardela, Md., and during his service in the ministry, he received various credential and awards for his progressive work in the ministry.
He began his calling into the ministry as a young minister in the Church of the Living God organization, evangelizing and building and establishing numerous churches. He held various official positions as an executive board member of the Board of Bishops and the National Finance Committee and was a prominent figure in key leadership roles in the Church of the Living God. He remained active as the Diocesan Bishop of Delaware and Pastor of the Mount Carmel Church of the Living God until his health declined.
In addition to his work in the ministry, he was also a master carpenter and retired from the then-Delaware State College in 1974 as a supervisor in the carpentry department. Although he retired from his job, his work in the ministry continued. He leaves a legacy of devotion and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Priscilla Ryder Washington; two brothers, the Rev. Clifford Washington and the Rev. Walter Washington; and a sister, Ruby Washington Ward.
He is survived by his very devoted and faithful wife, Anna L. Washington; his son, Curtis Washington; a brother, Elder Winfield Washington; two sisters-in-law, Blanche Washington and Beatrice Anderson; a brother-in-law, William Anderson; a nephew, Edward Ward; four nieces, Mildred Davis, Ana Easley, Lillian Marcus and Marilyn Purnell; and a host of other friends and loved ones.
Arrangements were by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.
Mabel C. Abbott
Services for Mabel C. Abbott, 90, of Dover, were held Saturday, Dec. 21, at Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover. Mrs. Abbott died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002, at Capitol Healthcare Services in Dover.
She was born May 28, 1912 in Easton, Md.
Mrs. Abbott was married to W. Preston Abbott, who preceded her in death in 1973.
She was a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses of Dover.
Mrs. Abbott enjoyed gardening and reading.
She is survived by a son, Donald Lee Abbott of Laurel; a daughter, Linda Louise Donovan of Dover; and two grandsons, Nicolas Donovan, stationed at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., and Michael Donovan of Dover.
Burial was in Lakeside Cemetery, Dover.
George Gilbert Barnett
Graveside services for George Gilbert Barnett, 81, of Dover, were held privately. Mr. Barnett died Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at Chatham Nursing Home, Chatham, Pa.,
He was born July 9, 1921 in Magnolia, son of the late Jacob E. and Rosalie M. Flach Barnett. He spent his entire life in the Dover area.
Mr. Barnett served his country in the U. S. Army, and was a farm laborer for most of his life.
He is survived by a sister, Sara B. Taylor; and a nephew, Chuck Taylor, both of Dover.
Arrangements were by Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover.
Alexander Baynard
Services for Alexander Baynard, 93, of Dover, were held Saturday, Dec. 21, in Young's Funeral Home, Milford. Mr. Baynard died of heart failure Monday, Dec. 16, 2002, in Genesis Eldercare, Silver Lake Center, Dover.
He was born Sept. 9, 1909, in Milford.
He worked in maintenance at a mobile-home park in Little Heaven, and was a member of Welcome W.F.G.H. Church in Slaughter Neck.
He is survived by a sister, Luvenia Tingle of Milford; a stepsister, Rosetta Harmon of Harrington; nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Burial was in Old Hickory Cemetery, Slaughter Neck.
Gwendolyn E. Braxton
Funeral services for Gwendolyn E. Braxton, 67, of Dover, were held Monday, Dec. 23, at Whatcoat United Methodist Church in Dover. Ms. Braxton died Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2002, at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia.
She was born Nov. 24, 1935, in Connellsville, Pa., daughter of the late Moses and Lucille Braxton. She was the younger of two children.
Ms. Braxton received her elementary and secondary education in the public schools of Connellsville. She received her registered nurse degree from Mercy-Douglass Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia, graduating first in her class. She received her B.S.N., M.S.N. and an A.B.D. in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Following graduation from Mercy-Douglass, she was a medical supervisor and director of nursing.
Teaching was a great passion in her life. Ms. Braxton started her teaching career in 1964 as an instructor in medical-surgical nursing at the Villanova University School of Nursing in Philadelphia. In 1966, she became the section chair of the same department. In 1971, she became an instructor in the department of community medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She remained at Penn until she was recruited in 1975 to be an associate professor and founding chair of the department of nursing at Delaware State University, a position she held until 1986. At that time, she became the assistant academic vice-president for instructional support. In 1992, Ms. Braxton was appointed the Title III program coordinator in conjunction with her then-current title.
