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 Chie M. Heesh, 78, of Dover were held Saturday, Nov. 29, at Capitol Baptist Church, Dover. Mrs. Heesh died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003, at Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital in Dover.
She married Carlton G. Heesh in 1951 and came to the United States in 1955. After living in various locales throughout the country, they settled with their seven children in Dover in 1967.
In the early ’70s, as a single mother, Mrs. Heesh supported and cared for her children as an in-home seamstress. She joined the congregation of Capitol Baptist Church, and with their help was able to work her way off public assistance and successfully raise her children in a loving home.
After her kids were grown, her love of children led her to participate in the Foster Grandparents Program for Kent County, where she assisted in the care and tutoring of young children for the last 15 years.
Mrs. Heesh was an active member of her church, where she volunteered by coordinating the design and production of school uniforms along with numerous other activities, including the church-sponsored Widows Club prayer group. She also was a member of the Home Sweet Home Interracial Fellowship, where she enjoyed the company of her Japanese friends.
Mrs. Heesh was preceded in death by a sister.
She is survived by seven children, Misako Scott of Merion, Pa., Kenneth Heesh of Hurlock, Md., Brian Heesh of Milford, Anna Bourdess of Kansas City, Kan., Linda Lawson of Montchanin, Frank Heesh of Ithaca, N.Y., and Sharon Heesh of San Diego; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a brother.
Arrangements by Fleischauer Funeral Home, Greenwood.
Betty F. Jones
A Mass of Christian Burial for Betty F. Jones, 77, of Dover will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, in the Holy Cross Catholic Church, Dover. Mrs. Jones died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, in Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore.
Mrs. Jones was born Aug. 13, 1926, in Savannah, Ga., daughter of the late William and Catherine Audesey Foshee.
She graduated summa cum laude from Delaware State University with a bachelor’s degrees in history and accounting at the ages of 69 and 74, respectively.
She will be remembered for her devotion to her family, her generosity, her deep Catholic faith, her honesty, her compassion and her adventurous spirit. She enjoyed learning, reading, gardening, crafts, needlework, knitting, pottery, decoupage and her pets.
Mrs. Jones was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, Dover, the Delaware State University Alumni Association and the St. Vincent’s Academy Alumni Association, Savannah.
She was preceded in death on April 13, 2003, by her husband of 54 years, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Henry L. “Lew” Jones.
She is survived by seven children and the spouses of four, Catherine and John Bruno of Richmond, Va., Donna and John Walker of New York, H. Lewis and Janelle Jones of Nokesville, Va., Chris Jones of Dover, Gerry Jones and Teresa Schultz of Medway, Mass., and Lynn Manners and Patricia Castle, both of Dover.
Mrs. Jones also is survived by 15 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a close cousin, Dolly Costello, and Mrs. Costello’s husband, Jack, of Alexandria, Va.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Catholic Charities, 1155 Walker Road, Dover, DE 19904.
Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.
Arrangements by Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming.
Austin James McCabe Jr.
Funeral services for Austin James McCabe Jr., 93, of Dover were held Saturday, Nov. 29, at the St. Georges Episcopal Church, Angola. Mr. McCabe died Monday, Nov. 24, 2003, in Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover.
Mr. McCabe was born April 12, 1910, in Frankford, to the late Austin James Sr., and Birdie Chandler McCabe.
He graduated from Frankford Delaware High School June 1929. From then until Christmas of that year he sailed on the freighter SS Katrina Luckenbach. In 1930 to 1933 he worked for the Moorehead Inspection Bureau as a claim prevention supervisor and recommending loading methods. In 1933 he was employed by the Railroad Perishable Inspection Agency at Philadelphia, Pa.
He established McCabe Inspection Service in 1936 when he opened an office in the Washington Market area in downtown New York City. He represented some of the largest commission merchants, receivers, distributors, growers, shippers, brokers, cold storage and transportation companies in the business. He retired in 1992 and moved from his home in Teaneck, N.J., to the Dover farm that he had purchased in 1942. There he was involved in raising Holstein cattle and later, general agriculture.
Mr. McCabe received his 60-year pin and was a life member of the Puritan Willard Sylvan Grove Lodge No. 250 Free & Accepted Order of Masons, as well as the Mecca Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine, of New York. He attended Lodge No. 7 in Dover. He was a life member of the Sons of American Revolution Delaware Society and was on the advisory board of the Long Island Agricultural and Technical Institute Farmingdale, N.Y.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Laura Burton McCabe in 1971, two sisters and three brothers.
