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 Michael J. “Mike” DeNigris, 49, of Dover will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 19, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 631 S. State St., Dover. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover. Mr. DeNigris died Sunday, June 15, 2003, at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. DeNigris was born June 18, 1953, near Brooklyn, N.Y., son of Joseph and Anna DeNigris of Dover.
He graduated from St. John’s University, New York, with a pharmaceutical degree.
Mr. DeNigris worked for Independent Pharmacies, New York, until moving to the Dover area, where he was employed at the Acme and Edgehill pharmacies. He later became a pharmacist at the Delaware Hospital for the Chronically Ill in Smyrna, where he worked for the past five years.
He was an avid New York Yankees fan and loved to barbecue. A devoted father, husband and stepfather, he enjoyed his children and all their events. He genuinely cared for everyone.
Mr. DeNigris volunteered as a board member at the Stockley Center as an advocate for human rights and as a consultant.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife of seven years, Gloria of Dover; two sons, Michael and Christopher DeNigris, both of the family home; three stepchildren, Holly and Suzanne Castell, both of Atlanta, and Christopher Castell of the family home; and a grandchild, Fabian Perry.
Services for Adolph Lewis Friday Jr., 74, of Dover will be held Saturday, June 21, at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Dover. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 20, at Torbert Funeral Chapel, 1145 E. Lebanon Road, Dover. Mr. Friday died Sunday, June 15, 2003, in his home, surrounded by family.
Mr. Friday was born in Wilburton, Pa., son of the late Adolph and Lena Fetterman Friday.
He began work as a coal miner in central Pennsylvania.
At age 17, Mr. Friday joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and eventually joined its successor, the U.S. Air Force. He retired as a master sergeant in 1971 after serving his country for 20 years.
He always enjoyed working and continued to do so as a tractor operator at Dover Air Force Base until last year.
He particularly enjoyed being “Opa” to his many grandchildren and will always be remembered for his love and devotion to his family, but mostly for his generous, giving spirit. His favorite hobbies included fishing and gardening. Like his father before him, he enjoyed sharing his harvest with family, neighbors and friends.
Mr. Friday was a faithful member of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Dover, for 35 years. He served on the Church Council and in the Men’s Group, and was a past chairman of the Property Committee and a member of the local branch of Aid Association for Lutherans. He was Past Master of Union Lodge 7 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Dover, and a proud member for many years.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Paul and Alfred Friday, both of whom lived in Wilburton.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Phyllis Boyer Friday; five children and their spouses, Adolph Lewis III and Natalie M. Friday of Dover, Becky and Scott Miller of Denver, Paul and Joan Friday and Karen and Jim Randall, all of Orlando, Fla., and Kimberly and Adam Taylor of Hockessin.
He also is survived by 15 grandchildren, Adam, Adam Jr., Angeline, Cory, Jack, Jennifer, Josiah, Joshua, Julia, Laura, Lauren, Megan, Sam, Sarah, and Steven; seven siblings and their families, Clair and Mabel Friday, Becky Fagley, Alice and Marvin Mensch, Nancy and Dan Kostenbauder, Ruth Carpenter, Pat and Fred Bloomfield and Donna and Brian Deely; many loving extended-family members; and numerous friends.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to a memorial fund at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 425 N. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
Graveside services for Ellen Hairgrove Jenkins, 83, of Wyoming will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 19, in Quaker Camden Friends Meeting Cemetery, 122 E. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Camden. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at Pippin Funeral Home, 119 W. Camden-Wyoming Ave., Wyoming. Mrs. Jenkins died Monday, June 16, 2003, in her home.
Mrs. Jenkins was born June 27, 1919, in Camden, daughter of the late Jessie and Thomas Hairgrove.
She graduated from Caesar Rodney High School in 1938 and from the Milford Memorial Nursing School in 1942, where she became a registered nurse.
She enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 to care for our servicemen in World War II. During that time, she went ashore at Omaha Beach in Normandy. She also was stationed near Reims, France, and in Marseille, France. After World War II, she returned to Delaware and married Joe C. Jenkins. Together, they started and ran Jenkins Cropdusting and Jenkins Airport.
Mrs. Jenkins enjoyed animals and nature, and was never without several beloved animal companions.
She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Joe Jenkins; a son, Joe S. Jenkins; a daughter, Jan D. Jenkins; and a son-in-law, Brian A. Jesse, all of Dover.
Flowers are appreciated, or memorial contributions may be made to Delaware Hospice, 911 S. DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
Dorothy Weller Laramore
Services for Dorothy Weller Laramore, 67, of Dover were held Friday, June 13, at Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech, Galena, Md. Mrs. Laramore died Monday, June 9, 2003, in her daughter’s home in Denton, Md.
Mrs. Laramore was born June 20, 1935, in Sudlersville, Md., daughter of the late William and Edith Jackson Weller.
She was a 1953 graduate of Sudlersville High School.
Mrs. Laramore had worked as a secretary for Playtex, Dover; at Leeds Travel Ware, Smyrna; and at D and R Supply, Chestertown, Md.
She was a 20-year resident of Luther Towers, volunteering until her health failed, and was a member of the Modern Maturity Center and its Glee Club, with which she enjoyed singing and playing the piano.
She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Vickie and Bill Hudson of Denton; a son and daughter-in-law, J. Michael and Ana Laramore of Virginia Beach, Va.; two brothers, William Weller Jr. of Dover and Donald J. Weller of Dawsonville, Ga.; and a sister, Edith Hill of Dover.
She also is survived by four grandchildren, the wife of one and the companion of one, Alfred “Bill” Hudson III and Laura Hudson, Anthony M. Laramore, Kristy Hudson and Dennis Lannon, and Nicole Laramore; six great-grandchildren, Will, Max, Roman, Tyler, Seth and Miranda; a nephew, James Schelts, as well as Mr. Schelts’ wife, Lynn; a great-nephew, Ryan Schelts; and her cat, Abigail.
Services for Keshawn Jamal Lofland, one month old, of Dover were held Saturday, June 14, in Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Dover. Keshawn died Friday, June 6, 2003, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital.
Keshawn was born May 6, 2003, son of Lemuel J. Lofland and Elaine E. Stevens. He was a bundle of joy to be around.
He was preceded in death by his great grandmother, Ada E. Harris.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother, Trevon Stevens of Dover; his grandparents, Joyce Ann and Von Stevens of Dover and Geraldine and Leon Lofland of Bridgeville; and his great-grandparents, Donald and Vera Harris of Dover, Sarah Mann of Seaford, Jerry Mann of Greenwood and Pearl and Leon Lofland Sr. of Federalsburg, Md.
Keshawn also is survived by a devoted godmother, Linda Harris of Dover; a godfather, Tony Harris of Felton; six aunts, Kishia Mann of Dover, Deshayla Mann of Seaford, Leona Mann of Bridgeville, Tashanna Harris, Lakeisha and Joyce Stevens of Dover; and seven uncles, Derrick Lofland of Preston, Md., Brian Lofland of Boston, Leon, Dion and Victor Lofland of Hurlock, Shawn Blake of Cambridge, Md. and Leon Spry of Federalsburg.
He also is survived by five great-aunts, Carrie Harris of Felton, Theresa Austin and Phyllis Harris of Dover, Elaine Lofland of Milford and Brenda Cannon of Dover; and two great-uncles, Terry Harris of New Haven, Conn., and Anthony Harris of Dover.
Burial was in Gibbs Memorial Gardens, Woodside.
Jacob Nelson
Private services were held recently for Jacob Nelson, 84, of Frederica. Mr. Nelson died Monday, June 9, 2003, in his home.
He lived in Boothwyn, Pa., and worked as a pumper for the Sun Oil Company in Marcus Hook, Pa. for 43 years, retiring in the early 1980s and moving to Frederica, where he spent the final 20 years of his life.