Ms. Braxton became a faithful member of the Whatcoat United Methodist Church in 1976. She served as a member of various committees and organizations including the building fund campaign, the pastor's parish relations committee, the Women's Day Choir, and the Bible study classes.
Professionally and socially, Ms. Braxton was a member of several organizations and societies: the American Nurses Association, the National League for Nursing, Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc., the Middle Atlantic Regional Nursing Association, the Pennsylvania Nurses Association, the Delaware Nurses Association, the Delaware Lung Association, NAACP, Geriatric Services Inc., the Whatcoat Social Service Agency, Sigma Theta Tau (National Honor Society for Nurses), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
She received many appointments, honors, and awards including Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc., Nurse of the Year, the Delaware State University Professional Employee of the Year, the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church Woman of Distinction, the Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner Advisory Committee, and the Health Care Cost Management Commission. She was also appointed to the Health Care Professional Review Committee by President Bill Clinton and by the Governor of Delaware to the Board of Nursing.
She is survived by a brother, Calvin J. Braxton of Dover; an aunt, Addie Lee Oliver of New York City; her cousins, Gloria and Benjamin A. Glascoe of New York City; a godson, Herschel Norman of Texas; friends Delores Brewer and Jeanette Shepherd, both of Philadelphia, Mariko Tapper-Taylor of Dover; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Arrangements were by Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover.
Master Sgt. Roy Andrews, USAF (Ret.)
Funeral services for Roy Andrews, 74, of Rehoboth Beach, formerly of Dover, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, in the Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 16961 Kings Highway, Rehoboth, where friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Mr. Andrews died Friday, May 23, 2008, at home.
Mr. Andrews was born Sept. 23, 1933, in Sparta, N.C., son of the late Alonzo and Lori Sparks Andrews.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Mr. Andrews had served during the Korean conflict and the Vietnam War. He had retired from the Air Force at Dover Air Force Base with the rank of master sergeant.
Following his military retirement, he owned and operated four charter fishing boats, Lady Esther, Missene 3, Missene 2 and Super Shark, out of the Indian River Inlet for 40 years.
He was a member of the Ocean View Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7234 and enjoyed motorcycles, fishing and working on boat engines and boats in general.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Tressie Wiley.
Mr. Andrews is survived by his wife of 53 years, Esther E. Leftwich Andrews; his daughter, Michelle Andrews of Lewes; his son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Jamie Andrews of Lewes; a grandson, Austin Brock; a granddaughter, Kearah Andrews of Lewes; and two sisters, Treva Deboard of Maryland and Rosalie Tenney of Maine.
Interment will be in Henlopen Memorial Park Cemetery, Milton.
Teresa L. Clark
Funeral services for Teresa L. Clark, 46, of Harrington, were held Sunday, May 25, in the Melvin Funeral Home, Harrington. Mrs. Clark died Thursday, May 22, at home.
Mrs. Clark was born in Milford, daughter of the late Odes Collins and Thelma Tatman.
Her main purpose in life was taking care of her family and raising her children. She took various part-time jobs over the years, including working at Bobola Farms and Loblolly Acres, to get out and meet people.
Mrs. Clark enjoyed planting flowers at her home, vegetable gardening, painting and spending time with the children in the pool. She also loved watching movies with children and visiting Killens Pond State Park with her family.
She will be well remembered by her family and friends as a kind and considerate woman. She helped anyone she could, and got along with everyone.
A hard worker all her life, Mrs. Clark instill these traits in her children. She was the guiding force behind her children and all their accomplishments and in their schooling. She was the best mother her children could have hoped for and she always was there for them, no matter the circumstances.
To her husband, she was the pillar of the family and is simply irreplaceable. She was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.
Mrs. Clark is survived by her loving husband of 18 years, Homer Clark Jr. of Harrington; a son, Aaron H. Clark of Harrington; a daughter, Sarah E. Clark of Harrington; four brothers and their wives, Irving and Kathy Tatman and Odes Lee and Pam Tatman, all of Felton, Roger and Kathy Tatman of Hartly and Richard and Barbie Tatman of Harrington; a sister and her fiancé Shirley Tatman and Terry Mitchell of Harrington; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and her beloved pets, Pop Pop and Barney.
Interment was in Hollywood Cemetery, Harrington.