He is survived by two daughters, Joyce McCabe Waring of Frederica and Susanne McCabe Hibler and her husband Dr. Russell Hibler of Crofton, Md.; four grandchildren, James Todd Hibler, Kimberly Paugh, Tracy Case and Jessica Whitfield; and five great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were by the Melson Funeral Home, Frankford.
Services for Thomas Louis McFarland, 61, of Sandtown, near Felton were held Monday, Dec. 1, at Torbert Funeral Chapel, Dover. Mr. McFarland died Thursday, Nov. 27, 2003, at his home.
Mr. McFarland was born April 5, 1942, in Greensboro, Md., son of the late Walter and Margaret E. Holland McFarland.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1963 as a vehicle mechanic.
Mr. McFarland enjoyed going camping and model trains.
He worked for 23 years for Tilcon as a welder.
Mr. McFarland was involved with the Boy Scouts since 1981 as a scoutmaster and assistant scoutmaster for the Felton and Goldsboro, Md., area. He also was involved with the Two Bays and Choptank districts and was on the Delmarva Council. He earned several awards of merit, including the Scouter’s Key, Wood Badge, Commissioner Key, Unit Commissioner, Assistant District Commissioner, College of Commissioner Science Merit Honor Award, Master of Commissioner Science, Choptank District Meritorious Service Award and District Award of Merit.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Nancy Fields McFarland; and three sons, Thomas L. McFarland Jr. and James C. McFarland, both of Sandtown, and Thomas Edward McFarland of Ashland, Ky.
He also is survived by a brother, Allen McFarland of New Castle; a sister, Jean Hughes of Harrington; six grandchildren, Amanda, Pamala, Shawn Michael, Amber Rose, Melissa Ryan and Patrick Michael; a niece, Margaret Butler of Greenwood; and a nephew, Danny McFarland of New Castle.
Burial was in Springhill Memory Garden Cemetery, Salisbury, Md.
Malinda A. Miller
Funeral services for Malinda A. Miller, 40, of Columbia, Ky., will be held in LeRaysville, Pa. Mrs. Miller died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at the home of her parents, Dover.
Mrs. Miller was born March 18, 1963, in Dover, daughter of Ammon and Ida Mae Miller Yoder.
She was preceded in death by a son, Sam Miller Jr., Nov. 28, 1994.
She is survived by her husband of 22 years, Sam L. Miller; seven children, Catherine, Ida Mae, Melvin, Joseph, Lovina, Ruth Ann and Elma Miller; a granddaughter, Lisa Agela Boone; 12 sisters; 15 brothers; and her parents-in-law, Levi S. and Catherine M. Miller.
Harvey D. Yoder
Funeral services for Harvey D. Yoder, 68, of Dover were held Friday, Nov. 28, at his home on Pearson’s Corner Road. Mr. Yoder died Monday, Nov. 24, 2003.
Mr. Yoder was born March 25, 1935, in Dover, to the late Daniel I. Yoder and Lovina Troyer.
He had been owner of Yoder’s Greenhouse since 1986.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, a grandson and a daughter-in-law.
Mr. Yoder is survived by his wife of 48 years Lydia S. Byler Yoder, as well as five sons, three daughters, 43 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, four brothers, seven sisters, his stepfather and many friends.
Funeral services of Maria P. Young, 91, of Dover were held Saturday, Nov. 29, at Faith Community Church, Camden. Mrs. Young died after a long illness Monday, Nov. 24, 2003, in Silver Lake Center, Dover.
She was born April 10, 1912, in Clarksdale, Miss., daughter of the late Attilio and Matilda Mengrelli Petrolati.
Her childhood was spent living and working with family on a large cotton plantation in Clarksdale until the age of 12 when her family moved to Conshohocken, Pa.
As a young lady, Mrs. Young worked in a garment factory and as a clerk in ladies' apparel. Upon her marriage to Wilbert "Newt" Young on July 17, 1943, she began fulfilling her greatest joy by being a homemaker. She will always be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister and a special grandmother. She loved spending time with family, cooking, baking and extending her ministry of hospitality to family and friends over the years.
She loved singing and listening to gospel music.
Mrs. Young attended and taught children's Sunday school at the former West Dover Gospel Chapel and attended the Dover Bible Chapel for several years. She and her late husband were charter members of Faith Community Church, Camden, where she also taught children's Sunday school and sang in the church choir.