Mr. Nelson enjoyed playing golf.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marguerite Bradley Nelson, in 1991.
He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Loretta and Butch Middleton of Milford; two sons; two sisters, Pauline Malloy of Prospect Park, Pa., and Thelma Timmons of Swedesboro, N.J.; a nephew, Mark Andrews of Marcus Hook; and seven grandchildren.
Burial was private.
Mikalia Aallyah Odums
Services for Mikalia Aallyah Odums, newborn, were held Saturday, June 14, in Young’s Funeral Home, Milford. Mikalia was born and died Monday, June 9, 2003, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mikalia is survived by her parents, Nancy Lane and Quintin Odums; three brothers, Jason Smith of Frederica, E.J. Jones of Lincoln and Quintin Barnes of Bridgeville; her maternal grandparents, Linwood Cladding of Accomac, Va., and Karen Thomas of Milford; her paternal grandmother, Maxine Slay of Lincoln; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Burial was in Old Hickory Cemetery, Slaughter Neck.
Raul Ramos
Raul Ramos, 46, of Felton died Friday, June 6, 2003, in Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore.
Mr. Ramos was born July 10, 1956, in Mercedes, Texas, son of the late Jose and Angelita DeLeon Ramos.
He was educated in the Capital School District, Dover, and later received his GED at Polytech High School in 1992. He continued his education at Polytech to receive his apprenticeship certificate.
Mr. Ramos continued to strive toward his career-ladder position. He was a physical-plant maintenance mechanic at Sussex Correctional Institution in Georgetown. He truly enjoyed his job and always said that it was the best job he ever had.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce, and his niece, Shamecca, whom he was raising, both of Felton; and three daughters: Rozie VanFossen of Elma, Wash., Lovely Rita and Angie Ramos, both of South Bend, Ind.
He also is survived by five sisters, San Juana Rincon, Jesus Pedraza and Maria Ramos, all of Mercedes, Gloria Rivera of Guayama, Puerto Rico, and Irma Ramos of Ketchikan, Alaska; four brothers, Ruben Ramos of South Bend, and Antonio, Israel and Jose Ramos, all of Dover; and a special niece, Diana Ramos of Dallas.
Mr. Ramos also is survived by three brothers-in-law, Ubaldo Rivera of Guayama, Bruce Murphy of Magnolia and Drue Ryans of Dover; four sisters-in-law, Betty Murphy of Magnolia, Mary Brown of Harrington, Thomaszene Westly of New Jersey and Aretha Howard of Felton; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, including four special people in his life, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford May Sr. of Frederica, Nioka Hinson of Dover and Kathy Bonilla of Clayton.
In deference to Mr. Ramos’ wishes, no services were held.
Phyllis Dean Robinson
Services for Phyllis Dean Robinson, 67, of Wyoming were held Saturday, June 14, in Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming. Mrs. Robinson died Wednesday, June 11, 2003, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mrs. Robinson was born April 17, 1936, in Kentucky, daughter of the late Charles and Bertha French Lemons.
She loved life as a homemaker and will always be remembered as a loving wife, mother and grandmother. In addition to her family activities, she enjoyed gardening, quilting, tole painting, antiquing and bowling. She loved to swim and spend time at the YMCA.
She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Jimmie Robinson; and four sons and their wives, Kevin and Nancy Robinson and Scott and Cecilia Robinson, all of Dover, Randy and Lori Robinson of Felton, and Rodney and Susan Robinson of Yorktown, Va.
Mrs. Robinson also is survived by two brothers, Bill Lemons of Wheelersburg, Ohio, and Paul David Lemons of Scammon, Kan.; a sister, Ruth Delabar of Portsmouth Ohio; nine grandchildren, Daniel, Jason and Tyler Robinson, all of Dover, Julia, Nathan and Sarah Robinson, all of Felton, and Andrew, Hannah , and Stephen Robinson, all of Yorktown; and numerous nieces and nephews.