She was involved in the Ladies Missionary Fellowship and attended the Ladies Meeting at Faith Community Church. She had an evangelistic letter-writing ministry in which she shared her faith with public personalities around the world in their times of need.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years in August 1999; and five siblings, one of who was her twin brother.
Mrs. Young is survived by two sons and their wives, Bert Bryant and Beth Young, of Dover, and Timothy Newton and Nancy Young of Cavan, Ontario, Canada; a sister, Peggy Gormley of Collingswood, N.J.; four grandsons, Mark T. and Daniel C. Young, both of Ontario, and Zachary R. and Luke S. Young, both of Dover.
Instead of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Faith Community Church, 2240 S. DuPont Highway, Camden, DE 19934.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Joseph J. Benedetti Sr., 89, of Dover, will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Dover. Mr. Benedetti died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003, in Green Valley Pavilion, Smyrna.
Mr. Benedetti was born March 26, 1914, in Trenton, N.J., son of the late Eugenio and Appolonia Latini Benedetti.
He was a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant and a World War II veteran.
He worked at ILC Dover, Frederica, as a material expediter for many years.
Mr. Benedetti enjoyed being a photographer at the Modern Maturity Center, Dover.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Margaret Benedetti of Dover; two sons, Joseph J. Benedetti Jr. of North Carolina and Sam Benedetti of Florida; a stepdaughter, Marianne Torres of Elkton, Md.; a brother, Maurice Benedetti of Trenton N.J.; a sister, Jean Bershelli of Trenton; four grandsons; four granddaughters; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Friends may call 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, in the Trader Funeral Home, Dover.
Burial will be in Sharon Hills Memorial Park, Dover.
Vinson A. Bobo
Graveside services for Vinson A. Bobo, 89, of Dover were held Wednesday, Sept. 24, at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Camden. Mr. Bobo died Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003, at Silver Lake Nursing Center, Dover.
Mr. Bobo was born May 16, 1914, in Cherokee, Ala., to the late William and Mary White Bobo.
He was an industrial factory worker for many years.
He is survived by a sister, Pocahontas Harvey of Dover; and a niece, Donna Mason of Felton.
Betty Jean ‘BJ’ Caniford
Services for Betty Jean “BJ” Caniford, 59, of Dover were held Saturday, Sept. 27, at Torbert Funeral Chapel South, Dover. Ms. Caniford died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003, in her home, surrounded by her family.
Ms. Caniford was born July 7, 1944, in Dover, daughter of Ruth Donovan Pleasanton of Dover and the late John E. Pleasanton Sr.
She graduated in 1962 from Dover High School with perfect attendance and was voted most athletic in her senior year.
Ms. Caniford worked as secretary of the Delaware State Senate from 1973 to 1989. From 1989 to 1998, she worked for the state of Delaware in the Insurance Department as an administrator. After retiring, she worked for her brother’s business, Pleasanton Seafood, calling this “her therapy.”
She loved sports, especially field hockey and bowling.
Ms. Caniford was a life member of the Little Creek Volunteer Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary and had been its president for many years. She also was Kent County Ladies Auxiliary past president, and was a member of the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association Ladies Auxiliary, as well as being the first vice president. She was the secretary for the Fire Companies Mutual Relief, a section of the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association.
She also was a member of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries, and also was on the executive committee, and was a member of the National Conference of State Legislators. She also was a member of the Little Creek United Methodist Church. When her daughters were young, she was a Brownie leader for Troop 555.
Ms. Caniford was preceded in death by her father in 1997; her grandmother, Lovey Donovan; and her grandfather, John Pleasanton.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by her two devoted daughters and their husbands, Brenda and Larry Zipay of Mooresville, N.C., and Cheryl and Orville Carney of Magnolia; and a grandson, Daniel Carpenter of Salisbury, N.C.
Mrs. Caniford also is survived by three brothers and two sisters-in-law, Jackie and Bertha Mae Pleasanton and Alan and Sandra Nan Pleasanton, all of Leipsic, and Wayne Pleasanton of Dover; a sister and brother-in-law, Debbie and Jim Keller of Dover; a sister-in-law, Carol Pleasanton of Dover; six nieces and nephews, Annette Von Stetten, Nan Fox, Jay Keller, Christine Pleasanton, Mandy Pleasanton and Brandon Pleasanton; two great-nephews, Jordan Dougherty and Trevor Fox; and a host of cousins and friends.
